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Dreadpool . . . Wobbly Wrexham Start Poses Big Questions for Ryan Reynolds and Phil Parkinson

Wrexham owner Ryan Reynolds. Pic. Alamy

Wrexham owner Ryan Reynolds. Pic. Alamy

It’s been no Hollywood fantasy so far for Wrexham in the Championship with just one win in five patches, as Ian Mitchelmore reports.

 

A penny for your thoughts, Mr Ryan Reynolds?

The Deadpool star was in attendance at the Stok Cae Ras as Wrexham's defensive issues were fully exposed by Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

Phil Parkinson's side went into the recent international break unbeaten in three matches in all competitions - with the two most recent games in that run seeing them beat Preston and Millwall away from home.

But having kept a clean sheet against the Lions last time out, Wrexham were a mess at the back against QPR - who netted three goals without having to play anywhere near their best.

The opener, a Conor Coady own goal, saw the ball bobble around the Wrexham box before the ball trickled into the net off the legs of the defender.

For the second, Julien Stéphan's side needed just four passes to go from goalkeeper Paul Nardi to Richard Kone who gave Arthur Okonkwo no chance whatsoever of getting a glove to his rifled effort.

To their credit, the hosts were much-improved after the restart and deservedly got themselves back into the game through Kieffer Moore's header - the Wales forward's sixth goal in five matches for club and country. 

But they were undone just eight minutes later with one lumped ball upfield that allowed Rumarn Burrell to switch on the afterburners to whizz beyond Coady and chip over an indecisive Okonkwo to seal victory for the Rs.

It was the sixth time in seven matches in all competitions so far this season that Wrexham had conceded at least two goals - the type of record that will prove fatal to the club's aspirations of challenging for a top six spot in the Championship.

READ MORE: Phil Parkinson Urges Patience as Wrexham Find Championship Life Tough

But they do have the likes of deadline day signings Dom Hyam and Issa Kabore to come into the back five while Liberato Cacace has so far been unable to fully prove his worth after being pegged back by injuries.

Similar applies in other areas of the squad with the likes of Nathan Broadhead and Josh Windass - most likely two of the club's most creative players - having spells out along with players including Ollie Rathbone, Jay Rodriguez, Danny Ward and Andy Cannon.

This is also a club that made 13 signings over the summer having gone back-to-back-to-back, so patience is clearly needed and warranted in that regard. Remember the 2021-22 season, the first under Parkinson? Similar applied then.

But while both Reynolds and his fellow co-owner Rob McElhenney have publicly stated they are not responsible for the football decisions made at the club, Hollywood star Reynolds could be forgiven for turning to his advisors for their thoughts after watching Saturday's defensive shambles.

Those on the ground in Wrexham on a day-to-day basis will rightly argue that the squad transformation has been so vast that - in addition to the unprecedented success they have brought the club in recent years - time is deserved at the very least.

READ MORE: Craig Bellamy: Wrexham’s style is ‘perfect’ for Kieffer Moore Ahead of Wales’ Kazakhstan Test

Crucially, there has been no sense of panic early on, and there is a continued understanding that the Championship is a totally different beast to anything the club have gone through since Reynolds and McElhenney shocked the world by taking control of the north Wales side in February 2021.

The coming months have the potential to further highlight the ruthlessness, the loyalty and the nous of those running the club.

And in truth, this day was always coming. The experienced Phil Parkinson himself will know that only too well given his years of remarkable service to the game.

With games against the likes of Leicester, Birmingham and current league leaders Stoke to come in the near future, Parkinson will know the importance of shoring things up at the back and picking up points in their next two league outings against Norwich and Derby.

READ MORE: Wrexham Have Smashed the Window . . . But Other Welsh Clubs Have Made Wise Moves, Too

That said, a win at Carrow Road at the weekend would see Wrexham move level on points with the Canaries, who are currently 10th, so while it’s been a poor start, it’s been far from a disaster.

Nevertheless, having likely been the key driver in the club's decisions to part ways with so many of those who have played a significant role in the club's rapid rise up the divisions over recent seasons, Parkinson will be acutely aware that his own position will come under scrutiny in the near future if things don't pick up.

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