This is my favorite Wrexham Podcast. I think it is brilliant that you bring in the perspective of opposition supporters! I look forward to those interviews every week!
Here's my take... cleworth is a bigger deal on the offense side than we thought. His passing and scoring threat really take defenses apart. If that threat is gone, the opponent can tighten up more
thank you for your measured assessment. Spot on. As to Evans, I know both of you are keen, but he is just too injury prone at this point to play an integral part - just like Ford and Mendy. All three have talents, but every time they are played you risk that season-ending injury. Sorry. To me, it was Ford (I'm in Ireland) but I know why he's not in. I do think we need to find a decent sub for Dobson so that he doesn't burn out as we've seen with Lee. Thanks for your videos - I appreciate them.
Yes, it is time to panic. The reason is they are already worn out in the midfield. Nobody up front is scoring goals. Fletcher and Palmer are too old, and once Parky went away from his hot hand, well, it cooled off. They will drop down through the table like a rock until they can maintain some possession instead of just "clearing" the ball all the time. At the start of the season, this was, outside of Dobson, the same team that played together all for the whole season last year. That was a significant advantage over most other teams early on. Mulls has never scored a ton of goals at this level. They have looked in total disarray since the first ten minutes of the Birmingham match. Anything other than a convincing win on Oct. 5th spells doom.
Here are some stats comparing the season's start this year with last year in League 2. The first 9 games in League 1 produced 5W, 2D, 2L for 17 pts. After 9 games last year, Wrexham had 4W, 3D, 2L for 15 pts. Comparing away records only: last year 1W, 2D, 1L, GF 3, GA 7, GD -4; this year 1W, 2D, 2L, GF 3, GA 4, GD -1. Only 1 clean sheet last year in the first 9 games. Already 5 this year, including 3 away.
I experienced European nights on the kop and they were good, but not as charged as the Wales games were! Eg both these matches were Weds evening kick offs and I was lucky enough to be at both games in my mid teens; (Sept) Wxm v Magdeburg, (3-2) 9.8k attendance (May) Wales v W Germany, (0-0) 27k attendance Any game under the floodlights, especially the new ones, has a different feel. To be honest, the home atmosphere (day or evening ko) from the 2021/22 season onwards has more than matched the European nights of old. The 6-5 v Dover or Mullin's extra time penalty winner v Eastleigh two weeks later were some of the best I can remember - right up there with the Wales night games or the two home games v Arsenal, which are the absolute peak of specialness as far as atmosphere goes.
The question on whether the 4 EFL sides are the "good guys" on the Welsh League Cup does depend on the details. If the Welsh League Cup is the last place spot, then as tedious as the UEFA Coefficients are (I mean the numbers, not the Belgian Kraftwerk cover band of that name), they say that it's good for the Prem access to Europe. A few years in, the Welsh Cup spot will start skipping the first round of qualifiers, so basically twice the odds of getting into the Conference League. A few more years in, the Welsh Cup spot will start going into the Europa League qualifiers, where a qualifier tie can be lost on the path to a Conference League ... and that was the secret sauce to TNS getting into the Conference League. It gives the three domestic sides that get to Europe through the Prem champions into the CL qualifiers, the Welsh Cup, and the Prem runners up a better shot. If it also gets better sponsorship for the Welsh League Cup, so a bigger prize pool, so more money across the Welsh Prem, North and South, they'll be better set up to play in Europe.
Cardiff Swansea Newport Wrexham play in the English pyramid and are only able to qualify for European competitions via the Premier league FA Cup or EFL Cup, the only way to do that would be to exit the English pyramid and go back into the crappy WNFL and work the way up to the Cymru Premier. or win the Welsh Cup. You cannot have more chance than any other club with 3 extra ways to qualify.
