retired_britty

English Championship – Game Twenty-One: Charlton Athletic v. Wrexham

After dispatching Bolton so handily last week, the optimism has just about hit critical mass for Wrexham, and the local press have been slobbering over us. While I appreciate the kudos as much as anyone else, I really don’t want anyone here to get a big head, and I’ve tried my best to impart to the players a relegation dogfight mentality. I don’t want anyone getting complacent yet. Today’s game is just another chance to ensure safety against a team that is only behind us due to a few bad breaks. Where we managed two wins, Charlton drew twice, leaving us 14-4-2 after 20 games and them 12-6-2.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-1-3-2): Esson; Smith, van de Besselar, Masiello, Overvik; N’Diaye; Hughes, Lodi, Jones; Westcarr, Bradley

It’s Michael and Craig’s turn to lead the line today, while I’m hoping Alain and Andrea can hold off against the always-dangerous Craig Bellamy. However, the problem seems to be their midfield, which, on the whole, is more impressive than ours. With five men stacked, they play a suffocating game, stuffing our attacks at every chance and bringing all six men into attack. N’Diaye does well enough to get infront of Danny Murphy’s cross on 7 minutes, but the ball pings off him and back into the box to one Jason Euell, who whirls and fires a cannonball into the top left corner of Esson’s net. An ignominious start only gets worse after ten minutes, another sweeping attack from Charlton knifing through our defense, as miscommunication between van de Besselar and Masiello allows Bellamy to sneak between them and latch onto Euell’s pass. Ranging backwards, van de Besselar’s tackle is ill-timed, flooring the Welsh international. The ref points at the spot, up steps Danny Murphy, and we’re down two goals in ten minutes, and not looking very professional.

I’m trying to urge the boys to keep their heads and play hard, to work to get the ball off of Charlton as quickly as possible and keep smart positions on the field. We finally manage a break on 14 minutes, Lodi swinging the ball out right for Bradley, who cuts into the area and shapes to shoot before chipping the ball neatly into the six-yard box where Lodi skies unbelievably high, over Hermann Hreidarsson and nods the ball up and over Dean Kiely and into the net, dragging us one back. It’s no easy task though, working a yard of space against a Charlton team that isn’t willing to give one is hard enough, and the few header’s we’re winning aren’t directed anywhere in particular. Only when N’Diaye drills one into midfield for Lodi do we get another chance, the Italian quickly spinning and looping a through ball for Bradley. The American is skilled, but not quite fast enough to keep Charlton from closing him down as he heads towards the net, managing to round Kiely only to have El Kakouri swipe the ball from his feet. Kakouri’s tackle send the ball right to Westcarr trailing the play however, and it’s jubilation on our bench as he slots home to equalize.

The second half starts with us looking more promising, but Charlton are utterly determined. As the minutes pass, we’re getting less and less of the ball, and even our passes are being deflected, cut out, and we can’t string anything resembling a move together. As our passing begins to take on a “hoof it and hope” feel, Charlton take advantage, winning headers and quickly passing around the midfield, leaving our men chasing shadows. A goal is in the offing, as when Bellamy begins a five-man counter-attack, van de Besselar and Smith aren’t pacey enough to keep up on the left wing, allowing Matt Holland to swing a pass to Radostin Kishishev, who leisurely strolls into the box, rounds Esson, and slots home to give Charlton the advantage. It’s only luck and Esson’s hands that prevent a 4th, and when van de Besselar collects his second yellow on 89 minutes, it’s all over.

Final Score – Charlton Athletic 3:2 Wrexham
MoM – Jason Euell

After the game I tell the boys to keep their heads up, and that they have nothing to be embarrassed about. Charlton are a richer, Premiership-caliber team, and we managed to at least give them a real game for 45 minutes, including a two-goal fightback that I didn’t think we had in us. Moreover, we’re still atop the League, and we’ll get another shot at them in our own backyard.

Alain accepts his warning after the game. I need these guys to be able to play hard and tough, and not end up watching a significant part of the game from the bench.

December 10th, 2006

Stephen Hughes’ agent gives me a ring today, and mentions those little words I never, ever, ever like to hear. “Contract negotiations.” The 30-year old midfielder feels that his influence on the team should be rewarded with a new paycheck, given that his will be running out in June of next year. I can’t really deny this, but it’s his payscale that’s killing me. He wants $500K a year, more than enough to make him the highest paid player on the team. I’m rather reticent about handing out such a deal, at least not yet. Even though I have enough flex to do so (we’re happily $1.1M under the club’s current wage bill) I don’t want to start half the players on the team requesting new contracts. Moreover, Stephen is 30, and it’s all downhill from here for your average footballer.

December 11th, 2006

DC United withdraw their offer for Franklin Simek. Oh well.

December 12th, 2006

English Championship – Game Twenty-Two: Wrexham v. Sheffield United

All but to the halfway mark on the year. We’re first, far better than we hoped, and Sheffield is 22nd, staring relegation in the face.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-1-3-2): Esson; Smith, Piqué, Morgan, Overvik; N’Diaye; Hughes, Lodi, Brittain; Cox, Rossi

It’s nice to go from such a cultured and smart team like Charlton to a struggling and desperate team like Sheffield. It gives us the chance to sit back, survey the game and play something without the breakneck pace that frankly, we can’t keep up for 46 games, plus cup-ties. Lodi and N’Diaye are turning back and forth in midfield, sliding passes all around the pitch, leaving Sheffield’s 5-man midfield gasping for breath. Francesco Lodi nearly gives us the lead after 12 minutes, firing a shot from the left corner of the area that fizzes just wide of the right post. We nearly get bitten moments later, Jonathan Forte taking the ball in his own end and striding upfield, before launching a 50-yard pass for Kevin Lisbie, who’s been left appallingly unmarked by both of our central defenders. Lisbie leaves them both in the dust as he runs onto the ball, and side-foots past Esson only to see his shot rebound off the post and into the grateful hands of Esson.

We seem to remember that we’re still trying to get every point we can after this, and begin to play the ball past Sheffield, using Hughes and Brittain to work plays down the wings. The latter helps out in our first strike of the game, playing a one-two with Cox to send the striker free along the right. Running to the byline and then cutting inside of his marker, Cox chips one into the box that is given the tiniest of flick-ons by Lodi, and Giuseppe Rossi happily pounces at the far post, slamming the ball home emphatically. Sheffield shift into a more defensive posture, and, save for a header from Piqué that flies over the bar, the rest of the half is pretty much without any real chances.

The second half is, for a good 20 minutes, much of the same. I bring on Labinot Harbuzi and Michael Bradley as we look for a little extra oomph in attack, but there’s not much coming until 68 minutes, when Paddy Kenny does very well to tip a Harbuzi header around the post for a corner. We exploit the break on 72 minutes through Brittain and Bradley, the pair dragging Sheffield’s stretched-too-thin defense over to the left before Brittain threads a pass straight to Cox. As the striker charges on net, he tries to round Kenny, but puts the ball just a yard too far ahead of himself, giving Kenny a chance to try and get back in net. Cox’s shot is perfectly placed however, and slips just inside the right post to guarantee the win.

Final Score – Wrexham 2:0 Sheffield United
MoM – Richard Brittain

With the win, we stay a point ahead of Charlton and Blackburn for the No. 1 spot.

December 13th, 2006

Stephen Hughes puts pen to paper on the biggest contract we’ve ever given out under my tenure here at Wrexham. $550K a year until 2008, with a $60K signing bonus. I’m not thrilled about the expenditure, but to keep Stephen happy, I’ll live. He’s come to love this club apparently, and I want to foster that as much as I can.

December 15th, 2006

Some good news for everyone who will have to play Blackburn again this season, as they sell off one of their best, Brett Emerton, to Spanish side Celta de Vigo for a healthy $5.2M. This, thankfully, means Blackburn will be a simpler proposition for all their opponents this season. The team has been on a tear, seventeen games without a loss.

December 16th, 2006

English Championship – Game Twenty-Three: Coventry City v. Wrexham

At the halfway point now, the league has just about shaken out into who’s going to be doing what. Coventry City haven’t put together a strong enough run of form to avoid what seems like it will be another season of mid-table mediocrity. We, on the other hand, are looking for those extra few points that will push us over 50, and, in my estimation, grant us assured safety.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-1-3-2): Esson; Smith, van de Besselar, Simek, Overvik; N’Galula; Hughes, Bradley, Brittain; Cox, Westcarr

It’s a matter of revenge today, to go back and beat the team that we let back into the game so easily the last time we played them. Moreover, it’s a chance for Bradley to prove himself to me, taking over in midfield for Lodi while I rest the Italian for a game. It doesn’t pay immediate dividends, Bradley is still young, and a bit easy to knock off the ball if a determined midfielder comes after him, and not fast enough to escape anyone. But he works hard, winning a freekick from 30-yards out when he entices Alexandre to trip him. Up steps Stephen Hughes, and he celebrates his new contract in fine form, arcing a beauty up and over the wall, and then down, just underneath the crossbar and into the net. Bradley gets himself involved once more on 25 minutes, playing a wide one-two with Brittain and dribbling into the middle of the field, just outside the area before slipping an inch-perfect pass past his defender to an unmarked Simon Cox who duly fires home from 10 yards out.

We settle as Coventry, still remembering how they came back last time, slowly begin to try and work their way into a goal. And they should claw one back just before the half when Eddie Johnson fires from 25 yards out, but Esson gets down well and deflects the ball away from the net where it can be cleared.

As we move into the second half, Coventry kick things into second gear, and Esson finds himself getting tested again and again and again. First a looping cross into the box fools our entire defense, allowing Graham Barrett a free header from point blank range. But it’s ill-directed, and Esson’s reflexes are top-notch, tipping the ball over the bar for a corner. And even on the resultant corner, when Alexandre wins his header from close range, Esson is there again to knock the ball away from the opening of the net. He’ll make three more crucial saves before the final whistle blows, including denying Gary McSheffrey in a one-on-one situation in stoppage time to keep Coventry from even pulling some dignity from things, as we grab three more points.

Final Score – Coventry City 0:2 Wrexham
MoM – Ryan Esson

The win, combined with a Blackburn draw and a Charlton loss puts us three points ahead of the opposition, with 52 vital points. Halfway through the season, and we’ve just about assured survival for another season at this level. Now, we can begin to think about what comes next.

December 17th, 2006

Bad news for two of my fellows, as Ian Holloway of Queens Park Rangers and Mark McGhee of Coventry City get sacked today. Too bad for them, especially McGhee, who was only a few converted chances away from having a chance at keeping his job.

Meanwhile, the Champions League prepares for the knockout stages next year, and the draw looks rather interesting. Here’s how it shakes out.

Arsenal v. Ajax
Barcelona v. Chelsea
Besiktas v. Internazionale
AC Milan v. AS Monaco
Parma v. Celtic
Real Madrid v. Borussia Dortmund
Sevilla F.C. v. AS Roma
Valencia C.F. v. Borussia Monchengladbach

There’s quite a bit of drool over the Barcelona v. Chelsea tie. It’ll be two of the highest scoring teams in the competition this season facing off, teams who have spent $90M this season on new faces. Most importantly though, it’ll be a rematch of last year’s final, a game Chelsea was unfortunate to lose. Needless to say, the media’s agog over this one.

December 23rd, 2006

English Championship – Game Twenty-four: Wrexham v. Plymouth Argyle

Twenty-three games gone, twenty three more to go including today’s return engagement against a Plymouth team we defeated 2-0 at Home Park. Since then they’ve made bids on our players, and added Steve Sidwell to their ranks, and are currently enjoying a 10-game unbeaten run. We’re unbeaten at home this year, so I’d imagine the players aren’t looking to give that up.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-1-3-2): Esson; Smith, van de Besselar, Simek, Overvik; N’Galula; Hughes, Lodi, Brittain; Cox, Bradley

Respect is vitally important on the pitch, in the sense of the other team giving it to you. If other teams are scared of you, or at least certain players on your team, you can work a lot extra flexibility on the pitch, and probably end up putting your opponents into a hole before they can really react and try to take you down. So it’s good that Plymouth are giving Simon Cox so much space when the game begins, allowing him to test Romain Larrieu’s reflexes a mere two minutes into the proceedings with a bending shot from the edge of the area that the Frenchman anticipates beautifully and bats wide of the post. Cox fires again from closer on 8 minutes, but Larrieu is there again to cover the ball and punt it back upfield.

On 12 minutes, Hughes delivers a short corner for Brittain, that the normally right-footed midfielder traps, and turning just inside of the area, chips into the six-yard box with his weaker left foot. Larrieu isn’t aggressive enough playing it, and Simon Cox nips in just ahead to head the ball into a yawning net and give us an early 1-0 lead.

We squander no end of chances for the nest 40 minutes, Cox, Hughes and Lodi all missing from near impossible-to-miss ranges, Lodi unfortunate to have been denied a goal on 39 minutes when his shot clacks off the outside of the post and out of play. Our profligate ways infront of net nearly hurt us when just after the interval, Matthias Svensson dribbles right past Simek to go one-on-one with Esson, and fires the ball past our keeper, only to see it rebound off the post and be cleared away from the net. Ex-Wrexham man Chris Llewellyn nearly ties it himself on 72 minutes, his close-range header wonderfully beaten away by Esson and cleared away again. Thankfully, on 77 minutes, we finally get what we need, as substitute Labinot Harbuzi slides a beautiful pass right to the penalty spot for Cox to take and jink right between the diving Larrieu and the sliding challenge of Graham Coughlan, walking the ball into an empty net. Another good performance from our best offensive player, and thankfully, another three points.

Final Score – Wrexham 2:0 Plymouth Argyle
MoM – Simon Cox

The win maintains our four point advantage over Blackburn, pushing us to 55 points so far this year. We’ve just about ensured survival, and now, given our run of form, we can begin to turn our minds to other things that we could achieve this year. Nothing’s set but now, just about anything’s a possibility.

retired_jackieschmitz

Awesome story, Pred.

retired_britty

December 26th, 2006

December 26th, 2006

English Championship – Game Twenty-Five: Gillingham v. Wrehxam

This is always one of the toughest parts of the year in England. We’ve got to play three games in six days, followed by two back-to-back visits to Loftus Road to take on Q.P.R. Someone from the youth team may find themselves taking their bow if legs get too tired. For now however, we’ve got to focus on Gillingham. So dangerous last year, Gillingham are 18th this season, and last year’s danger man, Marino Keith is having a much different season, different for the worse. A little squad shuffling to keep legs fresh is needed today.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-1-3-2): Esson; Smith, Masiello, Morgan, Overvik; N’Diaye; Hughes, Harbuzi, Jones; Westcarr, Walker

With a mostly revamped attack looking to take it to Gillingham, the first few minutes of this contest are rather experimental on our end, as we begin to try to figure out ways to get our offense clicking in the manner that we prefer. But, with a little determination and smarts, we work out our first chance of the fixture on 12 minutes, Harbuzi’s pass allowing Westcarr to trap the ball on the run, playing it right past Chris Hope before attempting to cheekily chip Allan McGregor, only to see the ball land on the roof of the net. A waste. Gillingham waste no time firing back though, Esson diving to his right to collect a free-kick that was nearly net-bound.

Marino Keith, while having an off year and aging, still has enough of his abilities to be a danger apparently though, and showcases that fact on 26 minutes, slipping and then muscling past Masiello to surge into the box before ripping a blast on net that only Esson’s fast reflexes keep from finding the net. Just before the half, we get a chance of our own, Hughes curling in a freekick that, of all people, Craig Morgan meets at the near post with a thumping volley that McGregor can only palm into his own net. It’s an unexpected goal, but I don’t think anyone will say no.

