The defeat at Cork City makes it five defeats and one draw from the last six Premier Division outings for Galway United. The resurgence of Sligo Rovers means that the Tribesmen are in danger of falling into the relegation play-off position.
However, despite the situation appearing bleak, there is enough on show to suggest experienced League of Ireland manager John Caulfield should stay on until the end of the 2025 campaign.
Performances Suggest Results on The Way
Galway United struggled to create many opportunities against Cork City; however, they had multiple efforts on goal and on another day, would have found the back of the net. The Tribesmen have had more shots than each of their last four opponents, suggesting a lack of confidence in front of goal is hindering their forward players.
The team have missed 75% of their big chances created. A minor increase in this statistic would comfortably lift Caulfield’s team clear of the bottom two, but more on their issues in attack later.
Caulfield’s team were built upon their defensive resilience in 2024, but the move to a two-man forward line has had ramifications at the back. They have lost an extra body in midfield, and with top scorer Moses Dyer departing, it may be time to move back to a tried and tested formation.
Galway United have attempted to move to a more expansive playing style; however, that has seen them lose the type of solidity that saw them lose just once in their opening nine matches. Those key figures in the defensive third are still at the club, meaning that capability is still there.
The loss of Dyer may see the management team drop the team deeper, and that should lead to more consistency in results.
Departure of Key Player May Be a Blessing
Moses Dyer scored ten league goals, and he was a real handful for Premier Division defenders. The New Zealand international has moved to Cambodia, and losing a player of his stature will have an impact on any team at this level.
However, his move could be a blessing in disguise as his goals had been masking the problems on show at Galway United. Playing to his strengths had led to the team pushing further up the field, as previously mentioned, to ensure that the star man could get on the ball.
The team had become heavily reliant on Dyer, winning just two matches in which their star man had not had a direct goal involvement.
A focus on playing to Dyer’s strengths has affected the form of last season’s key players, Ed McCarthy and Stephen Walsh. The latter has returned to form, and McCarthy has slowly regained his form since returning from injury in May.
Past Success at Galway United
Caulfield took over with the club stuck in the First Division, and after a couple of top-three finishes, they finally achieved a return to the Premier Division by storming to the title in 2023. Galway United lost just two matches and reached the semi-final of the FAI Cup.
They impressed by claiming a fifth-place finish last season, and based on this success, Caulfield should be afforded time to turn it around. The worst-case scenario is likely a relegation play-off, as despite defeat to Cork City, there is still an eleven-point gap to the Premier Division’s bottom side.
Galway United should be confident of winning a play-off against a First Division outfit, meaning they should retain their place in the top-flight. It appears that the manager may have taken this team as far as he can, but after what he has done for this club, returning them to the Premier Division and almost into Europe last season, he should be allowed to see out the remainder of the campaign.
There is always the chance he may reinvent the team tactically and set them up for another run that sees them move up the table. Whatever happens, a club icon should be allowed to see out the remainder of this season.
