NCS Shorts | #13: The Other Half

Welcome to episode 13 of NCS Shorts and I have to feels like an appropriate number when you consider some of the things that we're going to be talking about today. I was also expecting to say hello to a load of Swifties as a result of Taylor Swift's multimillion pound purchase of Notts County. But as it shows in football, lots of things change. But one thing that is quite interesting is whereas we might have avoided a cruel summer, and that is literally the only Taylor Swift reference I'm going to be able to make because I'm not a massive fan and I don't really know too much about air lyrics, but I know that one not seem to be moving into a slightly cooler winter few months. Which we're going to get onto. But first of all, we're going to talk about the REXHAM game and I'm delighted to be joined by our first ever non NCS guest. We've got Peter from REXHAM. Peter, how you doing?

Hi, Colin. Yeah, I'm good, thanks. Thanks very much for having me on.

No, thanks for joining us. And also I'm joined, fresh from his tour of Scottish hotels, Richard Gando. Rich, how are you doing?

Yeah, good, thank you, mate. As good as can be.

Anyway, I was going to say, I noticed you haven't quite picked up any of the Scottish accent just yet with the amount of time you're on there, but also it'd be wrong of me not to say many happy returns for the weekend. We're going to talk obviously about the weekend and whether that was a happy birthday for you or not. So let's talk about Wrexham. First of all, let's talk about the game, Rich. I want to see it from a Notts perspective before passing over on to Peter and about him giving him the opportunity to add, I'm sure, some pleasure and some smiles into it. So, Rich, what were your takeaways from that game?

Well, I managed to publish some stats, think, you know, the big takeaway from it is that old adage, if you don't take your chances, it's highly likely that it's going to come back and bite you on the backside at some point. And that's pretty much what happened in that game. I think the early stages of the game not equipped themselves well against, let's be right, a very good organized physical Wrexham team. Macca could have done better with a close range header. McGoldrick came close, Jody Jones managed to fire one over the know and any one of those goes in, or even didz's shot second half just seconds after or minutes after the first goal and it's one one again. It can go either way. So it really was a game of close margins. It was interesting looking at some of the comments online, some of the fans, some of the Notts fans particular that were concerned mainly about the fact that we didn't seem to have a cutting edge moving forwards, the same sort of cutting edge that we normally see from Notts. And again, I think that's something you've got to give Bill Parkinson some credit for the way that he organized his back line there because I was sat you talked about the birthday, by the way. I had family up, managed to get everybody in the family down to the game, which meant I had to leave my usual seats up high in the middle of the pavement stand and I ended up sat quite low down level with the sort of six yard box at the top end. So I was seeing things from a slightly different perspective. And certainly in the second half, when Notts were pushing for the equalizer or even to get back to two one, it was pretty evident that it was going to be completely pointless trying to whip the ball into the box from out wide, even though we kept trying and looking. And I could feel the frustration with players not wanting to play that cross, but it would have been pointless because they were literally playing against two rows of five players in a very low block that were doing a very good job of stopping us getting anywhere near that sort of danger area in the box there. So it was a tight game. The stats suggested it was a tight game, but I think on the whole, you've got to give Rexam credit. They came, they did the job, they did what they came to do, they did it efficiently, it still could have gone either way, but they went away with the three points at the end of the day and I wouldn't deny them that either.

Fair points. Fair points. And there's a couple of things that I want to bring up and sort of repeat and bring Peter in at some point with this, is that you talked a little bit about how well organized Wrexham were and how well planned they were. And it reminded me a little bit of the post match that Williams gave for the the fact that we haven't played that many games against the very good sides of lead two, who benefit from that game intelligence, who've played at higher levels and who are used to probably managing games and managing performances. And it certainly sounds from your take, Rich, is what you're saying is that REXHAM managed that game quite effectively. But one thing I want to bring Peter into is something that drew my attention. Rich, you talked about kind of fans and their reactions perhaps at the start and their reactions on social media. One thing that grabbed my attention before the game even started was actually the concerns the Rexam fan base had about their squad and about their team going forward. Peter, first of all, welcome also, could you just go into maybe what your thoughts were at the start of the game before then going on to talking about how you felt as the game went on.

