Part 33: Chapter the Third: Autumnal chills.
Chapter the Third: Autumnal chills.September 1, 2015-October 18, 2015
Now that the season has begun, things should move a bit more quickly, at least for me. Most of my time during the season is taken up by managing the games while during the transfer windows and youth intake period I spend most of the game working on finding upgrades for the team.
I play most matches in either the old 2D visualization mode with the speed set to maximum, so they look like a rather furious paced game of pong, or in commentary mode where I only see the broadcaster's statements and then the highlight replays. The former takes 15-25 minutes to get through, the latter 10-15, For really important matches I slow things down, but if I did that for every game we'd still be only halfway through the first season.
Confidence in me is still strong, we're actually at 53% in the “Competitions” category, which means the only way they'll be unhappy with me is if we don't get to the second round of the FA Cup and are in 23rd or 24th place. I feel very much like Calvin:
True, Calvin. So very true. By the way, Calvin would be somewhere between 22 and 32 years old today. How's that for making you feel old?
At Blackpool, September 1, 2015
Johnstone's Paint Trophy, Round One
The Johnstone's Paint trophy is contested between the teams of Leagues One and Two. We're drawn away against League One side Blackpool, so I'm not expecting much success. We're only expected to be “competitive” in this competition, so anything other than a bad loss will be enough for the board and fans confidence wise. I opt to play several backups, Martin and Reid are exhausted from their recent game while I want to give Kadhim, O'Hanlon, and Harrison a chance to show what they can do.
Starting Formation: 4-5-1 Counter
Starting 11: Al-Beloushi, Underwood, Poole, Todd, Ashton, Kadhim, Simpson, O'Hanlon, Baker, Azille-Moore, Harrison.
Subs: Higgs, Thomas, Reid, Cooper, Bah
Before the match I went through our tactics and reset the player tactics. The only position where I've set player specific instructions is at Striker, as our four first team strikers have a similar duty but different strengths. For positions like fullback and wing I've standardized the orders. I think one problem we've been having is that a player's individual instructions have been overriding their positional instructions, leading us to play more disjointedly, and resulting in poorly meshed team play.
I notice within the first 10 minutes that our team is doing a much better job of holding their form against the Blackpool attack, our fullbacks are not marauding forward when they should be defending and our wingers are playing out wide and trying to get the ball up for Harrison to make a run at the goal. O'Hanlon is called for a soft penalty in the 17th minute and Blackpool converts. At the half we've created two half chances to their three, and the penalty is the difference.
We pile pressure on after the restart, but can't equalize. O'Hanlon picks up a yellow card in the 56th minute, and I've decided I've seen enough from him. I tell Cooper to get warmed up. In the 69th minute I bring on Bah for Harrison, who has had a couple decent runs but has been unable to break free and give us a goal. Our best chance of the night comes when Underwood collects a loose ball and Blackpool's fullback is just able to get back in time to block his shot. Bah gets another look that's stopped only by the well positioned keeper. The difference is the bullroar penalty, and we're out of another competition despite playing well against a higher division side.
Blackpool 1-0 Wrexham
I also update the squad status of the players, which I hadn't done once since taking over. A player's squad status details their importance to the team. Key Players are considered the most important, and when offering a key player contract to someone you are able to give them a higher wage. They expect a lot of playing time, while a Backup doesn't. Whenever you lower someone's squad status you have a risk of irritating them, as they see it as a reduction in their role on the team even if you've already been sitting your key player and playing his backup in his spot. I just did that to a whole bunch of players (Darren Baker was still listed as a First Team Player, despite not having played regularly for us since last January), so we'll see if there's any fireworks.
Fireworks!
Toms has had an average rating of 6.52 in 8 starts and 3 sub appearances this season. He's never had higher than a 6.7. I don't really give a shit if he's upset.
Higgs, on the other hand, was just demoted from “Key Player” to “Backup” despite just having been signed this summer and is professional enough to know his place on the team despite getting very little playing time.
