Preseason Polish - Wisla Krakow away
I am in the same preseason form that Wrexham are in... Given that clipping up every player who played will exceed the number of images I can put in a post, I think this might be a little more free form than usual.
I think I am on the record that I think Windass and Sheaf are Wrexham's two best players (with Doyle in a very close third). So, as far as I am concerned, you can wrap those two in bubble wrap until Cardiff and get no stick from me. I got what I wanted, to see players we see very little in the hope of understanding where they may fit in this year's squad. But to those with today's hot takes about "this squad isn't a top eight squad" - you think? They're missing 23 goals and 12 assists, plus your Captain (and central CB) and your best midfielder might have something to do with that. They're missing a third of their overall goal total, a lot of teams would look like a relegation side missing that kind of firepower.
Wisla Krakow looked like a solid squad, but my sense is that they would be a high end L1 side or a lower table Championship side (their league is basically between the two in Opta rankings). Of course, it is a friendly, so tough to make too much of it. No decisions made on the first friendly, but in my head, I think the players who looked good warrant a little more consideration, and those who had less of an impact probably headed towards a loan. Specifics upcoming...
Up Next
Manchester United in Norway next Saturday. Hopefully, they don't put any of our players in the hospital this time.
Parky
No disrespect to Mark and Mozza, who did a fine job today, and I imagine that when they did their pregame prep they saw Moore / Cadz and thought "two strikers / 3-5-2"... With their need to constantly dialogue, combined with the fluid nature of our attacking shape, it would make it hard to pick out in real time. Cadz was playing as a 10. Here is the classic 3-2-5 build shape played most of last season.
I have highlighted Cadz sitting in the right pocket (the white space). Ironically, this is where Cadz played in his last game for Wednesday - against Wrexham. You will also note LOB and James in the double pivot.
Of course, someone might suggest that DKD was playing a high 8, and the attacking shape would have him there anyway, but here is the midblock, with the box again - DKD and Cadz still in the 10s with LOB and Matty still holding.
Finally, Here is their classic 5-4-1 low block.
A lot of space between those lines, that will need some tuning.
Doesn't mean Wrexham didn't play with a couple of interesting wrinkles. When Wisla dropped into a back five, Wrexham answered by pushing into this 3-1-6 attacking shape. I highlighted Aaron James (a CB sitting in the pocket!)
They also had this interesting thing where Rathbone would drop into the backline to get on the ball.
See how it \"unpacks\" that tight midblock that was cutting off him and Dobbo?
I liked seeing this - sending Vyner on an overlapping run. Max did this a bunch in L1, and Doyle loves making that run. Being effective in a back five relies on using your wide center backs in more dynamic ways, especially to pull apart tight defensive blocks.
Longman needs to slip the ball to him here. That defender has no chance of closing him down.
Overall, Wrexham needs to scheme more chance creation this season. They had amazing finishing last season, but well below average chance creation (and they lost on of their better creators in Kabore). These kinds of patterns of play hopefully will help with that.
Along those lines, let's talk about Alex Moore.
Me: Parky is playing a CM at LWB! Unbelievable. Thommo is such a unique player to be able to bail us out when our depth is struggling.
Parky:
Parky: "They called me crazy when I played wingers as wingbacks. See..."
Mark confused Alex Moore for one of the academy lads (or perhaps Tom Kelly, who was a LB in Moore's class and no longer with the club). Alex played CM against Wellington last summer, and during his loan at Colwyn Bay. His academy player of the year award last year referred to him as midfielder. Physically strong, technically proficient, and press resistant CDM. Pretty much the book on Thommo, too, if we are keeping track. (NOTE: Parky said postgame that Alex did well in an unfamiliar position.)
No, I don't think Alex Moore is going to be playing minutes at LWB this season, but I am increasingly convinced that Thomason will be staying there, and they aren't bothered about getting another LWB. I think they figure they might get one if an upgrade presents, but to me it does not seem like a priority concern. There is a tactical theory they are working, and I haven't pulled it apart yet enough to hazard a guess.
I think they attacked pretty heavily up the left side in the first half, and up the right side in the second. Seems pretty consistent with my earlier comments with Doyle on the left in the 1st and Vyner on the right in the 2nd. The two of them together might get interesting.
