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Reply | Three-game weeks
at 12:09 25 Jan 2026
Indeed. It’s very clear all available funds are being put towards enabling our CEO to play real life ‘Football Manager’.
The ground and the facilities within it are falling apart. I’m not sure that side of things is getting any attention or budget.
The category 1 academy status, once it’s actually delivered, could be great for the club, but there is a long way to go before that is realised.
Also intrigued to see what happens with the Trust’s activity now Andy Evans has retired.
As you imply, everything comes back to stands and expectations of ourselves as a club. [Post edited 25 Jan 12:10]
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Reply | Reaction
at 23:34 24 Jan 2026
I’ll put it out there, because we have a cycling fella overseeing the players’ conditioning. 3 seasons of slow starts. Two years in a row now of January injury crises.
We’ve hired another physio, which suggests the club think the issue is execution rather than the overarching strategy. That, or Bicycle Ben has sold the story that he doesn’t have enough bodies in his Performance department.
Btw, genuinely, I believe the groundsmen (at Heston and LR) report to him too. All part of this idea of maximising our performance, in this case by matching playing surfaces… |
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Reply | Traitors UK thread **WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS**
at 22:56 23 Jan 2026
Unbelievable.
Stephan, what a man. That is a genuine example of integrity. He literally had the choice to win 47.5k or 95k. Win half with integrity, or the pot but go against his word. Superb. He deserves the media fees that come his way.
That final should have gone very differently. Why did Jade not vote for Rachel in the first round table? Huge slice of luck for Rachel. Faraaz got conned to change his target to Jade.
And then, why didn’t Faraaz vote with Jack, if he was aiming to reach the final two with him?
Amazing two traitors went the whole way through to split it. Amazing. But Rachel got incredibly lucky with so awful game play in that final from Jade and Faraaz.
But, fair play, Stephan. Serious integrity. |
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Reply | Traitors UK thread **WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS**
at 19:45 23 Jan 2026
There is no real justification for Rachel to turn on Stephan. After this 50/50 banishment, no one reveals if they are a traitor or not. So they can go hell for leather on the other 3. It massively helps Stephan if Rachel goes, because the group will only suspect one more traitor (which will be Jade). The problem is Faraaz. I think he’ll keep playing red to get rid of Stephen, and Jack will hold the balance of power. James will obviously go earlyish if he makes it through the 50/50. |
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Reply | Traitors UK thread **WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS**
at 19:28 23 Jan 2026
They made a massive massive error in murdering Roxy not Faraaz.
Yes, it might have drawn attention to Rachel after his accusation, but she could have brushed it off as an obvious set up. It would have removed a vote from Rachel and Roxy would have certainly voted for James.
That would have meant they went into the final 5 with Jack as Stephen’s closest ally, Roxy as Rachel’s. They would have easily got Jade out first, leaving 4. At that point, they would have been able to manipulate one of Roxy or Jack to vote for the other, and voila! They win.
It was so obvious. The fact they murdered Roxy tells me a) Rachel bottled it, so deserves to go, and b) they’ve reached this point more thorough luck than judgement.
As you say, E17, the only traitor who can win now is Stephan. You’d hope Rachel understands that, and helps him do so rather than be vindictive.
If the faithful, IMO, only really Faraaz deserves the money for a) playing a good game, b) being right about who the traitors are. The others have just been kept in as useful idiots. |
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Reply | Rest of the Championship thread 25/26
at 22:03 22 Jan 2026
Their sponsorship income alone is significantly more than our entire income. With the PSR stuff, I think they can afford to spend a lot…although £19m is frankly ridiculous and obscene, because, as you say, there are many better things for Wrexham FC they could spend it on for their long term future.
I thought they were aiming for play offs/promotion next season, but feel like they’re pressing the gamble button on winning the play offs this season.
I really want us to beat them. Would be awful if they go up. |
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Reply | Sam field
at 20:16 22 Jan 2026
Don’t understand? Is £2m too high or low?
Age plays a massive part in a player’s value. Field is 27, turning 28 in May. Varane is 24 turning 25 in September. Almost a 3.5 yr age difference, which, funnily enough is the likely length of contact if he is to sold.
Anyone purchasing Field won’t be able to see him on for much when he is 30, so demand and his value is reduced accordingly. Varane has played a lot fewer games in his career, could improve further, and will still be 26/27 when you decide you might want to sell him again.
Personally think Field is the better all round player, especially in this league.