@@JustMyFish Other clubs in other UEFA member nations participate in one country and qualify through another. Whether or not UEFA will allow it is an open question ... that is what they are seeking from UEFA ... but it would be the same as some other small associations with clubs competing in another country's league. Just like those other clubs in those other small nations, the Welsh EFL clubs would not be eligible to win a place in Europe from English competition (the FA Cup and Caraboa Cup) in any year they are entered into the Welsh League cup with an open route to Europe.
Just so you know Cardiff was granted permission by the EFL to take part in the Welsh Cup, BUT it was on the basis they withdraw from the FA Cup, and EFL cup and dropped out of the EFL returning to WNFL and in accordance with FA guidance being that the runners-up qualify for Europa. Cardiff Swansea Newport Wrexham play in the English pyramid and are only able to qualify for European competitions via the Premier league FA Cup or EFL Cup, the only way to do that would be to exit the English pyramid and go back into the crappy WNFL and work the way up to the Cymru Premier. or win the Welsh Cup.
This is why they are in discussions with UEFA. Obviously they can't do it if UEFA doesn't allow it, but the last decision UEFA made doesn't "prove" what can be done when they are trying to get the same treatment as some other countries in a similar situation. "It's against the rules" is why they are in discussions with the people who make the rules to make a different rule.
On the player choices: I didn't think Fletcher starting would work, I was hopeful for the balance. Evans & Dobson worked well when the switch happened at Orient, but that was with Lee in the mix. Parky'll have the film and see what is happening on the practice pitch, whether there is a change in Dobbo's approach in that role that will let him click in that role and midfield set-up. & on Scarr's performance, he should stay in the squad when Max comes back.
Birmingham fan, I don’t think you’ll do that badly and I think with Peterborough having a bad season for example there could be a chance of a playoff place, a pattern seems to be relying on counters sometimes and with that cleworth threat gone teams seem to just be able to open up far too easily. Maybe a bit of a tactic change and a few players out/in and you’ll be doing better again
I know you guys love Dobson..and I agree a good passer of the ball…but boy hes slow..that slow he’s always late for tackles and giving senseless free kicks away…
Probably could still play in these competitions but with the proviso that should we win we would not be able to qualify for European competitions, that qualifying place going to the last English club in the competition. That's what used to happen in the Welsh Cup - a number of times Wrexham qualified for European Cup Winner's Cup because we were the last Welsh club left in the competition.
It wouldn't be the Welsh Cup if the FA Cup insisted that Wrexham pick it's Association Cup ... but per the BBC, the proposal is the Welsh League Cup, which has already taken EFL wildcards, although ineligible U21 sides. The EFL wouldn't mind though, so playing in the Welsh League Cup would still leave the FA Cup and EFL League (Carabao) Cup open. Fixture congestion would probably mean the EFL (BSM) Trophy would feature even more youth than it has been this year, but that is good for the Academy that serious minutes in a competitive, internationally streamed competition are on offer.
@@JustMyFish No, they don't make Leichtenstein clubs stop playing in Swizterland to qualify through the Lichtenstein Cup, they just cannot qualify through any Swiss competition. If UEFA allows it, any Welsh EFL side raising the FA Cup or Carabao Cup (and I don't think an EFL side has done that this century) would not enter Europe as a result. For that reason, I'd suggest that in the event that a Welsh club is in the PL, it sends an U21 side into the Welsh League Cup, and since they are ineligible for a senior European competition, the English routes to the CL, Europa League and Conference League would not be blocked off.
Hard pass on Europe. Keep the eye on the prize. Getting kicked in the conference league isn’t on my to do list going through a welsh cup. Too many fixtures as it is. Leave it. As for team form, it’s the way of life in the EFL. Good patches followed by shite patches. Stockport had a run of 3 without a win, Mansfield will hit the theirs. Happens every year in every EFL league. Unless your city, this happens
This is my favorite Wrexham Podcast. I think it is brilliant that you bring in the perspective of opposition supporters! I look forward to those interviews every week!
Thanks for taking the time to get opposition fans on, always an interesting segment. Great to hear from you both, as always.
