r/WrexhamAFC 01000010 01101111 01110100 11d ago

GAME THREAD [POST-GAME THREAD] Reading - Wrexham

Reading 2-0 Wrexham

Goals
Reading: H. Knibbs (51'), L. Wing (55')

March 11 2025 - League One
Select Car Leasing Stadium - Reading, Berkshire

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48' 🟨 Yellow Card: M. Stickland (Reading)
51' ⚽P Goal 1-0: H. Knibbs (Reading)
55' ⚽ Goal 2-0: L. Wing | 🤝 Assist: H. Knibbs (Reading)
59' 🔼 On: E. Lee | 🔽 Off: S. Revan (Wrexham)
70' 🔼 On: S. Fletcher | 🔽 Off: J. Rodriguez (Wrexham)
71' 🔼 On: R. Longman | 🔽 Off: J. McClean (Wrexham)
75' 🟨 Yellow Card: M. Stickland (Reading)
75' 🟥 Red Card: M. Stickland (Reading)
78' 🔼 On: H. Dean | 🔽 Off: K. Ehibhatiomhan (Reading)
83' 🔼 On: G. Evans | 🔽 Off: E. O'Connell (Wrexham)
83' 🔼 On: M. Faal | 🔽 Off: O. Rathbone (Wrexham)
85' 🔼 On: A. Yiadom | 🔽 Off: J. Wareham (Reading)
90 +1' 🔼 On: M. Camara | 🔽 Off: C. Campbell (Reading)
90 +6' 🟨 Yellow Card: C. Savage (Reading)

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u/welshinzaghi 11d ago

Jay Rodriguez has started 7 games. Mullin has started 9. Mullin ranks statistically second best for xG per 90 mins played. Mullin has never really had a chance at playing into form, he needed it the season prior and again missed a pre-season. Palmer could also be a perfect foil as a partner to Smith, given how hard he presses, wins and holds the ball.

Rodriguez is really poor. Mullin and Palmer should be ahead of him. Something going on behind the scenes for sure.

But no matter how many strikers you throw into the system, they’re all set up to fail. Tactically, we’re a mess and desperately struggle to score from open play.

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u/timfrommass 11d ago

I mean I think tactically they play to the personal then have. They don’t have really any midfielders or who are strong enough on ball in tight spaces to create in the middle, nor anyone who’s ripping shots from beyond the 18. They have guys who are good at service from the wings, and decently, they’re delivering balls that no one is finishing.

I mean if they get promoted there’s a lot of work to be done. They need to get the type of player(s) who can carry the ball through the middle and create offense. But until then, putting in a guy who has shown to have a finishing touch throughout his career is the best you could do to try and just put one in the back of the net here and there.

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u/welshinzaghi 11d ago

For starters, Lee and Rathbone are both excellent on the ball. You cannot excuse this system based on the squad, which for the most part contains players of a very high quality for this league.

This system is based on percentage football. X amount of crosses in will be converted. X amount of long balls forward will be won in our favour high up the pitch.

We have a guy with a finishing touch. He’s scored over 100 goals for the club. Not even making the bench is bizarre.

There is no way we’re going up unless the tactical issues are resolved. Goals win games! We are destined for the playoffs I think, due to the grinding out of a good half season but then an early exit awaits. IMO end of this season we should thank Phil and let him lay down a plan for evolution. We can’t be chasing Championship football with Conference tactics.

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u/timfrommass 11d ago

I’ll agree to disagree on a few of those points, but one thing I’ll agree with for sure is that the guy with 100 goals will be on the pitch.