Part 150: Chapter the Second: Don't make a deal just to make a deal.
Chapter the Second: Don't make a deal just to make a deal.August 1, 2023-September 1, 2023
Four more friendlies, including a tour of the top teams in Italy, the Community Shield, and the start of the Premier League season await us in the dog days of summer. The American U20 team will be participating in the U20 World Cup, after picking the squad I've assigned Paul Williams to coach them as I'm getting a bit burned out actively managing 8-10 matches per month. I'll still be in charge of deciding who gets called up for that team, but I trust Williams to handle the tactical aspects of the job.
We need Rouissi to become more professional and dedicated to his craft, he didn't improve much last year and he's already 19. I don't want to use Mujkic as his tutor because their personalities are polar opposites, but Taborda has a “professional” mindset and can hopefully impart that to Kais.
At least we made Manchester United spend some money. Boumsong can afford that trip to outer space he always wanted.
USA! USA! USA!
At Radnicki Nis, August 2, 2023
Friendly
We've got five friendlies in the eleven days before we go up against Manchester City in the Community Shield. Expect to see me playing a lot of kids and backups and making sure that our first team doesn't have to play more than about 150 minutes over that period of time.
Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1 Control
Starting 11: Kocsis, Reis, Feliciano, Rickard, Enrique, Maloney, Allan, Parr, Rouissi, Gabbianelli, Aarts (c).
Subs: Fitzgerald, Taffarel, Loseille, Cirjak, Vidal, Quiboulaz, Morvan, Petts, Bailey, Stringel, Ikeda, Thiago.
With six youth players in our starting 11 we annihilate our feeder. It's a very good offensive performance regardless of the level of our opposition. Shahed Parr racks up four assists, Callum Allen is looking like a good replacement for Julio with a brace of goals, Kais Rouissi scores as well, and Bram Aarts is pushing for a spot with the starting eleven with a hat trick in under 46 minutes of play. Despite a couple of mishaps from our very young back line we win with ease and panache.
Man of the Match: Bram Aarts.
Radnicki 2-6 Wrexham
Taborda was gassed from playing almost every minute of Argentina's run to the Copa America final. He could use a brief rest before the season kicks off.
We've got a big squad. Even ignoring Ikeda and Rouissi, who will be in the reserves this year for seasoning, we have 28 players signed for the first team. Because a number of them are still under 21 we can add four more players before we hit the 25 man registration limit, but in coming years we're likely going to have to pare down our squad size or we'll have guys sitting on our bench who aren't eligible for Premiership matches.
At AS Roma, August 4, 2023
Italian Tour
Roma are one of two top division teams from Italy's capital and have one of the fiercest rivalries in all of sports with crosstown Lazio. Roma finished second last year in Serie A, and are a tough opponent who we could end up facing in the Champions League. This match, along with the one against Juventus in six days, will be much sterner test than the Japanese, Chinese, and Serbian clubs we've faced thus far. Our former super sub Julio is in the lineup for Roma, as is former transfer target Leonardo Salerno. Dejan Djurovic is on their bench as a potential substitute as well.
Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1 Counter
Starting 11: Kovacevic, Cirjak, Laux, Vidal, Taffarel, Petts, Bailey (c), Argenti, Stringel, Ikeda, Thiago.
Subs: El Sayed, Reed, Loseille, Quiboulaz, O'Hanlon, Hammatt, Mair, Morvan, Shirra, Gabbianelli, Parr, Aarts.
We're outplayed in the first half and I have to remind the squad that even if this is just a pre-season friendly I still expect a certain level of attentiveness and effort. That plus shifting to an attacking posture seems to do the trick and we dominate the second half, taking a lead on a penalty kick. We don't notch the victory due to a stoppage time goal, but it's still not a bad outcome and I can be mostly happy with the way the team played.
Roma 1-1Wrexham
I've made sure that we're working harder on our match prep than ast season, with two friendlies and what's essentially a friendly in the Community Shield we should be almost perfectly fluid by the time the league kicks off.
At Fiorentina, August 7, 2023
Italian Tour
Playing in one of the most attractive cities I've ever had the luck to personally visit, Fiorentina are a mainstay of Serie A, although they can only claim two scudettos. They had a run earlier in the LP of finishing second in four out of five years, but have since returned to being a good team rather than a great one. Original Tackleford player Cyrus Rosetti is on Fiorentina these days, he's enjoyed a career as an unspectacular striker for several different Serie A squads. Regardless of the result I plan on dragging the whole squad to the Uffizi for some culture before we head on to our final friendly in Turin.
Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1 Control
Starting 11: Fitzgerald, Reed, Vidal, Hammatt, Taffarel, Bailey (c), Allan, Parr, Stringel, Ayari, Thiago.
Subs: El Sayed, Reis, Enrique, Loseille, Feliciano, Quiboulaz, Morvan, Petts, Gabbianelli, Rouissi, Ikeda, Aarts.
An even match provides some delights for the spectators, but no joy for the home team. We pull ahead on an excellent effort by Parr, who was unleashed by Stringel's pinpoint through ball just before the end of the first half. Late in the second half Rouissi salts it away with a goal that was once again assisted by the young Mexican Messi. Cyrus Rosetti, who was brought in during halftime, managed just a 6.3 against our defense, which never looked outmatched for a moment.
Man of the Match: Isaac Stringel.
Fiorentina 0-2 Wrexham
My hunt for a huge signing has continued, and this guy crossed my radar. He had a £68m release clause, and I felt that he wasn't quite good enough to be worth triggering it. That release clause is now £106m, and if I didn't think he was worth it at nearly £40m less I certainly won't be swooping in for him now.
A draw against Argentina will put us through to the knockout round, and be a huge coup given the group we were in. Italy topped Argentina 1-0, both of them will advance with wins in their final group stage match. We can still advance to the knockout round even with a third place finish, with only six groups four of the third place finishers will survive.
At Juventus, August 10, 2023
Friendly
Juve would like to repay us for beating them in the Champions League last year, and they'll very likely do it since I'm holding out several of our best players for the Community Shield in four days. I won't hesitate to sub on a bundle of youngsters if things go south before intermission.
Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1 Counter
Starting 11: El Sayed (c), Cirjak, Laux, Quiboulaz, Loseille, Morvan, Petts, Argenti, Allan, Ikeda, Gabbianelli.
Subs: Fitzgerald, Reis, Enrique, Rickard, Feliciano, Mair, Bailey, Stringel, Taborda, Rouissi, Thiago, Aarts.
Our counterstrokes are devastating, and we're up by two within the first ten mintes. Ryuta Ikeda is making it very hard for me to consider sending him on loan after he learns English, he's scored thrice in six friendlies now. Kais Rouissi is also having an impressive pre-season, scoring for the second time in as many matches. We win against the Italian giants in their own house, and even though it was a pre-season friendly it's still nice to put paid to the nagging concerns from our match last spring where we almost choked away the Champions League.
Man of the Match: Ryuta Ikeda
Juventus 1-3 Wrexham
I said I'd get him a new contract, and negotiations went quickly. Poaching him from Barca was one of the more enjoyable transfers I've done at this club, and even though he wasn't captain material he's still one of the best right backs in the world.
I'm afraid of jinxing our run at this point by saying anything, but this is fantastic for the young American squad. Next up is Honduras, who aren't even on the level of Cameroon. It's extra enjoyable as Mexico's U20 squad is already out,, having managed a solitary point in the group stage against an admittedly tough lineup of Spain, Brazil, and Nigeria.
Anything less than the title is a disappointment.
Good to see you again, too.
vs. Manchester City, August 13, 2023
Community Shield
Golly do I despise Manchester City. Twice before have the Manchesters stood athwart our destiny to win every possible trophy, and I hope to the heavens that third time is the charm.
Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1 Control
Starting 11: Kovacevic, Cirjak, Laux, Hammatt, Taffarel, Morvan, Bailey (c), Argenti, Shirra, Taborda, Thiago.
Subs: Fitzgerald, Reed, O'Hanlon, Mair, Parr, Stringel, Aarts.
The opening 45 minutes is a slugfest. It's very clear that neither team likes the look of the other's face, and set about pounding their opponents into the dirt throughout the half. The ref is lenient and lets them get away with it, the only yellow is given to Hammatt just before the halftime whistle. Being so intent on battering their opposing number the teams forget to score, leaving it knotted at nil-nil.
It remains that way for most of the second half, and City look more threatening. That makes their fans all the more frustrated when a defensive miscue leaves Taborda all alone at the far post in the aftermath of a cleared corner, and El Compadrito flashes the knife and makes the Citizens pay. It looks like a deserved win for the Dragons, but the referee seems to have lost his watch and in the sixth minute of what should have been four minutes stoppage time City's desperate final effort finds net. Outrage and elation ring about the stadium for several seconds from each club's supporters, and then are immediately swapped as the goal is called back as offside. We win our first trophy of the year after a nervy match with a team that's rapidly becoming our archrival.
