Part 223: Chapter the Ninth: The trainer's bench is overcrowded.
Chapter the Ninth: The trainers bench is overcrowded.February 29, 2028-March 26, 2028
Will our triple dreams still be alive come the end of the month? There's only one way to find out.
Damned good to see you up and about again, Thiago.
I know you've still got some goals left in you, despite your declining stats.
Vive l'American! And hurrah for the French!
I said I'd need another of these to give us a shot at the title, and in winning this I've put us in position to do so.
vs Swansea City, March 1, 2028
Premier League, Welsh Derby
Minami is in India and we have a lot of squad rotation on top of that. I don't want to risk taking a bath at Brentford in the FA Cup quarterfinal and fixtures are coming hard and fast for the next three weeks. Our wings are chock full of Danes, as Damgaard and Lundbye play across from each other.
Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1 Control
Starting 11: Kocsis, Leandro, Hammatt, Tounkara, Quiboulaz, Lewis, Bailey (c), Lundbye, Bouzid, Damgaard, Stringel.
Subs: Landgraf, Spyropoulos, Sadula, Shirra, Alvir, Marquez, Yilmaz.
The first half hour sees us open in our standard aggressive fashion for the first 15 minutes, and then have the tables turned on us and forced to scramble back on defense for the next fifteen. Then All Ali Bouzid Does is break games open, and Lundbye follows him two minutes later to put the game out of reach. Other than that brief period from 15 to 30 minutes in the first half Swansea weren't able to get any offensive pressure on us.
Man of the Match: Claus Damgaard
Wrexham 2-0 Swansea
Traitor! It's not like he'll start playing for the English national team, of course, but he's now a dual citizen.
We're missing several of our best U23 players. Moctezuma is in Wrexham, of course, but David Hunt and Xavier Hughes are also missing. I doubt it will affect our qualification chances.
At Brentford, March 4, 2028
FA Cup, Quarterfinal Round
We've got one more match before we reach Wembley. Minami is back, albeit jet lagged, and starts between the sticks. Thiago is also back in the lineup, but probably won't play the full match.
Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1 Control
Starting 11: Minami, Reed, Hammatt, Tounkara, Loseille, Laux, Shirra, Moctezuma, Stringel, Mujkic (c), Thiago.
Subs: Kocsis, Leandro, Quiboulaz, Zouaghi, Bouzid, Damgaard, Lundbye.
Brentford is playing up to our level, or perhaps we're playing down to theirs. They slice through our defense and force Minami to make a save. We score first on a Thiagooool in the 28th minute, but Brentford hits back four minutes later on a fast break. We rally and put the heat back on, and score again after Laux makes a great challenge deep in Brentford territory and Stringel picks up the loose ball in front of the net. String scores again in the 53rd minute, and I use that as an excuse to move Stringel up to the striker role for the not match-fit Thiago and bring on Bouzid. Brentford can't make anything happen after their one goal and we're into the semi-final.
Man of the Match: Isaac Stringel
Brentford 1-3 Wrexham
A big win for Southampton, as they keep their Champions League dreams alive and remain four points back of Chelsea.
Both Tackleford and Norwich are into the FA Cup semifinal! I'm torn about how I want the draw to work out, ideally we'd play Norwich and somehow Tackleford would upset Manchester United, but it might be better if we get drawn against Manchester United and they play each other so we face one of them in the final.
It looks like the end of the line for Tackleford. Beating Leeds at home is one thing, beating Man United in Wembley is a whole different animal.
Three well taken shots in the first half is all we need to dance past Panama. Another win will get us to the semifinal. The two teams that make the final will be in the 16 team tournament come July.
It's that time of year again. Our U18 team will be down to fifteen players after this year's graduates, and we've been averaging three or four youth academy graduates who make for worthwhile organizational filler in each yearly class. I've got a transfer budget of £6.5m and £800k/wk free in the wage budget, so I can bolster that total with some economical signings.
vs Rangers, March 8, 2028
Champions League, Knockout Round Home Tie
You may have noticed that we've scarcely used the Pyramid over the last two months. That's not because I'm getting cold feet, but instead because our strikers have been hurt and our mediocre reserves were all loaned out, leaving us without enough fresh bodies to play in the five abreast front line. Now, with Thiago back, I feel comfortable using it again.
Starting Formation: The Pyramid
Starting 11: Minami, Tounkara, Quiboulaz, Bailey, Shirra, Zouaghi, Moctezuma, Stringel, Thiago, Lundbye, Mujkic (c).
Subs: Kocsis, Laux, Weeks, Marquez, Damgaard, Hubert, Yilmaz.
It takes String 106 seconds to score, but we don't get to rest on our laurels as Rangers equalize fifth minute. The Scots proceed to frustrate our attacks and threaten with counter attacks all match long, and we don't pull ahead until Stringel at last scores a second goal for us in the 61st minute. Thanks to our 4-2 win in Glasgow there was no risk of being knocked out of the Champions League, but our level of play was not up to the standards I expect and I let the players know exactly how far short they fell.
