Wrexham Team

Same 11 for me, if fitness allows.

Dieseruvwe played well, even without scoring... But Taylor starts.

Anyone know whats happening with Efete? i think the last update was a while ago, saying possibly not available for play-offs

Really hope Sousa is fit to play. Thought he ran his socks off on Monday, always tracking back and providing some energy down the flanks. Of course he tried some stuff that didn't come off (it's Sousa after all) but he looked pretty threatening at times and gives defences something to think about

Same 16. Simples.

Sousa actually improved as the game went on after a dodgy first half of the game. Hopefully he's regained some confidence there which seemed to have dissipated since he's been out of the team. He'll definitely start if fit, I'd have thought. JMD with a lot more end product, but at the moment I see him as somebody likely to come on for the last 30 minutes when the opposition defence has started to tire.

It will be interesting to see if Raikhy makes an appearance, either starting or on the bench. A lot depends on whether Holohan and McAtee are fit or not.

I'd like us to start JMD personally but not sure who id take out or how to change it. Reason being his end product cant be ignored, were simply more likely to score when hes in the team. Even if you know youvr gotta sub him towards the end. Glad im not hurst tbh

Quoted from WHYWONTYOULETMESIGNUP

I'd like us to start JMD personally but not sure who id take out or how to change it. Reason being his end product cant be ignored, were simply more likely to score when hes in the team. Even if you know youvr gotta sub him towards the end. Glad im not hurst tbh

I have a sneaky feeling that JMD might come in for Sousa. Sousa absolutely ran his socks off for 120 minutes on Monday night and it’s a big ask for him to be back to 100% in time for Saturday.

Quoted from Poojah

I have a sneaky feeling that JMD might come in for Sousa. Sousa absolutely ran his socks off for 120 minutes on Monday night and it’s a big ask for him to be back to 100% in time for Saturday.

I think it would make sense as we cant have an open game like that against wrexham theyll definately score, needs to be tight and hursty and we'll need to hit them on set peices and on the break

If only JMD was a bit fitter and a bit faster...

(...he'd be playing in the Football League already)

Sousa was fantastic on Monday night. We know his crossing isn’t the best and his shooting is wayward but he causes panic every time he runs at defenders. They back off but can’t gamble on letting him go just because chances are nothing will come of it.
Same team for me. JMD offers better end product around the box but Sousa works back more.

JMD deliveries are juicy from free kicks maybe should be taking corners too

Quoted from WHYWONTYOULETMESIGNUP

I think it would make sense as we cant have an open game like that against wrexham theyll definately score, needs to be tight and hursty and we'll need to hit them on set peices and on the break

Think that's why Sousa will start. He's better at tracking back and has a higher work rate than JMD. Even if he's tired, we can sub him off in the second half. Believe Wrexham play with wing backs too, so the wide areas will be especially important.

Quoted from WHYWONTYOULETMESIGNUP

I'd like us to start JMD personally but not sure who id take out or how to change it. Reason being his end product cant be ignored, were simply more likely to score when hes in the team. Even if you know youvr gotta sub him towards the end. Glad im not hurst tbh

I think the end product of JMD is much more useful at the end of the game if you get a late free kick as proven on Monday and he only seems able to play 60 minutes max.

Quoted from Maringer

If only JMD was a bit fitter and a bit faster...

(...he'd be playing in the Football League already)

You can say that sort of thing about most non-league players...

If only JMD was faster...

If only Sousa could finish...

If only McAtee wasn't so lazy...  

If everyone who played on Monday is fit then I don't see any reason to change the team. Although we came within seconds of losing we did play well throughout and were by far the better team.

Bring JMD, Mani and Abrahams on as subs in place of tired legs later in the game.

I think it may be the same game plan as Monday in that we’ll need to find a way to stop supply into Mullen & Palmer. So with that in mind I’d expect to see the same starting 11 and subs, fitness permitting.

Quoted from Mariner93er

Think that's why Sousa will start. He's better at tracking back and has a higher work rate than JMD. Even if he's tired, we can sub him off in the second half. Believe Wrexham play with wing backs too, so the wide areas will be especially important.

