Galway United's final pre-season friendly is scheduled for tomorrow evening against Wexford FC at a Dublin venue, and manager John Caulfield is encouraged with his squad's development ahead of the upcoming SSE Airtricity League First Division campaign.
Despite losing to Bohemians, last Friday’s impressive first-half display at Eamonn Deacy Park illustrated the considerable potential in the west.
“I like to play exciting football, to play one and two touch, to move the ball quickly,” Caulfield says. “We like to get it wide, to then get it into the box to create chances. I think for anyone who has seen the couple of pre-season games we've had, away in Longford, home to Harps, Sligo, and Bohs we have done that.
“We have created chances, we haven't taken enough of them. Certainly I'm trying to create an exciting team, I like to have exciting teams, I like for supporters that they watch us thinking that this is a good team to watch. Ultimately, not only to watch because we need to win too.”
Plenty of central striking options are available with Ruairi Keating, Padraic Cunningham, Francely Lomboto, and Wilson Waweru all providing glimpses of their ability in recent weeks.
“For pre-season things have gone well, the attitude of the lads has been absolutely fantastic. The lads Cunningham and Keating have done well, Lomboto, and Wilson have done well too when they have played and come in. It is great that we have lots of options up front. That is what we need to have throughout a long campaign.”
Next on the agenda for United is a tussle with Wexford and Caulfield is delighted to secure another fixture ahead of the return of competitive action when Shelbourne travel Corribside on March 26.
“Absolutely, again it is getting into the pattern of how we play in terms of what we are doing on the training ground,” Caulfield replies.
“Also in terms of the fact we get into a routine about how things will work. Plus the fact that we have had a number of guys out injured - Gary Boylan, Killian Brouder, Ronan Manning, Mikie Rowe, and Stephen Christopher.
“This weekend also gives us a chance to give game time to some of those players. Some of them haven't played at all, they have missed most of pre-season so it is an opportunity to give them game time.
“All these games are good because they are different tests, different challenges, it gives us a chance to give the players more game time.
“Obviously we've had different players coming in during different games. They have all brought what we are trying to do on the training ground on to the pitch.
“So in pre-season we are reasonably happy with the way things are going, if we could start scoring more goals, certainly that is something we need to do.”
