Jittery United not living up to own expectations so far

Treaty United 1

WILSON Waweru is fast becoming something of a supersub after he came off the bench to rescue a point for an off-form Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Park last Friday night to further strengthen an already solid case for a starting place in the coming weeks.

Waweru also scored when introduced from the bench in the 3-1 defeat to Athlone Town a fortnight ago; and let’s not forget that it was his late goal that sealed a 1-0 win for United in the play-off quarter-final against Bray Wanderers last season, after he was introduced to the action in the second-half.

Something is not quite working at Galway United at the moment, and that needs to change – and fast – before it becomes a deep-rooted issue that derails the hopes and dreams laid out for the club at the start of the season.

And it is that which is possibly the issue, the expectation levels at the club after a heavy pre-season recruitment campaign with the intention of mounting a serious challenge for the title.

The problem is, almost every other club invested heavily as well, and while things are going tickety-boo for the new-look Athlone Town, United are playing like a side struggling under a weight of expectation.

That was the case again last Friday night, where there seemed to be a nervousness to their play, while the visitors played with a freedom that suggests they were just delighted to be there in the first place.

The visitors were only confirmed for the 2021 First Division season on Saturday, February 20, which gave manager Tommy Barrett just five weeks to cobble together a squad. United, on the other hand, started announcing signings back in December, but things have yet to click for John Caulfield’s side.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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