Part 113: Chapter the Ninth: The edge of glory.
Chapter the Ninth: The edge of glory.March 18, 2021-April 20, 2021
We have eight Premier League matches left, and the FA Cup semifinal against Liverpool. Our schedule is as soft as it gets these next few weeks, Liverpool are not having a good season and of our league opponents only Stoke are in the top half. Five wins will put us on the verge of the Champion's League and our first serious bit of hardware.
I would have preferred if Aarts had been the one to have a great experience getting mentored, but Novotny is back to being “optimistic about his future with the club” so at least he's no longer a disharmonious presence at the club.
Mair got called up, maybe he'll get his first cap! Everyone go out and buy his Scotland kit!
Not much we can do about this and Aarts wasn't getting on the pitch anyways until we've clinched a top four position.
Oh come on. Mair was hurt in training, meaning he won't even get his first cap. Patrice Morvan better be ready for his first multi-game run in the starting eleven, Mair will be out for at least four games.
What more has to happen before USA Soccer fires AU-Klinsmann and realizes I'm the man to win the United States a World Cup?
Todd doesn't miss a single game thanks to the Reading game being pushed back ten days.
There goes any pity I had for Reading in the upcoming match.
vs. Reading, March 30, 2021
Premier League
Reading are safe from the drop, probably, but their fans have to be disappointed as this will be their worst finish in seven seasons since they rejoined the Premier League in 2013/14. Given that their manager has been talking shit about us, I want to knock them around something fierce.
Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1 Control
Starting 11: Kovacevic, Cirjak, Boumsong (c), Todd, Mejasic, Morvan, Petts, Nieddu, Shirra, Mujkic, Bastable.
Subs: Novotny, Dos Santos, Feruga, Djurovic, Bailey, Matko, Di Martino.
Chris Todd returns from the trainers room with some fire in his belly. He scores twice with headers from corner kicks, and we're on our way to the solid victory I demanded from the players When Reading suffers an own goal in the 57th minute, the game is sealed, and despite some success getting off shots in the second half Reading is unable to pick up a goal of their own. Just shy of stoppage time substitute Josue Di Martino picks the pocket of an incautious Reading centerback and delivers a clinical finish to polish off an emphatic victory.
Man of the Match: Chris Todd
Wrexham 4-0 Reading
Ah, I didn't realize you were suffering from delusions. You should be lauded for leading your club to 16th place despite your obvious late stage dementia.
It's a legitimate complaint, Dos Santos has been a sparingly used backup all season thanks to the health of Cirjak and Mejasic. He's not good enough to deserve much playing time, though, and Collignon accepts that without qualm.
Newman wins another Young Player of the month award. I should re-sign him rather than let him go on a free transfer this summer.
Shirra is third in the Premier League Player of the Month award and earns his sixth Young Player of the Month award. We actually sweep the podium in the latter award, with Todd and Boumsong finishing behind the young Scotsman.
It's about damned time. Turns out all it takes to win the Manager of the Month is to play only two league games in that month.
Two league games and an FA Cup match doesn't bring in much money, though, and we're back to running a deficit.
Now that's how you talk about an opponent with class. I'm still going to try to crush you, Morgan, but I'll be happy to shake your hand afterwards.
vs. Stoke City, April 3, 2021
Premier League
Stoke are having another good season, with a real chance to play in the Europa League next fall. We're going to have to play well to ensure that we don't drop points and allow Chelsea back into the top four scrum.
Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1 Control
Starting 11: Kovacevic, Cirjak, Boumsong (c), Todd, Mejasic, Morvan, Petts, Nieddu, Shirra, Mujkic, Bastable.
Subs: Novotny, Dos Santos, Feruga, Djurovic, Bailey, Matko, Di Martino.
Stoke stun us at the start, scoring less than a minute into the game. It's all uphill from there. We dominate the game statistically, pulling even before a half hour had finished with a Scott Shirra equalizer. Even so we're knotted at one a piece, with a Meteor goal having been called back, and time is running down. Our persistence finally pays off when Patrice Morvan scalds a ball from outside of the area into the back of the net with fifteen minutes left to play. Stoke never looked a threat after that first minute goal, and we take our deserved three points.
