Thanks for giving it a go Mr. Little

Well, there we have it. On Saturday, 27 September 2008, Brian Little parted company with Wrexham FC by 'mutual consent'. Many fans saw this coming, and are 100% behind this decision. I however, could see it on the horizon, but I didn't think, nor did I agree with it, being so soon.

Mr. Moss had awarded Little with a two-year contract, which he servered what, 11 games of? I know that Little was given the chance to build a squad, and some may say that he was given ample time for this, but I'm not so sure that this was the right way to go. I would have liked to have seen Little given until early January to turn things around. It could have been so easy as well, a couple of wins, and we can be right back up there.

Today's one all draw, was a step in the right direction, I suppose, but there was some talk (including a comment made by Martin Foyle) that the team that played against Torquay was the team that Little was planning on playing. Interesting that a departed managers' team selection would still be used...if true? 

The Torquay game still wasn't good enough, but I'll certainly take a point. We looked more like a unit, but still looked shakey at the back. A direct ball over the top would leave our defenders in a fair amount of trouble. The midfield still looked rather 'iffy', and the strikers worked fairly hard to their credit. Their is much work still to be done, and it's going to take time. But I can't see the Wrexham Faithful being happy with Carey and Foyle at the helm. WHat's needed in my opinion is a total backroom clear-out. This is our chance for a fresh start.

Now that's not to say that I believe that Carey deserves to go. He's been a loyal servant to the club, and I believe that he is 100% Wrexham through and through. But maybe it's time for fresh blood?

I'd like to personally thank Brian Little for his efforts with Wrexham, it's not an easy job, and certainly not one that I would ever want! I just hope that your time at Wrexham hasn't ended your managerial career early. I wish you all the luck in the future Brian, in whatever you do.

A rather sad and depressed

Rich Holmes

New Wrexham FC radio show on Calon FM 105

I forgot...I was supposed to add this to my main post today...

Myself and Spencer Harris launch the new Wrexham FC radio programme 'DragonHeart' tomorrow, on Wrexham's community radio station, Calon FM.

You can catch the show Saturday afternoon between 1PM and 2PM on 105FM on the Wrexham area, or online at http://www.calonfm.com

Rich

Neglect...from both myself and the players

I've neglected this blog for far too long, in fact, I haven't written to it since pre-season (some of it may be due to the fact that I keep forgetting the password!). I could have sworn I had, but there's nothing there since pre-season, so I must have dreamt it. I hope that fills you with a warm, squishy feeling inside, as it comes from the heart, I mean, if I dream of something, then it must be important, it must surely mean something? Yes? No. Thought not!

Our last couple of games haven't been great, and I'm kind of getting that sinking feeling again. One that is all to common for us Wrexham fans. I keep trying to tell myself that it's still early in the season, but I can't see how we can achieve very much playing the tactics, and the players, that we are at present.

I don't want to start getting on players backs, that's the last thing that I want to do, but sitting up in the press box, it's pretty obvious where we're going wrong. I don't understand how Brian Little can't see what's happening. Now, I'm not slagging Little off, as I think he's doing alright for us, and I genuinely think that he's the right man for the job. He has the experience, certainly, but I just feel like he's missing something. Playing 'hoof-ball' (or 'long-ball' for the more cultured amongst us!) just isn't working. Having Stevie Evans playing the long diagonal every time, without looking up is just giving the ball away nine times out of ten. Our midfiled looks anonymous at best, Kearney works hard, but he hasn't got the right player along side him in the middle of the park. The news that Conall Murtagh is back in contention (give or take a reserve game or two) is music to my ears. Levi Mackin looked ok pre-season and in the first game or so, but know he looks out of his depth. Little has got to give Murtagh (or even Tom Taylor) a run in the side. Murtagh is the man for the job in my opinion, I said this in pre-season, and I'm sticking to it. He's a tidy player, who is good and the ball, has a decent footballing brain, and sweet jesus, can he strike a football. 

We need to use our wide players more, we're letting teams, both home and away, dictate the play, and everything becomes far too narrow. We're not getting enough service to the strikers either. I also believe that a Louis-Proctor partnership up front would work very well for us, with Whalley out on the wing. Jeff and Mike are the sort of players who, with time, can form a partnership that will allow them to play off each other with great success. Hopefully, tomorow will be the time for Little to introduce this.

