The Wrexham squad has taken on a different dynamic since the rise to League One, with certain past heroes failing to make as much of an impact this year.
During the days of National League glory and promotion from League Two, the likes of Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer were the go-to guys for Wrexham.
Then, Elliot Lee emerged as a key playmaker under Phil Parkinson, but things have changed with the Red Dragons now competing at the top of League One.
Palmer and Mullin’s influence is waning, and Lee’s injury issues are catching up to him, leading one Wrexham expert to cast doubts on the experienced stars.
Elliot Lee and Ollie Palmer are no longer influential, but they work hard for the team
Reflecting on the 1-1 draw with Birmingham City last week and how certain players now fit into the Wrexham squad, the folks on the Fearless In Devotion podcast mused over Lee and Palmer — both of whom started that game — and discussed how their impact has diminished of late.
Andrew Gilpin said: “The caveat to the second half display is, we had Mullin and Steven Fletcher on and we took the game to Birmingham. There’s been a lot of talk about Palmer and Lee and whether they are a goal threat, and I’m gonna be honest, they’re not.
“They’re decent players, they put a shift in, and they absolutely tire out centre-halves. They’re not a goal threat, but what they do do is create a platform for players to come on later.”
Adding to this, Gilpin suggested that is not a bad thing at all, but underlined the importance of Phil Parkinson finding alternative game plans in the future.
He added: “It’s a squad game, we have subs to use… that’s been our tactic for the last couple of months. Keep it tight for 60 mins and see if we can steal it late on, and it’s worked a few times.
“Fletcher is great at coming on and finding that space when defenders are tired. But it’s now about being a threat for 90 minutes.”
What is Phil Parkinson’s Plan B?
So, Parkinson needs to come up with different ways to win games. But, does he actually have the versatility within his squad to generate a plan B at this moment in time?
The return of Jack Marriott could well be the key to that, and the striker being back certainly does offer Parkinson other options in attack. And, of course, if the Red Dragons can sign a new forward, that would open things up even further.
Perhaps, though, the issue is not personnel, but the actual playing style Parkinson favours; which includes lots of play down the wings and the occasional long ball up to the target men. However, there are often huge gaps between Wrexham’s midfield and the forwards, and this is certainly something that needs to be addressed.
That disparity is not helping someone like Lee, who thrives on being the connecting force between midfield and attack. It’s also starving the strikers of valuable service, too.
| Statistics | Elliot Lee | Ollie Palmer | Jack Marriott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 24 | 26 | 11 |
| Goals | 6 | 3 | 5 |
| Assists | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Shots on target | 43.2% | 29.4% | 61.1% |
The best teams always have the ability to adapt and spring surprises, and at the moment, Wrexham are far too predictable. Sure, it works fairly often, but not consistently enough, and Parkinson must now find a way to close that gap in the attacking third.
Parkinson could still get the best out of the likes of Lee and Palmer, and indeed, Mullin, too. But, it will take some flexibility on the behalf of the Wrexham manager.