Wrexham have landed in the United States ahead of their pre-season tour as their preparations for League One begin to ramp up.
It’s been a very productive summer for Wrexham following promotion from League Two, announcing the signings of Arthur Okonkwo, Lewis Brunt, George Dobson, Callum Burton and Sebastian Revan.
Phil Parkinson has also managed to release several players who were out of contract, including captain Luke Young and veteran defender Ben Tozer to create space for new incomings.
Wrexham kicked off their pre-season with a 5-1 victory over non-league side Hanley Town ahead of their tour of the United States and Canada, where the Reds will play against Bournemouth, Chelsea and Vancouver Whitecaps.
This is invaluable preparation for the Welsh side, who will be desperate to start their League One campaign with a bang as Parkinson explains some key elements of their planning.
Phil Parkinson explains two key elements of the US pre-season tour
From last year’s matches against the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea, the Wrexham players are aware that their trip to the United States is all about picking their wits against superior opposition.
This time around, the Reds are preparing for the biggest challenge yet – a campaign in League One – and Parkinson has explained two ‘key’ elements his side will work on against Premier League opponents.
He accepts that in the third tier, Wrexham will have less possession and will have to be organised, which is why playing against Bournemouth and Chelsea will be crucial.
Speaking to the Athletic, Parkinson said: “I was very pleased with how the lads came back into the building after the summer. They’d all been doing a lot of work in the off-season.
“Now, it is about stepping things up. It’s not a holiday. There are three really important games, which will be totally different to Hanley (whom Wrexham beat 5-1 last weekend). If you look at last year and the games against the Premier League sides, you don’t get as much possession as you’d like.
“But that’s a good exercise as it allows us to work on our out-of-possession shape and organisation, which will both be key going into League One. This is a working trip and we have to come back in as good a shape as we can to be ready for the new season.”
Wrexham’s key approach in League One
In League Two, particularly at home, Wrexham were able to dominate the lion’s share of the possession as most sides were inferior to them quality-wise.
Upon stepping up to the third tier, Parkinson has accepted that his side will sometimes need to play on the counter-attack, sitting back in their regimented shape and breaking fast in transition.
The signing of Dobson in midfield will give them an extra ball-winner while defenders Brunt and Revan can ensure Wrexham are comfortable with playing out from the back.
With former Premier League sides Portsmouth, Bolton, Huddersfield and Birmingham City awaiting them in League One, Wrexham may be forced into playing on the counter.
That is why working on their out of possession shape and organisation in pre-season, as Parkinson said, will be crucial to their success in 2024/25.