There isn’t much for the first 20 minutes or so of the second half, as I give Enis Turkovic and Mirko Talaga their bows as Wrexham players, bringing the pair on as subs, along with Emil Halfredsson. Thankfully, Gillingham are as bereft of ideas as we are, and aren’t threatening in the least. On 73 minutes, when Westcarr slides a pass into the attacking third for Turkovic, with all four Gillingham defenders back, there doesn’t seem to be much in it, but Turkovic swings the ball out left for an entirely unmarked Stephen Hughes, who strides clean into the box and fires the ball. Sadly, McGregor is there to bat the ball down and away, but Hughes is first to the rebound, knocking it into the back of the net.

Gillingham claw one back in stoppage time, Ryan Nelsen blasting one perfectly into the top-corner from the penalty spot, but all we have to do is wait for the final whistle.

Final Score – Gillingham 1:2 Wrexham
MoM – Allen McGregor

The win maintains our lead at the top of the standings, as Blackburn continue their run of spectacular form. We’ll play them at the end of January, and that match is beginning to loom larger and larger in our future.

December 28th, 2006

Michael Overvik finally succumbs to injury in training today, spraining his wrist. It’ll keep him out for a week, meaning he’ll miss our next two matches. While Michael Walsh can play the right, he’s not getting better, and Mirko Talaga has spent the past year in our reserves preparing. He deserves a shot.

Shaun Goater finally sets a date for his retirement today, deciding he’ll bow out of the game at the end of the season. He’s been quite loyal to the club so, if we aren’t in a points-needed position, I’ll try to make sure he gets a run-out at the end of the season.

December 29th, 2006

Alex Smith’s contract is set to expire in another six months time. However, he is 30, and sadly, he’s not getting any better. While he’s put on some good performances this season, some of the deficiencies in his game can’t be ignored for much longer. Alex has been here for a lot, but deciding whether he stays is going to be rather tough. I’ll decide on his future closer to the end of the year.

December 30th, 2006

English Championship – Game Twenty-Six: Brighton & Hove Albion v. Wrexham

This season could not have possibly gone worse for the players at Brighton. In 25 matches, they are 1-3-21, six points from 25 games. They’ve scored thirteen times in all year, outscored by 49 goals. Nothing whatsoever has gone right for the club from East Sussex. Short of a miracle of epic proportions, relegation is an unavoidable absolute. And we’re not looking to help.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-1-3-2): Esson; Smith, van de Besselar, Simek, Talaga; N’Diaye; Hughes, Lodi, Brittain; Cox, Rossi

The opening 45 minutes today are nothing but one-way pressure, as we run circles around Brighton. Everyone but their goalkeeper, Ben Roberts. We pepper him with eight shots on target in the opening part of the game, in all shapes and sizes, yet are unable to get the one that we need past his outstretched palms. A Hughes freekick is tipped around the post, Cox crashes a header against the post, Lodi sees a spectacular 25-yard shot tipped over the bar, and Rossi’s close-range blast smacks Roberts right in the chest. Given that Brighton haven’t even taken a shot once 45 minutes have passed, we walk off the pitch feeling immensely frustrated at our ineptitude, and inability to just put the ball into a such a reasonably (large) target.

The second half isn’t much of a change from the first in terms of possession, Brighton are winning a third of the headers they’re going up for, but we’ve finally found our shooting boots. Lodi gets our just rewards on 50 minutes, charging onto a Cox flick-on at midfield and barreling upfield before ripping an unstoppable shot past Roberts to finally put us on the board. From there, the floodgates open, Cox tallying next, drilling a beauty inside the right post from five yards out to ostensibly put things out of reach. Lodi takes control from there, tallying a blockbuster 25-yarder, a side-footed close-range finish and a unmarked header to give himself four great goals and us another three points.

Final Score – Brighton & Hove Albion 0:5 Wrexham
MoM – Francesco Lodi

Considering how pedestrian Lodi looked the last time he played, this is the best kind of return fixture he could’ve produced. We stay ahead by three points, as Blackburn win again, while Brighton now finds themselves 15 points away from safety, and not looking like they’ll make it.

January 1st, 2007

Sadly, I had to curtail the players New Year’s celebrations a bit, but I still give them all enough time to go out and have a drink or two on the town. 2006 is gone past and 2007 is upon us, with Euro 2008 now approaching closer and the 2006 World Cup fading into the past. The season is approaching the 30-game mark, and with the transfer window re-opening, teams will be looking in earnest to start re-tooling and preparing for the second half of the season.

Awards get announced today, here’s how they look…

World Footballer of the Year: Samuel Eto’o (FC Barcelona)
World Player of the Year: Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan)
European Footballer of the Year: Vicente (Valencia C.F.)
European Goalkeeper of the Year: Marcos (Internazionale)
European Defender of the Year: Fábio Aurélio (Valencia C.F.)
European Midfielder of the Year: Vicente (Valencia C.F.)
European Striker of the Year: Samuel Eto’o (FC Barcelona)

More locally, Simon Cox is voted the Championship’s Player of the Month for December, while Mark Hughes of Blackburn pips me for the Manager of the Month award.

Transfer-wise, the year opens with a bang, as Xabi Alonso makes his third move in as many years, leaving the surroundings of Real Madrid for the Mediterranean wonder of Valencia today, with Valencia paying out $46M for his services.

English Championship – Game Twenty-Seven: Wrexham v. Watford

I wish I could say our current five-game winning tear had put us in a fortified position at the top of the League, but Blackburn have been keeping the pace all the way, waiting for us to slip so they can make it an even closer race. Now that expectations here in Wrexham have shifted away from relegation survival, and towards the very real possibility of the playoffs or promotion, keeping pace is necessary.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-1-3-2): Esson; Smith, Morgan, Masiello, Piqué; N’Galula; Halfredsson, Harbuzi, Jones; Bradley, Westcarr

There’s nothing in this one. There’s less than nothing in this one. The length of the game is only made bearable by a few things, first of wich being the knowledge that Michael Bradley, while having talent, is not a replacement for Cox yet, as the American manages to squander five shots, only managing to get one on target. Thankfully, Labinot Harbuzi is still very, very good, and he proves as much after 32 minutes, blazing a 30-yard freekick into the net with his right foot. We experience a good deal of defensive frailties as the game moves on, mostly from the inexperienced and overwhelmed-looked Mahiri Sabandar, who comes on as a sub in the second half. However Watford’s finishing is as poor as I’ve ever seen this year, and we swipe three more points.

Final Score – Wrexham 1:0 Watford
MoM – Labinot Harbuzi

We’re all the way up to 64 points with today’s win, while Blackburn finally drop one, succumbing to Cardiff at Ninian Park 2-1, leaving us six points ahead at the top of the table. For the first time all year, we have a serious cushion to play with. It’s been a spectacular season up to this point, above and beyond what anyone could’ve possibly expected. We are for all intensive purposes safe from relegation, and now, with the multi-million dollar carrot of Premiership play at the end of the stick… well, even I’m beginning to dream.

January 4th, 2007

Middlesbrough bid on Simon Cox today, asking if they can have him for $7.2M and send reserve striker Simon Hayes our way. The answer is, of course, no, as unless they’re willing to give us Stuart Downing, Cox isn’t leaving. Simon, however, apparently isn’t thrilled when he hears news of my having rejected the bid from Middlesbrough, so my staff reports to me in the evening. A disgruntled star striker isn’t something any club needs, but Simon is enough of a professional (I hope) not to start bagging it on the field, which will certainly lead to some major friction between myself and him.

Meanwhile, Albert Luque gets to add another “ex-“ to his repartee today, as he becomes an ex-Real Madrid player, leaving the Santiago Bernabeu for the Nou Camp in a highly controversial $41M move. Since leaving Deportivo in 2005, Luque hasn’t been all that good for Madrid, only scoring sixteen times in well over 50 starts. His arrival at Barcelona may mean wayward England striker Michael Owen may have to find a new home. It’s too bad we can’t afford him, or I’d roll out the red carpet for the player who has been on a hellish exile ever since leaving Liverpool.

January 6th, 2007

Aston Villa come in with a $8.6M bid on Simon Cox. I refuse again, which won’t make him any happier, but I want to try and hang onto Simon until the end of the season. Once the year is over, I’ll start entertaining serious bids about his future.

English FA Cup – Third Round: Queens Park Rangers v. Wrexham

Well be spending the next 180 minutes getting reacquainted with Q.P.R., in lieu of extra time. We’re playing them back to back, away fixtures no less, games that I truly wish I could make happen in, say, a month. Or never.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-1-3-2): Esson; Simek, van de Besselar, Masiello, Morgan; N’Diaye; Hughes, Lodi, Brittain; Cox, Westcarr

The game opens in our favor, Lodi testing Generoso Rossi’s reflexes within a minute of the start, blasting a shot from midfield that Rossi neatly collects at the left post. We’re looking really, really fresh for the first time in a long time on the pitch, and as such, are putting on a quite good display. Q.P.R. are reacting rather than trying to set the pace of the game, leading us to create a number of chances from the get-go. We really should take the lead after 14 minutes, when Lodi belts a 30-yard pass upfield for Cox, who immediately speeds past his marker to control the ball, only to have Marcus Bean come racing back to hack the ball clear. As the game progresses, Q.P.R. finally begin to settle, Danny Shittu flashing a shot just wide of Esson’s right post, and then Paul Warnock firing right into Essons chest from 15 yards.

Not taking your chances when they come has a habit of biting you right in the end and, on 35 minutes, we’re the ones doing the biting, as Hughes whips in a left-wing cross that Cox meets at the near post, nodding it past the outstretched hands of Rossi and into the net. With Simon apparently determined to make sure his suitors know he’s worth his $10,000,000 Release Clause, he pops up again just after the half to nod home another Hughes cross, increasing his season total to an astounding 20 goals. Giuseppe Rossi comes on as a late sub for Westcarr and puts one past his namesake on 78 minutes as Q.P.R. squander any real chance of getting back into the match.

Final Score – Queens Park Rangers 0:3 Wrexham
MoM – Simon Cox

The win snatches us $90K and passage to the Fourth Round, but after the game, the questions are, as always, about Simon. Another sterling performance has the media asking the tough questions about whether we really have an honest chance at keeping one of the highest-rated strikers outside of the Premiership in Wrexham red. I’ve been trying to keep mum on the issue, but I do admit that there’s a certain possibility that we will have to wave goodbye to Simon sometime in the near future, unless he and the club can come to a new agreement (one I feel may be worth a great deal of money). Suddenly, DC United’s repeated attempts to grab Franklin Simek for Santino Quaranta don’t seem so bad…

January 5th, 2007

It’s one after another for Simon Cox, as Liverpool, of all clubs, come in with a bid today. This is a massively difficult decision. Do I continue to frustrate and alienate our star striker, or do I acquiesce and try to cash in on his talent?

If he’s going to go, I’ll try and get him to go high, and tell Liverpool it’ll be a cool $20M for Simon Cox.

January 6th, 2007

The 4th-Round FA Cup draw is today, and I’d like to avoid any Premiership competition, so I’m thrilled to hear we’re drawn against Brighton. There’s noone better to play in a cup game than a team that hasn’t gotten anything right domestically.

January 10th, 2007

The jig, it seems, is up. While Liverpool rescind their bid on Simon Cox, Manchester City come steaming right in, bidding exactly $10M on our star striker, which meets his Minimum Release Fee clause. I’m forced to accept the offer, much to my disapproval, and immediately place a call to Simon’s new agent, to talk contract. Simon’s Mr. 10% says he isn’t interested in playing in Wrexham and feels he has achieved all he can here, but I still slap down a contract that will just about break our bank. $1.5M a year, with a $500K signing bonus. It would be, by far, the biggest contract we’ve ever handed out, but I have a dire feeling that Manchester City’s going to trump it.

January 13th, 2007

English Championship – Game Twenty-Eight: Queens Park Rangers vs. Wrexham

Despite all this transfer talk, we’ve got to worry about the immediate season ahead of us now. We’re nearing the 30-game mark and with seventy points in our sights, the chance of a good end-of-year finish is the carrot on the end of the stick.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-1-3-2): Esson; Smith, van de Besselar, Masiello, Overvik; N’Galula; Hughes, Lodi, Brittain; Bradley, Westcarr

I feel all too familiar with Q.P.R. at this point, but that’s going to come with the job, as we walk out onto the pitch for the game today. Q.P.R. aren’t all that familiar with us apparently though, their five-man midfield caught all standing as watching at the midfield line, as Lodi takes a pass from Smith and gallops 20 yards upfield before sliding a pass right through Rangers’ three-man backline that allows Michael Bradley to fire from the edge of the box as Rossi comes charging out, rolling the ball right along the ground and into the right side of the net for the lead after 51 seconds. With their five-man midfield trying their best to impart a level of control over proceedings, Q.P.R. waste a golden opportunity mere minutes later, a scramble on the right wing allowing a looped pass upfield to find Kevin Miller who, darting along the right side of the area crosses perfectly for Kevin Gallen. Gallen hesitates however, firing in a rush as Masiello comes to challenge, and his shot is lacking, striking Esson in the chest and well-saved.

With Q.P.R. rarely getting back on defense and frequently leaving their back three alone to do the defending on half of our offensive chances, we’re cutting out more and more space and getting more and more chances with every minute of game time that passes. When Bradley and Brittain work a one-two on the right flank, the American’s smart cross into the box is caught by Hughes who, with Q.P.R. outnumbered 4-3 in the box, opts to take it for himself, slotting from an angle into the right side of the net rather than pass, putting us up by a brace.

As has defined a great deal of their season, once Q.P.R. are down, they’re out, and don’t look threatening again over the next 45 minutes. Esson is left to the major duties of taking backpasses and hoofing the ball back upfield while Lodi and Bradley go stark-wild at the other end, the American scoring a happy second in style on 57 minutes, chasing down a long through-ball from Brittain and dribbling towards net, only to overshoot the ball by a yard with his step, having to hook his right foot back and flip a half-shot half-chip that just zips past a surprised Rossi for our third of the day. Mark Jones comes on as a sub and scores one on 89 minutes, dribbling a circle around Rossi before scoring, but it’s beyond doubt then.

Final Score – Queens Park Rangers 0:4 Wrexham
MoM – Francesco Lodi

I’m left with a smile after this win, not just because it gives us 67 points and keeps us in the lead, but because if Simon Cox leaves, I now can feel like we’ve got other people in the team who can score. I really, really, really hope that Michael Bradley can find his shooting boots, and that Craig Westcarr can continue being a great No. 2 option.

About that lead. It’s up to eight points now, as Blackburn’s draw and Charlton’s loss allow us to surge even further up the ladder. Nothing’s set in stone yet, of course,

January 16th, 2007

All the big clubs seem to get their most desperate at this time of year. That end-of-season optimism is gone and has been replaced by Mid-Season fear. Liverpool, currently 13th in the Premiership and not looking like they’ll be getting any better are bitten by the spending bug, blowing $20M on Barry Ferguson in order to shore up a midfield that has looked shaky at best since the sale of Steven Gerrard to Chelsea. This after having sold Leo Franco to AC Milan and having given the No. 1 job back to Jerzy Dudek. Crazy times on Merseyside.

