Hello friends and welcome back to my continuing journey with Wrexham as we play our second month in League 2.
September began with the visit of Torquay to the Racecourse Ground. My assistant manager reported that Torquay played well against a 4-4-2 so I switched things up with a 4-4-1-1 with young Slovakian Michal Dolinajec starting in the AMC position behind Baheng. Dolinajec has been in the squad for over a year though I rarely play him. Thomas Lyskov starting his first game of the season only took eleven minutes to get on the score sheet neatly placing the ball under the Torquay keeper with Williams as the provider. The rest of the half featured FOUR clearances off the line and a Baheng shot that hit the post. After the interval the visitors were a little more ambitious and eventually found an equalizer after 73 minutes. Asante came on for Baheng and his fresh legs set up up a lovely counter attacking move that was finished off by Da Silva and Asante bagged one himself latching on to a through ball by Williams once again.
The next game was away to Cheltenham who were in 23rd place so I was hoping for yet another three points. The game turned out to be one of those bore draws so our 100% record disappeared.
Four days later we played away from home this time against Barnet who were also near the bottom of the table. We got off to a great start with Wesley Baheng curling the ball from just outside the box into the right corner of the net. Barnet equalized off a headed in free kick and then we conceded another before half time again off a set piece. Our discipline totally fell apart in the second half and Barnet sensing the kill finished us off with another goal. It was undoubtedly our worst performance of the season so far.
Chesterfield were our next opponents and we would face them at The Racecourse Ground. Early pressure on the visitors goal saw two attempts from Nicholas and Baheng cleared off the line within the first three minutes and then Francis Laurent stupidly got himself sent off for a very dangerous tackle and that left us down to 10 men after 13 minutes. With Baheng on his own upfront we had very little chance of making any serious headway and it was all we could do to muster a draw out of a very miserable afternoon.
The last game of the month was away to Stevenage with the most exciting thing happening in the 90 minutes was the home side being reduced to 10 men early in the second half. We had good possession and passing but our cross ball into the box was lousy and rarely did we threaten Stevenage’s goal. At the other end Martin Hansen didn’t have much to do either.
What started out as a very bright month ahead turned into a very dismal 30 days though surprisingly we remain at the top of the table despite all those below average performances.
League Table
Fixtures
We start off October with a game against rivals Hereford and finish off playing Luton who were promoted along with us last season.
One noticeable item is that my midfielders seem to get more easily fatigued this season than last. Their training and instructions have not been altered dramatically and I believe is the reason for the current poor form. Hopefully I can figure out what the problem is?
Thanks for dropping by and those readers who have started school Christmas Holidays already have a great time off !!
Johnny Karp
19 декабря, 2010 at 11:09
Hm, I can’t really say what had happened there… Anyway, the team has created less chances than usual in those last few games so it could be a problem in midfield. I think there is a simple explanation for the fatigue: they have to run a lot more in League 2 than they used to do in Blue Square Premier. I have noticed the same issue with my players but I rotate them a lot, especially the midfielders. I have five central midfielders and every one of them gets into the starting eleven every two or three games.
Kevin
19 декабря, 2010 at 16:54
Hi Johnny
Your suggestion makes sense of course and I’m lacking any real back up to Williams and Gilmour in the centre.
Darren Smith
19 декабря, 2010 at 11:20
Hey Kevin, that was a tough month and fatigue is always a problem in the lower leagues. I think Johnny has the right idea with rotation. This is what I do with my Newcastle side if theres 2 games with 5-6 days. Hopefully you can solve the issues and get your side back on track. Goodluck mate.
Kevin
19 декабря, 2010 at 16:56
Hi Darren
Thanks very much. I’m a bit thin on the ground for rotating and I couldn’t get anyone on loan in the transfer window for that centre midfield position.
Sears
19 декабря, 2010 at 12:04
Fatigue hindered your progress Kevin, maybe you should do the same as Johnny, rotate your players more? I’m really not sure because I have managed in the lower leagues on FM11 yet. I’m sure you can turn your team fortunes around , but at least your still top! I don’t get my school holidays until Thursday :-(
Kevin
19 декабря, 2010 at 16:57
Hi Sears
Sorry to hear about your school holidays. I only checked Wiltshire where I’m orignally from. I have no squad depth for rotating so I guess I’m screwed :(
Ana Garcia
19 декабря, 2010 at 13:30
Hi Kevin,
When I saw the title I thought your game had broke or something!!
Just a dip in form like others have said may be down to your players getting tired, may be down to training to high or maybe what Johnny said about rotating to keep players fit.
Hopefully you can find a solution and regain your early form. Good luck! :)
P.S I am now on holiday until the new year! (Not School holidays though!) :)
Kevin
19 декабря, 2010 at 16:59
Hi Ana
Well enjoy your Xmas break !!
The training I will look into as suggested. Cheers!
Laxeyman
19 декабря, 2010 at 13:44
Hi Kevin, that was a strange month, your players just suddenly started playing badly, I’ve no idea why, although your defence looks like it still did quite well. Hopefully you can stop the run of bore draws next month, you still have a good chance of promotion, so there’s no need to panic. Good luck!
Kevin
19 декабря, 2010 at 17:01
Hi Laxeyman
I have no idea either why they stopped either and the bore draws are certainly begining to increase :(
hils
20 декабря, 2010 at 08:01
Hi Kevin, that was a strange month because your players were playing really good!!!!!!!!!!! Hopefully you will do better next month!!!!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!
Kevin
20 декабря, 2010 at 09:46
thanks hils!!
They seemed to play the complete opposite of the team instructions?
Lye
20 декабря, 2010 at 08:48
Hi Kevin,
I believe it’s one of those months and sometimes quite difficult to find out what happen. My team is also showing their poor form and hopefully both our teams can return back to form. Your 1st position shows that your rivals are not playing well as well so things are certainly still under your control. Good luck for next month.
Kevin
20 декабря, 2010 at 09:48
Hi Lye
That’s true. The rest of the teams seem inconsistent as well. I never thought about that. Very frustrating though to go from a brilliant start to this kind of form.
Sayam Khan
20 декабря, 2010 at 18:10
Hi Kevin
The change of formation may be harming you? Anyway everyone goes through these periods, you should be back to winning ways next month. hopefully (fingers crossed)
Sayam Khan
20 декабря, 2010 at 18:11
Sorry, i just read your post again and you played 4-4-1-1 for your first game of the month only, am i correct?
I guess it’s one of those months then hey? Can’t think of any other possibilites…
Kevin
21 декабря, 2010 at 00:14
Hi Sayam
I took my A.M.’s advice and went with a chnage of formation but other than that stayed with th usual 4-4-2 which the team semmed to completely forget how to play. Hopefully October will be better.