Yeah, thanks. So I think when I was chatting to you guys colleague Jeff, before the know, we were emailing each other a bit and I sort of said, I think that the consensus amongst wrecks and fans was really we'd be happy to sort of come away with a point and that would be three points for us. So on Tuesday night, we really struggled to sort of break Sutton down. Eventually there was a breakthrough and it was Elliot Liu popped up with the winner, which he's done quite a lot for us this season. I think we can get a bit frustrated, but at the end of the day, going into the game, we were in third place and I don't think we really felt that we'd seen like, REXHAM at their best. I think on a Tuesday night, we also had Ryan Barnett left the field with an injury and he's been doing really well for us. And we didn't really have much backup at sort of right wing back. So it was actually Mendy who played right wing back on Saturday. But I think he managed to shut down, is it Jody Jones pretty well because I know he was the star of the show on your Tuesday night game. I think he got man of the match, didn't he? And then going into the game, Jordan Tunnelcliffe got injured warming up, I believe. So in fairness to Ben Tozer, you were saying about how well organized we were and things, I mean, I don't think he was even expecting to be on the bench going into the game. So I think it maybe shows that we got those sort of experienced players like him that are able to just come into that. And actually, I think there's been a little bit of debate about whether or not Tozia should be in the side and perhaps he sort of put his hand up on Saturday, I think, because he had a really good performance, I.

Think he made some really good points and some quite poignant ones as well. When you think about not wanting to put any excuses in there because what was a very good and very proficient sort of wrecks and performance but where you're talking about with injuries, which I think are becoming incredibly common, this season. With the extra game time that clubs are playing, as well as obviously being involved in various competitions, I think we're starting to see a lot more injuries and squads being stretched. And what I would say about Notts, and I'm very conscious that I'm recording this on a night where there are rumors starting to circulate about some other players. I'm not going to name them just in the hope that it isn't true, but there's some rumors of some other sort of significant players starting to have knocks that may have some considerable knock on effect for how knocks shape up in the next few weeks. Or even the next month or two until we get to the transfer window. I think it's very significant that Rexam were able to rely on and be able to bring in players of Tozer's caliber though fully accepting what you're saying as well because I picked up as well from social media that there was a few WREX and fans who, like you said, were doubting the fact that he would play a role in that game and perhaps didn't deserve it from previous performances. So thinking about the game itself then, and thinking about it from what are the things that you were delighted to see as a Rex and fan and perhaps what's the food for thought? Give us some support, give us some hope in terms of what has been over the last sort of know games, ignoring the Newport game, obviously, which was very good, but give us some hope for the rest of the few weeks going forward.

Peter, I think takeaway for me was like I say, going into the game, we'd have been happy with a point half time. I think I was thinking to myself, actually, we're definitely in this game here. I think you guys obviously like to play an attractive brand of kind of attacking football, and I think that maybe that's what has resulted in some of these murmurs from some of the Wrexham fan base, probably including myself. In some games because you get frustrated, but you have to break sides down. And probably I don't know if you get this, but I think when teams come to the race course, they expect us to sort of they just come and sit and we have to sort of chase it a bit. And nine times out of ten, fortunately, so far we've got those sort of 85th minute goals and come away with the points. But I think that the game on Saturday was quite different because you guys played quite openly against us and I think that we like playing that kind of football and we can play it when we have to. At halftime, it felt like whoever scored next would win. So it wasn't one of those where I'm going to say, oh yeah, we absolutely played you off the park and the championship's. Know it could have gone either way. I think fortunately we got the first goal and I think the second goal sort of killed you off a bit, really, perhaps understandably because was it McGoldrick went really close to an equalizer pretty much straight after, didn't he? And then Ali Palmer steps in and gets the winner and I think that was when we all began to relax a bit and could kind of go home happy.

