Best Of

Remember that next season we likely lose the majority of our best performers.

I'd say Taylor, Low, Harvey, Scowen, Humphreys, Morley and Kone have been our strongest players. I expect only two will be with us next year.

In that context, recruiting with an eye on next season makes sense.

I know you were. Talking of crap (and blood and thunder, for that matter), I had an ill-timed call of nature in the 75th minute so I missed what was no doubt a lively last 20 minutes with shots raining in on the Wigan goal from all directions. Yet again, the only consolation is that a single point may prove invaluable, together with the retention of our superior GD when it comes to the final reckoning.

I expect there’ll be a good many kids asking parents if they really do have to go again. That’s the really sad part.

14 games to go...

A slow Monday morning has led me towards soccerstats.com and some number crunching.

According to the "run in analysis" the H/A PPG of the teams we have left to play this season is higher than anyone else in the top 6, and the 4th highest in the league. This suggests that on paper, we have the hardest run-in of the lot. I think this comes as no surprise to anyone here.

Where it gets interesting though...

If we were to repeat the same results across our next 14 games that we achieved against the same teams earlier in the season (8 wins, 2 draws, 4 losses) we would finish on 90 points.

If Wrexham were to repeat the same results over their next 14 games that they achieved the last time around (8W, 5D, 1L) they would finish on (you guessed it) 90 points.

How's your nerve?

There'll be a bigger melt-down on here if we don't get promoted because we played too cautiously in too many matches and ended up with 1 point instead of 3 too often.

I don't remember meltdowns during the Gorman era - I remember people's pride in the way we played with vim and swagger, even if it didn't always work. The difference between now and then, of course, is we're now able to spend seven figures of players who are for the future rather than the current squad.

John Gorman was manager for two seasons, both in the bottom division. In his first campaign we finished 10th and in his second we finished 6th and lost in the playoffs. You can’t make comparisons between then and now. I don’t think we have played too cautiously in any recent games, it’s been a case of not being able to break down teams who have played cautiously against us.

Good read as usual @Jonny_King

Cheers that’s sounds like a plan!

@Jonny_King - did you mean Richard Thomas on your page 3 editorial, or Scott Marshall?

Excellent read otherwise - well done to you and all contributors

I know we’re not playing the exciting football , as we were at the beginning of the season but defensively we look very solid , conceding few goals. This gives me a degree of confidence that we can still fight for automatic promotion. I know we have some tough games in the run in but I believe we’re better when teams play on the front foot as opposed to recent home games, when they’ve played very deep , compact and challenged us to break them down. We’ve struggled to do that. Keep the faith.

No I don't. I was speaking to Eric's hypothetical.

However I do believe the head coach's playing set-up in both matches was overly cautious and I do hope, in hindsight, Dodds realises that and learns from it.