Was going to say the same. I like JMD but he looked unfit towards the end of the season and he doesn't do his defensive work as well. Sousa worked his bottom off on Monday defensively.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

I think the end product of JMD is much more useful at the end of the game if you get a late free kick as proven on Monday and he only seems able to play 60 minutes max.

Agree with that. More effective when there is a bit of time and space.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

I think it may be the same game plan as Monday in that we’ll need to find a way to stop supply into Mullen & Palmer. So with that in mind I’d expect to see the same starting 11 and subs, fitness permitting.

I agree - Monday night wasn't just a fantastic win and something we will remember forever, it was a dress rehearsal on how to stop the opposition playing and winning away from home.

Mind you, I would much prefer not to have to wait until the 96th and 119th minutes - unless needs must of course.

Desperate to hear some news on McAtee and Holohan. We really need those guys on Saturday.

Quoted from RonMariner

Desperate to hear some news on McAtee and Holohan. We really need those guys on Saturday.

I don’t think you’ll hear anything either way until the team is announced on Saturday morning.

I assume there will be the usual pre-match interview with Hurst when he often talks about the injury situation. I hope both players just had cramp.

Sousa:  To be fair , he had a decent shot on target against County.  The screamer is coming.  He's gonna do a Jevons.

Mullen and Palmer.  What I saw with my dodgy stream, Bromley did a great job of stifling them.

Quoted from RonMariner

I assume there will be the usual pre-match interview with Hurst when he often talks about the injury situation. I hope both players just had cramp.

Wouldn't surprise me if he says both are doubtful but then plays them both on Saturday!

I'd start with the same team as Monday.

I understand the temptation to start Maguire-Drew but he isn't fit enough to last a full game. And whilst I could argue that it'd be better to start strong and get ahead in the game, I'd much rather have JMD fresh and able to perform for the last 25/30 minutes of the game when it might be pivotal and we might need a goal, rather than have him bolloxed and leggy by that point.

I really rate JMD, clever player, composed and great technical ability, but he's got to lose weight and get fitter for next season otherwise I could see Hurst bringing better in.

Quoted from Les Brechin

Wouldn't surprise me if he says both are doubtful but then plays them both on Saturday!

https://mobile.twitter.com/HumbersideSport/status/1529846419410001920

Describes the situation as “a couple of doubts” and won’t make a final decision until “tomorrow or even Saturday morning”.

Can’t really read anything into that. I imagine that’s more or less what he’d say whether the players in question were absolutely fine or completely ruled out.

Must admit - I thought this thread was about Wrexham’s team rather than Town’s team for Wrexham.
Anyhow - the couple of doubts - take plenty of salt tablets - our players ran their legs off the other night ( it takes its toll) and we want them to do it again
UTM

Yeah I've come round to the idea of starting sousa and leave JMD to come on as sousa did well on Monday despite the usual lack of end product. He does work hard and I expect we will be under the cosh at times.

The bench is interesting, Pearson a shoe in, Abrahams and mani have nailed their places on their (if not starting) surely. That leaves JMD in one of rhe other spots.

Hurst said he thought he might need 2 CMs for the county game post match and was going to pick raihky. He only went with mani as he had a nagging doubt about needing 2 strikers and raikhy perhaps not being quite ready.

So with only 1 place remaining does he stick with Coke or bring back raihky who has had another weeks recovery time? Raikhy is the better player and definitely far more creative and a better deal ball player. If hoolohan is a real doubt (as opposed to cramp) and likely wont make the full 90, then raihky would be my choice to replace him if he has to go off early. On the other hand if we need to shore up a bit if we are defending a lead then Coke is the better choice, a rusty raihky (haha) would be a risk given the already risky passes he's prone to even when on it.