Man of the Match: El Compadrito
Wrexham 1-0 Man City
Piero gutted out an hour of football after having his leg taken out from under him on a bad tackle, but it's not a serious injury. With him and Mujkic both out and Collett still getting his fitness back we might end up giving Ikeda and Rouissi playing time.
Pattison continues to be the worst.
It's easier to take his pathetic attempts to play mind games when we've got a shiny new trophy for our collection.
I hate penalties. I especially hate losing on penalties. I loathe losing 19-18 on penalties. This was not a good way to go out, and we should have beaten Honduras in regular time, but I guess I shouldn't be upset with their performance as a whole given how we played against Argentina and Italy.
At Watford, August 19, 2023
Premier League
Watford could be relegation bait, or they could be midtable. They're in the cluster of teams that aren't good but aren't dire and who will see their fortunes rise or fall based upon injury and chance. At the same time the worst starting 11 I could create out of our senior team would beat them 7 times out of 10. There is no way we should get anything fewer than three points from this match.
Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1 Control
Starting 11: Kovacevic, Reed (c), Laux, Hammatt, Loseille, Morvan, Petts, Collett, Shirra, Taborda, Thiago.
Subs: Fitzgerald, Taffarel, O'Hanlon, Bailey, Allan, Parr, Aarts.
We put repeated scares into the Watford faithful, but we've got nothing to show for it. Luckily my long campaign of badgering the refs seems to be paying off increasingly as time goes on; we're gifted a penalty in the 53rd minute and Shirra puts us ahead from the spot. Our lads keep pressuring the Watford defense even after taking the lead, and after several missed chances earlier in the match the Brazilian Baller/Italian Stallion/Bastable Replacement Binky Thiago scores the first of what will hopefully be many goals in a Wrexham kit. Watford make a game effort to get back into the match, but we're able to scramble away some dangerous balls and they let their chances slip through their fingers. It's an acceptable start to the season.
Man of the Match: Thiago
Watford 0-2 Wrexham
We've come a long way since we were drawing 3,000 a match.
At Portsmouth, August 23, 2023
Premier League
Hi Portsmouth, there's only room for one supporter owned club in this league. Pompey must die. I'm giving Kais Rouissi a taste of the action, it'll be the third time he's been in a Premier League game and his first ever start.
Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1 Control
Starting 11: Fitzgerald, Cirjak, O'Hanlon, Quiboulaz, Taffarel, Mair, Bailey (c), Parr, Allan, Rouissi, Stringel.
Subs: El Sayed, Loseille, Hammatt, Morvan, Petts, Gabbianelli, Aarts.
Poor Portsmouth. Stringel is in the right spot at the right time to take advantage of an opposition mistake almost from the opening whistle. Then, our run of good luck with the refs continues with another questionable penalty, which Bailey converts to make it 2-0. Bailey then adds an assist from the corner flag by finding Stringel at the near post.
We should be able to play without any worries, but the new centerback pairing of Quiboulaz and O'Hanlon allow Portsmouth to strike on each side of halftime and put the outcome in doubt. So I bring on Hammerin' Ed Hammatt for O'Hanlon, and he gets free on a corner and pushes the lead back to two minutes after getting on the pitch. Parr finishes off the match with a well struck effort, and I'm pleased to see the team respond so well to the Portsmouth threat, although I'm not sanguine about the number of chances we're allowing.
Man of the Match: Justin Bailey
Portsmouth 2-5 Wrexham
I'm pessimistic about finding an upgrade at this point. It could still happen, but the most likely result is that I hang onto all this cash and wait to see what's available at midseason. We're still the team that did the double last season, and we're still very young, so it's not like we should be that badly hurt by not going out and buying the fanciest toy on the market.
Our backup keeper has reached the end of the line for us. Fitzgerald is just as good and isn't fully developed. I'll try to find a place for Ibrahim where he can get a good amount of playing time. I just wish he'd given me more than a week's worth of time to do so before the transfer window closes.