Market's closed.
Well, that's not correct. We added 25 players during the window (12 youth players, 2 on loan from Norwich).
And Tackleford was definitely the largest spender, dropping four million pounds on players during the transfer window.
Someone call the Financial Fair Play guys. Tackleford's team size is enormous, they have 24 people on their first team and 31(!!!) on their reserve side, along with another 20 in their youth squad. Their reserve side would be the ninth highest payroll in the league. Ugh. I hate them.
With the transfer window closed, Hopkins and McGuinness will be sticking around.
Five of our players are on some form of international squad. We get updates from the matches they play, including reports of their form. I wish Al-Beloushi was playing that well for us, he got an 8.9 rating despite giving up four goals.
vs. Gillingham, September 4, 2015
League Two
Gillingham is sitting 5th in the league right now, so I don't think we'll be able to impose our will upon them.
Starting Formation: 4-5-1 Counter
Starting 11: Higgs, Underwood, Reid, Martin, Ashton, Simpson, Clarke, Bailey, Azille-Moore, Cooper, Bah
Subs: Taylor, Thomas, Poole, McGuinness, Toms, Watts, Hopkins
We start off the game very strong, and Bah scores early to give us the lead in the 7th minute. It's the only score after 45 minutes, and we've actually had more shots than Gillingham. Their manager, clearly displeased with what he saw, uses all three of his substitutions at the half, leaving them vulnerable to injuries. The early moments of the second half give both side's supporters heart palpitations when each team's striker nearly gets to a through ball before the keeper does. Gillingham is clearly motivated now, and finally scores in the 76th minute after playing most of the half in our third of the field. We keep them from scoring again, though, and stay out of the relegation zone.
Man of the Match: Ibrahima Bah
Gillingham 1-1 Wrexham
Underwood was the man primarily responsible for Gillingham's goal. He's been in nine games, and only exceeded a 6.7 rating in one of them.
Let's see if that helps any.
I was just thinking the same thing.
I'm getting good at these things. The longer you manage a team and the more success you have, the better your players tend to respond to you. By the time we reach the Premier League, some of the players are going to want me to be their firstborn's godfather.
This is a risk of having internationals, along with the time spent away from the team they also seem to turn into glass when they're on international duty.
Wales made it to the Euros! Second time ever, and the first time was in 1976 when they only officially made it to the late rounds of the qualifiers.
Some preferred moves can be learned. Like this one. Bah isn't a perfect candidate, but his high free kick stat (16) makes it worth trying. It'll probably result in a lot of balls being blasted over the net, but should also grab us a goal once in a while.
At Exeter, September 12, 2015
League Two
Exeter's 18th in the league. We might be away, but I want a damned win.
Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1
Starting 11: Al-Beloushi, Wright, Reid, Martin, Don-Duncan, Simpson, Cooper, Azille-Moore, Price, Watts, Bah
Subs: Higgs, Thomas, Poole, Kadhim, Clarke, Baker, Harrison
The match does not get off on an auspicious foot, we fall behind after just two minutes, and Exeter doubles their lead ten minutes later. Obviously the 4-2-3-1 needs to be shelved for now, and I was unwise to play so aggressively from the start. Despite switching to the 4-5-1 the game gets completely out of hand before 20 minutes is up, and we're still winless. What a debacle. Even our late consolation goal is one-upped by Exeter scoring in stoppage time.
Exeter 5-1
I expected Reid might take a couple matches to settle into the squad. I did not expect someone so bad that they're nearly unplayable. And now he's trying to blame his teammates for his own performance in a game where he earned a 5.7 rating? I might have made a mistake with this guy.
vs. Shrewsbury, September 16, 2015
League Two
We're still looking for our first win, and Shrewsbury is predicted to finish 15th for the season. That's the only reason I can think of for why I'm running out the 4-2-3-1 again. Short memories can be helpful in sports if they keep you from dwelling on past mistakes. They can also be harmful if it leads to making the same mistake.
Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1
Starting 11: Al-Beloushi, Thomas, Reid, Martin, Don-Duncan, Simpson, Clarke, Azille-Moore, Cooper, Toms, Bah.
Subs: Higgs, Ashton, Poole, Kadhim, Bailey, Watts, Harrison.
We start off with a lot of possession, but just as I'm starting to worry about how many shots Shrewsbury is getting off they score. They double their advantage in the 30th minute and now we're stuck playing from a serious disadvantage. I end up switching to the 4-5-1 and ordering us onto the attack, but our finishing continues to be wretched, and the game is sealed when Stuart Martin puts the ball into our own net while trying to clear a corner. I really need to stop using the 4-2-3-1.
Wrexham 0-3 Shrewsbury
vs. York, September 19, 2015
League Two
Three days later and we're up against a mid-table York team. I've learned my lesson, we're going to be playing defensively. Many of our players are tired after the last match, which means I'm running out a squad with several backups.
Starting Formation: 4-5-1 Counter
Starting 11: Al-Beloushi, Underwood, Todd, Poole, Ashton, Kadhim, McGuinness, Bailey, Price, Watts, Harrison.
Subs: Higgs, Don-Duncan, Reid, Clarke, O'Hanlon, Baker, Bah
The game starts inauspiciously, York takes possession as we expect them to but we go behind in the 31st minute despite not having given up any good chances. I'm left hoping that we can scratch a draw, we've fallen into 23rd and I want to spend as little time in the relegation zone as possible. Matthew Poole lifts my spirits in the 38th minute with a goal off of a corner, and in the 57th minute Price puts us ahead. We score more than once for the first time all season, and in doing so we win our first match in League Two.
Man of the Match: Matthew Poole
Wrexham 2-1 York
Shortly after the York game Michael Coulson's agent approaches me. Apparently he's been unable to find a job for Coulson, and I snap him up as his price had dropped from £5/wk in the offseason to £1.2k/wk when we sign him.
Michael Coulson
Right Winger
It's good to have him back, he was one of the very best players on Tackleford last year and he should be a boost to our offense. Our biggest problem has been our terrible finishing, we're creating chances but not putting them away, and while Coulson's Finishing/Composure is only 12/10, that still makes him better than Bah and Harrison. Moreover, he's got the potential to be with us for a long time.
At Mansfield, September 26, 2015
League Two
We might get some more points here, Mansfield is only 18th in the league on the day of the game and it'd be nice to build some actual momentum.
Starting Formation: 4-5-1
Starting 11: Al-Beloushi, Underwood, Reid, Martin, Ashton, Simpson, Clarke, Bailey, Azille-Moore, Cooper, Bah
Subs: Higgs, Don-Duncan, Poole, Kadhim, Price, Toms, Harrison
We start fast, Ibrahima Bah gets us the lead in the fourth minute, and I'm pleased that we should at least be able to earn a draw. Mansfield spends the rest of the match battering away ineffectually. Our defense denies them good scoring opportunities and the ones they do get are wasted. They fire off 23 shots over the course of the game, but more than half of them are from long range and they only manager to get four on target. We actually have more chances than they do, despite having just 36% possession. We've now doubled our win total, and we climb up to 18th place in the league.
Man of the Match: Ibrahima Bah
Mansfield 0-1 Wrexham
We're seeing repeated offers to loan out our youth players, but as we've actually got a decent youth coaching staff I deny all requests. They'll improve more by staying here than they would by going on loan at some place with even worse facilities and no coaching to speak of.
The fans really don't like Reid. It's understandable. I don't like him either.
Which is why I don't feel sympathy for him when I find out he's got food poisoning. Perhaps he'll crap out all the awfulness that he's been putting on the field thus far.