I suspect it would be Raikhy ahead of Coke on the bench, providing Hurst thinks he's capable of playing anything like 90-odd minutes (in case of injury). We're very reliant on Clifton remaining fit and being able to cover a few positions if required. I'd probably prefer to see and out and out winger playing on the left (if we had one) but Clifton is a good stopgap in so many areas. If he doesn't start, we'd probably only be able to have one striker on the bench.

Quoted from Maringer

I suspect it would be Raikhy ahead of Coke on the bench, providing Hurst thinks he's capable of playing anything like 90-odd minutes (in case of injury). We're very reliant on Clifton remaining fit and being able to cover a few positions if required. I'd probably prefer to see and out and out winger playing on the left (if we had one) but Clifton is a good stopgap in so many areas. If he doesn't start, we'd probably only be able to have one striker on the bench.

So true, either full back (or wing back if formation requires it) or CM or defensive midfield or attacking midfield or either winger can be potentially covered by Clifton if needed (not all at once obviously!).

Definitely frees up the bench for striking options he can't cover.

If they are all fit I’d go with the same line up as Monday,

I have to say that, whatever happens on Saturday, I am so so proud of this team and what they have done this season.

Should make it easy for Wrexham to suss us out, if Town keep it as previously described
Think we’re heading for the bus to the next game 😎

GK: Crocombe
B4: Cropper Waterfall Smith Amos
MF3: Fox Coke Clifton (assuming Holohan not fit to start)
F3: Sousa McAtee Dieseruvwe

That would be my starting 11. A flexible 4-3-3 that can transition from something that looks like 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 out of possession, to something that resembles 3-4-3 in possesion.

For me, I am not suggesting that Ryan Taylor hasn't played well, because he has. But this is not league football, it is knock-out tournament/cup football, and you don't get anything for a draw and you are going home on a sad bus with a defeat. So it's absolute goals that brings you success in knock-out football, and 1 point on the board brings you nothing.

I listened to Paul's interview when he spoke about Dieseruvwe, and I understand that he feels there is still a lot of work to do to improve him, especially in terms of the way he positions himself or directs runs in front of goal, where Paul wants him to frame the goal more. And I get that. But when you look at Dieseruvwe's goal return, it is incredible.

6 goals in 14 games and most of those as substitute I think.
4 goals in his last two appearances.
1.3 goals per 90 minutes played.
69 minutes per goal.

At Notts he also won as many first balls and pinned them just as well as what Ryan Taylor did.

It is a brave manager that ignores those type of stats and form in knockout football. If it was me in the dugout I would be starting him, but I also get that Paul might look at him as an impact player.

Whatever the outcome. I trust in Paul Hurst, and I know that everyone who gets on that pitch tomorrow will be giving it their all

UTM

Quoted from toontown

a rusty raihky (haha) would be a risk given the already risky passes he's prone to even when on it.

so which will it be, a rusty Raihky or a ricky Raihky? or both!!

Quoted from DaleH

GK: Crocombe
B4: Cropper Waterfall Smith Amos
MF3: Fox Coke Clifton (assuming Holohan not fit to start)
F3: Sousa McAtee Dieseruvwe

That would be my starting 11. A flexible 4-3-3 that can transition from something that looks like 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 out of possession, to something that resembles 3-4-3 in possesion.

For me, I am not suggesting that Ryan Taylor hasn't played well, because he has. But this is not league football, it is knock-out tournament/cup football, and you don't get anything for a draw and you are going home on a sad bus with a defeat. So it's absolute goals that brings you success in knock-out football, and 1 point on the board brings you nothing.

I listened to Paul's interview when he spoke about Dieseruvwe, and I understand that he feels there is still a lot of work to do to improve him, especially in terms of the way he positions himself or directs runs in front of goal, where Paul wants him to frame the goal more. And I get that. But when you look at Dieseruvwe's goal return, it is incredible.

6 goals in 14 games and most of those as substitute I think.
4 goals in his last two appearances.
1.3 goals per 90 minutes played.
69 minutes per goal.

At Notts he also won as many first balls and pinned them just as well as what Ryan Taylor did.