Anyone got a line on a new goalkeeping coach? I wish US Soccer would give me more coaches, and more importantly give me scouts. As is I've been using Wrexham's stable of 24 scouts to comb through the thousands of American players for anyone with a glimmer of talent.
vs. Reading, August 26, 2023
Premier League
We've got the Super Cup against Inter Milan coming up in five days, and then an international break, so this is the second to last chance for our supporters to see us over the course of three weeks. Lets give them a show and take all nine points from our first three league matches.
Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1 Control
Starting 11: Kovacevic, Reed (c), Laux, O'Hanlon, Loseille, Morvan, Petts, Collett, Shirra, Gabbianelli, Thiago.
Subs: Fitzgerald, Quiboulaz, Vidal, Mair, Allan, Rouissi, Aarts.
O'Hanlon makes up for his errors in the last match by saving a goal early in this one. Thus it's still scoreless when Collett collects the pinballing orb in the six yard box and deposits it in the goal. A Reading player picks up a cynical red card halfway through the second period while trying to prevent Thiago from a clean shot at goal. Our second goal isn't long coming after we go a man up. It's not a sterling performance from us, but Reading are an average quality club and never looked like they had any hope of scraping a draw.
Man of the Match: James Loseille
Wrexham 2-0 Reading
I really should be slapping these clauses into all of our transfers. That's especially true as I've been happy to take offers where we're paid tens of millions of pounds over the course of a year or two, if I'm willing to wait for that money I should be willing to wait for 20% of a future transfer.
Curses. Reed and Loseille have both improved by leaps and bounds over last year, and we won't have a club match other than the Super Cup until he's healthy again, but he was going to get the start against Inter.
We've got £68m in the bank. We're also going to turn a healthy profit this month, and in coming months shouldn't be seeing more than a few million in negative cash flow. It's safe to say that we're going to stay well in the black all season.
Woah, we're a #1 seed? Must be thanks to having won the whole shebang last year as we have the 28th best coefficient and there's more than 7 teams with better ones in the group stage draw. This makes it much more likely that we'll get a soft route to the knockout rounds.
So much for getting an easy group. PSG are PSG, the richest club in all of the world. Rubin Kazan and Shakhtar Donetsk are the powerhouses of Russian and Ukrainian soccer. If we're unlucky we could be looking at a trip down to the Europa League.
The groups seem to be fairly well balanced overall, the only group that I think has no chance for upsets is the one with Manchester United and AC Milan.
Scarcely two hours before the end of the transfer window El Sayed agrees to a contract with Spanish club Mallorca. Happy trails, habibi. We'll always have your scoreless streaks to look back on.
That's a lot of money being tossed around, and we were at the center of most of it. We were either the buyer or seller in four of the five biggest deals, only City's purchase of a Turkish winger from Galatasaray matched the money we were paid and paying. Also, what are you doing Tackleford? Besides wasting money and wallowing in mediocrity as per usual. That's a whole squad of players brought in, and none of the ones I looked at seemed any better than the players they were buying 8 years ago.
I've put him back on corner kick duty, and it's already started paying off.
As I mentioned, both Reed and Loseille have come into their own, they could surpass Taffarel and Cirjak as my top choices by the end of the season if they improve by the same amount this year.
I'm calling shenanigans. We won three matches, which is definitely more than two. Pattison must be paying some of the voters to pull that sort of chicanery off so that he can feel better about losing the Community Shield.
USMNT
Our teenagers not only made it through the group stage, they won a group that contained Argentina and Italy. If that doesn't speak well for the future of the program I'm not sure what will. Next up are senior team friendlies in Germany and Greece. Even the latter will be a sterner challenge than we've faced outside of the Mexico match in the Gold Cup thanks to the effect of home field advantage.
We're off to a roaring start, the best we've ever experienced. We have a new, minor, honor that joins the pile of accumulating awards and we've looked strong in our first three league matches. The Super Cup should be a fun little test against a solid Italian team, and the Champions League kicks off with a visit from the Ruskies. We'll also have a League Cup match in September, hopefully against some lower league chaff that we can use as a chance to rest our front line.
Prediction ContestThis year's contest will be to predict how many goals the Bastard scores across all competitions in Real Madrid, how many goals his replacement Thiago scores across all competitions for us, and the difference between how many goals Bastable scores and how many goals Thiago scores.
For example, I could say that I think Bastable will score 22 goals for Real Madrid, Thiago will score 17 goals for Wrexham, and thus Bastable will be +5. Right now they each have one goal.
Entries will be open until Saturday, August 9, at 7pm EST or until Chapter the Fourth is posted.