MATCHWATCH : Wrexham (a)

[Pilot_Phonic]

Not sure about that. They are well drilled in a playing style they've been working on for a few years now, have some quality in the first team (with Mullin still to return fully) and a deep squad. There's plenty of dross in this league, if they stay free of injuries to key players, they could definitely make the playoffs.

Agreed. Very organized as I'd expect a Parky side to be.

I hope we never have to watch that kind of turgid crap football that Parkinsons sides play. He has one tactic....lump it into the box to the big fat tall bloke. They may be well organised but they ain't all that. Second half of the season they will be found out.

Wrexham have won 88 league games in the 3 and a bit seasons since Phil Parkinson has been manager, and I don’t think I’ve seen one fan from another team admit that we played well against them.

Goal no.1 was a counter attack and a cross in to the box. Easy as you like. Goal no.2 was a clinical counter attack from our own box in a tight space. and Goal no.3 was your lad falling over and shot from 25 yards, but if you think we just lump it, more fool you. Got out schooled by a Parky masterclass.

[stealthpapes]

yeah, three goals right on the counter attack. Second, Dorsett out of position because he makes the wrong decision on a loose ball and then its all over until it hits the back of the net.

I didn't think we were bad yesterday. A bit lightweight, too willing to whinge at the ref, some good position and angles worked in attack. But when it mattered, Wrexham made it matter.

[Sutekh]

Wrexham much the better team. Much as I'd have expected though given their two seasons of non stop success in the leagues and a good solid team that understands each other and plays with confidence. Didn't really expect anything out of it, though the kids have done well so far from what is the proverbial "season start from hell". Next up, what is going to be another very difficult afternoon against Charlton, still at least the team have their first clear week of the season to devote to training.

[Royal_jimmy]

Agreed. Very organized as I'd expect a Parky side to be.

I hope we never have to watch that kind of turgid crap football that Parkinsons sides play. He has one tactic....lump it into the box to the big fat tall bloke. They may be well organised but they ain't all that. Second half of the season they will be found out.

Wrexham have won 88 league games in the 3 and a bit seasons since Phil Parkinson has been manager, and I don’t think I’ve seen one fan from another team admit that we played well against them.

Goal no.1 was a counter attack and a cross in to the box. Easy as you like. Goal no.2 was a clinical counter attack from our own box in a tight space. and Goal no.3 was your lad falling over and shot from 25 yards, but if you think we just lump it, more fool you. Got out schooled by a Parky masterclass.

They're one of the most oiled sides I can remember. On paper their team is pretty solid/average but as a team they certainly are impressive and full of confidence. I think someone will turn them over soon and they'll fall away a bit.

I'm still annoyed by that game yesterday, especially with the ref and the such poor defending for the first goal. I hope we learn from that. I must say though I really enjoy this style of play, think it suits us and a great base to build a squad around.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Not going to stir up the 2 parky/Wrexham fans by mentioning Phil but we need to remember....

We had just 2 outfield players out there yesterday with much more than a season's experience against a side full of vastly experienced pros who have been together for a couple of years.

We haven't signed anyone for a year and have seen several first team players sold since then to pay the wages.....everyone else in L1 has signed at least 5 players this summer.

IMO we are doing very well to compete as the position is not dissimilar to Bolton a few seasons ago in L1 when they were being slaughtered every week.

Final thing - I like Wing as captain far more the Yiadom, he's more vocal and organising.

[Hound]

Not going to stir up the 2 parky/Wrexham fans by mentioning Phil but we need to remember....

We had just 2 outfield players out there yesterday with much more than a season's experience against a side full of vastly experienced pros who have been together for a couple of years.

We haven't signed anyone for a year and have seen several first team players sold since then to pay the wages.....everyone else in L1 has signed at least 5 players this summer.

IMO we are doing very well to compete as the position is not dissimilar to Bolton a few seasons ago in L1 when they were being slaughtered every week.

Final thing - I like Wing as captain far more the Yiadom, he's more vocal and organising.

I felt fairly enthused despite the result. Played some good stuff, and tbh things didn't quite go our way at times - a couple of loose balls just out of reach, rebounds falling for them etc. 3rd goal for them would be called a foul 9 times out of 10, looked clear contact on Kelvin.