It is a brave manager that ignores those type of stats and form in knockout football. If it was me in the dugout I would be starting him, but I also get that Paul might look at him as an impact player.

Whatever the outcome. I trust in Paul Hurst, and I know that everyone who gets on that pitch tomorrow will be giving it their all

UTM

Coke hasn't played more than 5 minutes of competitive football in about 2 months and you want him starting in a play off semi-final? Also, has Mani ever played out wide?

Quoted from mariner91

Coke hasn't played more than 5 minutes of competitive football in about 2 months and you want him starting in a play off semi-final? Also, has Mani ever played out wide?

I'm not suggesting he plays out wide. Ignore the manner in which they are listed. Fluid 4-3-3 football doesn't depend on players moving up and down a field in fixed channels like marching soldiers. You only have to see the areas that our front three picked up the ball in different lateral areas across the pitch on Monday, to see the fluidity with which they played. Particularly loved the manner in which Paul Hurst has got them recognising half spaces too, which is refreshing to see in football at such a low level. Just goes to show that you don't have to have the players that Pep Guardiola has available to him, in order to make things difficult for defending opponents, when you utilise the half spaces.

Quoted from DaleH

I'm not suggesting he plays out wide. Ignore the manner in which they are listed. Fluid 4-3-3 football doesn't depend on players moving up and down a field in fixed channels like marching soldiers. You only have to see the areas that our front three picked up the ball in different lateral areas across the pitch on Monday, to see the fluidity with which they played. Particularly loved the manner in which Paul Hurst has got them recognising half spaces too, which is refreshing to see in football at such a low level. Just goes to show that you don't have to have the players that Pep Guardiola has available to him, in order to make things difficult for defending opponents, when you utilise the half spaces.

Wrexham will play a similar system to Notts, utilising wing backs. Sousa did a great job of tracking and giving them no space down the right which stopped them ever really getting going despite Chicksen being a really good player. Clifton also did a similarly good job, as he always does, on the left side. Changing the personnel (unless forced)  and formation for an opposition that will likely play in a way that we stifled so well on Monday would be foolish in my opinion.

Quoted from mariner91

Wrexham will play a similar system to Notts, utilising wing backs. Sousa did a great job of tracking and giving them no space down the right which stopped them ever really getting going despite Chicksen being a really good player. Clifton also did a similarly good job, as he always does, on the left side. Changing the personnel (unless forced)  and formation for an opposition that will likely play in a way that we stifled so well on Monday would be foolish in my opinion.

I agree, and I'm not in any way suggesting a change to the formation. I do have doubts about Holohan being fit though, as he looked in a bad way when he came off from where I was sat over near the dugouts. Might have just been fatigue/cramp though.

Quoted from DaleH

I agree, and I'm not in any way suggesting a change to the formation. I do have doubts about Holohan being fit though, as he looked in a bad way when he came off from where I was sat over near the dugouts. Might have just been fatigue/cramp though.

Ah okay, I've misinterpreted, please accept my apologies.

Injuries aside, it would be madness surely to make any changes to the team that started on Monday.  

Mani has done great but he's an impact player for us.  Taylor and McAtee is the pairing.  Taylor doesn't look the same without McAtee and vice-versa.  Granted, Taylor's goal return isn't the best but he brings everything together top.  

Sousa was immense on Monday whereas JMD has largely struggled since he returned from injury.  Sousa played 120 minutes and JMD played 39, yet it's the former who looked fresher at the end.  No way would I want to see JMD start a high tempo game like this, not until he addresses his fitness issues.  Excellent option on the bench but no more for me at this stage.

It was energy that saw us be the better team on Monday, that will be the same tomorrow.  Essential we keep those players with the most energy in the starting line-up.

Regards Coke, I suspect he'll get the nod on the bench for his experience alone.

Quoted from DaleH

I agree, and I'm not in any way suggesting a change to the formation. I do have doubts about Holohan being fit though, as he looked in a bad way when he came off from where I was sat over near the dugouts. Might have just been fatigue/cramp though.