With Ivorian striker Aruna moving to Deportivo and Thiago Motta leaving Barcelona for Zaragoza, one of the better deals made this year gets left out. Well, at least, in my opinion. We seal a brand new contract today with Salomon Kalou, who will join the club on a Bosman in July from Feyenoord. Kalou, the younger brother of Bonaventure Kalou who is currently lighting it up at Auxerre, will be our insurance plan in case the club should lose the services of Richard Brittain over the summer, which is seeming an increasing possibility. The 21-year old right-winger has never quite broken into the Feyenoord first team, and, in order to get some first-team play, has agreed to join us in Wales next year on a $280K a year contract.

January 20th, 2007

As I’ve said before, success comes at a price. Newcastle inquire about Franklin Simek today, and I set the going price at $500K. With van de Besselar and Masiello always looking better, and Morgan still developing into a better and better player, we could afford to lose one central defender.

English FA Cup – Fourth Round: Brighton & Hove Albion v. Wrexham

Only one change to the team that beat Q.P.R. a week ago as we look to progress to the fifth round of the competition in February. Of all the teams to take on, Brighton would be one of my first choices, given their ineptitude this season, still sitting on one win in the League. But cup games are always a different proposal, especially cup games on the road.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-1-3-2): Esson; Smith, van de Besselar, Masiello, Overvik; N’Galula; Hughes, Lodi, Brittain; Bradley, Rossi

In short, our strike-rate needs a bit of work after this one. The possibility of losing Cox really isn’t something I’m happy about, as Lodi, while immensely skilled, operates best with another striker out there to draw attention away from him. Bradley is having yet another trademark profligate game infront of net, blazing wide from 10 yards out to nearly incite me to violence. But, thankfully, Lodi still has that cannonball of a shot from long distance that causes so many keepers trouble. After two of those and a freekick from Hughes, we can at least rest assured that we’ve gotten reasonably far in the competition.

Final Score – Brighton & Hove Albion 1:3 Wrexham
MoM – Francesco Lodi

Despite winning $130K for the victory, after the game, the inevitable news is announced. Simon Cox, who I left off the teamsheet until his situation is resolved, rejects our contract offer and opts instead for the bright lights of the Premiership and 5th-placed Manchester City. Admittedly, it’s a club-record $10M fee that we’ll be picking up but we’re losing our best striker, the fulcrum of our offense, and who knows what else. The fans aren’t happy, I’m not happy, but we couldn’t avoid it. I’m thrilled we had him as long as we did.

Players Out – Wrexham Stats:
Simon Cox (19 y/o, English, S C): 38 (14) apps, 49 goals, 20 asts, 12 MoM, Av. R: 7.92

retired_britty

So here's how the league looks currently...

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Holders - West Ham| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Wrexham | | 28 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 68 | 20 | +48 | 67 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Blackburn | | 28 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 51 | 20 | +31 | 59 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Charlton | | 28 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 51 | 22 | +29 | 58 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Fulham | | 28 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 54 | 18 | +36 | 57 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Millwall | | 28 | 16 | 5 | 7 | 45 | 26 | +19 | 53 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Bolton | | 28 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 55 | 32 | +23 | 52 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Ipswich | | 28 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 45 | 24 | +21 | 49 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Crewe | | 28 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 36 | 27 | +9 | 47 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Stoke | | 28 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 30 | 24 | +6 | 45 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | West Brom | | 28 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 38 | 28 | +10 | 43 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Bristol C | | 28 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 32 | 35 | -3 | 41 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Plymouth | | 28 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 25 | 33 | -8 | 35 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Burnley | | 28 | 9 | 5 | 14 | 38 | 45 | -7 | 32 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Coventry | | 28 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 28 | 36 | -8 | 32 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Watford | | 28 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 38 | 46 | -8 | 31 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Wigan | | 28 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 25 | 34 | -9 | 31 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Gillingham | | 28 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 31 | 39 | -8 | 30 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Q.P.R. | | 28 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 25 | 40 | -15 | 27 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Reading | | 28 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 24 | 42 | -18 | 27 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Cardiff | | 28 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 25 | 52 | -27 | 26 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 21st | | Nottm Forest | | 28 | 6 | 7 | 15 | 33 | 55 | -22 | 25 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22nd | | Sheff Utd | | 28 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 21 | 39 | -18 | 24 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 23rd | | Walsall | | 28 | 5 | 7 | 16 | 19 | 42 | -23 | 22 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 24th | | Brighton | | 28 | 1 | 3 | 24 | 14 | 72 | -58 | 6 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_britty

January 21st, 2007

Leeds come in with a $2.8M deal for Richard Brittain, along with a promise that we’ll get 40% of his next sale. Again, I say nay. I’m not losing two great players in a week.

The better news today is that the influx of new money into the club from Simon’s transfer has left us flush, or, as they say in some circles, with “mad cheddah”. Suffice to say I’ve been given some $8M to blow between now and the end of the season, unless of course I’d like to save some, and I’ve been informed that it would be “very nice” if I could. First on my list is replacing Alex Smith and seeing if we can find an upgrade for Ryan Esson.

January 22nd, 2007

The Fifth Round of the FA Cup is drawn today, and the news is way, way, way less than good. We’ll be heading to London and Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal, a tall order if there ever was one. Arsenal just hammered Coventry 4-0 with their reserve side in their last fixture, and frankly, I’d have liked to avoid them until we were as big as Real Madrid.

January 23rd, 2007

So the first stone turns over. Marcus Tudgay, who we’ve been in negotiations with for literally, weeks now finally puts pen to paper on a new contract that will bring him to Wrexham for the immediate future, and hopefully fill a little of the gaping hole that Simon Cox has left. I don’t expect him to truly fill the void, but the healing can now begin.

Players In:
Marcus Tudgay (23 y/o, English, S C)

English Championship – Game Twenty-Nine: Wrexham v. Walsall

Another day, another game, this one a Tuesday fixture after our game on Saturday, which, if I haven’t mentioned, I loathe. On the upside, it’s against 23rd-placed Walsall, and it gives me a chance to run out the youngsters again, and see how they fare against some real competition.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-1-3-2): Esson; Ferradj, Simek, Piqué, Sabandar; N’Diaye; Halfredsson, Harbuzi, Jones; Tudgay, Lancaster

I’m sure, at kickoff, the fact that the oldest player in our squad is 26-year old Ryan Esson will work against us somehow, but as Walsall get things started, it’s too late to worry about that. With Walsall banging around in midfield, the team looks as young, inexperienced and uncut as they are, but the defense is holding. David Bellion really should score when Simek slips, allowing him a one-on-one chance with Esson but his shot is atrocious and goes a good yard wide. We don’t manage to fashion our first chance until 34 minutes, Tudgay firing well-wide from 25 yards.

As the second half begins, we’re looking a bit more solid and assured, winning two consecutive corners early on. But when Harbuzi delivers it into the box, Piqué, of all people, is there to trap the ball, spinning and firing a speculative shot that shouldn’t make it on net. But Sean Rudd’s outstretched leg redirects the ball right into the roof of the net, and like that, we’re celebrating the opener.

I’ve done my best to give the team a future, by bringing in some new talent to the youth team that my scouts do like, and high on that list is Curtis Allen, who I bring on for Tudgay. I’ve heard his upside described as both limited and limitless, so it’s nice to see the latter appear on 65 minutes, latching onto a pass from Lancaster in midfield, skipping past Julian Bennett and charging upfield, working his way into the box before firing a perfectly placed shot across the face of goal and into the left side of the net to ensure three points.

Final Score – Wrexham 2:0 Walsall
MoM – Mark Jones

After the game it’s congratulations all around for our youngsters, with especially high marks for Ferradj, Sabandar and Allen, all of whom performed particularly well when called upon.

We’re on 70 points exactly with the win. I figure, based on the last two years of finishes here, if we can get to at least 80 points, we’ll have assured a playoff place, if not a second straight promotion. Of course, in those last two seasons, no teams finished with 10 or less losses. Currently, there are 13 teams with 10 or less losses. So, short of the rest of the League forgetting how to play, we have a eight-point cushion, but a long way to go still.

January 24th, 2007

It never ends. We can’t have a player of skill without someone interested. Today it’s Lyon asking about Francesco Lodi. We really can’t afford to lose our top two goalscorers at this point in the season, so I flat-out reject their inquiry. Word, as it always does, filters its way to Lodi, who storms into my office later in the afternoon, demanding to know why I rejected Lyon. I inform him because we need him here if we’re going to make the Premiership, but that isn’t good enough for the Italian, and he leaves in a huff.

Since I’ve had to fend off approaches for half of my best players already, I immediately place a call to Martin Overvik’s agent, asking about getting him to ink a new contract. They’re asking for $800K a year, which is steep, but right now, just for the security of it, I’m willing to stretch.

January 25th, 2007

Someone at Old Trafford apparently has been relying on hype, as Manchester United shell out $51M for Tottenham’s Robbie Keane, the biggest move of the transfer window thus far. Admittedly, Keane wasn’t having a bad season, with 11 goals through 33 appearances, but $51M good? I wouldn’t have paid that much. What Steve Bruce and Co. have up their sleeves is beyond me, but obviously, they wanted a front line to compete with Arsenal and Chelsea. Now they feature the foursome of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo and the aforementioned Keane. (Louis Saha is still part of the team, admittedly, as a backup to the backups.)

January 27th, 2007

English Championship – Game Thirty: Blackburn Rovers v. Wrexham

The preamble to today’s fixture is that Francesco Lodi has strained his groin during the warm-up, arguably the worst possible time to do so. I have to pencil in Mark Jones as a replacement, with Harbuzi too tired.

Blackburn may be eight points behind us, but they’re still the same team that fought us to a 0-0 draw back in August. Well, really, we fought them to a 0-0 draw. They are still a Premiership-caliber team, They’ve lost Brett Emerton but gained David Vaughan from Reading, and Robbie Savage is still as tenacious as ever in midfield. The hope is, with Paul Gallagher injured, that our defense will hold up against Paul Dickov and Matt Jansen, and that the wings can stay secure.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-5-1): Esson; Smith, van de Besselar, Masiello, Overvik; N’Diaye, N’Galula; Hughes, Harbuzi, Brittain; Walker

The first bit of good news today is that the Blackburn team trot out to play without Robbie Savage, who knackered himself in the warm-up. However, Blackburn are better than us, so we’re fighting them today like any smart team in our position would. By throwing 9 or 10 men behind the ball at a time. My instructions to the team are an anathema to the attacking, fast-flowing game we usually play. I want crunching tackles, a wall infront of the net, and to try and intimidate a Blackburn team that is a good deal stronger (talent-wise and physically) than us. Alex Smith lets this form of defense get the better of him though, and after just three minutes, his flying two-footed challenge on Jonathan Douglas grabs him his first Red Card of the season and an early bath. He hadn’t even touched the ball yet.

Despite this, as we drop even more men into defense, we’re holding against Blackburn’s attack. With so many men back, they just can’t find an inch of space to work their attacks into, and are resorting to lumping high balls into the box that Masiello and van de Besselar are dealing with nicely. With Harbuzi and Walker prowling up front, waiting to try something spectacular, the game quickly devolves into a snoozer. We don’t fashion a real chance until 31 minutes, when Harbuzi takes a clearance just short of midfield and nutmegs Garry Flitcroft, blazing away down the right flank, turning inside at the endline and leaving Dominic Matteo for dead before chipping the ball from just outside the six-yard box to the left post for Brittain to pop up, unmarked and nod home.

Truthfully, I wanted a draw from this, but with the bit in our mouths we start to play for those three points like I’ve never seen this team do before. We’re flying around the pitching, banging into anyone with a Blackburn kit in a manner that won’t win us any friends, but will win us some valuable points, and Blackburn are looking worse for the wear from it. They can’t fashion a shot from inside 20 yards by the end of the half, and when Jonathan Douglas gets sent off for his second shirt-tugging offense, Blackburn kick things into a desperate but altogether useless charge on our net. I’m left to do naught but applaud as the final whistle blows and we celebrate what is by far our best victory of the season.

Final Score – Blackburn Rovers 0:1 Wrexham
MoM – Labinot Harbuzi

In the post-match interview, I must come off as some sort of idiot, with how thrilled I am with the victory. A hard-fought game on the road against a (frankly) team of superior class and we managed three points. Ugly ones, but three points nevertheless. Still, I make sure everyone knows that Blackburn’s going back up. Even though the loss drops them to 3rd behind Charlton, I don’t see anyone in the league stopping this team if they keep on playing that well.

After the game, I give Alex Smith his formal warning, as I do for all players who get sent off. What is stunning is that Smith has the incredible gall to suggest that my warning was too harsh, and undeserved in light of us having won the game.

January 28th, 2007

Teams always get a little desperate as the transfer window comes to a close, looking for anything to up their fortunes. Tottenham splash $26.5M on Luis Fabiano from Porto today, gambling on the volatile Brazilian striker who has never quite settled in Europe, although this year in the Superleague was an improvement, with 8 goals through 15 starts. As always however, the biggest moves always seem to involve that club in Madrid.

Real do a double-deal today, paying out a combined $100.5M for the services of Steven Gerrard and Manuele Blasi. The former joins the club from Chelsea, the latter from Real Betis, as Madrid, currently 3rd in the Primera Liga obviously believe these two midfielders have the answer in their quest to unseat Valencia as champions.

Personally, I’m more interested in Michael Essien’s $24.5M move to Udinese and Serie A, not because I particularly thought we had a chance at buying Essien (he’d have been about $15.5M out of our price range) but just because he’s one of the players I’d want to buy if I ever had Real Madrid-money to spend on players. I’d like to think, one day, I’ll be at a club rich enough to blow $60M+ on a new player.

January 29th, 2007

Michael Overvik inks his new deal today, a $850K a year deal that will keep him with the club into 2011. He’s good now, he’s played nothing but well, and he justly deserves the largest contract on the team. That is, until we renegotiate with Francesco Lodi (if he’ll let us).

February 1st, 2007

New awards make their way to Wrexham today, as I am granted the honor of being named the English Championship Manager of the Month for our four wins in four matches this month, along with the 73 points we’ve earned. Labinot Harbuzi earns himself the Young Player of the Month award for his form in those games, and Curtis Allen actually grabs the Goal of the Month award for his stunner against Walsall.

February 3rd, 2007

The FA convenes to review Alex Smith’s ban and extends it an extra two matches, to my disappointment. This means he’ll miss the next three games, but it’ll give me a chance to call up the 19-year old Frenchman who did so nicely when called upon against Walsall. Brahim Ferradj, step up.

English Championship – Game Thirty-One: Wrexham v. Wigan Athletic

As we near the two-thirds mark of the season, Wigan are suffering through a season far beneath their expectations, currently 15th, well below their 7th-place finish last year. Noone’s exceptionally happy about it, and with a top-10 finish the early season expectations, a late rush for points is expectable. We, meanwhile, are adjusting our tactics some, as I begin to try and find a way to keep us on the up and up without Simon Cox to lead the attack.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-1-1-3-1): Esson; Ferradj, Morgan, Simek, Overvik; N’Diaye; Jones; Hughes, Bradley, Brittain; Puustinen

The concentration is more on suffocating defense in the middle of the park with this particular formation, and Wigan are blasted off the ball in the opening minutes. N’Diaye is crushing the attack from his position, stepping up to take the ball away from the opposition time and time again, while Overvik and Ferradj are making sure any and all passes down the flanks end up right back in our hands. Still, the attack looks a little anemic, with Puustinen making his club debut, leading the line. We can’t seem to fashion a good, fair chance until Brittain creates one on 29 minutes, taking a long pass from Overvik along the right flank and running downfield, pushing off his marker and firing a shot that bends around Jason Brown’s attempt to save it and bulges the net.

