Sorry, but going from a regular starter in Div 1 Italy to playing for a Welsh side thats just a vanity project for a couple of Hollywood hacks does nothing for me.
2: The media noise will be loud showing clubs and fans throughout the world that NZ has more players then just Chris Wood. May also make clubs look harder at NZ clubs in the A league.
3: Libby has never really been guaranteed starts in Italy but he is a name transfer and in a championship season with Tuesday, Saturday games, even if he rotates occasionally he is guaranteed of significant minutes over the season. That coupled with exposure to a different type of league style will also benefit NZ.
Now, will this move benefit Libby playing wise? That’s still up for debate. The best case scenario for Wrexham I think is they stay in the division and consolidate the progress they have made. It’s only if he tears it up will premiership clubs come calling.
Despite it not being a top flight league, I think it could be a good move for him.
He's proven he's good enough to play in one of the top divisions in the world, if he can now prove he can deal with the physicality of the Championship then I'd imagine some Premier League teams will consider he has the skills and the strength to hack it there.
Sorry, but going from a regular starter in Div 1 Italy to playing for a Welsh side thats just a vanity project for a couple of Hollywood hacks does nothing for me.
Sorry, but going from a regular starter in Div 1 Italy to playing for a Welsh side thats just a vanity project for a couple of Hollywood hacks does nothing for me.
Is it really any different than any number of clubs being owned by billionares. To be honest i dont get the hate so people would prefer that Wrexham are still a struggling club in the lower divisions. For a "vanity" project they seem pretty invested in not only the club but the community much more than some Billionaire owner's are.
Sorry, but going from a regular starter in Div 1 Italy to playing for a Welsh side thats just a vanity project for a couple of Hollywood hacks does nothing for me.
Agreed.
Can not stand Wrexham or anything about them.
Both of you seem to have a really grim outlook on this. Hardly a vanity project, you only need to look at the investment in the community of Wrexham by the owners and then the wider stuff they are doing to see that this is not just about Reynolds and Mclehenny(sp).
Why you'd hate on a club that has been lifted from the duldrums of non-league footy to the 2nd tier in 4 years is beyond me - maybe its jealousy? It's not your club so you dont like it.
Plenty of rich billionaires buying lcubs to gt what they can out of it witout investing anything close to what the clib needs to be successful - Man U for probably the biggest name to be destroyed by American owners. Wrerxham's owners are completly the opposite.
Interesting in that interview he doesn't mention defending once, talks about being positive, going forward, taking players on, creating chances, scoring goals etc... is he going to be converted to winger/forward full time or something?
Interesting in that interview he doesn't mention defending once, talks about being positive, going forward, taking players on, creating chances, scoring goals etc... is he going to be converted to winger/forward full time or something?
Their captain James McClean played LB a bit, and with his experience and being captain although being 36 I believe he will be starter for them so either Cacace will play further forward or McClean will.
Technically it's currently 4. Crocombe, Bindon, Cacace & Henry Gray (Ipswich).
Paulsen, Stamenic and I'd say Bell plus McCowatt possibilities to join them in the short term. Surman in 2026 and were even rumours at one point of Kees Sims going to Coventry.
Interesting in that interview he doesn't mention defending once, talks about being positive, going forward, taking players on, creating chances, scoring goals etc... is he going to be converted to winger/forward full time or something?
Wrexham play a back 5 with very high wing backs. I imagine he’ll start at LWB and McLean will rotate.
This is why I’m not so amused about Libby’s move to Wrexham. These lot look garbage for a team 3 weeks away from playing Southampton.
Injuries, pre season blah blah I don’t care Phoenix are in the same boat too. I’m not mad at the league he’s going to I’m mad at the chosen club in the midst of all the hype.
3 weeks away from the season and if they’re playing like this they’ll get pulled straight back down into League One. Championship is a different beast to the humpty dumpty lower leagues.
What a moment for the young lads in yellow and black though !
Yeah i was gonna say, hope Libby has an escape clause in his contract should Wrexham go straight back down, they're looking like they will right now...
I highly doubt they will get relegated. Their squad was also rotated, and they're one of the best run clubs in the EFL. Wednesday, Preston, Hull, Charlton or Blackburn are way more likely to get relegated imo. I think they're more likely to get promoted with the next three years than go back down tbh
I highly doubt they will get relegated. Their squad was also rotated, and they're one of the best run clubs in the EFL. Wednesday, Preston, Hull, Charlton or Blackburn are way more likely to get relegated imo. I think they're more likely to get promoted with the next three years than go back down tbh
These exhibition games mean sweet FA. They are next to zero as a measure to how a season will go for a club.