Here's my take... cleworth is a bigger deal on the offense side than we thought. His passing and scoring threat really take defenses apart. If that threat is gone, the opponent can tighten up more
We LOVE your podcast. Well done, Nathan and Rich!
thank you for your measured assessment. Spot on. As to Evans, I know both of you are keen, but he is just too injury prone at this point to play an integral part - just like Ford and Mendy. All three have talents, but every time they are played you risk that season-ending injury. Sorry. To me, it was Ford (I'm in Ireland) but I know why he's not in. I do think we need to find a decent sub for Dobson so that he doesn't burn out as we've seen with Lee. Thanks for your videos - I appreciate them.
Yes, it is time to panic. The reason is they are already worn out in the midfield. Nobody up front is scoring goals. Fletcher and Palmer are too old, and once Parky went away from his hot hand, well, it cooled off. They will drop down through the table like a rock until they can maintain some possession instead of just "clearing" the ball all the time. At the start of the season, this was, outside of Dobson, the same team that played together all for the whole season last year. That was a significant advantage over most other teams early on. Mulls has never scored a ton of goals at this level. They have looked in total disarray since the first ten minutes of the Birmingham match. Anything other than a convincing win on Oct. 5th spells doom.
Here are some stats comparing the season's start this year with last year in League 2. The first 9 games in League 1 produced 5W, 2D, 2L for 17 pts. After 9 games last year, Wrexham had 4W, 3D, 2L for 15 pts. Comparing away records only: last year 1W, 2D, 1L, GF 3, GA 7, GD -4; this year 1W, 2D, 2L, GF 3, GA 4, GD -1. Only 1 clean sheet last year in the first 9 games. Already 5 this year, including 3 away.
I experienced European nights on the kop and they were good, but not as charged as the Wales games were!
Eg both these matches were Weds evening kick offs and I was lucky enough to be at both games in my mid teens;
(Sept) Wxm v Magdeburg, (3-2)
9.8k attendance
(May) Wales v W Germany, (0-0) 27k attendance
Any game under the floodlights, especially the new ones, has a different feel. To be honest, the home atmosphere (day or evening ko) from the 2021/22 season onwards has more than matched the European nights of old.
The 6-5 v Dover or Mullin's extra time penalty winner v Eastleigh two weeks later were some of the best I can remember - right up there with the Wales night games or the two home games v Arsenal, which are the absolute peak of specialness as far as atmosphere goes.
The question on whether the 4 EFL sides are the "good guys" on the Welsh League Cup does depend on the details. If the Welsh League Cup is the last place spot, then as tedious as the UEFA Coefficients are (I mean the numbers, not the Belgian Kraftwerk cover band of that name), they say that it's good for the Prem access to Europe. A few years in, the Welsh Cup spot will start skipping the first round of qualifiers, so basically twice the odds of getting into the Conference League. A few more years in, the Welsh Cup spot will start going into the Europa League qualifiers, where a qualifier tie can be lost on the path to a Conference League ... and that was the secret sauce to TNS getting into the Conference League. It gives the three domestic sides that get to Europe through the Prem champions into the CL qualifiers, the Welsh Cup, and the Prem runners up a better shot. If it also gets better sponsorship for the Welsh League Cup, so a bigger prize pool, so more money across the Welsh Prem, North and South, they'll be better set up to play in Europe.
Cardiff Swansea Newport Wrexham play in the English pyramid and are only able to qualify for European competitions via the Premier league FA Cup or EFL Cup, the only way to do that would be to exit the English pyramid and go back into the crappy WNFL and work the way up to the Cymru Premier. or win the Welsh Cup. You cannot have more chance than any other club with 3 extra ways to qualify.
@@JustMyFish Other clubs in other UEFA member nations participate in one country and qualify through another. Whether or not UEFA will allow it is an open question ... that is what they are seeking from UEFA ... but it would be the same as some other small associations with clubs competing in another country's league. Just like those other clubs in those other small nations, the Welsh EFL clubs would not be eligible to win a place in Europe from English competition (the FA Cup and Caraboa Cup) in any year they are entered into the Welsh League cup with an open route to Europe.