Man of the Match: Isaac Stringel
Wrexham (6) 2-1 (3) Rangers
I'm getting one of these after every match now. He's going to get the rest he needs during the upcoming international break when the USMNT will travel to Croatia without him.
Who's bright idea was it to hold the Olympic qualifiers in Canada during March? It's literally freezing out during March in Quebec.
We did not look impressive at all against Jamaica and now need a draw against Costa Rica to ensure one of the top two spots. That was unexpected and unwelcome.
At Liverpool, March 11, 2028
Premier League
A win restores us to the top of the table, at least until United play Arsenal tomorrow. We need these three points.
Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1 Control
Starting 11: Minami, Reed, Hammatt, Laux, Loseille, Bailey (c), Shirra, Moctezuma, Bouzid, Damgaard, Stringel.
Subs: Kocsis, Leandro, Quiboulaz, Lewis, Palma, Mujkic, Thiago.
Liverpool holds us without a shot for fifteen minutes, but then Bailey makes a perfect tackle deep in Reds territory and Bouzid rips his shot past their startled keeper. Our position is put into jeopardy when Rodrigo Moctezuma draws a straight red for a foolhardy two footed tackle when play resumes after the goal, and suddenly we have to make the lead stand up for seventy minutes.
Our defense is able to limit Liverpool to a single shot before halftime. Moreover, we're looking reliably dangerous when we counter-attack, but our inability to score a second goal and our man-disadvantage makes for a nervy second half. When the 90th minute goal comes, as it always would in a match like this, it's from the boot of All He Does Is Score, and Wrexham is back atop the Premier League.
Man of the Match: Ali Bouzid
Liverpool 0-2 Wrexham
It was a dumb foul, and deserved the red. We'll be without his services for a few matches because of it.
The team will also miss Justin Bailey, who's been as good as ever for us all season and who fully deserves his status as Vice-Captain.
The kids needed to step up, and they did so in a big way. They took Costa Rica by the throat from the starter's gun and didn't let up until the match was over.
So of course after finishing atop our group our reward is playing Mexico in the semifinal. I'm not sure why Mexico is even in these qualifying matches since they get an automatic berth thanks to being the host nation. I don't get an answer to that question, and our kids going to need to beat El Mini-Tri to make it to the Summer Games.
We're going to need a little extra firepower to take out Mexico, so I have the lads kneecap Balboa in order to bring Moctezuma on board for the match. It's not like he has anything to do in Wrexham until his suspension runs it's course.
vs Derby County, March 14, 2028
Premier League
With Moctezuma suspended we're without a forward who naturally plays on the right side. I've put Damgaard there and positioned him as an inverted winger. Manchester United couldn't put Arsenal away and that means we can take a three point lead if we take care of business.
Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1 Control
Starting 11: Minami, Reed, Tounkara, Laux, Loseille, Zouaghi, Shirra, Damgaard, Stringel, Mujkic (c), Thiago.
Subs: Kocsis, Quiboulaz, Hammatt, Lewis, Bouzid, Cleiton, Lundbye.
Michael Upson, the second leading scorer in the Premier League and official Product of WrexhamTM, is injured in the 5th minute by Zouaghi. That puts a serious crimp in Derby's goal scoring plans. String gets us going in the 11th minute, and then doubles up in the 25th minute to give us a safe lead after the opening act. The closing act features more Wrexham goals, to the delight of the crowd. Two happen early in the half when Thiago scores in the 51st minute and Stringel finishes his hat trick shortly before an hour has passed. We trade late goals with Derby, and we're steadily pulling away from our closest title rival.
Man of the Match: Isaac Stringel
Wrexham 5-1 Derby
Our academy produced a bumper crop this year, with five players worthy of our U18 squad. All are expected to have Premier League careers, but this guy is the best.
Between Campbell and Bale we've developed two world class prospects. It's a good return on our investment into the youth program and will only get better with time.
Even if Simmons had zero potential I would have given him a contract for that beard. Jesus. He looks 30, not 15.
Collignon's incompetence in the Champions League continues, and Manchester United are out in the knockout round. Their exit does mean they'll be more rested over the final weeks of the Premier League season, though.
That took a ton of effort. We outplayed Mexico comprehensively after the end of the first half, but we couldn't get the go ahead goal and had to go to penalties.
And the win costs us Moctezuma for three weeks. Goddamnit. I only wish that this would have actually knocked Mexico out of the Olympics, they've won gold in 2024 and 2020, and also won gold in 2012. It would have been nice to take out one of our toughest opponents, and the host team, before the Summer Games even begin.
Yep, we're a little screwed.
But it's not like we were going to have him for the next two matches anyways.
There's no easy path to the semi-final, all the remaining clubs are giants of their respective nations. PSG will do fine as our next punching bag.
Bring it, America Jr.
vs Nottingham Forest, March 18, 2028
Premier League
Nottingham pushed our shit in back in November, winning 3-2 on an 89th minute goal. It's time to repay the favor.
Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1 Control
Starting 11: Minami, Reed, Tounkara, Laux, Loseille, Zouaghi, Shirra, Lundbye, Allan, Mujkic (c), Thiago.
Subs: Kocsis, Quiboulaz, Hammatt, Lewis, Damgaard, Bouzid, Stringel.
A Meteor strike in the 11th minute is the only scoring the first half sees. I calmly explain my expectations at the half, and Thiago takes my admonitions during the halftime talk to heart. He scores 33 seconds after the match begins again. Nottingham Forest finally show some life, getting one back in the 60th minute, and are feisty until the end of the match. They're done in by a late own goal, and we keep to our winning ways.
Man of the Match: Meteor Mujkic
Wrexham 3-1 Nottm Forest
MARG BAR CANADA!
At Stoke City, March 21, 2028
Premier League
It's important that we win the final match before the international break. I want to go to Old Trafford in three weeks knowing we can lose and still retain first place. We've been stretched thin at right wing ever since Bale tore his calf, and with Moctezuma the latest victim of a seemingly contagious injury bug I have to give Jeremy Hubert his first start with the senior team.
Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1 Control
Starting 11: Minami (c), Reed, Hammatt, Quiboulaz, Loseille, Lewis, Shirra, Hubert, Bouzid, Damgaard, Stringel.
Subs: Kocsis, Leandro, Tounkara, Zouaghi, Brown, Lundbye, Thiago.
Stoke put in work and keep breaking towards our net with speed whenever they win the ball back, but our superior quality begins to tell after twenty minutes. Shirra gives us the lead on a free kick from just outside the box in the 43rd minute, and we run that out to two in the 53rd minute as Shirra puts a perfect pass across the box to Ali Bouzid. Eight minutes later Bouzid gets an assist of his own by putting in a great cross for Stringel, and we're going to win for the 21st time in 22 games. Stoke are completely screwed when Stringel is hacked down from behind by the last defender, who earns straight red for his cynical foul. They had almost no chance of coming back from three down with a full team on the pitch, they have a literally infinitesimal one once they're shorthanded.
Man of the Match: Ali “AADIS” Bouzid
Stoke 0-3 Wrexham
I'm grateful that I have the power to yank all of our players from their international squads in order to rest them. We're going to have 65 to 69 fixtures across all competitions this year, and you can guess how exhausting that is for the wingbacks who are running eight or more miles a match.
He said he was going to visit his family in Bordeaux. Seems like a good use of his vacation.
Thanks for keeping our seat warm, Manchester United. We'll take it from here.
Sometimes you eat the bear, and well, sometimes it eats you. We played better than the score shows, but that's not saying much. Croatia's finishing was sublime, ours was subpar, and the result is a 4-1 whomping where we were essentially out of the match after half an hour. Thank goodness it's only a friendly.
The CONCACAF Qualifiers will be a breeze. Panama, Trinidad & Tobago, and Suriname are not a murderer's row and we won't face any real challenges until we get to the "Hex" next year. One question I have, though, is why Suriname is in CONCACAF when it's clearly a South American nation? Did CONMEBOL just refuse to include them because they were so small? Now that I look Guyana and French Guiana both compete in CONCACAF too, which makes me think that South America are snobby pricks about who they let into their continental confederation.
Our unbeaten streak is at 22, and we've won 21 of those matches. Other than the admittedly stiff challenge of playing Manchester United in Manchester we have easy pickings with Aston Villa, Swansea, Leeds, Huddersfield, and Brentford left on our Premier League docket. If we win in Manchester the league is all but ours. Norwich is unlikely to surprise us in the FA Cup semifinal, especially as their top scorer and primary attacking midfielder are both Wrexham players on loan and ineligible to play against us. The only potential storm cloud on the horizon is PSG, who are certainly a good team but one we've beaten before.
GOON CUPWe're getting close to the time for the Goon Cup. It will be a straight knockout tournament with random seeding, and I'm going to cap the number of teams at 16 so that the most games anyone will play is four. You will need Football Manager 14 version 14.3.1 to play.
I've set up a sign-up sheet here, if we have over 15 entrants I'll draw lots to see who gets in. Likewise, if there are fewer than 15 interested people it will be an 8 team tournament. In either case, the teams that don't make it will be kept as alternates if someone in the tournament can't make it. Signups will be open until Thursday, February 19, at 12pm EST. The draw will be posted here shortly after that. The first round matches will take place between Friday, February 20, 12pm EST and Monday, February 23, 12pm EST. The draw for the quarterfinal round will be posted by Tuesday, February 24, at 12pm EST, and the second round will take place from Friday, February 28, at 12am EST through Monday, 12am EST.
Once the draw is made participants will have 72 hours to play their opponent, or be replaced by an alternate or, in the case of the semi-final and final, the team they defeated to reach that round. All matches are to be played at a neutral site, for 90 minutes plus Extra Time, and penalties if necessary.
If there's something I'm overlooking, point it out!