Romantic on the Field

Chapter 74

74.

“Did you read this article?”

Stoke City power analysis room, manager Milo Conrad held up his cell phone.

[Jamie Lee scored 1 goal and 1 assist against Chelsea FC, another ‘one-man show’ ]

[Stoke City needs to get away from the ‘one-man team’ to survive in the Premier League]

“It is an article with a nuance that Jamie is doing too well alone. A column, to be exact. It is very long.”

It’s a very long sentence. At the last words, the power analysts and coaches laughed lowly.

It’s something I’ve been hearing over and over in recent months, or rather since Jamie re-joined Stoke City. No one, at least not among them, would overreact.

“It’s kind of funny, but I don’t think they’re wrong. What do you guys think?”

“Mmm, I agree.”

Head coach Nick Powell was the first to respond, and here and there there were nods or words of sympathy.

“Especially considering the FA Cup semi-finals last season.”

By FA Cup semi-final, I was referring to Manchester City.

Stoke City had already beaten Manchester City in the League Cup final. However, when Manchester City sent out their full starters, except for Jamie, they failed to attack properly and were defeated miserably.

“If the goal is simply to ‘remain’, it may be fine as it is now. No, if you look at it coldly, you can say that it has been very successful even if it goes like this. Direct promotion from the third division to the Premier League, and didn’t you catch Chelsea right away in the first game of promotion?”

This time, no one agreed right away. It was because he had an intuition that Milo would immediately continue.

“But… I don’t think anyone here aims to ‘maintain the status quo’. Above all, if you rely too much on one Jamie in the current situation, that Jamie will spread. The same goes for Messi or Holland. We need a player to ease the pressure on him, a tactic to ease the pressure on him.”

Indeed, he continued talking as if he hadn’t waited for an answer.

“Isn’t it?”

“you’re right.”

“I agree.”

“thank you. This is why I pushed for the signing of Damien Manible. At least when it comes to offense, we need a lot more options than we do now.”

The staff nodded again and agreed.

“great. Then a new plan…, no. Let’s try to come up with a plan B.”

if u see this you eather reading in epub or from somewhere other than noble so just bear with it it may break the flow but nothing can be done sigh

Milo grinned at their reaction.

A few days later, at the training ground.

“span!”

if u see this you eather reading in epub or from somewhere other than noble so just bear with it it may break the flow but nothing can be done sigh

Manager Milo raised his palms and exclaimed.

“It was only about an inch short.”

They were training new tactics in preparation for the upcoming match against Aston Villa.

“Heading is also heading, but the timing of the jump is also important. Now, let’s go one more time!”

It was already the 20th attempt, so the squad – especially Damien Manible – were pretty tired, but no one showed it.

Two-woong.

Again, Kaneshiro Kei-KK crosses from a distance, and Damian competes with Mutombo for the ball in the air.

The result is Mutombo’s victory.

If it was natural, it was a natural result.

But Damien’s real purpose was not to win balls in the air.

Of course, it would be a great achievement if Damien even won an aerial ball against Mutombo, but that was an area that was hardly expected in the first place.

“lee!”

Rather, the key was to help the teammate catch the second ball by preventing the opposing central defender from making a perfect header as much as possible.

In fact, due to Damien’s constant struggle, Mutombo was unable to send the ball where he wanted, and it was connected to Jamie.

Jamie stepped back as if he was going to shoot, then stabbed a through pass to Robin as he turned around.

squash.

Robin scored the goal neatly.

“like! That’s all for today. Thank you all for your hard work.”

In the end, Milo declared the end of training only after confirming the picture he wanted with his own eyes one more time.

“Oh, the coach changed and the training got really tough.”

Before moving on to personal training, Brian complained, not complained.

“Uh, Director?”

“Ugh?”

“It’s a joke.”

“…”

Jamie put Brian’s complaints to rest with a prank.

“KK.”

“Yes, Jamie.”

He then turned to KK, who had recently joined the Stoke City Personal Training Group.

“Is it worth adapting to the team?”

It was a question I asked after feeling a sense of responsibility as a vice-captain.

“Wow, Jamie. You really have no sense.”

At that time, Robin laughed and walked away.

“Well?”

“That kind of question should be asked when the two of you are together. We are all listening now.”

As he said, Brian, Harry, Mario, and even Mutombo, who were not regular members, were listening to their conversation.

“Then, let’s move around for a while…”

“Uh, saying that makes KK burdensome.”

‘No, what are you saying?’

Jamie felt unfair, but at the same time thought that there was some truth in Robin’s words. Even if he was KK, he thought that the current situation would be very burdensome and uncomfortable.

“Well, then…”

“Ha ha ha ha ha. You’re adapting well. Thanks for caring, Lee.”

Fortunately, the good-natured KK responded with a smile so that Jamie would not be embarrassed.

“Um, that’s good. Anything to ask?”

“I’ll ask… I don’t think there is anything right now.”

“If you have any questions later, don’t be afraid to ask. If you want to ask anything about the team, you can ask the captain, Oliver, or me, or Robin here.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Have you talked to your classmate?”