Over an hour before Nath mentioned fantasty football....result !
Good idea having the shortened fantasy football at the end.
Just so you know Cardiff was granted permission by the EFL to take part in the Welsh Cup, BUT it was on the basis they withdraw from the FA Cup, and EFL cup and dropped out of the EFL returning to WNFL and in accordance with FA guidance being that the runners-up qualify for Europa. Cardiff Swansea Newport Wrexham play in the English pyramid and are only able to qualify for European competitions via the Premier league FA Cup or EFL Cup, the only way to do that would be to exit the English pyramid and go back into the crappy WNFL and work the way up to the Cymru Premier. or win the Welsh Cup.
This is why they are in discussions with UEFA. Obviously they can't do it if UEFA doesn't allow it, but the last decision UEFA made doesn't "prove" what can be done when they are trying to get the same treatment as some other countries in a similar situation. "It's against the rules" is why they are in discussions with the people who make the rules to make a different rule.
Max Cleworth looks like a Tolkien elf.
On the player choices: I didn't think Fletcher starting would work, I was hopeful for the balance. Evans & Dobson worked well when the switch happened at Orient, but that was with Lee in the mix. Parky'll have the film and see what is happening on the practice pitch, whether there is a change in Dobbo's approach in that role that will let him click in that role and midfield set-up. & on Scarr's performance, he should stay in the squad when Max comes back.
Birmingham fan, I don’t think you’ll do that badly and I think with Peterborough having a bad season for example there could be a chance of a playoff place, a pattern seems to be relying on counters sometimes and with that cleworth threat gone teams seem to just be able to open up far too easily. Maybe a bit of a tactic change and a few players out/in and you’ll be doing better again
I know you guys love Dobson..and I agree a good passer of the ball…but boy hes slow..that slow he’s always late for tackles and giving senseless free kicks away…
If Wrexham joined the Welsh Cup, would they have to withdraw from the FA Cup or League Cup ?
Probably could still play in these competitions but with the proviso that should we win we would not be able to qualify for European competitions, that qualifying place going to the last English club in the competition.
That's what used to happen in the Welsh Cup - a number of times Wrexham qualified for European Cup Winner's Cup because we were the last Welsh club left in the competition.
It wouldn't be the Welsh Cup if the FA Cup insisted that Wrexham pick it's Association Cup ... but per the BBC, the proposal is the Welsh League Cup, which has already taken EFL wildcards, although ineligible U21 sides. The EFL wouldn't mind though, so playing in the Welsh League Cup would still leave the FA Cup and EFL League (Carabao) Cup open.
Fixture congestion would probably mean the EFL (BSM) Trophy would feature even more youth than it has been this year, but that is good for the Academy that serious minutes in a competitive, internationally streamed competition are on offer.
They would have to withdraw from the hole EFL and join The WNL at the bottom Thats why Cardiff nether joined the Welsh Cup in 1997.
@@JustMyFish No, they don't make Leichtenstein clubs stop playing in Swizterland to qualify through the Lichtenstein Cup, they just cannot qualify through any Swiss competition. If UEFA allows it, any Welsh EFL side raising the FA Cup or Carabao Cup (and I don't think an EFL side has done that this century) would not enter Europe as a result. For that reason, I'd suggest that in the event that a Welsh club is in the PL, it sends an U21 side into the Welsh League Cup, and since they are ineligible for a senior European competition, the English routes to the CL, Europa League and Conference League would not be blocked off.
Hard pass on Europe. Keep the eye on the prize. Getting kicked in the conference league isn’t on my to do list going through a welsh cup. Too many fixtures as it is. Leave it.
As for team form, it’s the way of life in the EFL. Good patches followed by shite patches. Stockport had a run of 3 without a win, Mansfield will hit the theirs. Happens every year in every EFL league. Unless your city, this happens