Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , former Premier League manager Iain Dowie offers his insight into whether the Wrexham project can continue to grow in the Championship.
Dowie has also praised Phil Parkinson for his work with Wrexham and argues that he deserves a statue at the club. He also heaped significant praise on young Southampton winger, saying his playing style is reminiscent of George Best.
The former striker has also spoken about which club should look to work with Luke Littler and what to expect from Huddersfield and Plymouth this season.
Championship Talent
Dibling Plays Like George Best
I like Tyler Dibling; he takes people on, he’s clever, he has a good size, he seems unfazed. He is nowhere near this level yet, but he reminds me of George Best when he goes past people.
It looks effortless, he’s got pace and is very talented. In my view, it would be a really good piece of business for Aston Villa. I think the worrying thing for Southampton is how it impacts them if he goes out the door.
If he leaves, I think it does change things, it’s such a high level now from the Premier League right down to League Two, and I think Southampton need to keep hold of Dibling. Will they keep hold of him? I don’t think they will.
The Best In the Football League
Jon Walters is a figurehead there and is a very sensible man; he has done everything he has needed to do so far. Mark Robins has come in and how he lost his job at Coventry City, I don’t know, although Frank Lampard has done really well, but Robins' leaving was bizarre to me.
You’ve got to let them get on with it now. He has done very well at what he does. I like Divin Mubama as a player. I think he is bright and a handful.
I think the signing of Aaron Cresswell is clever; there has been a big clear-out as well. In Mark Robins, I don’t think you can say there has been a better manager in the Football League in recent years, with Kieran McKenna up there too.
What Mark Robins has done has been phenomenal; he needs to be allowed to get on with it now as he sees fit, and he will do a fantastic job.
Wrexham
Top Half Finish For Wrexham
I love Phil Parkinson; he is a brilliant manager, and I have a lot of respect for him. He needed to get more bodies in and has been linked with Christian Eriksen, Kieffer Moore, Danny Ings, Stuart Armstrong and Lewis O'Brien, has joined.
Josh Windass is going to get 10 goals, Ryan Hardie is going to get you goals, they have done good business, and it shows they are prepared to go out and get these signings. They are redeveloping the ground, and it’s a really exciting place to be. They've got real support; they've got a brilliant manager.
I think this is a bit of a level jump. Just because there is money there, I think there's a big jump from League One to the Championship, and so the other way too now. All of them are significant jumps more than in my day, but if anyone can do it, they can do it. I love the way the club has been run. Seeing them really engaging with the fans.
It's a very modern way about it. I think they will be somewhere in the top half, and I think they could easily be much higher than that.
Wrexham Top Half Finish @ 8/13
Parkinson Deserves A Wrexham Statue
That statue's got to be there, there's no doubt. There might even be a big statue with a smile on his face. Phil's a great lad, what he's achieved there is very special.
He's got some really good staff behind him. If he gets promoted again, my God, that is a job of unbelievable proportions. Everyone's talking about it. He has had money, but he's done a different level job and been very clever.
Paul Mullins has been at the heart of that and has gone to Wigan on loan, a brilliant acquisition that is for Wigan. But my view is, wow, what a job he's done, Phil Parkinson.
Wrexham Promotion Would Be A Miracle
I think it's a matter of time before Wrexham are challenging. I think they really will be up there challenging. You look at the club and look at even some of the teams that are in the Championship, I think it's harder ever to get out of this league.
Having said that, Wrexham have the fan base, they have the backing, it takes a very clever management, but they've got a very clever manager. There’s no doubt they will be challenging, and there is every chance they can challenge this year, but Phil Parkinson would be very happy, I think, with 10th and above.
Promotion would be a miracle achievement, really; he probably wants a little bit more than that, and that might happen.
Championship Physicality: A Different Beast
Christian Eriksen still has the quality, whether his legs are still there is a different thing.
My view is when you get to these and players play on like Ashley Young and Cristiano Ronaldo, it’s amazing. What I will say is that the Championship is 25% more physical than the Premier League, that is just the nature of it.
Players aren’t as quick. In the Premier League, you can’t get near them. Can Christian handle that? I think Christian would give them a spark with a floating role; he understands the game really well, and no one is better than Phil Parkinson to get it to work.
Littler And Wrexham Crossover
Can you believe that Luke Littler, at his age, is so good at what he does? He would be a brilliant ambassador for Wrexham. What he has done is amazing. Luke Littler giving advice to Wrexham would probably propel them to the Premier League! We talk about young footballers coming through, and Littler is younger than all of them.
His mindset is beyond belief; he is the best player in the world alongside Luke Humphries, and his mindset is beyond belief; he has a mathematical brain too. He has a sharp mind, and to see him in a partnership with Wrexham would be great.
Huddersfield
Can Huddersfield Bounce Back?
There have been big ins and outs at Huddersfield. I think Alfie May is a great signing. He has scored a bucketload of goals in that division, and for a million quid, that is brilliant. I think they've done well. They have Marcus Harness, Ryan Ledson, Lynden Gooch, prospects like Sean Roughan and Owen Goodman – I like what they're doing.
Lee Grant has served his time. He's been a great goalkeeper. I like their chances in League One, I've got to say.
Huddersfield To Win League 1 @ 9/2
Plymouth
Plymouth In Free Fall?
I think it was difficult to see Tom Cleverley losing his job at Watford. Miron Muslic had done a good job in turning things around last season, but didn’t quite stay up. I love that Wayne Rooney keeps going and getting jobs because he loves the game so much. Muslic was a big loss to Schalke, it shows you what a good job he did.
I think they've lost too many players. You look at Ryan Hardie, Mustapha Bundu, Adam Randell and Maksym Talovierov; they need incoming deals desperately. I just worry about getting bodies in the building. If Tom Cleverley brings them back, and I really hope he does because I like Tom, they need some bodies in the building.
You can't keep people going out and expect to go up.
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