Wrexham could have been absolutely flogged in training this week right up until yesterday. Who knows. But it wouldn't surprise if they had heavy legs today, no tapering off through the week approaching game day, like an in season week.
The coaches & fitness staff 3 weeks away from the start of the season, will be more concerned with making sure their fitness levels are right up there, by game 1 Championship kick off. Making use of those 'EPL standard' facilities at NZCIS.
The Nix game just a kick about. Back in Blighty, they will have 1-2 friendlies scheduled pre the Saints that will mean far more.
I still think its a poor career move by Libby. You play nearly 100 Serie A games and then you go to a joke reality TV club. The thing about reality TV is that eventually the gag runs out. Wait and see how the people on the Wrexham bandwagon jump after the club spends a couple of years fighting relegation from the Championship.
Far too harsh, Would people be saying the same thing if he was going to another newly promoted team in the Championship?austin111
I still think its a poor career move by Libby. You play nearly 100 Serie A games and then you go to a joke reality TV club. The thing about reality TV is that eventually the gag runs out. Wait and see how the people on the Wrexham bandwagon jump after the club spends a couple of years fighting relegation from the Championship.
I still think its a poor career move by Libby. You play nearly 100 Serie A games and then you go to a joke reality TV club. The thing about reality TV is that eventually the gag runs out. Wait and see how the people on the Wrexham bandwagon jump after the club spends a couple of years fighting relegation from the Championship.
Wrexham will make a chalenge for the top of the Championship this season, I spect they'll finish in the playoff spots. Owener determination makes a huge difference in where a club finishes, Reynolds and co want EPL, and they wont stop until they get there. If Lbby sees iout his contract then he'll be in the EPL within 3 years.
Far too harsh, Would people be saying the same thing if he was going to another newly promoted team in the Championship?austin111
I still think its a poor career move by Libby. You play nearly 100 Serie A games and then you go to a joke reality TV club. The thing about reality TV is that eventually the gag runs out. Wait and see how the people on the Wrexham bandwagon jump after the club spends a couple of years fighting relegation from the Championship.
If he went to one of the other teams that got promoted I’d be a lot more pessimistic of the move. Wrexham right now are probably in the lower half of championship teams quality wise but the one with the most potential to become a higher tier championship team.
Its definitely a gamble for Cacace but he’ll just have to hope if they do not so well, that he’ll be a bright spot in the team and get recognized by other English teams.
2 guys check out a non league club, they don't break the bank with ridiculous signings and wages. They bring in 2 switched on businessmen with a very good game plan for club management on and off the field and pace themselves doing so.they have a target and have moved to get there without being stupid about it. There's quite few clubs that should follow their business model.
Look how many Millions Man United have wasted to finish towards the bottom of the EPL. They've spent heaps since SAF "retired" and have really gone no where. City bough themselves a couple of titles but with their financial backers, they can.If anyone has watched the reality show from day one and seen the work in progress, you will see it is a community in progress. They should be applauded for doing it the right way, not shonky way from desperate clubs.
I think this is an excellent move for Libby. He is in the spotlight to be noticed by bigger fish. The Italian League is good but not the best. The Championship is the hardest League in the world because everyone wants to get promoted to the land of milk & money. Every game is a hard game unlike the Italian League, Spanish League, German League. There is cannon fodder in each of those senior leagues.
Experience wise, this will make him a stronger player/person. He knows he will have to lift the game bar another notch. Good on him. I wish him and Wrexham all the best. They have earned it. Just don't beat QPR ;)
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
You are doing Serie A a bit of disservice. Ain't no Napoli, Milans or Juve in The Championship.
But yeah if his goal is to play in the EPL, this is a good move for him. And also don't get the Wrexham hate. Found the Netflix show a bit dull, but for sure like the whole story.
Great move Libby. You're in the limelight now with a club on the rise. A chance to shine.
Yes Wrexham has celebrity owners and a netflix series, but they are following a good plan. Not much different to other clubs with big personality owners, who know how to get things done, a la Bill Foley
In the cutting edge internet culture war perhaps Reynolds and Wrexham are getting a bit of blowback from Blake Lively v her ex-director, which was a bit of a nothing until all the right wing podcasts etc picked it up as a cultural war issue.
Heard it explained (about a month ago-so before the last week!) as now they’re in power they need some other targets than the PotUS.
