Football Manager 24 is out and The Athletic’s Richard Sutcliffe is attempting to take Wrexham all the way up the leagues.
So, this is what it feels like to be David Moyes.
It’s late on Thursday and the Racecourse Ground is deserted, bar yours truly. I’ve yet to bring a personal touch to the manager’s office, so there are only blank walls staring back as I mull over a much harder start to life with Wrexham than expected.
Advertisement
Being soundly beaten at home on the opening day of the League Two season by MK Dons was certainly not part of the script under my new Hollywood-star bosses, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. And now we’re out of the Carabao Cup at the first hurdle as well, beaten on penalties a couple of evenings ago by Barrow.
I’ve been here, alone with my thoughts, since assistant manager, Steve Parkin, left a few hours ago. “Don’t spend all night picking apart the last two games on that laptop, Gaffer,” he said, by way of a parting shot.
After re-watching the five goals we’ve conceded so far for the umpteenth time, I finally heed his advice. But that just leaves time to think. And I keep coming back to the same conclusion: I’m the new Moyes.
Not the David Moyes who earlier this summer led West Ham United to Europa Conference League final victory, I should stress. No, I’m the gaunt-looking David Moyes from a decade ago, as the reality of succeeding one of the all-time greats at Manchester United started to sink in.
Of course, Phil Parkinson does not belong in the same managerial bracket as Sir Alex Ferguson. But he is still a damn hard act to follow after leading Wrexham back into the EFL last season with a record points tally.
Then there’s Iain Macintosh, my colleague at The Athletic. He brilliantly piloted Newcastle United to success on these pages not so long ago, doing so with an entertaining flourish that fans of the Football Manager series rightly loved. Again, a big manager’s coat to fill.
So yes, Moyesy, circa early 2014, feels about right in terms of where my head is right now. Which means I really need to get out of this damned office and go home. And hope tomorrow really can bring better times.
Kevin Mulholland, Wrexham’s head of performance, wants a word. His face tells me I’m not going to like what he has to say.
“Ryan Barnett’s torn his knee ligaments. He’s looking at three to four months out.”
As Kev leaves to tend to a pool of injured players that now includes my crocked winger, I try not to think what Moyes would do in this situation. Instead, I decide my planned squad overhaul needs to be stepped up. I let it be known, via TransferRoom, that a couple more Wrexham players are available.
Advertisement
Earlier in the week, I’d placed Andy Cannon, Anthony Forde, Rob Lainton, Aaron Hayden and Jacob Mendy on the transfer list. Now, Ben Tozer and James Jones — two more stalwarts from Parkinson’s promotion-winning team — can leave, although this time I’ve not informed either that their names have been circulated. I’ll more than likely need them before the closure of the summer transfer window, so no point upsetting the pair before I have to.
The rebuild starts later that day with the arrival of a second free agent.
Todd Kane, a 29-year-old Chelsea academy graduate who has played most of his career in the Championship, has spent the last few days mulling over our contract offer. He’s now ready to commit.
Kane is a right-back who delivers a mean set piece. And like fellow free agent Kevin Stewart, formerly of Tottenham and Liverpool, he’s had a sufficiently good career to satisfy the board’s demand for ‘high-profile’ signings.
Parkin gives the move a thumbs-up. Just as he does when asked about Anthony Musaba, the Sheffield Wednesday winger who has come back at the top of the scouting team’s recommendations list. “His pace is explosive,” adds my assistant, enthusiastically. “He belongs in the Championship.”
It takes a bit of haggling, but Wednesday eventually sanction a loan for the rest of the season, providing we cover Musaba’s entire £7,500 a week wages. With Kane and Stewart having arrived for a combined £13,700 per week, a quick reminder about the need to stay within budget arrives from the boardroom via Reynolds.
I take the hint.
Jones is officially added to the transfer list and immediately snapped up for £46,000 by Peterborough United. Cannon also leaves (Bolton Wanderers, £60,000), along with Lainton (Solihull Moors, £5,000), Mendy (also Solihull, a loan but with his full £1,500 a week wages paid) and Hayden (Blackpool, £20,000).
Advertisement
Half of the Hayden fee has to be paid to the player as a settlement before he’ll agree to leave. But it’s worth the outlay, as once Tozer departs to Carlisle United for £9,500, our weekly wage bill is back within the pre-season limit of £125,000.
All that clearing of the decks takes up much of August. Thankfully, results improve quickly after those early back-to-back losses with morale-boosting victories against Wimbledon and Walsall being followed by a narrow 1-0 triumph at home against Swindon Town (FM24’s fixture list is identical for 2023-24 as in the real-life League Two).
“We’re pleased with how things are going at this early stage,” says McElhenney, after we avenge our cup exit with a 3-1 away win against Barrow that nudges us up to fourth. Musaba makes an encouraging debut that day, while two more new arrivals, Manchester United’s Shola Shoretire and Dylan Stephenson of Newcastle United, both come off the bench just a couple of days after joining us on loan.
Deadline day then brings Crystal Palace wide man Malcolm Ebiowei in on another loan, meaning I’m finally happy with our attacking options. So, too, are the supporters a day later, as we smash neighbours Tranmere Rovers 5-1 away.
Musaba gets a hat-trick in that cross-border derby romp, with Elliot Lee and Ollie Palmer also on the scoresheet. A week later, Paul Mullin marks his return from the broken ribs he suffered in pre-season with a goal as Doncaster Rovers are beaten 2-0.
Finally, I feel like I am escaping Parkinson’s shadow.
The press all want to know afterwards who will win the league. “Wrexham,” I reply, for the first time. And we really do feel to be on our way, even if it’s Sutton United who are top of the table.
This belief never wavers, even after new goalkeeper Matt Macey, another free-agent signing, breaks his arm on his debut in the EFL Trophy. Bryce Hosannah also suffers an unfortunate break, this time to his wrist, but the wins keep coming as Sutton (3-0), Notts County (4-0), Gillingham (3-1) and Salford City (2-0) are swept aside. Our dominance against the latter is underlined by their paltry expected goals (xG) figure of 0.04.
The FA Cup proves just as enjoyable, as we beat Stevenage and then Hartlepool United to reach the third round. The 3-0 win over Stevenage is particularly satisfying thanks to my opposite number Steve Evans’ pre-game declaration: “Sutcliffe is over-rated!”
Fourth-placed Colchester United discover for themselves just what a dangerous team we’ve become as the season edges towards Christmas. I deploy what has become our de facto first-choice XI — barring Kane (rested) and Stewart (coming back from injury).
We are a joy to watch, as two goals from Lee sandwich a clinical strike by Mullin in a 3-0 victory. Musaba and Jordan Davies, playing either side of Lee, once again catch the eye.
“The job you are doing is unbelievable,” declares McElhenney. “You’re clearly the right man for the job.”
Some don’t agree. Steven Fletcher wants out, claiming I’ve broken a summer promise to give him more minutes. He’s already on the transfer list for January. I’m also expecting to lose loan duo Shoretire and Stevenson in the new year after constant complaints from Erik ten Hag and Eddie Howe, both demanding to know why their player is not operating in the promised role.
Advertisement
Really though, things couldn’t be going any better.
Wrexham are seven points clear at the top of the table heading into Christmas, with a game in hand on closest rivals Stockport County. Three teams go up automatically from League Two, and the gap to fourth-placed Notts County is a colossal 15 points.
Of course, I’m telling the players and the press there is still a long way to go and that nothing is decided at this time of year. But I can’t pretend any additions in January won’t be made with at least one eye on next season in League One.
Merry Christmas!