The defence is another issue - sometimes we look solid at the back, and other times we look worryingly shakey.

I don't know, maybe we can turn things around tomorrow at home to Ebbsfleet. I hope we do. I wan't a good performance as well. In fact, I'd take an excellent performance and a loss, as that would be a step in the right direction...possibly. We should be beating teams like Ebbsfleet, and I say that with now disrespect to Ebbsfleet whatsoever, but come on, we really should be.

Well here's hoping for three points, and a decent performance from all tomorrow.

As my good friend Matt Wedderkopp used to say in his 'On the Kop' feature in the Red Passion fanzine: Keep the faith!

Rich

Musings for the up-coming campaign...

Well, I couldn't attend the Wolves game due to a prior committment, but I was at the Blackpool game on Saturday. That was an interesting affair. We weren't poor as such, but we weren't good either. The biggest worry I have is the lack of an obvious goal scorer. It may have been a friendly in which Louis took his wild air-shot, but I have to admit, that didn't fill me full of confidence. One thing that he does have on his side however is pace. He seems lightening fast! I still believe that Proctor will score goals for us in the Conference, given the chance.

The other worry that I have is the signing of Kempson. He didn't do a lot to impress me against Blackpool, but I'm not going to judge him on a practice game anyway. The jury is most definately out...for now. I keep remembering about the excitment surrounding our last signing from Shrewsbury, one Mr. Richard Hope. A brute of a centre-back who was a great signing for us. Or so we thought. It's that fact that worries me about Kempson. The majority of Wrexham fans seem quite excited about the acquisition of him, but I can't help but remember the excitement surrounding Hope's arrival. Then again, he can't be 'that' bad, can he?

Kearney looks to be a very shrewed signing by Little, quite possibly the best of the close-season. He impressed me immensley on Saturday, and I think that he will bring a whole new dimension to the centre of midfield for us. The question is though, who will play alongside him? There's nobody who jumps straight to my mind. I don't think Levi Mackin is consistent enough, and he lets his head drop far too often. Fleming did very well though on Saturday, and I'd like to see Little give him a chance.

So what about our game tomorrow against Crewe? Well I'd like to see Little play a team of 11, who he intends to start the campaign with. The players looked very well conditioned on Saturday, and what we need now is the fine tuning, and you don't get that from playing two different teams over the 90 minutes. Prehaps it's that Brian Little doesn't have a clue who he's going to play as his first team? I hope I am wrong though.

I'm a little late writing this, but...

As the title of this blog post says, I am rather late in writing this as it has been covered by so many people, so many times...but like all good (haha) journalists, I shall have my say!

Brian Little announced that Neil Roberts, Chris Llewellyn, Mike Jones, Alex Darlington, Mike Carvill, Danny Williams, Jamie Reed, Mark Jones, Josh Johnson, Jeff Whitley, Phil Bolland would not be offered new deals, and loan signings Drewe Broughton, Richard Duffy, Paul Hall, Stuart Nicholson, Danny Sonner, Robert Garrett would not be offered contracts. As well as Sam Aiston, Richard Hope, Michael Proctor, Silvio Spann, Anthony Williams being transfer listed.

Now, I have to say I was shocked, and still am, with the inclusion of Neil Roberts, Danny Williams and Phil Bolland. Neil had a hard time this season, but when he was fit, he gave his all for the cause in midfield. With all due respect, I think he's past it as a striker, but as a midfileder, I think we could of had another couple of seasons out of him. Danny suffered with injuries all season, but again, when he was on the pitch, he made a difference. Bolland was instrumental for us when he came in on loan, and this would have been a lot worse for us if he hadn't have been there for us. I also believe that Whitley deserved another season, or even maybe a month-to-month contract.

The transfer listing of our top scorer Michael Proctor was also a bit of a shock, ok, he wasn't a prolific scorer, nor will he ever be, but he was the only player who ever looked like really scoring.

Richard Hope deserved his transfer listing, he was poor for us this season. Simple as.

Still, I'm sure (or do I mean hope?) that Brian little knows what he is doing, after all he is an experienced manager. I have every faith that he is the right man for the job, but it would be nice for us, as fans, to actually see some positives coming from him this close season...something which is severely lacking at the present time.

