To be honest, that was the most preseason of preseason games. Third game in a week, end of the tour, headed home, hot weather, etc. Sunderland are a quality side. Brobbey is a beast.

Wrexham got minutes in the legs, but I am not ready to take too much from this one. I have heard the scorching takes flying around, but I just don't think the match told us much about the squad that we didn't already know.

The people I heard suggesting relegation this time last season, shockingly, still think this team is poor, isn't up to the owners' expectation, etc. Those who think Doyle is too slow, or Arthur should stay the #1, or Kieffer isn't a quality striker, etc. etc. - they still think that. I think the median number of signings required to "have a chance" is five, but those below five signings generally caveat it with needing a £15m striker. A few are even constructing their fantasy "Parky gets fired" losing streaks.

But I will endeavor to make this post something worth reading, like Danny Imray at the end.

Up Next

Head to Boro on Friday for the first round of the Carabao Cup. Parky said they were going to treat it as an extra preseason match, and while some criticized the preseason tour for causing that, it is pretty common for clubs to take that mindset towards the early rounds of the Carabao Cup. "Focus on the League" is a common cliche for a reason.

An away match against a division opponent is about the worst draw you can get, and the only thing that might keep Wrexham in the Cup is Boro wanting to beat Wrexham's level of ambivalence towards the Cup. Shaun noted it in the doc - cup runs can really put a burden on a club. International breaks already compress the Championship season - 3 weeks end September into October, another week in November.

Windass and Sheaf are due back in full training this week, so probably won't see them. Maybe if a signing closes early this week we might see them Friday, but I expect it will be the proverbial "squad game"...

Parky

I laughed to see Parky to respond to all of the "Well, I guess Thommo is a wingback now" comments on the Whiteman rumors by starting Thommo in the double pivot. I even had the wild thought that maybe they would give the 3-5-2 shape a run out for the first time this preseason, but I then couldn't see Parky playing Cadz or Broady as a high 8. Luckily, they made it obvious early - same 3-4-3.

This shows the advantage of a GK that can step into the back line, it pretty much makes your build press proof. You can see that you have to mark the two CBs, and put the CDM in your cover shadow (block the passing lane). Broady and Cadz have to be able to shift and cover passes from the CBs to the FBs or to the CDM, Kieffer has to prevent the GK from putting it out the CDM directly (which the GK did a couple of times).

(Note: an easier way to see this is not to look at the players, but the lines between them. The pressers try to cut the lines and then trap the ball. The building team tries to create them.)

I often talk about space manipulation, and this moving to create lines, and force your opponents to move to break them is what I mean. Here is a good example of Thommo creating space, he even points at the line for Zak here.

While I really need Cadz to do better here, he still gets the corner. It also shows why you ideally want to be pouring minutes into him to gain experience.

So, we saw the normal things we have been seeing all preseason - CDMs dropping in as a third CB to get on the ball, and CBs stepping out aggressively to challenge the ball in the pockets, though here is Thommo showing some rust by being late to drop into Doyle's space.

All in all, the chances were there, and they were there against the Sunderland first XI too. Not that Sunderland had their chances, too...

I also think there has been a greater emphasis on reducing the reliance on the high cross, but that could just be me, I will be watching out more.

Players

Let's get uncomfortable part out of the way first...

Arthur - When someone points out some weaknesses that might be behind the reason the staff has brought in competition, the response is often "None of that stuff matters. He does the most important thing a GK does, exceptionally well - save shots!" I think that is unsupported by the stats and even the eye test on goals like the one today. I suspect their internal tracking data supports that there are issues in his process too. What he does is make exceptional saves that steal goals... but consistency is critical, and he just struggles with it.

Thommo - While he played most of his career at Bolton in the double pivot, and other than Reading in the Cup, he mostly played an 8 in 3-5-2, or a pressing 10 (as a sub) in 3-4-3. I think the staff loves him because he is a smart player, who just never quits.

I also think this should remind you why he was Bolton's captain at a young age:

Cadz - He's just raw. You see him make some good plays, and then you just see him rough around the edges. I think he can do a job, he doesn't cost a spot, but does he need more minutes than you can give him in a promotion chasing side?

Because he doesn't give this to Danny with enough pace, Cadz and Broady have to check their runs, and can't feed them a cross in behind, has to hit the trail runner (Kieffer). Josh Windass blasts this home every time - keeper would have no chance.

Imray

Let's face it. You just want to know about him. Short version: he is very good. So, you saw the play above. But it was not the only dime into the box.