It’s also a kind of Wizard of Oz curtain moment of how fake accounts and Hollywood PR works. Lively alleged with some evidence that this guy had been a bad guy on set, and he then used a PR firm to go after her reputation online.
At that point the GB News, Fox etc got involved. Last I heard the guy got his ass handed to him in a court case and it quieted down a bit. But it does potentially expose Ryan to being a bit politicised which might have hurt Wrexham? But maybe it’s her and not him and fine.
It’s a similar to, but a couple of steps below the Amber Heard/Johnny Depp trial which definitely had online PR dark arts deployed. And which you may have strong opinions about, even if you’re not exactly sure who Amber Heard is…
But yeah, maybe there’s a few steps between them and Wrexham is such a genuine thing behind the documentary it’s not affected by all that scheming and catty crap.
Just one point about Libby moving to the Championship and therefore being more exposed to Premier League clubs is completely false. Premier League scouting is so sophisticated these days that EPL clubs will have just as much info on Série A players as Championship players. The global scouting market is huge these days and there is enormous competition between clubs to secure talent from anywhere on the globe.
Still there is nothing quite like watching a player up close and live, plus the chance to have a chat to them in person.
Legend has it that Ferguson used to have the MOTM award at Old Trafford rigged, and to be given to any opposition player he was interested in signing. Including one time our very own Nellie for a post game Fergie semi interview.
Just one point about Libby moving to the Championship and therefore being more exposed to Premier League clubs is completely false. Premier League scouting is so sophisticated these days that EPL clubs will have just as much info on Série A players as Championship players. The global scouting market is huge these days and there is enormous competition between clubs to secure talent from anywhere on the globe.
I think the bigger point with this is that he can end up in the prem without even moving clubs. No clubs are on the up at a faster trajectory than Wrexham and Birmingham City, and it's entirely plausible that they could both have a premier league season within the next 3 or 4 seasons.
Still there is nothing quite like watching a player up close and live, plus the chance to have a chat to them in person.
Legend has it that Ferguson used to have the MOTM award at Old Trafford rigged, and to be given to any opposition player he was interested in signing. Including one time our very own Nellie for a post game Fergie semi interview.
sounds like a conspiracy theory given the motm award is generally given by the broadcaster not the home manager
Just one point about Libby moving to the Championship and therefore being more exposed to Premier League clubs is completely false. Premier League scouting is so sophisticated these days that EPL clubs will have just as much info on Série A players as Championship players. The global scouting market is huge these days and there is enormous competition between clubs to secure talent from anywhere on the globe.
I think the bigger point with this is that he can end up in the prem without even moving clubs. No clubs are on the up at a faster trajectory than Wrexham and Birmingham City, and it's entirely plausible that they could both have a premier league season within the next 3 or 4 seasons.
just financially it could have been a good deal (maybe also for Empoli) than offers in higher comps
But are Wrexham actually any good?. After results losing to Sydney and Wellington Academy teams. You sure they aren't going to be fighting a relegation battle in the Championship ? Is there a possibility Libby will end up in L1 next year.
Still there is nothing quite like watching a player up close and live, plus the chance to have a chat to them in person.
Legend has it that Ferguson used to have the MOTM award at Old Trafford rigged, and to be given to any opposition player he was interested in signing. Including one time our very own Nellie for a post game Fergie semi interview.
sounds like a conspiracy theory given the motm award is generally given by the broadcaster not the home manager
Don't under estimate the power of Ferguson at Old Trafford at the time. It may yes have been an Opposition Player of the Day Award, or something a bit different to MOTM.
I can't find it online, but was definitely a story Nellie told about a Blackburn game there, him getting an award as basically cover, to then get ushered into a meeting with Fergie who was interested to suss out the AWs captain face to face. All quite intimidating apparently.
But are Wrexham actually any good?. After results losing to Sydney and Wellington Academy teams. You sure they aren't going to be fighting a relegation battle in the Championship ? Is there a possibility Libby will end up in L1 next year.
Nobody is seriously thinking that they'll automatically go up - it's possible but clearly the championship is harder than what they've been through so far. But most bookies have them at 8th-ish favourite, so on the cusp of the playoffs. There also seems to be relative consensus among those paying attention that the owners appear serious and committed to the project long term.
Regarding Cacace specifically, I'd be shocked if his contract didn't include some sort of release or contingency for if they get relegated. For what it's worth though I personally agree with the post above that it's possible they'll be in the Prem before the end of his 3 year contract.
And who cares about preseason results. Last year Liverpool lost to Preston North End in their first preseason game and now they're champions. The results are largely irrelevant.