So sorry to be controversial about this, we've all got on far too well, I feel, for Nuts County and Reckson podcast, so I'm going to throw Rich into this first, but talk about things that could have gone either way. Rich, what about Paul Mullen, what about the decision with the yellow card? Whereabouts, from your perspective? How did you feel about that decision? Was it the right decision for the yellow card? Richly to tangle with Jodie Jones?

Yeah, and I think, you know, it's borderline ascending off, not just because of the histrionics, but it did actually have a little kick out at Jodie as well. But equally, Jodie then also tried to make quite a meal out of it and I think a yellow for Mullen was spot on. Was it a red debatable from where I was? I had a really good view of it because I was quite level with it and I could see it all happen and my first reaction was, that's ridiculous. Mullin, get up, you're better than that. Because that's the one thing that I find extremely frustrating about Paul Mullin is such a brilliant talisman for exham. And the teams that he's played know he's a fantastic goal scorer. He's big, he puts himself about a bit, and it's no surprise he's a fan's favourite. But his constant, histrionics game to game, and we have seen it an awful lot with him does let him down a little bit. I don't think there should have been a yellow for Jody and that by the mean because Mullen went in both feet, jody went and it should have just been a yellow card for Mullen and be done with it. And I think there was one of those occasions that the ref actually bottled it a little bit as well during the game. Also the lino on that side, running down that side towards the cop in front of the wrecks and fans there, he either needed a peak cap on or some sunglasses or something because he did not get one offside at all in that first half, not at all. And I was in a good position to see he missed about five. It was dreadful, absolutely dreadful. But again, I don't want to take anything away from Rexam because they've done what REXHAM do. I think one of the other telling points is we're looking at the moment as you've alluded to Colin, at potentially losing one of our biggest players for a period of time. If the rumors are true, fingers crossed it isn't. But even on Saturday, Hill Parkinson brings Ollie Palmer on. We're bringing Will Randall on. Will Randall's played minutes all season, you know, and he's still coming back from injury. We had nobody else on the bench that could impact that game, not one player. Okay, Sam Austin came on, but that was a bit more of a like for like and a little bit of a shuffle and we know what Sam can do, but when you look at it, there's Rex and bringing on a game winner in Ollie Palmer and that's exactly what it was. So, yeah, it was frustrating. I enjoyed the Joy Division singing near the end there not so falling apart again. I know it was only two nil, so I don't quite know how falling apart again went, but it was obviously a lot closer than that. But I did think as well, the wrecks and fans showed up and they showed up well, and again, you've got to give them credit. I've got to be careful. I don't sort of come across as having a bit of a Wrexham loving here, because that's not the case at all, because obviously during the game, I was not a happy fellow and I can't repeat some of the stuff that I was screaming at the pitch. I just need to point something else out as well, and I'm going to need some feedback on this. Okay, guys? So you mentioned it was my birthday, it was my birthday on Sunday, and I'd got my daughter up with her partner and I've got other family, we had a spare ticket. I couldn't find anybody for the ticket at short notice, so the wife decided to come. That's the first time the wife's been to a football match with me since the Wembley playoff win against Brighton in 1991. So it's been 32 years. Okay. And fair play to the Rexam fan on Twitter, or X as it's called, who kind of took that as Rexam being the draw for her there to come down. That wasn't the case at all. The more worrying thing is I'm looking forward to going down to the game on Saturday. A little bit of the pressure is off because it's a cup game and everything, so you can try and watch the football with a relaxed atmosphere and that. And out of nowhere last night, while we're watching the telly, the wife turns around to me, she says, would you want me to come to the football with you again? Now then, how do I answer that? Because I don't know about you guys, but that's my time. I don't go to Pilates and yoga and everything with her, I go to the football. So I'm trying to be a little bit diplomatic in that one. And whilst I think it's great that out of nowhere she's shown an interest, although I do think the interest grew after she saw a lot of Jodie Jones down the left wing. But, yeah, it'll be interesting to know what other people think on that one.

Peter, I would recover from the idea of Rich doing yoga and Pilates. Do you want to field? We're doing marital advice. I didn't realize this is what we're doing on this podcast. But yeah, Peter, you can field that one. Go for it.