Stephen Hughes grabs us another with a fine header on 47 minutes, nodding the ball into the net from point-blank range from a Brittain cross, and from there it’s a formality. Wigan win a late penalty on a rash challenge from Ferradj, but it’s over by the time the ball hits the net. An easy win, as I continue to try and figure out the best strategy for us to win with.

Final Score – Wrexham 2:1 Wigan Athletic
MoM – Stephen Hughes

The most important news after the game is that Charlton have lost 1-0 at home to Coventry, which means our lead extends itself to a massive 12 points. It’s a great accomplishment already this season, as our win today extends our winning streak to 10 great games. Ever since falling short to Charlton at The Valley, we’ve gone tearing through the Championship, and our ten straight wins are a Championship record. 30 points from 10 games. I admit, during the post-game interview that yes, we’re looking for promotion now.

February 4th, 2007

Two of my fellows get the sack today, as David Platt at Sheffield United and Steve Coppell of Reading are both told to clear out their desks. I really can’t blame the boards of either clubs, Sheffield looked likely to improve after finishing 9th this year, and their current standing of 19th is way below that, while Reading, who finished in 3rd last year, have had the kind of season teams have nightmares about, falling all the way into 21st and in no way safe from relegation.

February 5th, 2007

A day off from practice today as I take the team out for a morale-building exercise. Some basketball. The challenge of the day is a game of H-O-R-S-E with me, if anyone can best me, they’ll earn an unspecified little bonus. A friendly wager, really. Thankfully for my pockets, noone can quite muster the ability to beat my patented sitting three-pointer, and I keep my money. Watching the team play a spate of 4-on-4 games, it’s a needed chance to relax and get away from the pressures of overachieving (which we have) and the constant swirls of transfer speculation which have hung over the team ever since the window re-opened. Thankfully, now that it’s closed, noone’s making bids anymore, but it’s going to take a Herculean effort come June to hang onto the nucleus of this team.

February 7th, 2007

Richard Brittain’s agent calls me today, telling me that if we’re going to continue refusing offers from clubs like Tottenham and Leeds for his client, that we should enter contract negotiations with his client ASAP. Upon hearing what their demands will account to ($2M a year) I tell him that I’d much prefer to wait until our financial situation is resolved at the end of the season before making any choices.

Training today is marred by a sight I’m none too pleased with, as Michael Bradley collapses in a heap after trying to make a turn, clutching his knee. The diagnosis is less than promising. He’s damaged his Anterior Cruciate Ligament it appears, and will miss an indefinite amount of time, at best five months. It’s a real blow for the 19-year old, and I make sure to visit him after the diagnosis, to let him know he’ll still be part of the club when he’s ready to return. I made a serious investment in this kid, and I’m not going to give up.

February 8th, 2007

The injury bug bites again today, as Labinot Harbuzi manages to get himself fractured ribs during training today. He’ll be out for three weeks as the injury heals, but the news in the end is that, with Lodi still out, Bradley out, and now Harbuzi out, we’re missing our top three attacking midfielders for the next game. The job will fall to Mark Jones now, who has never really taken the top-dog job at the creative head of our attacks in his spell here.

February 10th, 2007

English Championship – Game Thirty-Two: Millwall v. Wrexham

A return engagement against Millwall and more especially, Danijel Ljuboja. The 4th-leading scorer in the League right now is on fire, and removing him from the game will be our biggest test. Millwall are 5th in the League right now, looking towards a playoff berth and a return to the Premiership after getting relegated last year.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-1-1-3-1): Esson; Ferradj, Morgan, Simek, Overvik; N’Diaye; N’Galula; Hughes, Jones, Brittain; Tudgay

Ljuboja is from the start, a handful as usual. The pacey Serb has a way of getting to loose balls before anyone else does and creating havoc for a defense that isn’t sure how to deal with his particular brand of attack. It falls, mostly to Overvik to try and contain him, but he’s got his afterburners on from the opening whistle, and on seven minutes he is right in position for a long-range freekic, leaping at the edge of the box to head the ball, trying to chip an onrushing Esson. Esson’s reactions are lightning-fast, and he gets his fingertips to the ball, and we all watch as it floats in a high rainbow, finally crashing back off the crossbar and cleared away by Simek. Millwall continue to attack through Ljuboja and Nathan Ellington, the latter fashioning a chance from 25 yards that Esson has to tip around his left post to keep from going into the net. At times this season, we have been exceptionally good at surviving pressure, Blackburn a certain example, and after giving Millwall their chances, we hit back.

Martin Overvik loves to punt it upfield, and when he does he has the eyes of a midfielder, and on 20 minutes, it’s no different, lumping a 60-yard ball upfield for Mark Jones’ run through midfield. The ball finds the midfielder in space, and Jones surges into the box unmarked, but dilly-dallies on the ball, feinting and faking, trying to get David James to commit before finally firing low to the ex-England keeper’s right, slipping the ball in off the right post.

Millwall and their fans are understandably frustrated, and Jody Morris earns himself a needless yellow card after yelling at the referee for ruling Ljuboja offside. One goal isn’t a deathblow, not yet, but Morris gets his name in the thick of things again just before the half, as Brittain serves a low cross into the box that Tudgay controls, only for Morris to barge into him from behind, knocking Tudgay over and granting us a sure penalty. With Cox gone, our old taker, Stephen Hughes steps up, and blasts one right down the middle to give us a 2-0 lead at the half.

With a few words about continuing to frustrate Millwall at the half, we come out in the second half, only to be nearly pegged back by Millwall, as Ljuboja, as always, is the catalyst, Jody Morris’s through ball perfect, leaving Overvik a yard behind and unable to catch up as Ljuboja advances on Esson. Esson’s hands are lightning-fast once more however, able to kick away the low drive from the Serb and see it cleared away. With that we can begin to attack once more, Simek lumping one upfield that Darren Ward inexplicably lets slip over his head, allowing Jones, reacting first to run onto the ball, one-on-one with James once more. He doesn’t delay this time however, perfectly faking a shot and cutting the ball back inside, leaving James on his behind as Jones coolly slots home into a yawning net for our third.

We get two more from Curtis Allen, on as a substitute, as the “North Irish Wayne Rooney” rounds James once to slot home, and heads home a Hughes corner to make it a thumping victory.

Final Score – Millwall 0:5 Wrexham
MoM – Stephen Hughes

I’m thrilled after the game, at Jones’s play, at Allen’s, at the win, at our continued form, at everything this year. I don’t want to say anything for sure yet, but 79 points is, frankly, a lot.

retired_britty

February 13th, 2007

English Championship – Game Thirty-Three: Wrexham v. Stoke City

I’ve gone up against Stoke four times in my career thus far, and so far, we’ve managed a single 1-0 victory over them. The rest are losses. Since they’re coming to The Racecourse Ground to face us now, I try to impart to the team how very nice it would be to stuff one right in their faces, especially with Stoke 8th and vying for the final playoff place.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-1-1-3-1): Esson; Ferradj, Morgan, Simek, Overvik; N’Diaye; N’Galula; Hughes, Jones, Brittain; Rossi

Stoke have been nothing if not frustrating every time they’ve played us, always knocking us off our game, forcing us to play a style of football we’re just not happy to play. Luck nearly bends their way after just a few minutes of play, as Kenny Lunt’s chip into the box bounces off three or four players before falling to the feet of Neil Mellor at the edge of the area. Controlling the ball, Mellor hits an arrow on net that thankfully, isn’t aimed away from the well-positioned Esson, who collapses to make the save and keep the ball out of the net.

We don’t fashion our first chance until 39 minutes, when N’Galula flicks the ball out to the left for the advancing Rossi, clear of markers to take. With six Stoke men bunched up on the left side of the penalty spot, there’s all too much area for Rossi to chip the ball to a completely unmarked Brittain, whose bullet header from five yards is parried spectacularly by Paul Willis to keep the scores even going into the half.

The game degenerates as the second half begins. We’re not taking any good shots, scuffing the ball and not really forcing Willis to do any hard work, while Stoke have decided that settling for a point may not be such a bad thing after all. I can see fans in the stands yawning as the game goes a good ten minutes without any reason for people to stand up out of their seats. I introduce Curtis Allen for Rossi, and Lodi for Brittain, as we look to put more pressure on the Stoke defense, but still, nothing, until 72 minutes, when a Hughes cross wins us a corner. Hughes’ service into the box should be claimed by Willis, but he doesn’t go up strong enough, and Allen is there to nod the ball into the empty net to give us the sudden advantage. Minutes later, we end it, Mark Jones whipping a pass from the edge of the field right to the edge of the box for Lodi to control and fire past Willis. 15,000 leave Wrexham today with a real smile, as we pick up three more points.

Final Score – Wrexham 2:0 Stoke City
MoM – Mark Jones

Another game, and another chance for me to be vastly impressed by the work of our “deputies” in the stead of our starters. Mark Jones was a worthwhile man of the match, playing a part in the majority of the moves we managed today. Brahim Ferradj was a monster at the back, intercepting a stunning 13 passes as he shut down the opposing attack, and Curtis Allen is beginning to have fans wondering if we have a replacement for Simon Cox, as he has now scored four times in five substitute appearances. All of this leaves me with a very difficult question, as to who to start for our upcoming FA Cup game against Arsenal? Mark Jones, who is as in-form as any player on the team, or Francesco Lodi, who is coming back from injury but has been the catalyst for much of our offense this year?

February 17th, 2007

English FA Cup – Fifth Round: Arsenal v. Wrexham

Of all the ways and places to take on Arsenal, in the glorious footballing spectacle that is Emirates Stadium is probably last on my list. 60,000 fans can fill this place, and, with a good 50,000 in attendance, it’s the most intimidating place we’ve ever played. That is all, of course, not even counting the Arsenal team, who are the most intimidating team we’ve ever played. Reigning Premier League champions, the team we’re facing today has none of Arsenal’s biggest names in it (Viera, Henry, Campbell, Saviola, Ljungberg) and are still one of the best sides we’ve ever faced. The midfield triumvirate of Róbson Ponte, Cesc Fabregas and Fabian Ernst is the best we’ve ever faced.

We’re televised today, and all the commentators have been talking about are the halcyon days of 1992 when Wrexham toppled Arsenal in the FA Cup. That said, the bookies have us a 10-1 underdogs.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-1-1-3-1): Esson; Ferradj, van de Besselar, Simek, Overvik; N’Diaye; N’Galula; Hughes, Jones, Brittain; Allen

We. Get. Hammered.

Final Score – Arsenal 5:0 Wrexham
MoM – Ryan Smith

It’s our worst hiding of the year, an unfortunate end to our streak of wins, and a bit of a warning about next season, should we complete the dream and manage promotion. Still, it’s our worst defeat under my stewardship, and now is all about damage control, and trying to keep our heads up before our fixture against Ipswich in four days.

February 19th, 2007

Our first practice this week is very, very good, as players get their heads back up and the general realization hits the camp that we weren’t quite Arsenal quality anyway. It could’ve been worse, given that while we played, Charlton demolished ever-hapless Brighton 7-0 in the League.

We’re one of the few teams in the League without a millionaire on squad, but it certainly seems like that will be changing once the season ends. We’ve profited this year, from an average attendance of 13,000 this year, and from Simon Cox’s move. As we move closer to securing at least a playoff place, I’m making sure my scouts keep me abreast of who’s who and who’s going where in recent contract negotiations. If we can snatch anyone on a free in July, I’d be thrilled. First in my mind is West Brom’s Robert Earnshaw, but nothing’s set in stone yet.

February 21st, 2007

The news today is great stuff for the club’s future. Alex Hamilton announces that he’s finalized the sale of the club to Shaun Royle, and Royle will become the new head honcho here with immediate effect. Royle, born and raised in Cardiff may rankle some of the supporters, since he’s been a Cardiff fan for as long as he can remember, but his press statement is diplomatic, affirming that he’s more interested in the state of football in Wales than provincial club battles. The introductions happen tomorrow, which mean I can fully concentrate on…

English Championship – Game Thirty-Four: Wrexham v. Ipswich Town

Of all the teams to play after taking the hammering from Arsenal that we did, Ipswich aren’t my first choice. They’re sixth and trying their best to make the playoff cut, with two straight wins and the near-decrepit Gary Speed hitting a strong run of form recently. I’m hoping for a good bounce-back performance from the team. We do have a home record to protect.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-1-1-3-1): Esson; Smith, Masiello, Morgan, Overvik; N’Diaye; Lancaster; Hughes, Lodi, Brittain; Westcarr

Not much to this one until Hughes picks up his second yellow on 52 minutes, placing us firmly on the back foot for the remainder of the game. You can only do so much to keep heads up, and our attack looks quite shaky as we stumble through the remainder of the game. As Ipswich switch to a 4-2-4, we’re massively lucky to walk out of the stadium with a 0-0 draw, which is really hard on Ipswich, who had multiple opportunities to win in the dying moments, but just couldn’t win it.

Final Score – Wrexham 0:0 Ipswich Town
MoM – Richard Brittain

I give Stephen Hughes his official warning for the Red Card as we now have an away trip to rivals Cardiff City to look towards to in three days. That game against Arsenal has truly disrupted things here, much to my disappointment. A trip to Cardiff however, where things are, by far, worse than they are here on the whole may be the answer to our troubles though, as I’d really like something positive to build off of before our game against Fulham in March.

February 22nd, 2007

With Shaun Royle as the new official club chairman, I’m called into the office today after his first press conference. We exchange pleasantries, and he expresses how impressed he is with the team’s performance this season. Apparently, Mr. Royle’s looking forward already, way forward. He’s already planning a future that has us in the Premiership, and making money next year. To that effect, he’s investing a healthy extra bit of cash in the club to make sure what happened against Arsenal won’t happen again too many times next year. Thankfully, he doesn’t make any demands of me, and simply asks that the club stay the course, and try to give this season the dream ending it so deserves.

February 24th, 2007

English Championship – Game Thirty-Five: Cardiff City v. Wrexham

Cardiff are 23rd, mired in the worst of a relegation dogfight and a great deal less than happy about it. The team that was supposed to push for promotion this year is suddenly fighting to stay away from the trapdoor to League One. Meanwhile, our lead has fallen to ten points after the draw with Ipswich. The team is tired today, that I know, the grind of the season is finally getting to legs that have played in 25-30 games this year. I let the boys know that another three points puts us that much closer to promotion and a chance to rest for the summer.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-1-3-2): Esson; Ferradj, Masiello, van de Besselar, Sabandar; N’Diaye; Halfredsson, Lodi, Jones; Tudgay, Rossi

We’re as unconvincing as previous as this one kicks off, the team looking like they just aren’t sure how to deal with the sudden bout of adversity they’re facing. And it nearly bites us on 4 minutes, when Alan Lee slips behind Masiello and fires a blast that Esson dives to prevent from bulging the net. For lack of a better phrase, something is afoot in Wrexham, and as unconvincing as we look, and as strong as Cardiff come out of the blocks looking, it’s no wonder we’re being serenaded with chants of “Over-rated” by the 22,000 in attendance.

We don’t begin to fashion real chances until 20 minutes, but we’ve got two problems. One, that our usual catalyst, Francesco Lodi has left his shooting boots elsewhere, and that our strikers are looking completely impotent in their attempts on net. Noone can put a real shot on net until 36 minutes, when Rossi slides one through his markers legs for a surging Tudgay to control and slip underneath Paul Smith, only to see the linesman raise his flag to indicate offsides.