Man of the Match: Patrice Morvan
Wrexham 2-1 Stoke
Of all the games to televise, why this one? So that no one watches us? Stop jerking my chain, SkyTV. I know Rupert was upset that Wendi went all cougar on me after they divorced, but why are you carrying out the dying retribution of an Australian media billionaire?
Our defense has markedly improved as the year has gone on, and three-fourths of our back line makes an appearance in the team of the week.
At Watford, April 6, 2021
Premier League
This may be an away game, but it's one we should be winning. Watford are not a very good team this year, and we're on a hot streak. I'm resting Dinko Mejasic, I don't want him picking up a yellow card today and being suspended for our upcoming FA Cup semifinal. Shirra is also getting a rest so that he'll be fresh for the semifinal as well.
By the way, I insist that Tom's name is pronounced in the most humorous fashion possible.
Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1 Control
Starting 11: Kovacevic, Cirjak, Boumsong (c), Todd, Feruga, Morvan, Djurovic, Matko, Nieddu, Mujkic, Bastable.
Subs: Novotny, Dos Santos, Lewis, Petts, Bailey, Shirra, Di Martino.
We play very well through the first thirty minutes, taking a lead on a Meteor strike. Things look like they're going to go easily from then on, but Chris Todd has decided that winning easily is boring. He picks up a yellow card at 34 minutes, and then immediately picks up another less than two minutes later. We're forced to play an hour of football with just ten men because of his impetuousness, and it brings Watford right back into the match. We're lucky that Nieddu adds a goal just after Todd takes an early bath, because the second half is all Watford. They score a goal two minutes after the break, and then have forty minutes to pummel our out-manned defense. We hold onto the lead thanks to the heroic efforts of Cyril Boumsong, and escape with another short handed victory. Chris Todd gets to sit front and center after the match as I give him a tongue-lashing for putting the result in doubt with his hot-headed play. Getting sent off also means that he's going to miss the FA Cup semi-final with a suspension, weakening us before our most important match of the season.
Man of the Match: Dimitri Nieddu
Watford 1-2 Wrexham
Since this is his second sending off this year for two yellows, Todd will miss two games.
Unfair? You got two red cards inside five minutes. And it's not the first time you've done this.
You better see my side of things if you want a new contract this summer.
I realize our fans probably don't travel well at this point, but Liverpool can't fill up Wembley for a FA Cup semifinal? Shame on you, Kopites.
vs. Liverpool, April 11, 2021
FA Cup, Semifinal Round
The day prior saw Manchester United beat Arsenal. They await the winner of this match. I'm feeling good about our chances, Liverpool have underperformed all season long and were lucky to make it this far in the FA Cup, while we're playing as well as we have all year and are on a six match winning streak. It's neutral ground, and with Wembley at less than 2/3rds capacity our fans won't be outnumbered by the Anfield faithful.
Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1 Control
Starting 11: Kovacevic, Cirjak, Boumsong (c), Feruga, Mejasic, Morvan, Petts, Nieddu, Shirra, Mujkic, Bastable.
Subs: Novotny, Dos Santos, Lewis, Djurovic, Bailey, Matko, Martino.
Liverpool don't let us control play quite as much as other teams have recently. Despite having 59% possession we only take six shots all game. One of those finds home in the 13th minute when Liverpool's captain makes a horrible mistake and flat whiffs on a clearance, and then allows Shirra to streak by him for an easy chance that beats the keeper and puts us up 1-0. Another comes in the 34th minute when Shirra shows excellent vision to redirect a cross from Petts to Nieddu, and Nieddu finishes incisively to give us the 2-0 lead. Liverpool never have a chance when it comes to attacking, and we strangle the life out of their Cup Run over the remaining hour of play. The only cloud on the day appears when Mejasic picks up his fifteenth yellow card of the season in the second half, which earns him a three game suspension. We're going to the FA Cup final, and we're going to be playing Manchester United for all the marbles.