Obviously played into their hands by letting them go 2 up and then they low blocked and we struggled to find a way through - though we still hit the crossbar twice and forced a cracking save from their keeper

As you say considering the circumstances I think we’ve had a strong start to the season. Nothing but praise at this stage for Selles from me

Knibbs is a big loss. Elliott is much improved. Craig has been good but probably time to start Abrefa there

Charlton will be very tough, I’d expect them to be better than Wrexham tbh. Will need a very good performance to take anything from it

[South Coast Royal]

I couldn't watch the game unfortunately but the result wasn't unexpected.

We are a bit of a soft touch and will have to get used to well organised ,more physical sides overpowering us.

The hope for this week is obviously for the takeover to happen but just as importantly for us to keep our best players Wing and Bindon by the time the transfer window closes.

Unfortunately the loan players that I see us linked to tend to be young ball-playing attacking midfield and forward players (we already have plenty of them) when really our need is a couple of stronger full-backs (will Yiadom ever be fit enough for a whole season?) a similar type of midfield ball-winner and the option of a battering ram central striker.

At the moment we are the 2024 version of Gradi's Crewe-a passing team with no other option when of course the better sides at every level of the game all have a combination of ball skill and physical aggression.

This result is a bit of a wake-up call after last Saturday's stroll in the sun but until we can add to the squad we will have to accept that our youngsters, who all look comfortable on the ball, will have to offer more physically because we may not get in enough of that type this season.

BTW Wrexham haven't spent millions , as suggested by another, but have just done what we did in early Pardew times in bringing in known performers at the level we were at-we have done it with Knibbs, Wing and Smith but need more.

[Orion1871]

I couldn't watch the game unfortunately but the result wasn't unexpected.

We are a bit of a soft touch and will have to get used to well organised ,more physical sides overpowering us.

The hope for this week is obviously for the takeover to happen but just as importantly for us to keep our best players Wing and Bindon by the time the transfer window closes.

Unfortunately the loan players that I see us linked to tend to be young ball-playing attacking midfield and forward players (we already have plenty of them) when really our need is a couple of stronger full-backs (will Yiadom ever be fit enough for a whole season?) a similar type of midfield ball-winner and the option of a battering ram central striker.

At the moment we are the 2024 version of Gradi's Crewe-a passing team with no other option when of course the better sides at every level of the game all have a combination of ball skill and physical aggression.

This result is a bit of a wake-up call after last Saturday's stroll in the sun but until we can add to the squad we will have to accept that our youngsters, who all look comfortable on the ball, will have to offer more physically because we may not get in enough of that type this season.

BTW Wrexham haven't spent millions , as suggested by another, but have just done what we did in early Pardew times in bringing in known performers at the level we were at-we have done it with Knibbs, Wing and Smith but need more.

They didn't get Mullin to move from League 1, the summer after he'd just been promoted with Cambridge as League 2 top scorer, to the National League by offering him flowers and chocolates.

I don't begrudge them at all, but they've spent a lot of money to get where they are.

[Snowflake Royal]

Wrexham may not have payed big transfer fees but they've certainly bought success with huge wages for the level they were playing at for players too good for it.

I know they're aging, but Fletcher? McClean?


You don't fly up the leagues like that paying the going rate and being sensible with signings.

[PieEater]

Disappointing result but I thought we actually played ok. Wrexham were clinical with the chances they had whereas we look toothless in attack and ran out ideas.

I really wasn't happy with the stand arrangement, I was near the middle aisle that went down to the front but there was no exit. There was apparently an aisle mid way down the stand but it just looked like another row of seats. Terrible stadium design not helped by poor stewarding that should have kept that exit aisle clear.

Decent prematch in the Royal Oak, it seemed to be Royals takeover with very few Wrexham fans. Getting away wasn't great. The trains to Chester were every hour and when the 1 train turned up it had 2 carriages to fix about 200 or 300 people in.

[windermereROYAL]

We`ve now played 2 of the hardest away games we`re likely to have all season, next up is current leaders Stockport, then Bolton, then relegated Rotherham followed by Barnsley,
That fixture computer hasn`t done us too many favours, but hey we have to play them all sooner or later so best to get them out of the way now.

[Hound]

We`ve now played 2 of the hardest away games we`re likely to have all season, next up is current leaders Stockport, then Bolton, then relegated Rotherham followed by Barnsley,
That fixture computer hasn`t done us too many favours, but hey we have to play them all sooner or later so best to get them out of the way now.