Looked like it might be a hamstring the way he was holding the back of his leg. Hope he is fit play though, good attitude and capable of popping up with a goal.

Whatever the team, we can't be afraid of Wrexham and need to try to control the game like we did against Notts. We may not have players with the ability of Mullins or Palmer, but we can outwork them. We saw it against Notts were our workrate nullified their front 3. That's the only way I think we win. If we let them get control and push up the pitch, they're too lethal in the final third.

Besides stopping their high-scorers, we also took control of the midfield at County for large parts of the game. Helps if their players get injured as well.

More of the same tomorrow please.  Similar lineup as they also have high-scoring forwards.

Quoted from Mariner93er

Whatever the team, we can't be afraid of Wrexham and need to try to control the game like we did against Notts. We may not have players with the ability of Mullins or Palmer, but we can outwork them. We saw it against Notts were our workrate nullified their front 3. That's the only way I think we win. If we let them get control and push up the pitch, they're too lethal in the final third.

Yeah totally this. Wrexham fans have been complaining all season about their midfield as their weak point. Whereas up front with mullin and palmer, and at the back with tozer and hayden they have really splashed the cash.

We have to win midfield and pin their wing backs inside their own half and isolate their quality strikers. With that and if their players wilt under the pressure we have a chance. However they have such a good home record (onlyb1 league defeat and even that was when they were down to 10 men)and a record of some great late comebacks we will have to be on it right to the death even if we did amazingly happen to be a couple of goals ahead.

I just hope injury and tiredness from County don't scupper our midfield's chances of getting a grip on the game.

Quoted from toontown

Yeah totally this. Wrexham fans have been complaining all season about their midfield as their weak point. Whereas up front with mullin and palmer, and at the back with tozer and hayden they have really splashed the cash.

We have to win midfield and pin their wing backs inside their own half and isolate their quality strikers. With that and if their players wilt under the pressure we have a chance. However they have such a good home record (onlyb1 league defeat and even that was when they were down to 10 men)and a record of some great late comebacks we will have to be on it right to the death even if we did amazingly happen to be a couple of goals ahead.

I just hope injury and tiredness from County don't scupper our midfield's chances of getting a grip on the game.

I don't think tiredness will come into it. Wrexham had a stamina-sapping and emotionally draining final at Wembley the day before our game. They played so poorly and lost so badly that will have taken more out of them on the Sunday than our opposite set of emotions on Monday.

It will be a great shame if any of our players miss out due to injury, but the rest will be raring to go!

Reading Wrexham's forum, nearly all their better players have had to play every game and are getting tired, as they surprisingly do not seem to have the strength in depth whereas we have adequate cover in all the important areas.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

I don't think tiredness will come into it. Wrexham had a stamina-sapping and emotionally draining final at Wembley the day before our game. They played so poorly and lost so badly that will have taken more out of them on the Sunday than our opposite set of emotions on Monday.

It will be a great shame if any of our players miss out due to injury, but the rest will be raring to go!

Reading Wrexham's forum, nearly all their better players have had to play every game and are getting tired, as they surprisingly do not seem to have the strength in depth whereas we have adequate cover in all the important areas.

That 'game to spare' against Eastleigh were we could rest everybody seems really vital after the game at County a week later. Plus it got vital minutes into those on the fringe as an added bonus.

I did note that one of their ex managers was being interviewed about the fact they've failed so many times in the playoffs before. He commented that the layers are new and might not even know so it won't effect them, we'll I doubt they haven't been made aware since. However he did also comment that at teams like Wrexham and Luton (and town too to be fair I bet) the expectation levels when your in non league to win can mean if games  don't go as well as expected tension and negativity can transmit from the crowd and how it had hindered them one year. He was talking about previous playoffs but that expectation is only going to be magnified hugely this year, if they start badly the pressure and nerves could mean the home crowd hinders rather than helps. It's obviously not been a problem for them so far this season though, but no game at home has been as important as this one.

Quoted from toontown

That 'game to spare' against Eastleigh were we could rest everybody seems really vital after the game at County a week later. Plus it got vital minutes into those on the fringe as an added bonus.

