TWO years ago, almost to the day, Lee Trundle walked into the Racecourse. It has been a rollercoaster ride ever since.
It was on 16 February 2001 that Brian Flynn sealed the deal that brought the Liverpudlian to Wrexham. In 24 months he has scored 25 goals in 86 appearances for the Reds, but to make sense of these figures they need breaking down and interpreting.
In 2000-1, he scored eight goals in 15 games at an astonishing average of 0.57 per fixture. Thereafter, however, his strike-rate took a nosedive. In 2001-2, he netted 10 in 38 matches (0.26), and this year he has managed to find the back of the net only seven times in 33 appearances (0.21).
One goal every five games is not really good enough for an out-and-out attacker. Add to this a dodgy disciplinary record - 13 yellow cards and a pair of reds over the past two seasons - and there is no disputing the fact that Trundle's star has been on the wane for a while.
He has gone from superman to journeyman in the space of a couple of years, and it is interesting to consider the reasons why.
It must be said, first, that he is not the first striker to burst onto the scene in a blaze of glory, and then struggle badly. Just like a pop band who go to no.1 with their first single and then flop, Trundle has found it hard going in the two seasons following his breakthrough year.
He displayed superhuman qualities in his first few games for the Dragons; since that time he has looked decidedly ordinary.
Second, many fans feel that he has been 'sussed out' by opposition sides.
Experience has taught defenders what his strengths and weaknesses are - and this has seriously blunted his effectiveness.
Third, it has got to be said that the Reds no.9 is slightly one-dimensional as a player: one-footed, lacking in pace and a guy who rarely troubles central defenders in the air. He's clever, and can sometimes be explosive, but he's not what you would call an "all-round centre-forward".
Finally, I feel he's a little predictable - and perhaps even a little selfish. He always does the same things on the edge of the box, and it could be argued that he lacks variety in his play. His repertoire of magical ball tricks is extensive but sometimes, I'm afraid, he behaves more like a performing seal than a footballer.
Trundle did himself no favours by stalling on a new contract before Christmas, and by moaning when he was left out of the side recently. But having said all this, I still feel he's good value in the third division. He always looks and sounds pumped up, and I love the way he shakes hands with each of his teammates prior to kick-off in every game he plays.
It would be very sad if he left the club in the summer.