By the end of things, and after having watched Francesco Lodi miss the net for the sixth time today, I’m left to wonder about what to do to fix things. We’ve been called offsides 16 times by the time it’s all said and done, and Paul Smith neatly dealt with everything else we threw at him. This hiccup has been coming, and now’s a better time to deal with it than any other I can think of.

Final Score – Cardiff City 0:0 Wrexham
MoM – Paul Smith

Our lead is at ten, as Blackburn win and Charlton don’t play, but now is probably the best time all season for the week off we’re going to get. There’s a sense of malaise going around the camp, and a great deal of frustration, especially from the strikers who have, admittedly, been sub-par without Simon around. I tell the boys in the dressing room that they’ve got Sunday and part of Monday to get their heads together, and to come back ready to start winning again.

February 25th, 2007

The League Cup final comes to pass today, as Arsenal and Manchester United renew their rivalry, and it’s all a fan could’ve hoped for. Four goals, a red card and a penalty shootout mark this one. But it’ll rank as a disappointment for Manchester United, who took an early 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Gennaro Gattuso and Ronaldo, only to see Javier Saviola and Freddy Ljungberg make things 2-2 just afterwards. Roy Keane grabbed the red card in extra-time for an awful tackle on Edu, and Arsenal held their nerve in the resultant penalty shootout, Lauren firing home the winning penalty. It’s Arsenal’s 3rd League Cup title, their first since 1993, and it’ll help make for a very interesting fixture in March when the two teams will play again with the distinct possibility that the English Premier League trophy will be on the line.

Meanwhile, Charlton win today, meaning our lead is eight points. Still a lot, but with eight games left to play and Blackburn and Charlton not looking tired (or challenged) in the least, we’re not safe quite yet.

March 1st, 2007

Despite the draws, Stephen Hughes still is voted the Player of the Month today, as our team continues its hopefully “Healing” days off.

Meanwhile, with Alex Smith looking less and less a Premiership-caliber left-back by the day, opportunity falls into my lap. Lee Young-Pyo, once of PSV, now of Mainz in Germany has become disenfranchised with life there, and fancies a move to England. Mainz are only too happy to assist in this, having Transfer Listed the Korean international for a cut-rate $300K. The 29-year old Young-Pyo would fit neatly into my team, I think, taking up the left-fullback position, and with his penchant for running, running, running and running, and making some good tackles, would fit the team nicely. I make my bid before sundown.

March 3rd, 2007

English Championship – Game Thirty-Six: Crewe Alexandria v. Wrexham

As the final countdown of games begins, we’re that much closer to ensuring that we play Premiership football next year. A jump to the top flight would be a massive challenge, but one I think we can steps towards taking.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-3-1-2): Esson; Smith, Morgan, Masiello, Overvik; Hughes, N’Diaye, Brittain; Lodi; Westcarr, Puustinen

I’m trying and trying to find an answer to our striking problem, and it’s not coming. Westcarr and Puustinen are absolutely not of the quality needed to do the work up front, and with neither able to exert their will in attack, we’re left to rely on our midfield once more to supply the goals. This doesn’t work out well, as Lodi is still recovering from his injury, and can’t find the net. So Crewe take the early advantage, and should go ahead after just 15 minutes when Kevin Rooney blasts one from the edge of the area, only to see his shot saved well by Esson. With Hughes and Brittain giving it their all, our men up front are totally impotent, so it falls to our midfield once more, Puustinen firing the ball ahead for Brittain to run onto, zigzagging into the box before firing one low that Ben Williams manages to push away, only for the rebound to fall to Lodi, who, profligate from further out, punches it home from three yards out.

Our offensive impotence continues, but thankfully, our defense is holding strong. It still speaks volumes that, by the end of things, our strikers have combined to put all of two shots on net as, on 85 minutes, the goalscoring responsibilities fall once more to non-strikers, a Hughes corner into the box headed to the penalty-spot by Brittain, where of all people, Craig Morgan meets it with a ripping volley that Williams has no chance at. Our strikers may have been anemic, but a win’s a win.

Final Score – Crewe Alexandria 0:2 Wrexham
MoM – Craig Morgan

The win keeps us atop the league by eight points, as Charlton win right along with us. But the most important thing about the game is the morale-building it fosters. The team still know they can win, and I’ll be wracking my brain, trying to figure out how we can continue doing that with our strikers, rather than everyone else. I must admit, it says something about the level of competition this season if a team can have 87 points and still not have secured promotion.

March 6th, 2007

English Championship – Game Thirty-Seven: Wrexham v. Reading

With much of the season gone now, Reading are in 22nd, and battling with Cardiff, Walsall and Nottingham Forest for the honor of not getting relegated (as opposed to Brighton, who are surely going down, with 9 points from 36 games thus far). Mostly though, I’m happiest that this is our next-to-last Tuesday game before the end of the year. Some rest and relaxation would much befit the team.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-3-1-2): Esson; Ferradj, Morgan, Masiello, Overvik; Hughes, N’Diaye, Brittain; Lodi; Rossi, Tudgay

For the opening 45 minutes, we’re repeating our form against Crewe, meaning that our strikers have about as much of a chance of finding the net as a dead man does. The opening 45 minutes are marked by yawns and sighs of complacency, as noone on either team manages anything remotely resembling a real chance. The only moments of interest are the four yellow cards being handed out as what seems like another snoozer plays out.

At half-time, I lay into the team for such lackluster play. Being tops in the League, with promotion at stake means playing every single game like it’s for the championship. Bringing off Rossi for Sam Lancaster, I drop N’Diaye into the defensive midfield and hope that they’ll remember how the game is played. It takes a bit, but with Reading playing for a point, we have all the time to work on our tactical nous. Still, it takes our midfield to save our bacon again, Harbuzi, on for Lodi feeding a ball out to the left for Sam Lancaster, that the striker traps neatly, before flicking it past his marker and crossing into the box where Stephen Hughes sneaks behind his marker and arcs a beauty of a header right into the top-right corner of Julian Speroni’s net.

The team take heart in this, since it seems to be massively gratifying for them to remember they can put the ball into the net every now and then (over 80 times this season really) and finally put it into that high gear that’s separated us from the rest of the Championship this year. Two minutes after Hughes, Marcus Tudgay adds his first as a Wrexham player in emphatic fashion, Harbuzi slipping a perfect through-ball into the box for Tudgay to take and blast a cannonball past a stunned Speroni and into the net for our second.

Harbuzi himself cracks the crossbar on 72 minutes, and Brittain warms Speroni’s hands with a curling 25-yarder just before 80 minutes, but Sam Lancaster grabs a deserved goal on 88 minutes, rising highest on a Stephen Hughes corner to nod the ball into the left side of the net and grant us three more points.

Final Score – Wrexham 3:0 Reading
MoM – Stephen Hughes

Once again, after the game, I’m left to smile about our left side and wonder about our front line. It took 60 minutes for us to finally put ourselves into gear, which won’t suit us at the next level. However, Ferradj nearly stole the Man of the Match award himself, helping initiate the attack from the back and simply crushing much of the Reading attack. I’m realizing I’ve got a real, spectacular prospect on my hands.

Charlton win as well, meaning our lead stays at eight points. The rest of the year isn’t a cruise though, with our remaining nine fixtures reading as such…

Fulham (Home), Bristol City (Home), Nottingham Forest (Away), West Brom (Away), Burnley (Home), Bolton (Away), Charlton (Home), Sheffield United (Away), Gillingham (Home).

The best news from all of this is the fact that Blackburn lose today to Charlton, meaning that we have a 15 point lead over the 3rd-placed team in the race for promotion. While winning the championship is our first priority, promotion is a close second, and with that lead under our wings, we’re close to assuring it.

March 7th, 2007

Lee Young-Pyo agrees to a $750K a year deal that will have him join the club in July on a free from Mainz. Having been rejected by most other players on my shorlist, I’m glad Young-Pyo was more tenable about joining us next year. I think, if we secure promotion, a lot of players will have their opinions changed.

In the evening, the second leg of the First Knockout Round of the Champions League finishes, and I watch in my office, as Chelsea succumb to an impenetrable Barcelona defense 1-0 to lose the tie, 3-1 on aggregate. It’s mixed feelings for England, with Chelsea losing, but Arsenal still goes through, defeating Ajax 4-1 on aggregate. It’s all smiles in Spain however, as four of their teams advance this evening, the aforementioned Barcelona, Real Madrid, Sevilla and Valencia all winning their ties. Internazionale and AC Milan both win their ties as well, but the biggest surprise is in Glasgow, as Celtic run riot over Parma, scoring four goals on the evening to win the tie 4-1 on aggregate and advance to the Quarter-Finals.

March 9th, 2007

We can still make domestic transfers, and I’d like to try something. So I put in calls to Fulham and Wolverhampton today, inquiring about Zatiyah Knight and Henri Camara, respectively. The pair would be nice additions to the team, Knight is imperious in defense, and Premiership-tested, while Camara would be some much-needed pace and Camara should be able to bring some pace in attack and skilled finishing to a team that needs a striker with it. The question is whether we can afford the both of them. It seems the move may have to wait until the end of the season when we know how much money we’re making.

The Champions League Quarter-Finals are drawn today, and it’s of interest, as always.

FC Barcelona v. Internazionale
Celtic v. Real Madrid
AC Milan v. Arsenal
Sevilla F.C. v. Valencia C.F.

With Celtic enjoying a dream campaign, everyone’s got the dream coming to an abrupt halt against the Galacticos, while the other matchups all present something of interest for anyone who follows the game. Can Arsenal make a return to the 04/05 glory and beat AC Milan? Can Barcelona be stopped from repeating? Can Sevilla get something great from their relegation-threatened season?

For my money, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal and Valencia will all advance.

retired_britty

March 10th, 2007

Hull from League One make an offer of $1.55M for Mark Jones today, which is laughed right off the phone.

English Championship – Game Thirty-Eight: Wrexham v. Fulham

A win today means we are assured of at least a playoff place, meaning this season is a massive success no matter what. It’s hard keeping your head attached to your shoulders at times like this, in the sheer realization of how much we’ve achieved this year. Fulham are 4th with 73 points though, and must be itching to peg us back for the 2-0 defeat we handed them in October.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-1-2-1-2): Esson; Ferradj, van de Besselar, Simek, Overvik; N’Diaye; Hughes, Brittain; Lodi; Westcarr, Turkovic

I haven’t given enough credit to our supporters this year, who have been spectacular, filling The Racecourse Ground day after day and cheering their hearts out for the team. With the voices of 15,000 in our ears, we kick off today, and Francesco Lodi has that certain spark about him that we’ve seen before when he’s been at his best. And after disappointing, Lodi apparently wants to get back into the rhythm of things, warming van der Sar’s palms after just 90 seconds of play with a bending 30-yarder.

It’s back and forth action all over the pitch, as both teams go charging at each other with full-strength attacking football, the game the way it’s meant to be played. Claus Jensen nearly puts Fulham ahead on 10 minutes, cracking one from some 35 yards out that dips viciously and nearly catches Esson out of position, forcing our keeper to tip the bar spectacularly onto the bar and out of play to keep things at 0-0. Lodi is looking threatening all the while however, and he makes good on 15 minutes, Craig Westcarr allowed acres of space along the left, moving forwards with the ball, moving inside the area, drawing two Fulham players with him before coolly slipping it to his left for Lodi, standing alone at the penalty spot. The Italian settles the ball, and lets fly with his left, sending it just past van der Sar’s outstretched hands and into the right side of the net to open scoring.

Finding his touch again seems to ignite something under Lodi, and he comes careening into attack again on 18 minutes, going so fast and so hard he seems to be almost out of control. But when Hughes splits two markers with a pass to Westcarr, the ex-Nottingham Forest man pushes the ball right between Marino Biliskov’s legs to Lodi, who volleys a perfect shot from the left edge of the penalty arc that catches van der Sar unawares and curls perfectly into the net. 2-0 up then.

Things quickly get interesting, as Fulham by no means give up. More and more passes begin to find their way downfield, trying to exploit the speed of Collins John or the inexperience of Brahim Ferradj. It takes time, and on 39 minutes, when Zesh Rehman fires a 50-yard pass upfield for Mattias Jonson, Ferradj is caught out of position, chasing after the Swede, desperately trying to close him down but unable to muscle past, and watching as Jonson slides a perfect ball across the area for a charging Collins John to redirect well past Esson and into the net to put Fulham back in things. The half ends on that note, the game at 2-1 and still finely balanced.

We emerge for the second half looking to our talisman to do the work again, and he immediately delivers, as Hughes freekick into the box on 46 minutes is bobbled around, nearly cleared, crossed, and cleared once more to the edge of the area, where van de Besselar controls it, and slides it right for Lodi who, from the right edge of the penalty arc this time, takes it with his back to net, spins and blasts a perfect shot with his deadly left right into the top-left corner of van der Sar’s net to restore our two-goal advantage and notch a spectacular hat-trick.

Fulham just don’t give though, and when Overvik climbs over Clark’s back on 56 minutes, a tempting freekick is lines up on the edge of the box. Damien Delaney steps up for Fulham, and curls a smart ball right past Esson and into the net to make things interesting once more.

I bring on Aleksandar Makaveev as a sub for Turkovic, hoping we can find that final strike to put away Fulham. So when he darts into the box on 67 minutes, I’m expecting a lot more than the chip across the goalmouth he gives us. Zesh Rehman’s clearance header is poor, not even making it out of the box, and lo and behold, Richard Brittain appears, free of his man to snap his neck and send a powerful header from 10 yards out past a surprised van der Sar and into the net for our fourth.

Fulham just don’t have another comeback in them, and are surely beaten on 74 minutes when Lodi caps a perfect day by going on a marauding run through the Fulham defense before skipping right around van der Sar and sliding the ball into the empty net. As he wheels away to greet the exuberant supporters, I can smile.

Final Score – Wrexham 5:2 Fulham
MoM – Francesco Lodi

After the game, I’m singing the praises of Francesco Lodi. When he’s instrumental, he’s absolutely perfect, and he’s managed to set two club records today, his nine Man of the Match awards this season a club record, along with his 25 goals. I couldn’t have asked of any more from the player I grabbed from Empoli in the hope he would “do reasonably well”.

The best news after the game is the fact that we’ve assured ourselves, at least a playoff place. Watching the race beneath us heat up will be interesting.

Meanwhile, Brighton must have set some sort of futility record, as the hapless Seagulls lose 1-0 to Reading today, ensuring relegation to League One.

March 11th, 2007

For Brighton’s season from hell, Gerry Francis is summarily fired today, surprising absolutely noone.

Meanwhile, I make a dumb error during an interview with the BBC. I’m brought on to talk about our season thus far and basically just try and prop up my reputation nationally thus far, which I’m happy to say, is as a good young manager. But, as the conversation drags from me lauding my team’s performances to the ache of losing Simon Cox, the conversation turns to my future, and, well, you’ll see…

BBC Radio Five Live: So, you’re on the verge of two straight promotions. That’s great, but where do you see yourself in a few years time?
Me: Still managing, I hope. Still winning too. The more wins, the better.
BBC RFL: Anywhere in particular?
Me: Oh I’ve had a lot of favorite clubs. I only really settled into supporting Fulham a few years ago and have tried hard to keep up. But I don’t want to start speculating or anything like that.
BBC RFL: Well, a lot of people have been saying things. There’s another bit of turnover happening this year in the Premiership, some managers have their jobs on the line. Kevin Keegan’s got some problems at Manchester City, any thoughts?
Me: Oh well, wouldn’t that be something. He took the team into the Champions League and they’re somewhere in the top six right now, right? Jeez, going there would be something, especially with the way they’ve remade themselves.