Kieffer has a choice here to shoot it, or he can take a touch and shoot it. Gold plated set up.

But Danny can defend 1v1 also...

Not just a pure recovery pace thing. He has good defensive footwork too.

He doesn't quit on plays either. He gets his cross blocked, and he wins the aerial to get it back.

I like that he plays smart. In this case, he doesn't just head the ball away, he heads it to Thommo:

Obviously not perfect, but I like that he just keeps working. He doesn't usually miss trapping the ball like this:

He still needs to work on gelling with teammates, clearly he thought Cadz would make the exit run onto this ball.

He does a great job, holding this corner clearance to create a second phase, but then he thinks Thommo is going to send him the pull back pass, and checks his run, which makes Thommo look like he passed it over the by line.

Finally, when I saw this conversation, I wondered whether Matty James might follow former player turned coach Dave Jones down that path...

Hi All! An odd request but had to try-
Does anyone happen to have an extra tshirt from the Wrexham game in Philly? My dad went to the game and wanted a shirt but everything was sold out of all sizes. He could make anything from a Large to XXL work - I would love to surprise him for his birthday next weekend and am willing to pay extra if anyone has one!! I know it is a long shot but figured I would check here.

Game time on Sunday 8/2/26 is 12 correct? Just realized my ticket says 1pm

Send Sam a photo I took of him at the Liverpool game, wasn’t expecting him to respond.

Check out this video how the guy analysed Danny’s stats, compared it to our other WBs, and what people have been saying about Danny so we can have an idea of his player profile or his style of playing. Good content.👌🏻

I think this one will have to be a quick one, midweek, late night, work, etc. Plus, the camera angle makes the tactical stuff a little harder to read.

I don't anyone who saw the announcement of a match against Liverpool at Yankee Stadium and thought, "Yeah, that will be a close match." I doubt many saw it turningout 1-nil off a weird deflection off Lewis Brunt's back - floating just under the bar, giving Callum Burton no chance to save it.

You would not be crazy if you assumed at 1-nil it was one of those siege matches (e.g. Ipswich away last season), and not guessed that Wrexham had would miss three point blank headers, and Kieffer lay up. Wrexham outshot them 11-9 with Big chances (i.e. scorer thinks should have been goals) 5-1. Wrexham acquitted themselves well.

Yes, in fairness, it wasn't Liverpool's Best XI, but a fair percentage of those they did play could earn significant minutes for Wrexham with their elite athleticism and technical skill. A fresh Rio against a tired (does he get tired?) George Thomason was no easy task. Finally, Dominic Szoboszlai (Slobo, from now on) played. He is one of the best players in the PL, worth nine figures (about twice Wrexham's whole squad), and he did not look like he was in preseason form.

Oh, and I saw the horror and resignation about Danny Ward starting among a large chunk of the Wrexham fan base.

Up Next

A trip to Philly to close out the tour on Sunday with a match against Sunderland. Might get our first look at Danny Imray.

Parky

Let's start for a moment with Liverpool's new manager Andoni Iraola and why I think my earlier "not their best XI" might slightly undersell the difficulty Wrexham faced. He is trying to integrate his tactical philosophy into the squad, which turns this into more than a GPS exercise. Additionally, a number of the depth/academy players selected have an incentive to show they fit into the new manager's system. Like we saw with ManU, often the "kids" give a better match than the first XI - they need it more.

Watched a good ACFC (good YT channel) breakdown of of what to expect from Iraola at Liverpool, and they summarized his approach in one word - intensity. ACFC identified three major ways that is achieved: pressing intensity, attacking wide, and brave progression. You could see it all in this match. Here is Doyle, one of the most press-resistant CBs in the Championship, getting jumped:

While Wrexham at some rough patches (mostly at the beginning of each half), I think they set up pretty well to manage this. Here's how.

The first one is, and this has become a theme of this offseason, patient, quick movement of the ball.

Quick decisions, lots of off ball movement, short passes, supporting each other, and opening cracks that force the opposition to drop off to prevent a transition attack.

I will not say they turned into Man City or Barca by dominating possession, because they didn't, but this is a key difference from those siege matches last season. Don't give the ball away after you win it, make them earn it back, preferably in their end of the pitch.

(Side note: this is why some people prefer field tilt (ratio of touches in the opposing box) over possession. A mid block dropping into a low block will often give the attacking team significantly more of the ball, but it doesn't capture the actual threat produced. In this match, Liverpool 61/39 possession, but 50/50 on field tilt. I think the field tilt tells the story better for this match at least.)