“Motivation?”

“I mean Damian.”

Damian Manable. A player who transferred at about the same time as KK.

“ah. No, not yet.”

‘Well, it’s still the same.’

Damien showed a different look against Chelsea than when he was playing for Coventry. I moved more aggressively and passed to my teammates.

However, outside the arena, he still continued to behave like a single-minded general or a patient with a prince’s disease.

‘Yeah, what. All it takes is for a soccer player to be good at soccer.’

Jamie tried to ignore it. It would be nice if I could integrate into the team, but it didn’t matter too much. In my past life, I was like that too, but it didn’t become a negative for the team.

“A lot of people ask me about soccer. You can ask Robin here for attacking moves, and ask Mario or Mutombo for advice on defense.”

“Well? Can’t we just ask Jamie?”

“That’s a bit troublesome. I’m a natural case, so my advice won’t help you much.”

“Ha ha ha ha ha.”

“That guy is still the same.”

KK laughed, and Harry, who was next to him, shook his head.

“But why is the coach training a two-top all of a sudden?”

Brian overheard their conversation.

“Did you spill the director’s words in one ear? They say the opposing goalkeeper is so good at it that he prepares for it.”

Robin immediately reprimanded him.

Aston Villa goalkeeper is Sammy Carter, a player who showed a truly magical save in the third round of the FA Cup last season.

“No, I know that, but last time we won without using two tops.”

“That’s a different story because Jamie barely won while doing a live show alone.”

“A live show.”

Jamie protested, frowning. These are the ones who struggled and won.

“Jay can do a live show again.”

“In the Premier League, relying too much on one player is like gambling, if not in the championship. To be precise, thinking of only one move and hoping that only one move would be more like gambling. As a manager, you need to prepare several plans to increase your chances of winning.”

Should I say it’s fortunate or should I say it’s natural? Robin, who would later manage a Premier League team, gave a pretty accurate answer.

“Then, the key to the Aston Villa match is not Jay, but Damien?”

“···Well. Brian, in case you forgot, I’m also a striker. I will go out as a two-top with Damia.”

“Ah, that’s right. Then neither of them would be the main characters.”

“Why?”

“Because there is usually only one protagonist.”

Brian’s head turned.

“Then, is KK the key to Aston Villa?”

“hahahaha······.”

KK let out an awkward laugh.

Of course not.

A few days later, at Bet 777 Stadium, where Aston Villa will be playing.

In the beginning, as Brian said, the attack centered on KK.

[ Kaneshiro Kei, uploading again! ]

[Damien. Damian Manibel… ]

[This time, I shoot myself! ah! It’s a waste. Damian Manibel’s shot misses by a span! ]

In the 15th minute of the first half, Damian’s header, which received a cross from KK, unfortunately landed over the post.

[Kaneshiro Kei, one more cross… ]

[Damien Manible! ]

[This time, drop it to Robin Price. Robin, do you hit right away? ]

In the 27th minute of the first half, Robin gets a decisive chance.

The distance to the goal was close, and goalkeeper Sammy Carter was caught in a slight reverse action.

So, the moment Robin shot, everyone present felt the goal.

[This is a great save. Sammy Carter! ]

[Oh, what a waste! ]

But this time, Sammy Carter blocked Robin’s shot nicely.

“Whoa-ooh.”

The Stoke City home fans who watched the scene, and the staff sitting on the bench all covered their heads with both hands. Because I thought I was going to go in.

The same goes for head coach Mayla and head coach Nick.

“…It’s definitely blocking it well.”

“That’s right. Still, wouldn’t it be possible to show that kind of save throughout the game?”

That was the beginning of Sammy Carter’s save show.

[Damien Manibel, shot······. ]

[ Ahh! Sammy Carter! Show off a great show! ]

[ Awesome! It was at the level of getting what went in! ]

35 minutes, 40 minutes, until the last save right before the end. Sammy Carter blocked a total of four decisive shots in the first half alone.

Among them was Jamie’s shooting.

“Director. Shall we raise Jamie a little more?”

“Ummm…”

At head coach Nick’s question, Milo thought for a moment.

“Let’s go like this until the 20th minute of the second half. If you knock, it will open.”

For now, we decided to face the second half without changing tactics or replacing players. It was because the flow was good even if it didn’t produce results.

[Damien Manibel, win the aerial ball again! ]

[Robin Price goes straight to shooting! ]

[ It’s Sammy Carter who blocks again! I can’t believe it! ]

[hahahahaha, I’m about to laugh out loud now. ]

“Knock on it and it will open.”

[Jamie Lee, surprise shooting! ]

[ Block again! ]

“Knock on it and it will open.”

[ KK’s cross… ]

[Damien Manibel, this time drop the ball backwards. ]

[ Jamie Lee, direct shooting! ]

[Awesome. I can’t believe it. Now, no matter how many expressions I use, it feels like it’s not enough. Sammy Carter saves another crucial shot! ]