Experience is vital if Rovers are to reach targets
WITH pre- season and the routine that comes with it now behind us, Sligo Rovers face into a second season under Dave Robertson with real air of unpredictability ahead of Friday’s league curtain raiser in Limerick.
Dundalk are out and out favourites once more to retain their title despite losing three star players. Beyond that it looks like a race between Cork, Shamrock Rovers and Derry to see who can put up the best fight in trying to stop Stephen Kenny’s four- in- a- row. City, Shams and the Candystripes are likely to fill the remaining European spots whilst the likes of Rovers, Bray and Pat’s will look to emerge and bridge that six point gap which existed between the final European spot and the ‘ mid- tablers’ last term.
In the second of a two year contract, Robertson’s remit this season is to improve on last season’s finish. In 2016, sixth place and an avoidance of the late scramble for survival as was the case in 2015 was the objective. Safety was not an issue coming into the final stretch as continental qualification became a outside prospect. A respectable fifth was secured by the final game against Wexford as the job was done without any added hassle.
The season felt as if it had finished in late summer however as it seemed as if the squad had rested on what it had achieved. Had we been a little braver tactically in games against the likes of Harps and Longford, the Bit O’Red would have had made things a little less comfortable for Shams as they gained that covered fourth spot. This year, the Londoner’s ambition must be to go one step further and take us back to the Europa League.
With the bulk of last year’s squad retained, Rovers have added potential in the likes of Mathew Stevens, Kyle Callan- McFadden and Jonah Ayunga.
At the time of writing, Robertson is yet to show his hand in terms of who the final pieces of his jigsaw will be ahead of tomorrow’s ( Wednesday) deadline. But if targets are to be achieved, experience is vitally necessary particularly at the back.
The loss of Gavin Peers has been compensated by Callan- McFadden who has had a steady start. But beside him I think we need another centre half who has been there and seen it.
A Jim Laughlin type figure to marshal a defence who, without Mick Leahy, averages just over 20 years of age. Someone who, if the first five games don’t go to plan, Dave can rely on to steady the ship.
Another position of concern is the middle. A lot rests on the shoulders of the multi- tasking John Russell who tends to struggle annually with injury.
Losing Russell means either Kieran Sadlier or Daniel Kearns, two of Rovers’ top performers in pre- season would need to come inside to give us any sort of attacking bite through the middle, sacrificing their impact in the stronger positions on the wings should they be allowed that wide. Raffaele Cretaro may not have the legs to hold that position for an extended period while Liam Martin’s ability to have an impact from that area is limited.
The squad’s first competitive test, whoever will be involved, comes in three days time against newly promoted Limerick who will look to make the most of home advantage on the opening day.
One negative aspect under Robertson has been our frustrating habit at times to play passive, one system style football, letting the opposition dictate play. This happened all too often last season when we allowed other teams to rest within their own game- plans all too easily. We were an open book and teams got clever to our way of playing too early, profiting as a result.
I’d like to see us start on the front foot at Markets’ Field on Friday and go at Limerick. Having swept aside all in front of them at their leisure in the First Division last year, Martin Russell’s side may take time to adjust to the running of things at the top table. Rovers must take advantage of that particularly given our tough opening schedule.
To come away from Shannonside empty handed heading into subsequent ties with Dundalk, Pat’s and Cork, could begin a dangerous precedent.