Wrexham's Biggest Concern And A Cause For Optimism

Wrexham's early-season protect frailties were connected show arsenic they were beaten 3-1 by Queens Park Rangers.

Defeat by Julien Stephan's broadside astatine nan Stok Cae Ras intends Phil Parkinson's broadside beryllium 21st successful nan Championship array pinch 5 games played.

It comes aft Wrexham spent heavy complete nan summertime - with their nett walk being among that of Europe's elite - connected nan backmost of securing an historical 3rd successive promotion.

But pursuing a accelerated emergence up nan divisions, nan 2025-26 play - nan club's first successful nan 2nd tier since 1981-82 - has been acold from a locomotion successful nan parkland early on.

So should fans beryllium concerned astatine nan club's commencement to life successful nan 2nd tier and are location reasons for optimism?

Even astatine this early shape of nan campaign, nan protect stats from nan Championship make for mediocre reference for Wrexham.

They person conceded a convention precocious xG of 12.56 and person faced 101 shots crossed their 5 Championship matches - comfortably nan highest full of immoderate broadside successful nan division.

Following nan nonaccomplishment against QPR, Parkinson said: "The goals we conceded, connected 1 hand, you'll opportunity they were clinical, but erstwhile we analyse them all, we'll cognize we could person done better."

Former Wales striker Nathan Blake highlighted his concerns complete Wrexham's protect struggles.

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales' Feast of Football Phone In, Blake said: "Wrexham are successful a spot of a precarious position astatine nan moment. The power is going to travel connected nan head beautiful speedy if they don't commencement picking up wins.

"They're conceding each nan time, they're not tight enough, they're excessively passive successful nan measurement they are. They do request to benignant that out.

"We can't support saying 'it's early days'. What happens is that assurance starts to ebb away. Fans commencement getting connected your lawsuit and it gets harder to get connected a rotation and earlier you cognize it, it's Christmas and you're successful a relegation fight."

Having made 13 signings complete nan people of nan summertime transportation window, Wrexham's new-look squad will undoubtedly return clip to gel - including astatine nan back.

Conor Coady, Max Cleworth, Lewis Brunt, Eoghan O'Connell, Callum Doyle, Dan Scarr and Aaron James person each operated successful nan backmost 3 astatine immoderate constituent for Wrexham this season. Dom Hyam besides joined from Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers connected deadline day.

As for nan wing-back slots, Liberato Cacace, James McClean and Jacob Mendy person shared nan duties connected nan near while Cleworth, Ryan Longman and Ryan Barnett person each had stints connected nan correct - pinch Issa Kabore joining connected indebtedness from Man City successful nan last stages of nan summertime window.

In a nutshell, nan turnaround has been immense - pinch O'Connell and Mendy nary longer moreover astatine nan club.

"The alteration successful unit has been truthful rapid," nine fable Mickey Thomas said connected BBC Radio Wales Sport.

"I said to Phil Parkinson a while ago, I said 'with each these players coming in, you're going to find it a problem to support them each happy'. He said he'd alternatively person that problem than not person them (players) present astatine all."

The conclusion by QPR saw Ben Sheaf make his debut disconnected nan chair while nan erstwhile Coventry City midfielder's chap deadline time recruits Kabore and Hyam featured successful a Wrexham matchday squad for nan first time.

Ex-Wales frontman Ian Walsh believes Parkinson needs clip to activity pinch his much-changed squad.

"If they're sensible they'll springiness Phil Parkinson capable clip to move things around," he said.

"It's difficult, back-to-back-to-back promotions and you resistance a batch of caller players into nan club, listening to Mickey Thomas, it's going to return clip for them to activity each different out."

Parkinson himself commented: "We've changed nan squad astir wholly and location was ever going to beryllium a play astatine nan commencement wherever it doesn't spell wholly arsenic you'd want it."

This is simply a nine that operated successful nan National League arsenic precocious arsenic May 2023, and 1 that has enjoyed unprecedented occurrence nether nan ownership of Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Wrexham person besides been competitory successful each of their 5 Championship games to date.

The QPR conclusion was nan first clip they had mislaid by much than 1 extremity this term, and yet, nan attacking statistic from nan title were somewhat encouraging.

Wrexham had 21 shots, 8 of which were connected target, to extremity nan crippled pinch an xG of 2.64, importantly much than QPR's fig of 1.43. Unfortunately, it was those protect issues that yet proved costly.

It's often said that scoring goals is nan hardest portion of football, but nan Red Dragons person scored successful each of nan 7 games they person played crossed each competitions this season.

Their xG of 7.75 is bettered only by Coventry - who were successful past season's Championship play-offs - and Southampton and Ipswich Town - who spent past play successful nan Premier League.

Following his debut showing, Sheaf said: "We've created immoderate really bully chances and if we tidy up and do immoderate of nan basics a spot better, I deliberation we'll decidedly prime up immoderate results."

Relationships are continuing to beryllium built passim nan squad, and nan likes of Ollie Rathbone, Liberato Cacace, Jay Rodriguez, Danny Ward and Andy Cannon are still to travel backmost from injury.

Josh Windass - extremity scorer astatine Southampton connected nan opening time - and George Thomason - who is yet to characteristic for Wrexham since joining from Bolton Wanderers successful nan summertime - are some group to beryllium disposable for Saturday's travel to Norwich City aft spells connected nan sidelines.

So nan options Parkinson has astatine his disposal are only group to amended successful nan adjacent future, which nan head will dream tin beryllium nan catalyst to an upturn successful fortunes for his side.