Stockport has been postponed

Have Charlton up next who I reckon may be a good shout for promotion at home

Gets a lot easier from mid Oct onwards on paper

[Snowflake Royal]

Was that Parky's first win against us?

I can only remember that cup game where we took Bradford apart.

I think he left Colchester before they played in the Champ didn't he? And wasn't at, was it Hull, very long?

Did he manage any other cup games, or another short Champ stint?

[Esteban]

Second win against us, according to the Chronicle. Beat us whilst Bolton manager too, apparently. I think I remember the game, but I don't remember him being their manager at the time.

EDIT: Found the link - https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/spor ... parkinson/

[Sutekh]

Second win against us, according to the Chronicle. Beat us whilst Bolton manager too, apparently. I think I remember the game, but I don't remember him being their manager at the time.

EDIT: Found the link - https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/spor ... parkinson/

18 Aug 2018, Reading 0-1 Bolton. One of the first games under the mighty Clement and starring such legends as David Meyler and Marc McNulty.

[Snowflake Royal]

Second win against us, according to the Chronicle. Beat us whilst Bolton manager too, apparently. I think I remember the game, but I don't remember him being their manager at the time.

EDIT: Found the link - https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/spor ... parkinson/

18 Aug 2018, Reading 0-1 Bolton. One of the first games under the mighty Clement and starring such legends as David Meyler and Marc McNulty.

Cheers. Had no recollection of him managing Bolton in the Champ.

[Clyde1998]

Like some others, I don't think we were particularly bad yesterday.

Looking at their goals:

1. Their first goal was far too simple. The right winger had two or three seconds to get the ball in and their attacker was easily able to head home by drifting into the space between Craig and Mbengue (the latter of whom didn't appear to know there was a player there). Supposedly the scorer is 6ft 5, so even if either Craig or Mbengue stayed with him and jumped he probably would've scored.
2. The second goal came after two shouts for a penalty; IIRC, the goal came from the break from the second appeal. The ball again ended up out on the right wing, crossed in and the initial header came off the post. The ball rebounded off the post and the header, before Perreira made a fantastic close-range block and the next rebound was turned home. It felt like a case of the Wrexham players having better anticipation than ours, who seemed overly static in that situation.
3. In the build up to the third goal, it appeared Ehibhatiomhan was pushed over. The ball made its way out to their number eight, who, under no pressure, was able to fire well in to the bottom corner from twenty yards to kill the game. The lack of pressure on the player shooting was very reminiscent of last season, where we seemed to concede a lot from range.
4. Looking at the xG from their goals: goal one had an xG of 0.12; goal two had 0.12 + 0.41 + 0.51 from the three efforts which ended up with the ball in the net and goal three had 0.05; totalling to 1.21. Not quite sure how their total across the game of 1.23 has been arrived at (perhaps using the probability of of the initial chances of the second goals being missed), as FotMob shows their chances individually as adding to 1.53. Either way, using that larger number of 1.53, it implies they created an xG of 0.32 outside their goals or 0.49 outside their second goal; compared to a 0.71 for us.

Our two best efforts of goal came from the Bindon header directly after the second, clipping the top of the bar, and Rushesha's effort which cannoned off the bottom of the bar (and looked to have gone over the line). We had a lot of opportunities where the cross into the box was poor, either being over hit or failing to get past the first man. The were also a lot of opportunities where we spent too long playing short passes around the penalty area, when a much more direct strategy would've created a serious scoring chance. We ultimately didn't really test their keeper at all.

Again, as I mentioned at half-time, the referee was poor. All the 50-50 decisions went Wrexham's way, including the push on Ehibhatiomhan before the third goal. When a similar situation occurred with a Wrexham player, they got a free-kick. The penalty appeal directly before their second (on Bindon), it seemed like he was being held and certainly would've been a free-kick if it wasn't in the penalty area. I can't specifically remember what happened with the first incident with everything that happened to say whether it was a penalty or not.

I did criticise Akande in the first half, but I think he grew into the game. His crossing wasn't good and he had a lot of issues with his first touch in the first half. I'd still have Camara starting if he was fit, but he's certainly an option from the bench. By the end of the game, Akande was certainly no worse than any of our other attacking players yesterday.