I think just count yourself lucky that Ryan Reynolds isn't your co owner, because tickets are definitely in demand. And when you have two season tickets, when your brother normally comes, if your brother's not coming, you know who's getting a ticket?

To be fair, my wife would attend Wrexham games for Ryan Reynolds. To be fair, and I know that she would be nodding along to this as I say it. No, I completely agree. No, Rich, the only caveat I would say, and you know what I'm like with this about routines and stuff, the first thing that worried me is that you weren't sat in your normal seat, which would traumatize me no end. We all know that I have a very set routine involving seats, involving high five in the Jimmy Cyril statue on the way in. So I'll be honest, I don't want to blame the whole result on you, Rich, but the fact that you moved seats before the game was immediately a bad sign. So I would say, by all means, bring the misses along. Just make sure you sat in your normal seats. Let's bring the whole of society back together again, let's stop the chaos, stop the madness, and hopefully we'll be able to hit some form again. And obviously, that brings us quite neatly onto who you're going to be facing, which obviously is Crawley. And that's a nice in fact, I've just looked at the fact that we've got two FA Cup games between us and we've got nice links between us, because obviously, recently, Wrexham played and beat Crawley. But, Rich, what can Nottst's fans expect from that game? Apart from the fact that you're going to be sat in your normal seat?

Yeah, Crawley have been sort of bumbling along mid table, good solid league, two outfit this season. Couple of standout players for them that we perhaps want to try and keep an eye on if they play. They've got Liam Kelly in central midfield, who's kind of the real sort of pivot in the centre of the pitch for them there. Comes with a good caliber as well, or good Pedigree, should I say, ex Redding. And he's been at Oxford and Rochdale prior to Crawley and he's even had a couple of games at Fine ord as well, back in the day. So he's a good, experienced centre mid and one that will be looking to try and control things in the centre of the park there for them. And then, of course, both us and Rexam, with our time in the National League, we'll all be familiar with Danilo Aussie as well up front for them. I think he's got about five goals so far this season. Ex maidenhead, Boron Wood, Harrogate, we've seen him a few times and he's always impressed as again, you know, something, somebody we're going to have to keep an eye on up front there. But I think it's not so much about what we can expect to see from Crawley. I'm a bit more concerned about what we're going to see starting for Notts on Saturday with the injuries and everything else that's going about at the moment. So that will be the thing. And, of course, whether it should be taken seriously or not. And my view, yes, it should be, it's the FA cup, for crying out loud. Yeah. Not the papa, John's. The Papa John's can go and get in the dustbin, I don't give two monkeys about that. But the FA Cup, let's take it serious and let's have a good go, regardless of who we feel.

Yeah, thank you for that, Rich. I echo those sentiments not only about the game itself, but also about Kelly as well. He was a player that really impressed me. I think he was at Rochdale when I saw him. I think he played against Notts at Medellin and he orchestrated things in midfield really impressive. And the type of player that really we might be short of in terms of the, you know, thinking about the rumours that are circulating at the moment. So I completely echo those sentiments. Peter, what about you? Because you're obviously, I mean, first of, know, REXHAM playing Crawley, any kind of hot takes from that would be good, but also you've got a game against Mansfield, which obviously we've recently had experience of as well, and probably widening that debate as well about how do Rexam fans see the FA Cup? Is this something that you want to be taking part of alongside with a league campaign, or does this feel a little bit like a frustrating extra?