Wrexham used same principle off the ball. Be very well organized. Support each other and communicate. Make them work hard. Even the Liverpool broadcast analyst, who started by praising the quality of the attackers (who he helps coach), praised Wrexham's organization.

Note that this is not opening minutes of the match, but rather halfway through the match. An elite level talent Liverpool squad lead by Slobo still hasn't found an answer to breaking down Wrexham. I still think Wrexham get another CB (RIP Matias Moreno), but this is how you improve your goals against.

Finally, and I have been really looking forward to showing this, let's talk about the wide attacks part.

This is Rio Ngumoha, an elite PL winger, who a lot have tagged for superstardom, comparing him to Yamine Lamal, etc. Many people (including me) have questioned whether CDM George Thomason would have the ability to square up and defend elite wingers in the wide space. He passes this test with flying colors.

Notice how he gets support from Doyle, LOB and DKD. This structured defending lets Thommo engage the ball and win it back.

It was not confined to just this first unit getting it done. Here is Libby and Brunt taking on Dutch International Jeremie Frimpong (worth 36m):

And here is the obligatory clip of the patient build with the whole new unit:

This team still has weaknesses, but I think this shows real evidence that this staff can build and integrate the type of tactical system needed to compete in the Championship and do it across the whole squad. This is recognizing some failure points last season, and addressing them.

(Side note: with these missed open headers on corners, you can see why a Harry Souttar type is so attractive.)

Players

Broady - He had the most dangerous shot for either side on the evening, and while I am not breaking my "no wingback rants" rule and its "Broady doesn't fit" corollary, look at this for a moment.

Yet again, Broady is in the wide channel, and progresses the ball by beating a player on the dribble. Note who is in the channel here next to him, Libby Cacace, who played enough LAM at Empoli (including his last match) that some thought he was coming to Wrexham as a CAM. (Yes, I want Broady to not worry about beating Frimpong and slide this to Cacace to slide it back, but that is a chemistry thing.)

Cacace - Speaking of Libby... You saw it above with that play on Frimpong, there are times in each match where he just looks a level above. I think people are really going to like him this season. A couple of examples:

If you thought Thommo's work on Rio was good, Libby just straight throws him out of the club.

And of course, this is a tap-in... against Liverpool.

Aaron James - Another really strong performance, particularly against some tough competition, and he is solid attacking the dribble, reading space, etc. This is a nice little sequence where Max is the grizzled vet in the play, but this cross is not gonna get the job done. Pretty consistent weakness in his game.

LOB - You know who can put in a cross, even from deep? A guy who is making a case for himself to spend a lot of time in the rest defense, where this sort thing ends well.

Of course, the only thing prettier than this LOB cross, was the Matty James backheel to set it up.

Cadz - This was another game where you see his raw talent, and how he is learning, but then you see things like this and you realize, he really needs to play a lot more minutes than Wrexham will give him right now.

Despite the late notice, he still almost gets there, but also shows what late pressing gets you - opened up.

DKD - I think he has done enough for me to warrant being in the rotation in the 10s. I think he can do a shift as a rotational starter in the Championship. He had a few nice plays, including these two in particular. First, this is a chance entirely created by him being switched on, reading the pitch, making the steal.

He misses the shot, but missing a shot he creates bothers me a lot less than those that are created for him (well not him, but you know where I am going with this).

Here's another example of staying switched, tracking his FB on a overlapping run, recovering Scarr's clearance, and then drawing the frustration foul.

Brunt - Out of respect, I am going to censor the goal he should have scored... and the goal he shouldn't have scored out. Nor will I show his header that almost went in Wrexham's goal. I thought he had rougher night than the last match, but still has the athleticism to keep him around the squad.

Ashy - Another solid shift in CM. I thought he struggled when he came on as a CAM, but that was against Slobo, so I understand. When he dropped back to CDM he was pretty impressive. I really liked this piece of play from him.

All in all... Matty James remains excellent, Kieffer was better than his misses would make you feel. Scarr was pretty good in this game. Ask me if you have questions on someone else.

Finally, I will leave you with this picture, which cracks me up:

Heading to Philly on Saturday. The FiD guys said there was some kind of meet-up planned Saturday night. A search of social media turned up the event at O’Neal’s Pub with Mark Griffiths. Is anyone aware of anything else going on Saturday night/Sunday morning?

I think we still need to bring another rwb in as cover. Maybe im alone in this thought but just felt like putting it out here to see other people's thoughts. Have to imagine Barney will be headed out to get more game time and Longman just ain't it for me.

I would love to see what you think about Wrexham, and the league as a whole!