If someone offers silly money to Field, you sell, as you would anyone. But if it’s for £2m or feasibly lower, I think it’s a silly decision, as per Clive’s statement reasoning on the match report thread. |
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Reply | Sam field
at 17:39 22 Jan 2026
Given his age, what would we get for Sam Field? £2m max?
Sell Varane for £4-5m instead. Play Field, Hayden as back up. If the sale provides any funds after covering transfer fees committed to/amortised, focus on finding a developmental prospect to cover Madsen.
There is no “need” to sell Field or much logical sense in doing so. |
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Reply | Lather, rinse, repeat – Report
at 17:35 22 Jan 2026
Also, Bravo!
Dunne, Field, Chair. All locked down for 3 more seasons after this, I think (plus JCS…).
Build and develop around those 3. Have them set and maintain standards regards commitment and work rate. That will give us balance and make us more rounded.
I think, in time, someone like Mbengue might be added to that group. I don’t think he’s going to play at a higher level, but he could have a great career with us. |
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Reply | January transfer rumours
at 15:30 22 Jan 2026
The data says ball playing centre halves who can progress the ball are the most sought after/highest profit profile, so, that’s why we’re focusing on them. Brighton think it is goal keepers (perhaps influencing our approach their too). Problem is, the data looks across the macro. No one’s value goes up if they aren’t playing. We can only play 2, maximum 3, of them. So this lad, Morrison, the 3 DS fellas, all won’t get much game time. Therefore, my guess is we’re considering a puppy farm model of buying them, loaning them out, and then either playing them or selling for a profit. Feels a little “Chelsea” when combined with the amortisation trick they made famous. Might work. Might not. |
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Reply | The 3 sides of a match thread at Oxford
at 14:29 22 Jan 2026
A slump caused by injuries and unavailability, if I remember…
Sincerely hope it doesn’t happen this season, but I’m concerned it might given the injury situation we far now, and recent performances. |
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Reply | Player Sales
at 17:31 21 Jan 2026
Two lynchpins you can build the side around, captain and a former captain, who know the club, who are committed to it for another 3 seasons after this one… build around them, don’t sell. It is almost certain we will have at least one, possibly more two head coaches over the next 3.5 seasons, so don’t make decisions based on the current guy’s opinions on such players. If Varane sold, play Field. |
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Reply | Player Sales
at 15:15 21 Jan 2026
Nix, Madsen has had a great season.
My point is more that he’s had one very good season (part way through) and one very bad season.
To a buying club, how does that look? It’ll factor into his price. After another good season, probably won’t.
He’s also 26 in March. Prime of his career. But whoever buys him is unlikely to be selling him on for a profit aged 29/30.
So, whilst I fully agree that I’d want £7m of more for him given how he’s playing currently and how hard he is to replace, I’m not sure if we’ll be offered that.
And the more pressing point is in this model, you have to sell. You can’t hang onto players for too long. But you can only sell players other teams want and can afford. If no one comes in for anyone but Madsen at £5m, what do you do? We have already spent/booked c. £6m of transfer fees for next season, the season after, and the one after that. If you want to continue to invest in the squad, you need to decent transfer fees in. And we can only sell who people want.
Varane is the perfect sale. Won’t hurt us. We have replacements already. And it’s a good figure. I wouldn’t get too greedy on him. [Post edited 21 Jan 15:20]
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Reply | Injuries
at 13:42 21 Jan 2026
We are definitely running a risk with Madsen and Kone at the minute, imo.
Madsen needs a break. Personally, I’d like to see Harvey Vale give a go in that role. He looks to be the next best passer of a ball. Would play Field alongside to be his legs. Would also like to see us give 3 central midfielders a go, so add Morgan too for running to free Vale up to create.
Who covers Kone is even harder. The new lad has been a bench player at the league below. Is he ready? Kolli? Not a great hold up guy. Bennie? Nowhere near ready. Frey is obviously off. |
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Reply | Player Sales
at 13:38 21 Jan 2026
Burrell is the obvious success story and the one you felt, if he’s continued his goal scoring and got 15-20, could have been sold for north of £10m this summer. Players with that many goals and his electric pace don’t come around often.
However, his hamstring injury is a big problem there. He might not score many more and teams might be wary (in a way we weren’t with Poku) about signing him without more games under his belt post injury.
Varane sounds like someone they want to cash in on. Personally I’d shake at £5m if it’s up front. Think that’s great business for us both because of the profit on him, need to bring in money, and because I don’t think he’s worth that currently. However, the club appear to be playing hard ball. Does his injury also curtail interest and/or reduce what we can get?