Yeah, so with the Crawley game, I think we got a bit of a narrow one nil win there, but I think Andy Cannon was sent off sort of two thirds of the way through the game, so I think it was very much a kind of backs to the wall performance for the remainder of it. They're doing a lot better than last year, aren't they, Crawley? They have some crypto owners or something like that, don't they? I think it's all been a bit up and down for them, I think. But I think you were saying before, give us something to take home from the game on Saturday. And as I say, I think the game could probably have gone either way. We came away with the three points and I hope it's very much in the league, a case of we both carry on as we were until we play you at the race course and then hopefully come away with another three points in terms of the yeah, obviously it's massive for Wrexham. The history that we've know, free ownership, that is what we were known for. The Arsenal game when I was in university, anyone who you met from London, that was immediately, oh, you're from REXHAM, the Arsenal game and stuff like that. So, yeah, I think it's a priority. I think we would play a first team. Parkinson tends to put his first team out for know, you were mentioning on the injury front, stephen Fletcher's actually unfortunately been declared injured earlier today, and it's a knee issue, apparently, and it's a bit worrying when they say indefinite. So it sounds like perhaps he's having to have some sort of surgery, which is a real shame, because you were saying about quality off the bench, he's been coming on on 70 minutes when sides have tired out a bit, and he's really been showing his class. So it might be an opportunity for Jake Bickerstaff to come back into the side. Although, Sam Dolby, there was a bit of chat about him starting against you guys on Saturday again, but I suppose he sort of did his role well, I felt. And then, like you say, Ollie Palmer coming on on 70 minutes. He runs himself into the ground when he starts. So I think he had that extra freshness, perhaps, but, yeah, I definitely don't think it'll be low priority for us. I think we'll be going at it. And Mansfield are doing well, aren't they? I think they're up there with us. You'd like to know Rexman Notts in the race for sort of promotion again and it could go either way. I'm not that confident because I think we came away with a draw, but I think it was a hard fought draw when we played them away and I'm sure that they'll be equally keen to do something in the cup, so we'll have to see what happens, I suppose.

And that brings me on quite neatly to predictions about what is going to happen. So, Rich, I'm going to go to you first and we're going to do both games, if that's all right. So we'll do Notts Crawley, and then we'll do a prediction about Wrexham versus Mansfield. So let's have your Notts Crawley prediction first.

You know me, Cole, but I'm going to have to go for somebody winning, and I think it'll be a narrow win for Notts. I'm going to go for a two one to Notts. With regards to REXHAM and Mansfield, I hope to God that REXHAM absolutely batter them.

Okay.

And really knock the stuffing out of them. But based on that, knowing how good Mansfield are this mean, we've got to remember that Mansfield have been building this for the last four years, so they're going to be right up there at the end of the season. Aidan Flint was a massive signing for them. I think it's going to be a close one, to be fair again, but I'm going to go for a one nil Wrexham. I reckon a Paul Mullin penalty on 98 minutes will do it.

You've voted for chaos on that one, Rich. I'll be absolutely sure about that. There's no sitting on the fence on that one. Peter, over to you. So, first of all, not Crawley. What are you expecting from that? And then also making a prediction about Rex and Mansfield.

So I'll go with Rich on not strawly. I'll wish you guys luck and say two one. I think it'll be a close case they're not having a bad season, but like I say, you guys have got quality in your side, so let's go for that. Rexam, mansfield. Yeah, could very much be one nil, or it could end up like four three documentary drama. So just for the sake of it, I'll say four three Wrexham. I'm sure it won't happen, but you never think it will happen with Wrexham at the moment, and then it does. So yeah, we'll go with that.

Well, it certainly seems to be going to be an exciting few games anyway, from the prediction, certainly just for me to throw mine in. I think Notts might experiment with a different lineup. I think they might use the cup as an opportunity to try a different shape, thinking about how we're running out of options, particularly around in midfield. So we might see maybe going to a flatback four, for example, or something like that. So I can see Luke Williams using it as an opportunity to experiment. Hopefully we get an early goal and we're able to short up shop. So I'll go for Notts one nil, and then I think, like I say, Rexam might get the better off Mansfield. I do think it'd be a tight game. I do agree with Peter, there'll be goals in it as well. So I'm going to go for three two, and it'll be definitely one of those games to be trying to catch the highlights of. And I think it will be shining a great spotlight on league two, which is a fantastically competitive league, isn't it? Right, thanks ever so much for joining me. Thanks again for Peter joining us as well. We're going to be all looking forward to some fantastic results at the weekend.