It's now October, and our pitch condition is still good. I'm surprised, it's dropped only one category since the start of the season.
vs. Rochdale, October 3, 2015
League Two
This is a relegation six pointer, and also the first time we've played a team lower on the table than ourselves. Winning here will do us a world of good in avoiding getting kicked back down to the Skrill North. Given how bad Rochdale is, I risk pulling out the 4-2-3-1 again.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Starting 11: Al-Beloushi, Wright, Poole, Martin, Don-Duncan, Simpson, Clark, Toms, Price, Azille-Moore, Bah.
Subs: Underwood, Curran, McGuinness, Bailey, Watts, Coulson.
The 4-2-3-1 works as intended. We have more possession and we don't give up any good chances all game. That doesn't mean we don't give up a goal, though, as Rochdale scores on an excellent counter-attacking move that culminates on a perfect pass across the box to a streaking Rochdale player. Rochdale sits back for most of the match, and to my fury we cannot get shots on target. The one real chance we have is squandered by Bah, who has only the keeper to beat and chooses to launch the ball straight at him. If we were losing all of our matches the way we lost to Exeter that would be one thing, but these narrow losses and draws where we have a real chance to earn more points are in many ways worse.
Wrexham 0-1 Rochdale
I'm not sure how to fix our offensive woes, though the 4-2-3-1 obviously needs tinkering.
We've got a lot of players on international duty, four of them are in our first team. It limits our choices as to who we field while they're away. Also, another of our youth players was hurt while in international action. Thanks for being careful with my stuff, Wales.
At Yeovil, October 10, 2015
League Two
Yeovil has just dropped down from League One, and is one of the teams in contention for promotion this year. That's naturally bad news for us, and we're going to be bunkering to try and stay out of the relegation zone.
Formation: 4-5-1 Counter
Starting 11: Higgs, Underwood, Poole, Martin, Ashton, Simpson, McGuinness, Bailey, Coulson, Cooper, Bah.
Subs: Taylor, Don-Duncan, Reid, Clarke, O'Hanlon, Azille-Moore, Hopkins.
Things go very well in the first half. We have more shots, and better chances. Most importantly we have the lead after Bailey knocks in a goal off of a corner. Yeovil is much more proactive in the second half, and it results in our offense fading away. They can't score from open play, however, so when they tie the match at one off of a corner of their own I'm looking forward to taking at least a point home with us. That is not fated to be. In the very last moments of regulation Yeovil scores off of another corner, and while our defense allowed just one half-chance we still lose. We've had an epidemic of games where bad luck and poor finishing have cost us points. We're now back in 22nd, just a point above 23rd.
Yeovil 2-1 Wrexham
I'm amused that Murray stinks even at the lower level. But it's a bleak humor, given how we've been doing ourselves.
At Dag & Red, October 17, 2015
League Two
Dagenham and Redbridge are in last place. If we lose, we will switch places with them.
Formation: 4-5-1
Starting 11: Al-Beloushi, Underwood, Reid, Martin, Ashton, Simpson, Clarke, Bailey, Azille-Moore, Cooper, Harrison.
Subs: Higgs, Wright, Poole, Kadhim, O'Hanlon, Coulson, Bah.
The first half sees us get into great positions, but make nothing of them. The worst of the misses comes in the 45th minute, when Harrison uses his speed to split the defenders, and then pings a shot off of the keeper. We also have three shots from the six yard box, two of them by Harrison on corners that he can't even get on target. The second half sees more of the same, and at the very least we're stifling Dag and Red, until the 71st minute when Underwood knocks the ball straight to an opponent right on the six yard line. We go down one, and it's enough to defeat us. We're now in last place.
Dag & Red 1-0 Wrexham
I don't know what to say other than that this is unacceptable. We've only got two wins all season, we've only scored two goals once this season, and our set-pieces, previously a strength of the team, have become completely ineffective, we've been outscored 4-2 from corners. It's mid-October and the days are growing shorter, but things already can't get much darker in Wrexham.
