Sense of resignation reigns supreme

Sir Alex Ferguson once said: “Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles - but momentum wins you everything in between.” A misfiring attack, a defence devoid of confidence and a subsequent drought of momentum leaves you in an unenviable position. That’s the exact situation Waterford FC find themselves in.

Week by week, fans travel from ground to ground, twisting through the turnstiles in the hopes that the “lift-off” result will come. The one that means more than the bare three points itself.

There have been more than enough false dawns for that so-called stand-alone success this season. Think of Tolka Park, glory in Galway, Munster Derby magic - but it ultimately counts for zilch.

Momentum has been halted almost instantly every time it seems like new heights are in sight. It’s never been a case of two good results in succession - instead it’s been floundering from one Friday to the next, a rollercoaster of emotions that seems to have the club resigned to a scenario where the stakes couldn’t be any higher. The dreaded relegation playoff looms large, a sense of resignation spreads like wildfire and some harsh truths will have to be told.

Performances haven’t even been that bad, but performances don’t always translate to results - and The League of Ireland Premier Division is a particularly ruthless beast this year. 13 times since February, Waterford FC have been beaten by one goal.

One decisive moment. A mistake, a piece of quality, a slice of luck - whatever it may prove, more often than not - it goes against them rather than for them. Now’s not the time for anyone to feel sorry for themselves and curse their fortunes - it’s time to stand up and be counted.

Derry City were never going to roll over at the RSC on Friday. They’re flying high and they have European ambitions, and maybe just maybe their title hopes aren’t completely dead - two clubs fighting for their lives in polarising circumstances. Once again, the performance - not bad. The result - not good.

No one minds losing a game of football if you’ve worked your socks off, been outdone by superior quality and you walk away with no regrets. Losing games is hard enough, but the manner in which the Blues are losing them is proving a particularly bitter pill to swallow.

St. Patrick’s Athletic away next and then Galway United at home. Weeks ago, everything was about getting to Galway - but even still, it mightn’t count for much anymore. It’ll be Cobh, Bray, UCD, Treaty, Longford, Wexford - that we’ll have to turn our attention to. If acts aren’t gotten together sooner rather than later, they’ll all be very familiar foes. While I know hand on heart that the Blues are a better side than all of the aforementioned, that counts for absolutely nothing once the whistle is blown, as this season proves time after time.

The forwards have created many chances in recent weeks, they just haven’t hit the net enough. They were denied a stonewall penalty on Friday night no doubt and then defensive disaster number 100 of the season handed Derry the points on a plate. I go back to my original point about moments - you either seize them or let them slip.

How many more moments do this group want? More importantly, do they think there’s an infinite supply? Moments to be decisive are fast disappearing - and it’s time to salvage something out of what has transpired to be a dismal and disappointing season.

I don’t want to be negative and let me emphasise that all is not lost yer by any means - but sometimes I do wonder whether there’s a desire to write the story or wait for someone else to take the pen.

I’ve heard far too many permutations - too much concern based on ifs, buts and maybes. Control the controllables, the rest is just noise. Don’t let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do. Let the likes of Sligo and Galway mind their house, because if we spend too long looking at theirs, we might forget our own is on fire.

Matt Lawlor described Friday’s defeat as “seven minutes of nonsense”. Even the most loyal and optimistic of supporters would tell you that it’s been seven months of it. Lawlor has been brought in to be the oracle, a tough task to say the least, but I do agree with his mantra - just look after your own moments, take your opportunity to be decisive in a positive manner. Waterford gift moments to players who don’t need gifts to be decisive, and the blame lies solely in the mirror.

Players like Padraig Amond, Tommy Lonergan, Conan Noonan, James Olayinka - surely you cannot envision a scenario where they’re part of a side that gets relegated. However, they cannot carry the others. Six points from the remaining six isn’t inconceivable, but the fact that that has become a necessity speaks for itself.

This club means a lot to so many people, and there are so many good stories attached to it - but if Premier Division status goes, then I worry what else might disappear with it. The next month is one of the most important in the entire history of Waterford FC. A crossroads where ambitions truly come under the spotlight. The opportunity to go forward was missed, so it’s time now to stay still or sleepwalk backwards.

Despite the infinite sources of frustration, I believe hand on heart that the star quality will prove decisive in the right manner. Maybe they will seize the moment. No one's too good to go down, but it’s a possibility that they have to take the opportunity to extinguish rather than entertain.

The ultimatums, the departures, the soul searching, the celebrations, the tribulations, impending talk of permutations - to be honest, I can’t wait to see the back of the lot of it.

Even if Waterford FC do get the job done and stay up, this season has left us with far more questions than answers.

Make sure the question isn’t how far the drive is to Ballybofey, and answer the criticism on the pitch.