Needless to say, everyone and their grandfather intereprets this as me declaring that I’d be interested in the Manchester City job. The official club webpage is deluged with messages and I’m really quite humbled by it all. The fans really, really, really want me to stay at the club, and, after the interview, I even end up fielding a call from Shaun Royle, asking if I’d like to discuss anything with him. I tell Mr. Royle it’s all hype and misunderstanding, that my heart is here with Wrexham, and even post a message on the official club webpage stating as much. I’m not leaving now, not with everything we’ve done already.

March 14th, 2007

Fulham make it clear today that they won’t be waving goodbye to Mr. Knight for anything short of $2.6M. Perhaps we can negotiate that a bit. Also raising my eyebrows is one Sam PArkin from Wolves. After two star-studded seasons at Swindon, Parkin left for Molineux, where he’s had an exceptionally hard time of it since, with eight goals to his name since leaving in September, as opposed to the 52 he’d scored in Swindon. Not as good as Camara, but perhaps a choice purchase.

March 16th, 2007

Fulham agree to a $2.6M fee for Zat Knight that will have us paying 75% of the fee over the next 18 months. Now if we can just agree terms with the defender, but that might prove difficult. He wants top billing on the team, along with a $1.95M a year contract, which is pretty darn steep for us. We’ll see if we can negotiate something out.

March 17th, 2007

English Championship – Game Thirty-Nine: Wrexham v. Bristol City

With the team securing at least a spot in the playoffs, we’re that much closer to securing a dream season. A victory over Bristol would be the perfect head of steam to get up, and to see if we can have the League decided before we take on Charlton in April.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-1-2-1-2): Esson; Ferradj, van de Besselar, Masiello, Overvik; N’Diaye; Hughes, Brittain; Lodi; Westcarr, Tudgay

This one’s about revenge. We lost to Bristol back in November, and apparently, my players are holding a serous grudge about it. Francesco Lodi, as always, sets the tone, as we intercept the ball right from the kickoff, go sweeping back up field, and the Italian skips past his marker and first low and to the right past Steve Phillips who is set to have an awful day.

It’s a rout. My favorite of the day comes on 55 minutes, when Brittain, who gives Bristol fits along the right, plays a one-two to perfection with Giuseppe Rossi, taking the return on a sweeping run into the box, splitting the Bristol defense and going as far as the six-yard box, shaping to shoot before just rolling the ball past Phillips towards the left post, where a waiting Stephen Hughes taps it home from point-blank range.

Final Score – Wrexham 6:0 Bristol City
MoM – Francesco Lodi

The win nicely coincides with Charlton getting hammered 4-1 on the road at Ipswich, meaning our lead is eleven points again. I tell the players to make sure they give all of our fans a round of applause as they serenade us off the field, as promotion is entirely within our grasp. On our current form, there aren’t many teams around that can stop us from taking three points from games we play.

March 18th, 2007

Theres’s talent everywhere, a lot of it you have to search for. Now that I can start informing potential players that we’re nearly assured of Premiership play next year, there are a lot more interested faces in joining our club. On that list is Davide Chini, a young Italian striker from Fidelis Andria, who is freakish, at the very least. Big, strong, built like a tank, he turned pro in 2005 and has been tearing apart the Serie C1 ever since. The price is a little steep, $2.5M for his services, but I’m still willing to ask questions.

March 20th, 2007

Negotiations with Zat Knight hit a snag. He wants a minimum release fee clause included in his contract, and I’m less than thrilled with the notion, after losing Simon Cox already. If he joins us, it’ll be for a pretty good price.

March 22nd, 2007

With negotiations for Heni Camara and Sam Parkin seemingly dead, there’s only a week left in the transfer window for all English clubs (domestically, that is) and it’s beginning to look like we’ll have to wait like everyone else until July to start seeing people walking in and out of the club.

March 23rd, 2007

Dennis Lawrence, who was helpful in our promotion last year hasn’t played a lick this season, and while the 32-year old Trinidad & Tobago international still has life in his legs, he’s just not going to do the goods here. So, when Cheltenham come in with a bid to take him off our hands for $4K, I say yes, mainly because I’d like to unload Lawrence’s $380K salary.

March 24th, 2007

With just about everyone off for international play, I give the team a day off, while England continue their drive for Euro 2008 at Wembley Stadium today, taking on Malta, of all small, unfortunate nations. It actually takes England all of 12 minutes to get out of the blocks, Frank Lampard striking home from 22 yards, but after that, it’s all rather formal. And a mauling. England crush Malta 8-0.

March 26th, 2007

Zat Knight rejects another contract offer, holding our for nearly $2M a year. I’m just not willing to pay that much yet, so we cancel contract negotiations until a later date.

March 27th, 2007

Dennis Lawrence agrees terms with Cheltenham today, bringing an end to a six-year tenure here at Wrexham. He’s been through a lot here, and I wish I had more use for him than I do, but there’s just not enough space on the roster anymore.

Players Out – Wrexham Stats:
Dennis Lawrence (32 y/o, Trinidad and Tobagan, D C): 34 apps, 2 goals, 1 MoM, Av. Rate: 7.06

March 31st, 2007

English Championship – Game Forty: Nottingham Forest v. Wrexham

Why change a winning formula?

Wrexham Lineup: (4-1-2-1-2): Esson; Ferradj, van de Besselar, Masiello, Overvik; N’Diaye; Hughes, Brittain; Lodi; Westcarr, Tudgay

Nottingham need the points more than we do, and start off looking to impress infront of the 22,000 at The City Ground. Darren Potter nearly puts them up 1-0 early, hitting a cracking freekick from the edge of the area on 7 minutes that crashes against the bar before being cleared out of the danger area. Nottingham have another chance fall their way when a cross into the box isn’t cleared well enough, giving David Friio a glorious chance to fire from the edge of the area, but his shot goes well wide.

We’ve made a fine habit of punishing opponents for not hitting us when they have the opportunity, and we continue it today on 22 minutes, N’Diaye slipping a ball into midfield for the unmarked Italian Lodi, who takes the ball, sets himself up and curls one perfectly from 30 yards into the left corner of the net. 1-0 to us.

Nottingham huff and puff for the next 60 minutes, frustrating their fans by continually looking like they’ll put on in the back of the net but comically firing high/wide every chance they get. I’ve never seen a team look so threatening in attack and so profligate in finishing before. So when Labinot Harbuzi spins in the area and fires home from 5 yards out on 88 minutes, you can hear the disappointment in the fans’ voices.

Final Score – Nottingham Forest 0:2 Wrexham
MoM – Stephen Hughes

The win puts us on 99 points, 99! More importantly, it means we’re 17 points ahead of 3rd-place Blackburn, with six games to go. So we’ll be traveling to West Brom next week with the possibility of promotion on our fingertips. As long as we don’t lose, we’ll be going up.

April 1st, 2007

A good day for the club today, as Stephen Hughes and Brahim Ferradj are honored with the Player and Young Player of the Month awards, respectively. Both have made a spectacular go of it along the left flank, Hughes continuing to prove his importance to the team on the left, Ferradj forcefully shoving Alex Smith out of the first-team. Lastly, it’s all Francesco Lodi in the goal of the month competition, the midfielder winning 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in the competition for this month.

April 7th, 2007

Not much of consequence happens this week, which means we can concentrate directly on…

English Championship – Game Forty-One: West Bromwich Albion v. Wrexham

In 8th place with 62 points, it’d take some sort of miracle for West Brom to make it into the playoffs. This year is still a grand improvement over the last, and a top-10 finish isn’t anything to hate. Meanwhile, for us however, the 5,000 fans we’ve brought in attendance are there for one reason only, and that is to be the first to celebrate, hopefully, our promotion to the Premiership.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-4-2): Esson; Ferradj, van de Besselar, Masiello, Overvik; Hughes, Lodi, N’Diaye, Brittain; Rossi, Puustinen

The opening exchanges of this one today are without a lot of push for either side. We’ve basically ensured promotion, and West Brom don’t have much to play for, meaning the fans in attendance get a chance to yawn and stretch their legs for the opening 25 minutes or so, only broken up by Lodi’s requisite 25-yard attempt. As things progress, we’re just not taking the few chances we have though, Puustinen especially culpable, completely mishitting a volley and instead sending his shot closer to the corner flag than anywhere else.

West Brom’s 4-3-3 setup are beginning to give us troubles in defense as the half wears along, Antoine Sibierski slipping a ball across the edge of the box to Jason Koumas. With our centerbacks lying far, far too deep, the midfielder advances, and curls one low, perfectly inside the left post past Esson to give Brom the early lead.

We don’t manage a real chance for the rest of the half as Rossi and Puustinen can’t get anything straight up front, and at the half, I remind the team that, while winning promotion at home would be wonderful, winning it sooner rather than later is always preferable. And, at least we fashion an early chance after the interval, Richard Brittain sending a perfectly-weighted through-ball to Curtis Allen, that the youngster just mis-hits and sends into the side netting on a one-on-one with Andrew Lonergan. Leave it to our favorite Italian to do it again however, his deadly left-foot striking us equal on 54 minutes, a scrabbling bit of play and a quick one-two between Lodi and N’Diaye allowing Lodi to create a yard of space some 35 yards away from net and blast a glorious shot that leaves Lonergan stunned as it arcs into the net to net things at 1-1.

Leave it to Lodi to increase his seasonal tally once more on 64 minutes, but in a manner that won’t satisfy West Brom fans, as Lonergan has Lodi’s shot covered, but lets it slip right between his arms and it dribbles into the net. Lonergan completely blows any chance of a point for West Brom just a few minutes later, completely losing track of his defenders and throwing the ball straight to a surprised Giuseppe Rossi, allowing the latter to happily slot home from the edge of the area, and guarantee that Premiership football will be coming to Wales next year!

Final Score – West Bromwich Albion 1:3 Wrexham
MoM – Francesco Lodi

As the final whistle blows, it’s jubilation and joy on the bench and on the pitch. A firm handshake with Ian Rush, my assistant and applause for my players, as they enter into jubilant celebrations, dogpiling upon Ryan Esson in our net, infront of our traveling supporters. The West Brom fans are very kind to applaud our achievement as we celebrate infront of our fans. We’ve pulled off a finale that I would’ve called improbable no matter what, and in dominating style. Even after losing one of our best players we came together and rarified air of the Premiership.

Attentions cannot be turned to next season quite yet, as I’d like to secure the English Championship… well, the Championship before we turn the rest of the season into a formality,

April 11th, 2007

I spend the evening watching as Arsenal and AC Milan play for the right to go on to the Champions League Semi-Finals. A three-goals in 15 minutes blitz from the Premiership-leading Gunners sees off the faltering Italians, as Arsenal wins 3-0 (Arsenal wins 4-1 on aggregate). Meanwhile, at the San Siro, Internazionale turn around a 2-0 aggregate defecit to Barcelona in stunning fashion, demolishing Barcelona 5-0 thanks to four goals in the opening 20 minutes (Inter wins 5-2 on aggregate). With both Chelsea and Barcelona out of the competition, we will have a new champion this year.

In the other two quarter-final games, Real Madrid end Celtic’s European dream at the Santiago Bernabéu, as David Villa nets a hat-trick that gives Real a 3-0 win and passage into the Semi-Finals as they effort to win their 10th Champions League trophy (Real Madrid wins 5-1 on aggregate). Lastly, Valencia defeat Sevilla, continuing a very successful season for Claudio Ranieri & Co. Alexandr Kerzhakov scores the lone goal, meaning he scores all of Valencia’s goals in the tie, as Valencia move on. (Valencia wins 4-1 on aggregate).

April 12th, 2007

Suddenly, now that we’ve secured promotion, our options as far as new blood have opened up a great deal. Players now want to be involved with the club, at least for a little while, but there’s one problem. At least, as for now, until we find out how much Mr. Royle will be investing in the club, along with our prize from the FA for securing promotion. Until that day however, I’m working on a limited budget, and that a lot of players are asking for $2M+ for their services means a lot of perfectly good players are out of our price range, Collins John of Fulham tops on that list. Going through the lists of players who might be available on a free in July or are transfer listed is an arduous and incredibly boring process, as I mark off certain ones with a marker to note that I’d like my scouts to take a look at them. I have a feeling we’ll be doing a good deal of wheeling and dealing this offseason.

April 14th, 2007

English Championship – Game Forty-Two: Wrexham v. Burnley

Our lead stands at 14 points with this game, and if our lead stays as such after another 90 minutes, we’ll be celebrating winning our second League in a row, and will be crowned champions of the Coca-Cola Championship. The Racecourse Ground is filled to the rim with cheering, singing fans this afternoon, and mother has been kind enough to abide us with a gorgeous, sunlit day for us to play. Charlton are away to Stoke City today, which means we have a reasonably good chance of taking it today.

Wrexham Lineup: (4-4-2): Esson; Ferradj, Simek, Morgan, Overvik; Hughes, Lodi, N’Galula, Brittain; Westcarr, Tudgay

This one doesn’t really kick off until 64 minutes, when Micah Hyde gets himself sent off stupidly for a rash challenge on Westcarr. We are looking absolutely anemic in attack, but all the focus is on the out of town scores, and cheers go up around the ground as news filters in that Stoke have scored against Charlton, and another cheer as Stoke slam home another.

As Rohan Ricketts picks up a second yellow, we finally find gear, a bobbling ball in the area finding its way to Labinot Harbuzi’s goal, and the Swede strikes home, to send our fans into absolute raptures. We however, get way too into the celebrations as well, and I’m screaming angry invective as 9-man Burnley come back, weave through our defense and smack a equalizer with just four minutes left to play. Thankfully, Harbuzi has just one more in him, boring a hole through their back four with his dribbling before firing home another to save our blushes.

Final Score – Wrexham 2:1 Burnley
MoM – Labinot Harbuzi

The news from Stoke is that they’ve won 2-1, but it’s not really any matter, as the final whistle blows and I raise my arms in triumph. Wrexham are champions of the Championship! The stewards try valiantly to fend off a pitch invasion but before they can really do anything, a few hundred of the 15,000 in attendance have spilled out onto the pitch, jumping and cheering, mobbing our players as we celebrate. Francesco Lodi actually gets to do a lap of honor around the pitch on the shoulders of a few overzealous supporters as I have my hand shaken hundreds of times.

As the podium is wheeled out and the medals are handed out, there’s no way I’m spending this one watching from afar, as the players force me onto the stage to accept the trophy with club captain Martin Overvik. Together, we lift it over our heads and cheer to our fans at an improbable promotion and the championship!

With promotion and the championship safely in hand, there’s only one other part of the season that I’m seriously concerned with, and that’s our upcoming fixture against Charlton. It may not be about the title anymore, but it’s still about pride and proving to ourselves that we’ll be able to compete next year.

retired_britty

April 15th, 2007

Now, with that all settled, I can focus on other matters, like building a team that will survive in the Premiership next year. And step one in that goal is bringing in a great servant for the club that doesn’t actually belong to us. However, we enter into contract negotiations with Floribert N’Galula today, as he’s been declared surplus to requirements at Manchester and his contract runs out in July. By the evening, we’ve hammered out a deal that will see him join the club on a free in the summer.