Overall, more crosses, long diagonals and speculative lobs today than I would have liked, but I think with such mix and match lineups and this early in the season, it is unrealistic for me to expect those quick triangles they used last season.
Players
I liked seeing LOB and Ollie playing in the holding midfield. I feel like they have more to offer there, especially if the Dobbo exit rumors turn out to be accurate. Fundamentally, Wrexham has been linked with at least three CMs at various points this summer - Bardeli, Galbraith, Amane, etc. (more, if you get into the wilder rumors). Seems clear that at least one CM will come in, and it helps that LOB and Ollie can play all four CM positions. However, Dobbo would be a specialist in this squad, and he can do better than that elsewhere.
Alex Moore looked good today, especially playing out of position at LWB. Won a bunch of headers, was solid defending, and made a few nice runs into the box. He even cleaned up a couple of Longman's overhit crosses. However, I liked this play especially:
Need Kieffer to knock the rust off his shooting boots, but he did look in good box defending and in the air.
Lee looked good also. Mozza said that Lee told Doncaster's poor pitch really didn't allow them to play the way they wanted (and Lee was regularly a 9 for them!), which is interesting validation of the Parkinson hoofball thesis (He thinks you shouldn't design your tactics to rely on clever passing sequences on poor lower league pitches). My Lee assessment remains the same - good enough to be a rotational player for Wrexham, but too good with too few years left in his career to settle for that role.
I appreciate Barney looking to shoulder charge this deflection into the goal, but I think DKD had pretty good handle on taking this shot until he got blasted. Overall, I thought DKD was very good today and makes me feel more comfortable that he could work solid minutes in the CAM rotation. Not only was this quality technique, but he probably had the best shot of the match from outside the box, and his ability to flick on at his height comes in handy.
https://i.redd.it/gkiry4soench1.gif
Scarr is reportedly wanted by some clubs, and in the last year of his contract, he is likely moving on. I like the guy. I appreciate his service to the club, and I like some of the things he can do, but I don't like how he fits into this setup. Hope he gets a great long contract with another club, and wish him the best of luck. Today, I didn't love the slow pass he put into Matty James, or getting caught ball watching up the pitch forcing Doyle to bail him out. But this is probably the biggest reason why the Championship isn't for him:
GKs - I feel pretty talked out about this topic. Everyone has entrenched themselves on this, but the links to four or five first choice keeper candidates make clear that Arthur is leaving, Ward will be #2, and no amount of relitigating the issue will change that. Arthur had a nice penalty save today (yes, I know the "upgrade Arthur" caucus will say that the pen is poor, and close enough that Arthur should have smothered it. They aren't necessarily wrong, but I am just so tired of the back and forth...)
https://i.redd.it/o2px7lhvnnch1.gif
Wingbacks - It isn't great when two career CMs had the best wingback performances on the day. I have seen Longman have days like this, and recover from them to play well - so might be rust. Barney was largely invisible to me during this game. [DKD: Yeah, you're telling me!?"] I would hope those who suggested that losing Kabore was no big deal and Longman would be an upgrade might be reconsidering. Certainly the "Longman is a better defender" claim took another blow. (There was more than this.)
https://i.redd.it/xqkv74qatnch1.gif
Hardie - Traveled but didn't play today. Saw him in his warm-up kit, etc. He is coming back from an Achilles injury and there were also players (DKD, Cadz, Ashy, Lee) more in need of the minutes, but it seems very possible he is being protected for a move.
Young pros - Ashy had an off day, but flashed some stuff. Moore might have gotten more of a look for first team minutes. Aaron James injury was the worst luck for him, but he looks recovered. None of the others got minutes. Will be interesting to see if they keep another club developed player as a hedge for a Max injury. But you need someone you are willing to put on the pitch if needed, seems all three fit that description. No, Cadz doesn't count.
Brunt - Thought he had a good game. Looks back to normal with his athleticism. I would have liked to see him in the middle of the back three. I don't know that he can spend the season being buried behind Doyle and there just isn't a good argument for sitting Doyle to play him. He should have scored this.
https://i.redd.it/94tc1rwnunch1.gif
All in all, I feel like I have covered the major takeaways from squad. Feel free to ask about anyone you think I might have missed.
Posted Jul 11, 2026, 8:58 PM UTC