Hello friends.Greetings from a snow covered and very chilly Toronto where we’ve been reminded that it’s winter!
Before I get into this months report here’s a quick look at the Wrexham squad to help you with the player names and their respective positions which I hope you find useful.
A good crowd of almost 8,000 showed up at The Racecourse Ground for our opening game of the season in League One against Swindon Town. We got a very quick reminder that we were playing at a higher standard when Swindon had the ball in the net within two minutes of the kick off. A second was added 20 minutes later with a header from midfield going clean over the top of our defence for the Swindon striker to smash home. Fofana managed to pull one back just before half time but the damage had been done. The back four’s morale was at an all-time low and we’d only been in the League 45 minutes! To make matters worse Smith and Rooney both had to be substituted but their replacements couldn’t help in fighting back and Swindon comfortably took all three points.
The following Tuesday we remained at home for the visit of Blackpool in the first round of the League Cup. As in the previous game the ball was in the back of the net early…but it was our net! We pulled back an equalizer as Chinedu Vine (ST) was left unmarked to slide the ball pass the keeper from a cross by Jimmy Keohane. By half time I again had to take some players off and by the time we reached 90 minutes with the score unchanged my team was exhuasted. Blackpool took full advantage and scored three times in quick succession but when they were reduced to ten men we fought back with goals by Mitrovic and Henderson. Fofana hit the bar from close range and Alex Smith’s penalty hit the post so in the end we were unlucky not to pull off a dramatic victory.
Our first away game of the season was a trip to Carrow Road to face Norwich City in what I imagined to be a difficult game. The game started much like the previous two but with Norwich failing to put the ball in the net to my relief. I changed my tactic slightly as in not to stand off more and suddenly we looked like the team from last season. Lee McArdle set piece cross resulted in the opening goal that was eventually forced over the line by Jarvis just before the half hour and early in the second half a quick break down the left flank ended in a cross by Fofana that Jarvis pressured the defence into an own goal. It was Jarvis’s sloppy passing though that allowed Norwich back into the game but we held firm and added a third from another set piece that Nicholas headed over the line for our first points of the season!
The final game of the month saw a return to home soil with Notts County as our opponents. We got off to a great start with Oliver Nicholas heading us in front after only 5 minutes. Alex Smith who missed the penalty against Blackpool redeemed himself from the spot after Fofana had created all kinds of trouble for the visiting defenders. We kept the pressure up and went into the interval with a comfortable 2-0 lead. County though clawed one back in similar style to our first goal but good link up play between Hammomd and Jarvis set up Fofana who restored the two goal lead. Jimmy Keohane who was having a great game on the right flank put in a telling ball into the six yard box which was enough to cause nervousness in the defence resulting on an own goal and our fourth of the afternoon. All in all a very pleasing performance.
League Table
Fixtures
So that’s it for this first report of what I hope to be a very exciting season. After a rough start we seem to have found our stride and can hopefully build upon that next month.
Thanks for reading.
Sears
9 января, 2011 at 23:52
That was an exciting start to the season packed with goals :-D Low attendances shouldn’t be a problem this fourth coming season as your team can certainly entertain the crowd. Well done on a great start Kevin!
Kevin
10 января, 2011 at 09:02
Hi Sears
I’ve started off this season with almost double the home crowd from last year. Very good for the bank balance :)
Lye
10 января, 2011 at 01:37
Hi Kevin,
Poor start but you have recovered well to win two games in a row. The players confidence will receive a boost and hopefully this will propel them to do well for the games next month. Good luck.
Kevin
10 января, 2011 at 09:03
Hi Lye
I’m glad we recovered too. I think the fightback against Blackpool made the difference even though we lost.
Johnny Karp
10 января, 2011 at 07:46
Great start there Kevin, much better than mine! :) Too bad about that Blackpool game, you were very close to pulling off a huge upset. So far so good, best of luck for next month!
Kevin
10 января, 2011 at 09:05
Hi Johnny
Yes, we were so close against Blackpool. It was exctitng to watch but my FM record in the League Cup is very poor so a typical result in the end :)
Arjuna
10 января, 2011 at 07:58
A solid base to build on Kevin! It’s hard to tell so early, but you are should be looking at the play-offs this season!
Kevin
10 января, 2011 at 09:06
Hi Arjuna
Thanks for the early vote of confidence — we will se how it goes :)
James
10 января, 2011 at 09:35
Very good Kev, you deserved more from the Blackpool game, Keep up the good work mate :)
Kevin
10 января, 2011 at 13:52
Thanks James
I really thought we were going to porduce an historic comeback but it wasn’t to be.
hils
10 января, 2011 at 15:39
Hi Kevin,good month there!!!!!!!!! Hopefully you will continue your form!!!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kevin
10 января, 2011 at 17:02
Thank hils!!!
Hope to keep up the good form too.
Laxeyman
10 января, 2011 at 16:24
Hi Kevin, two good wins and overall a good start, although a shame that you lost to Blackpool in what looked like a very exciting match. Good luck for next months hopefully you can keep playing like you did in those last two games.
Kevin
10 января, 2011 at 17:05
Hi Laxeyman
The Blackpool match was indeed edge of the seat stuff and I hopefully we can keep up this early good form.
Darren Smith
10 января, 2011 at 19:30
Hey Kevin, after reading your tactics post I can see why you have succeeded so far in lower league football. The tactic seems to have translated well up another league and is proving quite flexible. I think you’ll enjoy some success this season as your results have been great and your even giving Blackpool a run for their money. Well done and I look forward to your next post.
Kevin
10 января, 2011 at 19:52
Hi Darren
Thanks Darren. After the first game against Swindon I wasn’t so sure about my tactic but things retruned to normal pretty quickly and has been quite effective but there’s a long way to go.
warren
11 января, 2011 at 14:56
Hi Kevin
I guess that you a successful start to the season but we will probably get a better idea when the season kicks in to see how well you are going to perform this season.
good luck
Kevin
11 января, 2011 at 20:08
Hi warren
You’re right. Too early to tell to draw any conclusions :)
Ana Garcia
11 января, 2011 at 20:23
Nice start Kevin, plenty of goals always nice to see! :)
Very unlucky against Blackpool but it was a real treat for the fans! 7 goals, 30 shots between you, a red card and both teams hit the woodwork!
Good luck on the rest of your season.
Kevin
11 января, 2011 at 21:36
Thanks Ana
Yes, the Balckpool game had the most exciting ending I’d ever seen!
Sayam Khan
11 января, 2011 at 22:17
Hi Kevin,
2 wins out of 3 after just getting promoted is a good start. The Blackpool game must have been a classic! They’re goalscorers were two guys from the premier league so it must have been difficult keeping them out.
Good Luck!