On the “unflinching, blind luck” side of things, I’ve got a real spectacular opportunity. Stewart Downing (yes that Stewart Downing) has a contract running out in July. And he’s apparently been frustrated in his time with Middlesbrough, pushed to the edge of requirements after the acquiring of Robin van Persie. He is, reportedly, interested to join the club next year, and we could snag him on a free. The question is, with Stephen Hughes still part of the club, should we? It is difficult, but the difference is simply between a good midfielder, and a spectacular, internationally capable one.

April 17th, 2007

English Championship – Game Forty-Three: Bolton Wanderers v. Wrexham

With the team in cruise control, we can sit back and just go through the motions on this one. Alex Smith gives us all a firm reminder of why he’s officially part of the old guard, and my striker purchasing ideas are called into question as Tudgay and Westcarr are as anemic and profligate as ever. Still, Labinot Harbuzi gifts us a win.

Final Score – Bolton Wanderers 0:1 Wrexham
MoM – Labinot Harbuzi

April 21st, 2007

There is nothing more frustrating than arguing with my scouts over who should go where and who we should consider spending our money on. Everyone’s got an opinion, and everyone feels that everyone else’s is wrong. Mido? Too tempermental. Robert Earnshaw? Unproven. And so on, and so forth. I get the feeling that, despite our position as a just-recently promoted team, there are some here for whom only the Thierry Henrys of the world will suffice.

English Championship – Game Forty-Four: Wrexham v. Charlton Athletic

I’m giving youngsters Alexsandar Makaveev, Curtis Allen, and Mirko Talaga a run-out today as Charlton, locked with Blackburn on 92 points desperately need a win today to try and secure that second promotion place and stay away from the grueling playoffs.

And, after 90 minutes, and a dumb red card for arguing for Richard Brittain, we can pull a lot from this one. We outplay Charlton for all 90 minutes, and only walk away with a point because of a dumb penalty given up in the 2nd half. Still, when Curtis Allen dips his head to nod us an equalizer on 72 minutes, I can’t help but feel that if not for Dean Kiely, that we would’ve won by a good deal more. It’s telling that on a team as skilled as Charlton, we outshoot them by seven shots and Kiely is man of the match.

Final Score – Wrexham 1:1 Charlton Athletic
MoM – Dean Kiely

After the game, I’m asked once more to comment about the future of Francesco Lodi in Wrexham. With Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Internazionale all on his list of rumored admirerers, I do have to admit, keeping him will be rather difficult. Especially given that he has declared himself willing to hear new contract negotiations, but that those must start at $3M. Which is far our of our price range.

April 22nd, 2007

Oh happy day!

Great news today, as Stewart Downing agrees to a $950K a year contract that will see him join us in Wrexham in the summer. I know the move will not thrill Stephen Hughes, but Downing is one of the up-and-coming talents of the English game, and to get him without having to pay a penny is something I can’t deny.

April 25th, 2007

As I continue my search for players to acquire at a minimum of cost, there are two things to deal with here, as both Richard Brittain and Andrea Masiello are apparently less than pleased with their current deals. Both would like new contracts, and, while Masiello is asking for a more reasonable $800K a year, Brittain wants a whole lot bigger reward for his play for the club.

April 28th, 2007

Andrea Masiello, despite not having learned much English since arriving way back when, agrees to a new contract today that will pay him $750K a year, with a healthy $200K signing bonus. It’s good to get him out of the way, while negotiations with Brittain seem to have hit a low. He’s convinced that we don’t have what it takes to really chase him now, and with him listing his signature as taking an astounding $3.8M, I’m pretty sure we don’t either.

English Championship – Game Forty-Five: Sheffield United v. Wrexham

Hughes and Lodi combine to help us ease through this one. We should win by more, but Paddy Kenny puts on a fine performance in net and Ryan Esson just can’t quite stop the shot he does have to face today. Still, three more points to add to what is now, surely, a record-breaking season.

Final Score – Sheffield United 1:2 Wrexham
MoM – Francesco Lodi

May 1st, 2007

Well, someone at Internazionale understands the plot, as the Italian giants come in today with a tantalizing $10M bid for Francesco Lodi. Being that I can’t say no (Lodi has a $550K Minimum Release Fee Clause to his contract) I’m happy that I’ll be getting some $9.5M more than I might have to as I agree to let the Serie A-leading club talk to our star midfielder. I know the fans won’t be happy with me, but the deal was probably coming, since we couldn’t afford his new contract demands. The same seems assured for Richard Brittain now.

Labinot Harbuzi wins another Young Player of the Month award, and deservedly so for filling in when Lodi was down and out or fatigued. The last Goal of the Month award goes to who else, but Francesco Lodi?

May 2nd, 2007

The Champions League Semi-Finals play out their second legs today, with Arsenal taking on Valencia and Internazionale playing Real Madrid. In the former, Thierry Henry and Co. produce a spectacular display of sweeping, attacking football, utterly blowing Valencia off the pitch as the cruise to a 4-1 victory, goals from Jose Reyes, Cesc Fabregas, Patrick Viera and Freddy Ljungberg seeing off the Spaniards. The win means Arsenal progress with a 5-2 aggregate score to their second Champions League Final in three years, having last made it in 2005 and defeated FC Bayern.

In the other matchup, goals from Ricardo Carvalho and Francesco Totti prevent Real Madrid from advancing to the final, as Internazionale win 2-0 in the game, and on aggregate. Inter, who lost in the Quarter-Finals last year will be anxious to grab the club’s third all-time Champions Trophy, the first since the 1960s.

It’s really a tantalizing matchup between the pair. Both teams are leading their respective domestic leagues, both teams are arguably the best sides in their respective nations. People will be expecting an exciting affair, as the combined abilities of Adriano, Henry, Totti and Saviola should certainly lead to goals.

We can celebrate bringing an end to our contract drama with Richard Brittain however, as we agree to a $1.5M a year contract with the Scot, who will also pocket a healthy $850K signing bonus with his new contract. I can’t say I’m angry, Brittain has been in glorious form this season, helped make the right flank dangerous all season, and is arguably just as valuable as Francesco Lodi. Keeping him makes the fans happy, and it makes me happy, even if we are surely assured of saying goodbye to Lodi when the international transfer window opens.

In that light, I’m putting my eyes squarely on a replacement, in the form of Hugo Viana. The Portugese international had a tough time of it at Newcastle, and it didn’t get any better when he made a $950K move to Chelsea. Now transfer listed by Mourinho, Viana is available on the transfer list for the pittance of $1M. Given Viana’s obscene technical skills, I quickly have a fax sent off to Chelsea putting the minimum bid on the player.

May 3rd, 2007

The UEFA Cup final is set today, as Deportivo and Juventus defeat Benfica and Manchester United respectively to progress to the final. The loss is hardest on Manchester United, as the Red Devils had heroically held on for an extra 30 minutes after Ruud van Nistelrooy was sent off for penalties, only to lose to a Jonathan Zebina goal on 119 minutes.

May 6th, 2007

As quickly as it began, the Francesco Lodi era has ended at Wrexham, as the midfielder agrees today to a deal with Internazionale that will have him leaving for Italy once the international transfer window opens in July. It’s a sad day for the club, but it’s entirely expected, I feel. We’re lucky to have retained Brittain, but the interest in Lodi just couldn’t be held off for much longer. He’s made this year into a career year for him, and I wish him the best after this.

English Championship - Game Forty-Six: Wrexham v. Gillingham

It’s been a successful season for Gillingham, as they’ll avoid the drop and have another crack at the league next season. I’d just like to give our fans something nice to go out on. And, despite Gillingham tying it on their first shot of the game, we get goals from Enis Turkovic and Guiseppe Rossi that grant us a happy end of season celebration.

Final Score – Wrexham 3:1 Gillingham
MoM – Stephen Hughes

The lap of honor after the match is something special, entirely different than last year’s. I don’t think the full gravity of what has happened here has quite hit anyone yet. Wrexham shouldn’t have had a year half as good as this, and instead, we’ve torn our way through the Championship, notching a ridiculous 115 points on our way to the Premiership. We finish the season 36-7-3, 18-5-0 at The Racecourse Ground. We scored 110 goals, just barely beating out the 108 Brighton allowed. And we only let 28 goals slip through our defense, the least in the Championship.

The post-match ceremonies are marked with a few speeches from players and from Mr. Royle, who drags me to the microphone, demanding that I say a few words. Clearing my throat, I address the crowd.

“Well, this has been a spectacular year, hasn’t it? And I think, we’ve got all to look forward to next year. So, I’d like to thank each and every one of you for supporting us, for coming to games, for cheering us on. We’re undertaking the biggest adventure of our lives next season, and I want to be here for the whole thing.”

It’s sadness for Queens Park Rangers and Reading, who both are relegated today along with Brighton, and will spend next year in League One, while Blackburn manage to slip past Charlton and snatch the second promotion place. The playoffs will be contested by Charlton, Millwall, Fulham and Ipswich for the final promotion place.

retired_britty

The Final Standings...

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Holders - West Ham| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | C | Wrexham | | 46 | 36 | 7 | 3 | 110 | 28 | +82 | 115 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | P | Blackburn | | 46 | 29 | 11 | 6 | 81 | 33 | +48 | 98 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | Pl | Charlton | | 46 | 29 | 8 | 9 | 87 | 42 | +45 | 95 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | Pl | Millwall | | 46 | 26 | 8 | 12 | 69 | 44 | +25 | 86 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | Pl | Fulham | | 46 | 24 | 13 | 9 | 83 | 42 | +41 | 85 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | Pl | Ipswich | | 46 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 75 | 42 | +33 | 81 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Bolton | | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 78 | 57 | +21 | 75 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Coventry | | 46 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 56 | 45 | +11 | 75 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Crewe | | 46 | 20 | 10 | 16 | 50 | 51 | -1 | 70 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | West Brom | | 46 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 57 | 49 | +8 | 69 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Stoke | | 46 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 48 | 40 | +8 | 68 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Bristol C | | 46 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 45 | 55 | -10 | 60 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Gillingham | | 46 | 16 | 9 | 21 | 53 | 62 | -9 | 57 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Watford | | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 64 | 73 | -9 | 54 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Plymouth | | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 49 | 62 | -13 | 52 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Sheff Utd | | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 40 | 57 | -17 | 52 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Nottm Forest | | 46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 54 | 71 | -17 | 47 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Burnley | | 46 | 12 | 10 | 24 | 60 | 75 | -15 | 46 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Wigan | | 46 | 10 | 15 | 21 | 40 | 63 | -23 | 45 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Cardiff | | 46 | 12 | 8 | 26 | 39 | 78 | -39 | 44 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 21st | | Walsall | | 46 | 10 | 12 | 24 | 38 | 63 | -25 | 42 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22nd | R | Q.P.R. | | 46 | 8 | 18 | 20 | 38 | 64 | -26 | 42 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 23rd | R | Reading | | 46 | 10 | 10 | 26 | 32 | 70 | -38 | 40 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 24th | R | Brighton | | 46 | 2 | 9 | 35 | 28 | 108 | -80 | 15 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_britty

I gather my staff and players for a chat after the game, and let everyone know that their holiday starts tomorrow, May 7th, and comes to an abrupt end June 20th, when we’ll be getting back to work with a new goal. They all deserve the time off as much as anyone has before. I myself have tickets for home and the comforts of seeing family and friends back in the states.

May 7th, 2007

The club agrees terms with Hugo Viana today, and the midfielder will be joining the club in June for a song ($1M to be exact). I’d still like to add one more midfielder to the squad, and I think I’ve found in the form of American Ned Grabavoy. The 23-year old American has been developing at lightning pace since he joined the Los Angeles Galaxy, and it’s a mystery to me as to why they let him go on a free at the end of last year. A 3-time MLS All-Pro, his last season was marked with 11 assists, 4 goals and eight Man of the Match awards. Needless to say, I want him.

May 12th, 2007

Despite a heroic charge from Arsenal, Chelsea see off Tottenham 4-2 today, meaning the London club win their first Premier Division title in over 50 years, the first of the Abramovic era. While there certainly is some disappointment in Jose Mourinho having only been able to win the League Cup other than this title today, it’s still a celebration for Chelsea, while Arsenal will have to make do with playing for the Champions Cup in eleven days.

Portsmouth, Derby and Norwich all end their flirtations with the Premiership, with all three getting relegated.

May 16th, 2007

With me renewing my chase for Freddy Adu and DJ Countess, I’m happy I can turn on the TV and watch the UEFA Cup Final, with Juventus taking on Deportivo. The two teams put on a very engaging match, going stride for stride with one another, three goals banged home in the opening 15 minutes. But Deportivo just don’t finish like Juventus do, as a brace from David Trezeguet and one more late from Jonathan Zebina sees Juventus lift their 4th UEFA Cup.

May 23rd, 2007

It’ll take a pretty good sum of cash to pry Freddy Adu away from DC United, but given how much we’re spending already this season, I think we can afford it. Meanwhile, DJ Countess is affordable at $550K from Athletico Madrid. We place a bid before the evening is out.

The Champions League Final is today, Arsenal taking on Internazionale from the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille. The glut of early chances fall the way of Inter, with Obafemi Martins scorching the Arsenal defense to score the opener just two minutes from the start, but Arsenal keep plugging away slowly, and Thierry Henry’s 25th minute volley ties things spectacularly for the English club. Things get nervier and nervier as the game progresses with the teams deadlocked at a goal apiece, until Cesc Fabregas volleys a Henry header on 66 minutes that gives the Gunners a deserved lead. Inter throw themselves at the Arsenal net, but the game’s inherent cruelties come to light on 77 minutes, a perfect chance falling to Giorgios Karagounis whose shot is saved by Lehmann, only to have Arsenal’s lighting-fast counter-attack find Ryan Smith to slot past Marcos and give a 3-1 lead to Arsenal. When Robinho heads home a Fabian Ernst corner just five minutes from time, it’s letting everyone know who is top dog in Europe. As the final whistle blows, Arsenal celebrate a 4-1 win and their second Champions League victory in club history, the second in three years.

May 25th, 2007

We agree terms today with Delvin (D.J., as he prefers to be known) Countess. The American keeper will join Wrexham for $550K from Athletico Madrid, and will be moving in between the sticks for Ryan Esson, whether he likes it or not. Esson has been fine for us, no doubt, but I do not want our Premiership journey to end after one season in embarrassment and tears, and Esson just isn’t that quality of player. He’ll come in in the international transfer window.

May 26th, 2007

Arsenal go for a Cup double today, taking on Middlesbrough in the FA Cup final. Arsenal, surely tired from their exertions against Inter, come out very, very sluggish, and Middlesbrough hit them hard, scoring twice in the opening 45 minutes, goals from Malcolm Christie and Robin van Persie sending the Gunners reeling. But Arsène Wenger’s team has depths of strength that few else arguably have in the Premiership, and when Robinho coasts through the Middlesbrough defense on 83 minutes before rounding Hans-Jorg Butt to give Arsenal late hope, there’s a sensation that they really can do it. And, on 88 minutes, the equalizer comes, Arturo Lupoli heading home Cesc Fabregas’ cross to knot the score a 2-2 and send it into extra-time. Leave it to Robin van Persie to hurt the team he left in August, scoring twice in extra-time to not a spectacular hat-trick and give Middlesbrough an unexpected but well-deserved FA Cup victory, the first in the club’s history.