I don't believe it!

Well, that was shocking wasn't it? How many chances did we want?

It's the same old story, isn't it? We play well, create chances and fail to score. At least we got a point today, usually we lose this sort of game. It's not good enough. Definately two points dropped today.

I was still fairly confident of us maintaining our league status before this weekend, but after the defeat away to Brentford and the stale-mate at home today against Dagenham & Redbridge, I'm afraid to say that I think we are going down. I hope that I can be proved wrong though, obviously!

I thought this was about football...?

Well I was going to talk about the game today, but after reading the 'match thread' on 'red passion', I'm a bit annoyed to say the least.

Once again,. I get ripped into for doing the commentaries...it's a shame I wasn't actually doing it today though isn't it? Club Secretary, Geraint Parry covered the game for Wrexham World today, and had to put up with using a standard telephone line, which is not ideal for football commentary.

Also, it's stated on the Red Passion message board today details of a private conversation that myself and a member had concerning my commentaries, it's good to know that confidence can be broken on RP.

It is stated that I don't take too kindly to name calling, but when I was called 'a mumbling incoherent buffoon', I feel that it is my human right to be a little bit aggrieved by it.

I don't have to provide anything for Wrexham World, Wrexham AFC, of Radio Maelor, but I do for free in my spare time, just the same as Mark does. In fact, the Wrexham World broadcast is the Hospital Broadcast, so Wrexham fans are actually lucky to get this service, rather than Premium TV just using the BBC radio feed, like they do for so many other clubs.

I'll state again that the minute that Mark tells me that he's unhappy with what I provide for the hospital broadcast, then I'll step down, but I will not be bullied out of it be people on Red Passion who obviously need to grow up and do something with their lives.

Oh, as it's already been cited, and for those who are interested, here is the private message conversation that was had on Red Passion. Obviously, the first message is at the bottom.

---

Hello Rich

I guess we shall have to agree to disagree. I certainly haven't got a grudge against you, I don't even know you as a person.
I stand by the spirit of what I said, I can't understand what you say, though I can understand Mark.

The only solution in future I guess when you are commentating will be for me to switch to the oppostions commentary.

As before, I am sorry I caused you offence, a bit thoughtless of me, but I am sure you know how a lot of Wrexham fans feel at the moment.....frustrated. It must be worse for you, being at the 'pointy' end!!

Happy New year to you also


Paul

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrexham till i die Hi Paul, Apology accepted for the name calling. How does my admission that I'm not a play-by-play commentator jutify what you have said? The commentary I provided was not helped by the fact that the wind was blowing right across the stand and across the microphone. Again, I must say that it only ever seems to be the same couple of people who ever complain. Where as other people can easily understand what is being said. We always make recordings of the games, and we nearly always listen back to them either in full or in an edited down format. You saying to me that you're not happy is not going to stop me doing what I do. At the end of the day, if Mark wasn't happy with my efforts, then I certainly wouldn't still be doing it. However, Mark is very happy with what I have added to the broadcast. The bosses at the radio station that I broadcast on in Warrington are very happy with me, as are the people that I write freelance for. It's only ever the couple of people on RP that have a problem with me...interesting that... Anyway, that's that...I'll say no more. Happy New Year to you and your family. Kind regards Rich Holmes Quote: Originally Posted by taffycox@manx.net First of all, allow me to apologise for the inappropriate choice of words used in my post, borne out of frustration. There was no call for personal namecalling, so I hold my hands up on that. However, I do stand by my comments that I found it nigh on impossible to understand anything that you said, and that also goes for the occasions when you summarise when Mark Griffiths does the commentary. By all means continue with your efforts, though your admission that you are not a "play-by-play commentator" does somewhat justify my observations. It is just an internat forum...... and nothing more (as you imply). Like I said, I apologise for the ill chosen words. though you might consider making, and then playing back, a recording of your next endeavour and see whether you are happy with it? Regards Paul Cox

__________________

Maybe I'm just as bad for making that public, but I'm fed up of it all to be honest, there are more important things in life, and I have enough to deal with at the moment as it is.

Anyway, I'm off now to probably regret writing this. Oh well, it's not like I'm not used to abuse.

I look forward to Monday, and a vital three points for Wrexham

Regards
Rich