I did note that one of their ex managers was being interviewed about the fact they've failed so many times in the playoffs before. He commented that the layers are new and might not even know so it won't effect them, we'll I doubt they haven't been made aware since. However he did also comment that at teams like Wrexham and Luton (and town too to be fair I bet) the expectation levels when your in non league to win can mean if games  don't go as well as expected tension and negativity can transmit from the crowd and how it had hindered them one year. He was talking about previous playoffs but that expectation is only going to be magnified hugely this year, if they start badly the pressure and nerves could mean the home crowd hinders rather than helps. It's obviously not been a problem for them so far this season though, but no game at home has been as important as this one.

Yes these games are so utterly predictable in that they will be unpredictable for all those reasons you mentioned and a whole load of others.

Take the other night.  Might that Notts player have seen red? Might they have had 2 pens? Was that Waterfall header back 100 % out and if Crocombe hadn't got the slightest of touches would we have scored?!

Anything could happen; they could romp home, we could romp home and anything in between.

As you say one thing is for sure the pressure is on them more than us but it doesn't feel much like that were I'm standing as I am nervous as a kitten. I bet our players take it all in their stride. Their professionalism and never say die attitude the other night was exemplary.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

Yes these games are so utterly predictable in that they will be unpredictable for all those reasons you mentioned and a whole load of others.

Take the other night.  Might that Notts player have seen red? Might they have had 2 pens? Was that Waterfall header back 100 % out and if Crocombe hadn't got the slightest of touches would we have scored?!

Anything could happen; they could romp home, we could romp home and anything in between.

As you say one thing is for sure the pressure is on them more than us but it doesn't feel much like that were I'm standing as I am nervous as a kitten. I bet our players take it all in their stride. Their professionalism and never say die attitude the other night was exemplary.

I tried to convince myself before the Notts game that I wasn’t nervous; that it had already been a great season, that it was a free hit. It was only as the players emerged onto the Meadow Lane pitch and I found myself shaking like a shítting dog that I realised how naive that was. How the game played out only made things much, much worse.

There’s no getting away from it, the play-offs are nerve shredding. They’re absolutely out of this world to win, and painful as fúck to lose. A season’s hard work counting for nothing. Except in our case it wouldn’t.

IF we lose tomorrow, when the dust settles, we can look back on the massive building job we’ve done this season. The transition from dysfunctional relegation basket cases to the side we are right now has been incredible. We would go into next season in far better shape than we did this. Make absolutely no mistake, and in a much weaker league too.

But here’s the BUT. I don’t think we’ll lose. I think we’ll win. Not just tomorrow, but the play-offs. That’s not based on rational thought or objectivity; that tells me otherwise. It’s just this deep, nagging feeling at the pit of my stomach. It’s all I can see in my head. Things will work out our way. Somehow. By or by crook.

We’ll find out soon enough.

Quoted from Poojah

Iand I found myself shaking like a shítting dog that I realised how naive that was.

They’re absolutely out of this world to win, and painful as fúck to lose. .

I didn't know that there was a way around the swear filter 😂

Quoted from ncfc_chalky

I didn't know that there was a way around the swear filter 😂

I have special privileges on here. I don’t even have to use foreign characters if I don’t fucking feel like it.

Quoted from Poojah

I have special privileges on here. I don’t even have to use foreign characters if I don’t fucking feel like it.

You are indeed a learned man who knows the way of the world Poojah (well this board anyhow)

Quoted from Poojah

I have special privileges on here. I don’t even have to use foreign characters if I don’t fucking feel like it.

Doffs cap and tugs forelock before posting ....😂

Regardless of how this season ends up as a club and “organisation” as JS likes to call us my view is we’ll start next season stronger than we’ve done for years and when I say years I mean before we got promoted in 2016.

Not fucking lying are you Poojah?

Are you Boris Johnson? You secret identity is revealed. It all makes sense now. After all he was seen wearing the Town bobble hat.