“Welcome to Wrexham” swept the globe.
The social media darlings, owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, captured the hearts of football fans everywhere.
Even the casuals and those previously uninterested in football took an interest in the fifth-division Welsh club and followed its story.
After a disappointing first season under the new owners, a record-smashing second campaign has us saying, “Welcome to League Two.”
From late-season drama against Notts County and a nail-biting title race that took 45 weeks to decide, it was a Hollywood ending for the worlds favourite small club.
In this tactical analysis, we’ll break down some of Phil Parkinsons tactics leading to their success.
This scout report will look at both sides of the ball, especially at how their ball-near overloads helped them create a cohesive tactical system that carried them to promotion.
The league is won, and promotion is secured, so this analysis wont stop at the Wrexham tactics for 2022/2023/
Let’s move beyond the past season and look to the future.
Using data to contextualize performance metrics across Englands top five divisions, we will relate Wrexham’s season averages to those across the first five tiers in the English football pyramid.
Settle in for the tactical story and a glimpse of the Red Dragons’ future.
Attacking overloads and getting behind the lines
Wrexham and Notts County were neck and neck in nearly every respect this season.
From the title race to the bragging rights for most goals scored and fewest conceded, it was a fight to the end.
A cohesive game model that accentuated the top qualities of leading players was the key to Wrexhams success.
When you talk about their attacking output, its inherently tied to the way they attacked the wings in their 3-5-2.
Whether looking to get in behind or overload the opponent in the wings to create conditions to switch play, Wrexhams emphasis on the wings was undeniable.
Generating numerical superiorities in the wings created imbalances in key parts of the pitch, which the Red Dragons were quick to attack.
Take this wide overload against Boreham Wood.
Four players are in the right wing, while the central player of the midfield five, Andy Cannon, a former Championship player with Hull City, took his position in the right half-space.
You can see his arm extended as a field general determining the next sequence of action.
As Wrexham overloaded near the ball, look at the numbers in direct opposition to the Boreham Wood backline.
Wrexham has established a high 4v4.
Theyre simply looking for the right moment to attack it.
After the switch of play, which Cannon directed, Wrexham held the ball in the left wing to develop the attack.
Notice again that three players are in the left wing, and Cannon is again in the half-space, this time on the left side of the pitch.
He gives them that central balance in case o
