The season started with hope and ended in jubilation - but only because they barely avoided relegation. Dave Robertson's reign didn't last long and Gerard Lyttle was drafted in to save Sligo Rovers from becoming one of three teams to go down to
The season started with hope and ended in jubilation - but only because they barely avoided relegation.
Dave Robertson's reign didn't last long and Gerard Lyttle was drafted in to save Sligo Rovers from becoming one of three teams to go down to the First Division. He achieved that but it was too close for anyone connected to the club to celebrate too wildly.
Sligo simply failed to click as a unit - defensively or going forward. An injury to goalkeeper Micheal Schlingermann hit them hard, while a number of signings struggled to have any notable impact.
There are problems to address in all areas of the pitch, but Lyttle will have the entire off-season to shape his squad and learn from the lessons of last season.
Star Player: Raffaele Cretaro
Anyone who dares to write off the Tubbercurry Tornado is a fool. Cretaro may be heading towards his 17th season with The Bit O'Red but he is in fantastic shape and still maintains that eye for goal, which proved crucial in 2017.
What They Need For 2018
Avoid a shaky start: A winless beginning to the season could make things very difficult for Sligo. They don't want to be falling behind early on as the catch up could be elusive should they tumble far.
A solid backline: Stopping the flow of goals into their own net should be their main priority. Forget about building an attacking team for now, focus simply on shoring things up at the back. They conceded 44 goals last season - 14 at home - so that number needs to come down.
Realistic Targets For 2018
Becoming hard to beat at home: If they can become a stubborn outfit, then Sligo may be able to transform The Showgrounds into a place that few teams will pick points up from. A lot depends on Kyle Callan-McFadden stepping up as a leader, Micheal Schlingermann performing heroics (again), and the likes of Gary Boylan excelling.
Pulling off a few surprise results: It is not beyond Sligo to be a dark horse, in the sense that they could turn a few teams over if they are underestimated going into the clash.
Best Signing Made So Far
David Cawley: It feels like quite a while now, but Cawley was once considered one of the best midfielders in the country. Moves to St Patrick's Athletic and Galway United didn't get that spark out of him but a return to Sligo just might.
