Day Out

Away Day Blues

Alun Thomas goes on the road

Unusually for one so geographically challenged, I was able to get to the first three away games of the new season. For what they're worth, these are my impressions.

My immediate reaction driving away from Wycombe was that in a couple of years time we'd be mounting a serious promotion challenge -to get out of the blinkin' Conference! Forget all that rubbish in RP32 about some good things coming out of the game and face facts - we were absolutely dire. Every time Wycombe attacked I thought they would score, and frankly I felt we were lucky to escape with 5-2. Yes - we all roundly abused Andy Rammell, but wouldn't you like to see him in a Wrexham shirt? His sort of commitment seemed to be in short supply.
Was it purely coincidence that our best performance of the three came at Meadow Lane when we were without Carey and Ferguson, respectively skipper and playmaker? A masterstroke to make Rooster captain, particularly against one of his old clubs - he had a storming game and it looked as if things were on the mend, particularly with Trundle looking to make up for lost time. Why all the fuss about the penalty, by the way? If you miss the ball and trip the man, inside the box, it's a penalty. End of story. 

Surely things would continue to improve at Chesterfield, a team actually below us in the league! Sadly it was not to be. For 80 minutes there was plenty of sweat and endeavour but precious little inspiration or incisiveness - this will probably be epitaph at the end of the season. Our two late goals, especially Fergie's, were the ecstasy preceding the agony as we lost concentration at that last-gasp free-kick. Overall we didn't deserve a point but to lose a game like that was cruel!

My verdict on the players:

Rogers - two headed Wycombe goals from inside the six-yard box spoke for themselves, but his handling and distribution is generally sound. A definite plus so far. I can't see any need to sign Culkin or anybody else. 
Holmes - stable, secure and unspectacular. 
Carey - you can't criticise someone for lack of pace - players either have it or they don't - but it is a problem for Brian. As committed as ever, however. 
Lawrence - terrible at Wycombe even by our general standards on the day -much better at Notts and one of the few successes at Saltergate. 
Faulconbridge - quietly effective as always and won everything in the air, to no avail, at Saltergate. 
Thomas - very committed, particularly at Adams Park. 
Roberts - will improve with experience, I hope. 
Ferguson - as he stated in RP32, he desperately wants to be a winner, but bitching at the referee isn't going to help, which seemed to be his principal function at Wycombe. Whether it's right or wrong, the ref's decision is final, and arguing the toss is a waste of time.
Edwards - why didn't he shoot at Wycombe when he was right through? He didn't have the same problem against Colchester. The familiar mix of sublime and infuriating. 
Russell - 10/10 at Meadow Lane, but well off the pace at Saltergate.
Trundle - there's a sense of anticipation whenever he gets the ball, but I have horrible feeling that defenders are wising up to the fact that he invariably tries to manoeuvre the ball onto his left foot. Hence he was fairly ineffectual against the Spireites.
Blackwood - maybe it's me but in 270 minutes I haven't seen him beat a man or get in a cross, let alone have a crack at goal. He should remember Trundle's Law, which states that the more you shoot, the more likely you are to score! 
Chalk - sorry, but I couldn't bring myself to applaud "Chalkie The Bad Lad" as he came off at Chesterfield. Joining us in the stands isn't going to help the cause. 
Miller - I was quietly impressed by him at Saltergate. 
Gibson - why isn't he playing? No-one seems to know. 

Wrexham supporters at all three games - utterly committed and vociferous. 

I work permanent nights and went straight there from the Chesterfield game to face a couple of Posh fans crowing over their 6-0 win against Boumemouth. Needless to say, they hadn't bothered to attend. It was Posh's lowest gate for four years and prompted their chairman to tell fans: 'Watch us - or watch us die.' Over-dramatic? Posh are apparently losing £20,000 a week. A Forest-supporting colleague tells me that Forest are losing £100,000 a week. A HUNDRED THOUSAND! I wish my bank manager was as accommodating. The trip to Chesterfield will have brought back memories to many. On that Sunday in 1997, I travelled from Stamford without a ticket, confident that I would be able to obtain one by one means or another. However, as kick-off loomed, it became increasingly evident that I wasn't going to get one. Hanging about near the players' entrance (I remember seeing Carl Tunnah wrapped in a Welsh flag), I fell into conversation with a Spireites supporter from Bradford, also ticketless. Suddenly a chap in front of us began distributing tickets to half-a-dozen of his mates and on impulse I asked: 'Any spares?' 'Yes,' came the reply, 'I've got ten and only need eight.' The two of us snapped them up at face value (£11) - I'd set a limit of £50! It transpired that these lads came from Kettering and didn't support either side -makes you wonder why - and how - they'd got tickets. The tickets were for the main stand and I was the only person to remain seated, head in hands, as the crowd rose as one to acclaim Beaumont's winner. So near and yet so far. Great days: they seem a long way off at the moment.

PS. I typed this the day before the Tranmere game - those great days seem even further off now!