Our biggest issue yesterday was (again) the lack of depth to allow us to make meaningful changes. I think of the subs Rushesha had the most impact (notwithstanding him hitting the bar) and was good to see Tuma come on.

I'm most concerned that most of our better players didn't really do much in that game. Smith and Ehibhatiomhan didn't get involved in the right places; Elliott was probably our worst starter; the full backs seemed to struggle. Bindon was probably the only player out there who had a good game. Ultimately, very few players had a bad game though: we controlled the ball for much of the game and limited them to the chances that led to their goals and one(?) other at 3-0. Just felt like one of those days, as opposed to the start of a serious issue.

In terms of the facilities, that away end is probably one of the worst I've been to at this level:

1. The roof stanchion blocks the back three-ish rows from being able to see the whole pitch when standing, which you have to as everyone around you is standing, and you could barely see the whole pitch when seated from the back row (my biggest gripe and absolutely something to remember if we play there again);
2. The back wall had a lot of rust, especially around where there was cabling;
3. There wasn't really a concourse to speak of, just a corridor between the turnstiles with the catering being awkwardly placed in that area and a turn off for the toilets;
4. I'm fairly certain the queue for the catering could easily block entry into the stand depending on how busy it got;
5. The toilets could only house about fifteen people at a time (if you ram people in), where using the two sinks blocks two of the urinal spaces and there was one hand dryer;
6. I don't drink, but apparently no alcohol was served in the away end (probably due to the lack of concourse area); found that ironic given the stand is sponsored by Wrexham Larger;
7. Something I've not come across before: the seats were completely mismatched - not just in terms of colours, but types of plastic. The back of my seat was a smooth, soft plastic, whilst the front was a hard, coarse plastic (that's more of a comment than a problem);
8. Calling the ground an 'international stadium' when it doesn't meet the requirements for international football is a bold move (I don't think international grounds are allowed to have temporary stands and have to have electronic ticket entry); I know they've got ambitions to get that ground hosting international games again, but I think that stand will have to be bulldozed to achieve that (or at the very least, it requires extensive improvements).

[leon]

So in other words it’s a shithole

[Snowflake Royal]

Yeah, in no way was that a 3-0 game other than scoreline. 2-0 probably reasonable. One side was clinical, the other was not.

I do think our players go down too easy at times. And with them being mostly young, mostly technically good and mostly from a big Academy, plus us being recent ex-Champ and to a lesser extent Prem, I think a lot of refs in L1 have us down as soft divers.

But that ref was letting so much go it was crazy. Saying that, there's really no excuse for professional footballers not to be taught to assess how the ref is acting and adapting your game to it.

If the ref's letting things go, you've got to stop dribbling into a crowd and going over easy. If the ref's dishing out cards like confetti and blowing up for everything, you've got to stand off more and jockey less.

[Pilot_Phonic]

Regarding our ground, the stand you're in is a permanent temporary measure - let me explain. Years ago when the kop was opened the away end was always behind the goal. When we played Boston at the end of 2006-07 season, a relegation battle decided who went down and who stayed up, we wanted to cram as many home fans in as possible. Cue a crowd of over 13k for it. When we got relegated, the kop stand was deemed unsafe and our rogue owners didn't want to spend money on it to re-open it, which meant the stand was left to rot. After years of years of being in non-league, and not having the funds to buy quality players to get us promoted, and very few away fans came (Histon brought a whopping 0 fans to our game once) , having a 2 sided home ground was not viable so the stand behind the goal became a home end.

Fast forward to now - we are waiting for everything to fall into place so our kop can get built. The end result will be the fans behind the goal will move to our new kop stand, thus giving the stand behind the goal back to away fans. Once that is complete, then the next phase i'd imagine will be the Yale stand (Wrexham Lager stand). Currently, the Yale stand is showing its age (been up since around '76) so that really does need a lot of tlc/potentially be upgraded.

I know future plans will have the dugouts moved to the other side of the ground - again that was meant to be done this close season but didn't).

At present, we are not allowed to serve alcohol to away fans as the kiosk is in view of the pitch. So you can blame the law/FA rules for that one. Oh, and last I heard was Wrexham Lager isn't even sold in the stand anywhere for home fans either, which is extremely odd!