May 27th, 2007

A 89th-minute goal from Jerome Thomas breaks Fulham hearts today, as Charlton celebrate promotion at Wembley today. It’ll be us, Blackburn and Charlton taking on the Premier Division next year.

May 28th, 2007

Year-ending awards for the Championship are named today, with Martin Overvik, Stephen Hughes, Richard Brittain and Francesco Lodi making up the Wrexham contingent of the Players’ Team of the Year. All are, of course, richly deserving of the honor. Amadou Makhtar N’Diaye rides the bench.

I am honored with the Manager of the Year award, my second in as many years, while Francesco Lodi’s 33 league goals wins him the Top Scorer award for the championship. What is the biggest surprise, however, is the news that Lodi will not win the Goal of the Season, although finishing 2nd and 3rd, Robert Earnshaw taking it instead. I know my opinion is biased, but I feel that Lodi’s 35-yard thunderbolt against West Brom should’ve won it myself.

The board announces a new two-year sponsorship deal with Sony today. IT’s only worth $360K to the club, but the new shirts look snazzy if I do say so myself, the home shirts all red as usual, the away kits black, the Sony logo small and not too garish.

June 1st, 2007

With leagues around the world having come to an end, let’s see who finished where and who did what.

Chelsea claimed their first Premier Division title since 1955 in England, a late season surge by the Blues snatching the title out of Arsenal’s hands. Arsenal will feel hard done by the finish, finishing a point behind Chelsea on 80, a 22-14-2 record one loss better than last year, but evidencing how important not dropping two points can be. Manchester United, who had been top of the league in March fall to 3rd place, with Aston Villa and Manchester City rounding out the top five. The title will be a fine going-away present for one of Chelea’s finest servants in recent years, as Claude Makélélé leaves the club. Probably the most interesting story this year is the news that the league’s top two scorers, Grzegorz Rasiak and Yakubu will both be surely leaving their relegated clubs, Derby and Portsmouth, respectively. Next year should see some interesting changes however, especially on Merseyside, where Liverpool finished an atrocious 10th, while Everton made the UEFA Cup with a 6th-place finish.

In France, Bordeaux won their first league title since 1997, a last-day win over Sedan giving them the title over 2nd-placed Monaco and 3rd-placed Marseille. Paris Saint-Germain’s domestic malaise continues with a 9th-place finish. I personally am watching the progress of DaMarcus Beasley, the American winger currently playing for Lyon, who finished 4th. Considering how close this year finished, next year’s title also seems to be up for grabs.

While FC Bayern will be back in their proper place next season, gaining promotion from the Second Division at the first attempt in Germany, that won’t stop 1.FC Köln from celebrating a dominating performance in the league, winning the title by 10 clear points over last year’s champions Monchengladbach. Combining the best offense and defense in the Bundesliga, Köln are deserved champions. SC Freiburg, Hamburger SV, and Hertha BSC round out the top five, with Schalke 04 falling into 6th, and VfB Stuttgart in 7th.

Internazionale may not have won the Champions League but the Scudetto will have to do in Italy. Winning it with 88 points over AS Roma, there seems to have been a shift in power in the Serie A in recent years, as AC Milan finish 4th, behind Parma with only the Italian Cup to satisfy their trophy lust, and Juventus crashing all the way to 9th place, but taking the UEFA Cup as some consolation. With Udinese celebrating a spectacular season finishing 5th, and Genoa 6th, the old guard may finally be being replaced. Whether anyone can topple an almost incomparably strong Inter team next year is the real question.

Things have finally changed in Spain, at least in some small way. The top three finish the same way they did last year, Valencia on top, Barcelona second, Real Madrid third. Valencia only take the title by two points over Barcelona, but it must be most frustrating for Real Madrid, who finish twelve points behind Barcelona in 3rd. Deportivo, Atlético Madrid and Real Betis finish the top six spots, but the word is all about the club from Valencia, who seem to be going from strength to strength. Claudio Ranieri has brought nothing but strength to the Mestalla, spending half as much as Barcelona and Real Madrid were willing to, and still taking the title. Telling, indeed.

From some of the smaller leagues…

In Belgium Anderlecht bounce back in style, overturning last year’s 12th-place finish with the title this year. Lokeren and Genk round out the top three.

It’s a photo finish in Holland as Ajax pip Feyenoord for the title on the last day of the season, their 3-1 victory over Groningen allowing them to take the title by goal difference. AZ Alkmaar finishes 3rd.

Benfica win a stunning 31st Superleague title in Portugal, with Porto and Boavista looking on in 2nd and 3rd.

Rangers retain the Premier League title in Scotland, nine points over Celtic, with Dundee following up in 3rd place.

Fenerbaçhe make it four straight titles in Turkey, easily winning over Galatasaray and Gençlerbirligi, who finish 2nd and 3rd.

June 2nd, 2007

With the transfer season about to swing into full gear, I’m glad we’ve made all the moves we might need to already. Once July 4th rolls around and everyone who’s arriving arrives, I’ll start thinking about maybe making one big splash. Until then however, another successful season is done and gone with, and it’s time to take a look at who represented us this year and how they did.

Goalkeepers

Preston Burpo (33 y/o, American, GK): Never even played a single match, Preston hits the transfer list this offseason.

Ryan Esson (27 y/o, Scottish, GK): 50 apps, 36 conc, 26 cln, 1 MoM, Av. Rate 7.12: Ryan actually improved this season, and his lighting-fast reflexes saved us on more than one occasion over the course of the season. That said, we’ve been given the chance to make an upgrade at the position, and we’re taking it. Still a good player, Ryan should make for a fine backup to Countess, and a good alterior plan if that goes wrong. He’s won three medals with us and has been fine when needed to, and, as we enter into new contract negotiations, I’m happy to say that he’s not completely upset by the notion of being replaced.

Defenders

Craig Morgan (21 y/o, Welsh, SW/D C): 21 apps, 2 Gls, 1 Asts, 1 MoM, Av. Rate 7.33: Craig’s improvement continues, as the Welsh Under-21 international continues to grow. Continually, he’s done his damndest to hold a position in the first team, and I can’t say no to some of the performances he’s turned in this year. A player as hardworking and enthusiastic as he is will usually win me over in time, and I’ll be expecting a lot of him next season.

Franklin Simek (22 y/o, American, SW/D C): 22 (2) Apps, 1 Asts, 1 MoM, Av. Rate 7.42: I’m really caught about Franklin. Solid for us again in defense this year, he’s not maturing like Craig is, and seems to have just about leveled off in his ability for the club. As the season wore on his form took a few dips, and against pacey and smart strikers, he has looked a good deal overmatched. What was a steal from Arsenal at the time may not be as good in the Premiership, and Franklin may see a reduced role in the team because of that next season. For the most part, it’s up to him. If he improves, he’ll be back in the first team.

Martin Overvik (22 y/o, Norwegian, D RLC): 41 Apps, 1 Gl, 7 Asts, Av. Rate 7.71: I have no idea how I tripped across this particular diamond, but Martin is probably one of the top three purchases I’ve made as a manager here. I haven’t seen a player close down the flank like he can, and his decision this season to start improving his offensive game and getting involved that way makes him all the more valuable. I’m thrilled we’ve managed to hang onto him, as his future seems nearly limitless. Martin’s made no secret about how much he’s enjoyed his time here in Wrexham, and hopefully, we’ll have him around for years to come.

Brahim Ferradj (19 y/o, French, D L): 15 apps, Av. Rate 7.67: Absolutely exploded onto the scene in replacement of Alex Smith, Brahim is a fullback in the mold of Bixente Lizarazu, and spent much of his time on the field this season effortlessly crushing the opposing attack. Still young and very, very raw, he’s a huge talent, of that I’m absolutely sure. He’ll feature more next year, although not quite as much as previously, with the imminent arrival of Lee Young-Pyo to the team.

Andrea Masiello (21 y/o, Italian, D C): 28 (2) Apps, 1 Asts, Av. Rate 7.20: When called upon, the bulky, strong Italian could mark the hell out of people this season. To think Juventus just released him on a free transfer, allowing us to acquire his services. Still, some areas of his game need work, especially in the air, but I can say that in the past season, I felt safer with Andrea at the back than with anyone else in the defense.

Alain van de Besselar (22 y/o, Dutch, D C): 29 Apps, 2 Asts, Av. Rate 7.62: I’m really iffy about Alain, because I don’t know how he’ll handle the jump to the next level. We are a team that is very, very young in defense, and we rely heavily on attacking, which means our defense, when pressed, must play very, very big. Alain did that very, very well this year, but there are still questions about his future, and if he can bring his game up to the needed level to cope with players like Thierry Henry and Didier Drogba. If the jump between League One and the Championship was big, the jump into the Premiership is even bigger, and I don’t know if he’ll be able to handle the pressure that’s going to be put right on his shoulders.

Alex Smith (31 y/o, English, D/DM L): 33 apps, 1 Gls, 1 Asts, Av. Rate 7.21: Began to age at light speed as the season progressed, and when Brahim was brought into the first-team, Alex was eclipsed entirely. I’ve since moved him to the reserves, and, short of a emergency of titanic proportions, Alex won’t be playing much, if at all for us next season.

Piqué (20 y/o, Spanish, D C): 3 (4) Apps, 1 Asts, Av. Rate 6.57: Manchester United aren’t quite sure what to do with this Spaniard, and neither am I. The season he spent on loan here was uneventful at best, and he never impressed, even in games for the reserve team. I’ll be boxing him up and shipping him back to Manchester once his Loan ends.


Midfielders

Floribert N’Galula (20 y/o, Belgian, D/DM C): 13 (22) Apps, 2 Asts, Av. Rate 7.06: Another season on Loan in Wrexham saw Floribert put up respectable numbers, but improve over the course of the season that when the opportunity to snatch him away from Manchester on a free came, I had to take it. He may not be Vincent Kompany, but that is something N’Galula can aspire to. I’m actually rather surprised/miffed that he hasn’t been chosen to represent his nation on the Under-21s side yet, and once he’s a Wrexham man for good, I’ll start agitating for that.

Amadou Makhtar N’Diaye (25 y/o, Senegalese, DM C): 41 Apps, 1 Gls, 6 Asts, Av. Rate 7.51: Amadou’s arrival here could’ve been a lot less pleasant. He could’ve struggled to adjust to life in England, could’ve been anonymous in midfield, and a lot else. Instead, he shouldered the responsibility and played smartly and consistently in midfield. Although his scoring touch needs work (Amadou couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn) the 41 matches he played this year without complaint and dedication to the team is the kind of thing I wanted to add to the team. He’ll battle it out with Floribert for the starting position next season however.

Stephen Hughes (30 y/o, English, M LC): 42 apps, 12 Gls, 10 Asts, 7 MoM, Av. Rate 7.69: I have no idea where a man turning 30 pulls a season like that from. Where I honestly believed that Stephen would be a lot less effective this year, Stephen was a vital part of our midfield, playing up to the challenge he was presented with. He did it all, creating chances, scoring when it was needed, even getting stuck in to make some tackles as well. That said, with the arrival of Stewart Downing impending, Stephen’s place in the team is under threat again. Looking at him honestly, I don’t know if he’s up for the Premiership challenge, and his place in the team just isn’t a guarantee.

Mark Jones (22 y/o, Welsh, AM RLC): 13 (16) Apps, 3 Gls, 7 Asts, 2 MoM, Av. Rate 7.15: The fans might have me killed if I let this home-grown property leave the club. Mark has just developed and developed in the time we’ve had him at the club. With a silky-smooth first touch and an iron will to win, Mark has acted as deputy team captain on a few occasions, and seems to be prepared to really have a breakout season sometime soon. For now, however, I’ll just value his versatility, and the imminent threat he poses to opposing teams coming off the bench.

Richard Brittain (23 y/o, Scottish, AM RC): 38 Apps, 5 Gls, 20 Asts, 3 MoM, Av. Rate 7.79: Impossibly, Richard improved this season, and it’s only by the grace of the almighty that we’ll be hanging onto him for another few months. Admittedly one of the hottest prospects out of Scotland, Richard was at the beginning of so many of our moves this year I’ve lost count. Never failed to give opposition trouble along the flank, and combined to a spectacular understanding at times with Martin Overvik that lead to no end of goals. The fact that even after signing a new contract that Liverpool and Tottenham are interested in his services says enough about his talent

Labinot Harbuzi (21 y/o, Swedish, AM RC): 11 (23) Apps, 7 Gls, 8 Asts, 5 MoM, Av. Rate 7.38: Once again, I find myself jealous of the glut of talent Manchester United have. Labinot may be the next big thing from Sweden, and illustrated as much this year with us, filling in for Francesco Lodi whenever needed, acting as the fulcrum in attack when we needed it, and slotting in anywhere in midfield. If I could, I’d buy him in a fraction of a second.

Francesco Lodi (23 y/o, Italian, AM C): 37 (3) Apps, 35 Gls, 9 Asts, 12 MoM, Av. Rate 8.15: The numbers speak for themselves. There is nothing I can say about Francesco that will show how important he was to the team. When Simon Cox left, he took over goalscoring duties for an offense that desperately needed it, and his left foot was the most lethal in the Championship. We will miss him desperately when he leaves for Internazionale.

Strikers

Michael Bradley (19 y/o, American, AM/F C): 14 (10) Apps, 4 Gls, 5 Asts, Av. Rate 7.13: Michael is a player with a lot of potential looking for a place in the team. Noone’s sure if he’s a playmaker, a target man, a striker, a midfielder, or what, and Michael doesn’t seem to be sure himself. In two months, his injury will have healed well enough for him to start training again, but he must figure out what kind of player he wants to be if he wants to make good on the mountain of potential he has.

Marcus Tudgay (24 y/o, English, F RC): 8 Apps, 3 Gls, 3 Asts, Av. Rate 7.25: Of the strikers I brought to the team not named Michael Bradley, only Marcus seems like he might pan out. In the eight starts he made this year, there was at least the promise of some competence infront of net. I do not intend for him to be a first-teamer next year, and he will find himself spending most of the games on the bench, but that’s more than I can say for Craig Westcarr and Jami Puustinen, who have both been transfer listed.

Giuseppe Rossi (20 y/o, Italian, S C): 7 (12) Apps, 4 Gls, 2 Asts, Av. Rate 7.11: Much like Febian Brandy before him, Giuseppe had flashes of brilliance this season, following by his being removed by the game entirely by bigger, stronger defenders. I’m not sure whether Giuseppe’s time here was a success or not, since he didn’t learn very much and we didn’t get very much. Perhaps, in a few years when he’s matured, we all will know how he’ll turn out.

Meanwhile, Euro 2008 Qualification is still afoot, with England playing Finland today at Wembley. England look absolutely masterclass as they demolish the Fins 4-0 to improve their record to 5-0-0 and take themselves one step closer to ensuring a place in Euro 2008.

June 5th, 2007

I return from my holiday in Florida and California today to Wrexham in time to greet our four new acquisitions today. Ned Grabavoy, Hugo Viana, Floribert N’Galula and Stewart Downing are all part of the Wrexham family today, and all are rather pleased to find out that they’ve got until much later this month to enjoy their holidays before we start training for the new season.

Players In:
Ned Grabavoy (23 y/o, American, AM LC)
Hugo Viana (24 y/o, Portugese, AM LC)
Floribert N’Galula (20 y/o, Belgian, D/DM C)
Stewart Downing (22 y/o, English, AM L)

And the only one who cost us a penny is Hugo Viana, and that was only $1M.