Linfield 2026-27 preview: Blues must learn from mediocre season

Linfield finished fourth last year [Getty Images] A trophy and European football sounds like a successful season on paper but, for Linfield, they will look back at the 2025-26 season as one with plenty of moments to learn from. It was always going to be a tough task for the Blues to follow the previous season when they lifted the Gibson Cup in convincing fashion, but their lack of consistency in the league last year is something manager David Healy will know needs to be rectified ahead of the new campaign. During the summer, Healy was linked with the vacant Shelbourne job, but denied holding talks with the Premier Division defending champions. It has been a busy season with player departures as well with 10 players leaving the side, including five making the move to Ballymena United. Linfield struggled up front last year after Joel Cooper signed for Coleraine so will be hoping new attacking signing Kobei Moore, who joined from the Inver Reds after a spell at Aston Villa, will help solve their goalscoring issue as well as Kieran Offord who had an injury impacted campaign last year. Last year: 4th Manager: David Healy New signings: Ryan Nolan, Dylan Wells, Aidan Galvin, Kobei Moore First five fixtures: Ballymena United (H), Glentoran (H), Cliftonville (H), Limavady United (A), Carrick Rangers (H)