Madsen is the player fit, playing well all season, so could be some interest there. How old is he? Does he have the athleticism for a higher level? And will teams spend that much on a midfielder with one bad, one good season. Perhaps we get £5m for him? Not much of a profit mind.
My suspicion is we will try to sell Dembele for what we paid or a fraction more, effectively trade out of the deal, with Poku and Smyth under contract.
Is Morrison to Aberdeen a precursor to a sale? With Cool surely leaving, and JCS never fit, I would not want to sell him. Able deputy to Dunne and Edwards next season and hasn’t done enough to make us much money.
Wouldn’t sell Field or Smyth. They’re worth more to us than what we’ll get at this stage of their careers for them.
Too soon for Kone, Poku, Saito.
Chair hasn’t been fit all year, so doubtful it’ll be him.
This is kinda what I mean. It’s not obvious and indicates we don’t have a home run for the model yet.
It also demonstrates why they need to look at the Performance department. This whole approach doesn’t work if assets keep getting injured. |
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Reply | The 3 sides of a match thread at Oxford
at 12:37 21 Jan 2026
If we finish with 65 points and 10-12th, yes, completely agree, that would be progress. I have said as much before. Then we try to push onto the play offs next season.
If we finish on or under 60 points, say 55-60 points, is that progress? Given all the money spent, I would say not, and us now having a new training ground, I would say not.
I’m just worried that recent performances coupled with the amount of injuries we have point more to the latter than the former. Hope I’m wrong.
I’m also worried about who we’re selling to bring in transfer fees to make this player trading amortisation model work. If we don’t sell, we will have problems in the seasons to come. Hopefully I turn out wrong to be worried.
I think both are valid concerns though. [Post edited 21 Jan 13:28]
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Reply | The 3 sides of a match thread at Oxford
at 10:48 21 Jan 2026
Good post.
For me, my frustration is that we have spent £25m on this squad over the last 18 months, amortising that (so making some if it tomorrow’s problem), which is far more than any previous head coach/regime had and yet we don’t seem to have made that material step change. It felt like we could this season. Performances like Leicester show what the team/squad is capable of but since then performances against: Portsmouth, Norwich, Stoke, and Oxford (even in the win against Wednesday) have been very disappointing.
I could forgive previous managers and set up when we were just cutting our cloth year after year.
I could forgive the odd poor result under Warburton because the football was undeniably good.
I could forgive the struggles prior to Marti because the squad was so poor and we had no money to fix it due to FFP.
I could forgive poor performances under Marti, because a) he performed a miracle to keep us up after Ainsworth, and b) the results came and the trend was undeniably up from Ainsworth and Critchley.
At present, we’ve spent a lot of money (for us) and it doesn’t feel like we’re any better than the 2nd half of the 23/24 season when Cifuentes’ ppg Oct-May was 9th.
It’s not that Marti was some genius and manager for the ages, just frustration and patience wearing thin at the lack of progress in spite of all the money we’ve spent. Millwall, Preston, Stoke…all seem to have gone past us (similar boat 2 years ago).
I’m sure others have their own views and am sure many won’t see it or feel like me, but that’s where my frustration is from.
This squad *should* be doing better one we had two years ago. We should be progressing. Perhaps we still will this season. But at present, with the current performances and injuries, there is as much chance we slip to 16th. What then? We’ve spent the Eze money…and who are the next big sales. It feels to me that this is our chance. I’m pretty sure the club’s target was top half this season, play offs next. I really hope that happens. I’m just not sure it will at the minute. And if we revert to type. What then? |
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Reply | Is the season over?
at 22:56 20 Jan 2026
The season is not over and should not be over. The play offs are still within reach. The league is not strong; outside the top 2-3, everyone is much of a muchness. We should give it a go. Otherwise what is the point.
However injuries, and the way we’ve played in general since the Leicester peak, which has been so insipid, makes you think it might just peter out. That would be a shame. With this squad (relative to last year’s) we should be bettering last season’s position and points total by some way. |
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Reply | The 3 sides of a match thread at Oxford
at 22:35 20 Jan 2026
I’ve not said we’re “entitled” to.
I’ve said our expectations, coming into the game where we were, should be to beat a team destined for relegation. There’s a big difference.
And I don’t think we should settle for that performance. It’s settling for mediocrity. Shouldn’t we strive for more, want more? I know this is QPR and we often struggle against the weak sides.
But this squad has had £25m spent on it the last 18 months. We’ve not had any since the days of Fernandes, Redknapp, and Hughes. Should we not expect, or at the very least hope to beat a woeful Oxford side?
Sorry, Ned, I just don’t get this mindset of settling for that performance. |
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