Man of the Match: Scott Shirra
Wrexham 2-0 Liverpool
I knew holding Mejasic out was the right thing to do, he'll be back before the final.
I merely said that he was a good coach. If that's enough to make him crack he needs to look for a new line of work.
Better than a stick in the eye. But more importantly, we're going to the finals. United beat us in Manchester and we beat them in Wrexham, it's time to see who can win in London.
This is surprising, and distressing. I expected the FA Cup final to come a week after the end of the season. Instead it's going to come in the middle of our last four league matches. We need to sew up our Champion's League qualification ASAP so I can rest players before the big match.
It's your lucky month, rook. You get the next three starts at left back.
Ok, bastard. I'll transfer list you. But don't expect me to drop the £60m pound asking price. I will not sell you for anything less than the GDP of Nauru.
He's attracting even more interest now, the question is whether anyone is willing to drop so much coin on him that I'll consider their offer.
Neither Mujkic nor Nieddu are being mooted as Player of the Year candidates, but hopefully one of them can take the young player award home.
Nieddu is in contention for the writers award as well. He deserves it. He has the fourth highest average rating in the entire league, is 10th in assists, and 13th in goals.
At Bristol City, April 18, 2021
Premier League
Bristol City have fought valiantly all season to keep their heads above water, and with five games remaining they can still see safety. We're going to try to push their heads under water, not only for our own sake but for that of Sky Shadowing in Southampton.
Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1 Control.
Starting 11: Kovacevic, Cirjak, Boumsong (c), Dos Santos, Morvan, Petts, Nieddu, Shirra, Mujkic, Bastable.
Subs: Novotny, Feruga, O'Hanlon, Djurovic, Matko, Di Martino, Aarts.
Bristol City hit us on the counter five minutes into the match, and remain a threat throughout the game. They're actually keeping more possession than we are through the first half, forcing me to switch us to the 4-4-2 Diamond in an effort to chase an equalizer. A big part of the problem was a nagging injury to Shirra, who does not play well before being subbed off. Before an hour has passed. We get the equalizer in the 50th minute when a poor backpass is left sitting in space for a hard working Rocky Bastable, who slips it by the oncoming keeper and into the back of the net. We get the winner ten minutes later when Bristol's entire defense collapses towards Bastable, and is caught flat footed when he side-heels a pass to the trailing, completely unmarked Di Martino. Bristol City threaten again in the final third of the match, but we hang on for the three points despite not playing up to our full potential.
Man of the Match: Meteor Mujkic
Bristol City 1-2 Wrexham
Well that's a lovely butchers bill to end on. At least they'll both be back in time for the FA Cup final.
Stats Key
Apps: Appearances in both League and Cup games (parentheses are substitution appearances)
Gls: Goals
Ast: Assists
PoM: Player of the Match awards
Pas R: Pass completion percentage
Tck: Tackles per game
DrbPG: Dribbles per game
Sh T: Percentage of shots that are on target
Av Rat: Average Rating
Yel: Yellow Cards
I posted player stats between updates, and wanted everyone to get a gander at our squad. Bastable and Shirra are as good as they were last year, while Mujkic and Nieddu have stepped up to give us four dangerous players on the attack. Only Aarts has had a below average season, and he's been in just four games. Our performance this season is no fluke, we're exactly as good as our league standing. There's a new monster club on the block, and you can hear it roar from across the English border.
We're going to play in Europe next year, but we have five games remaining for glory. If we earn a single point over our next four Premier League games, or if Chelsea doesn't win all four of their remaining games, we'll clinch Champion's League qualification. In the middle of that we'll face Manchester United in front of the largest crowd we'll have ever played before, both on television and in person, for the FA Cup and the second most prestigious prize in England. There's no backing down now. Let's get stuck in and come away with Wrexham and Wales on the lips of every dismissive Englishman.
