opening a balotelli

Chapter 8 Speed's Choice
After returning to Sheffield from Wales on vacation, Speed ​​immediately convened his coaching team at the training base and held a working meeting.

In addition to the players who reported to the national team in the past few days, the players who had no international competitions also returned to the Haruner training base to start training.

Speed ​​focused on understanding the training situation of Li Mo and Harry Maguire, and the assistant coach in charge of training produced a report.

"The tacit understanding between the two of them is very good. Just like what the youth training coach proposed before, we have tried to put Li Mo in the guard position to partner with Harry in the past few days. Our strikers have suffered a lot and Harry has improved a lot and I think it's time for him to move into the first team."

While flipping through the training report, Speed ​​was thinking about the assistant coach's proposal.

Of course, Speed ​​highly values ​​Harry Maguire, a young man who was born in Sheffield. When he returned to the team's youth training camp, Speed ​​went to watch his youth team play.

His technique is very good, and his physical fitness is also very good. Except for some inflexibility, there are almost no major shortcomings. It is just more than a year since he changed to play in the midfield. Habit.

It's a pity that what he lacks now is time. If he doesn't do major surgery on the team, let alone surpass this season, let's think about how to avoid relegation. Oh, it seems that the team is already on the verge of relegation.
"It's difficult. What do you think on the offensive end? Which striker should I choose to partner with Li?"

Speed ​​rubbed his temples and looked at the assistant coach.

The current situation of the team forces him to make a choice. On the offensive end, Speed ​​has decided to push Li Mo to the main position, and then choose one of the remaining 4 forwards to partner with Li Mo.

Anyway, none of the four forwards is good at scoring goals.It is better to choose a tactical striker who can carry people and play the ball, so that Li Mo has a better chance to score goals.

"Cresswell is still too old, and now his confrontation ability and physical fitness have declined seriously. Bogdanovic can play an offensive midfielder behind him. Let Chade and Lee partner."

The full name of Chade mentioned by the assistant coach is Chade Evans. In 09, the club spent more than 300 million euros to sign him from Manchester City.

Last season, Ched Evans only scored 4 goals. In 19 games this season, he scored 3 goals. His performance was a little better than last season, but it was still very average.

However, he is only 22 years old, and his confrontation ability is relatively good. He can also do other things like shooting and making the ball. He belongs to everything, but he is not the kind that is outstanding.

Sheffield United's current finances are not good, and Speed ​​estimates that Dong Chuang will not be able to buy people, so use what you can.

"Then today let Li Mo and Chade get to know each other better and practice offensive tactics. What do you think on the defensive end?"

Several assistant coaches looked at each other, and finally suggested to Speed: "We can only play Harry, and play three central defenders instead. Our two wing defenses are very bad. After Northworthy's age, he is not as fast as playing on the wing. In the past, he played as a central defender in the Premier League before, and he also has rich experience. Let him play the right central defender, Harry play the left central defender, Morgan plays the central defender, and then put Matthew Lorton on the wing."

Speed's eyes lit up when he heard the words. He had been worrying about the serious problem of the team's back line defense before, and the players were old and young. Now that the assistant coach said so, he thinks it's really okay to play three central defenders.

After Northworthy switched to playing central defender, he would definitely help Chris Morgan more than the young Matthew Lowton, and Matthew Lowton, who originally played central defender, could return to the right back position he played in the youth academy before. superior.

Speaking of it, the young man Matthew Lorton is also very interesting. He was loaned to the Hungarian League by Sheffield United for a year to practice. After returning, the team intends to reuse him. He played in the first game of this season. Chance.

Unexpectedly, this guy went up and stayed for less than half the time, he was sent off for eating a ruby ​​card, and then he was directly put on the substitute list by the coach. If it wasn't for Speed ​​who took over the team later, this guy might It was sold immediately.

Speed ​​is willing to give young players a chance, and he also played Matthew Lorton many times later. This kid is young, has good physical strength, and is not afraid of confrontation, but his height is not enough, just 1.8 meters.

With this height, it is okay to fight against ordinary forwards, but it is not enough to meet big centers, and because he is too young, he always looks a little frizzy, and sometimes he likes to attack forward, which makes Speed ​​a big headache.

But if Matthew Lorton and Nosworthy are switched positions, it seems that the entire defensive situation comes alive at once.

If he plays on the wing, Matthew Lorton's physical fitness is at the crushing level, and he can run, and he will not suffer at all against the winger. 442 changes to 352, let him rush casually on the side.

"good idea!"

Speed ​​felt that the formation of the entire team had formed a three-dimensional map in his mind, and he began to think about candidates for other positions, and the problems that troubled him before seemed to be solved all at once.

"Temporarily let Andy Taylor play on the left side, and then see if we can choose someone from the center to fill this position. In the midfield, Montgomery and Stephen will be delayed."

Speed ​​said quickly, and finally thought for a while, and continued: "Let Jamie Ward play a false No. 9 position behind Lee. He has no effect as a wide midfielder. Let him return to the center. That way Once we do this, we can make full use of Li's characteristics!"

Ched Evans is at the front to do the dirty work, and Li Mo can take the ball in the frontcourt and can do it alone, or, like the previous game, he can pass the ball to the wide player behind him and after the defense line is involved Jamie Ward.

In this way, when attacking, there are at least two groups, Ched Evans and Li Mo are the first group, and Li Mo himself and the wing players or midfielders inserted in the wing form the second group. group.

The level of offense was immediately highlighted.

Speed ​​is a vigorous and decisive person, and he did what he said, and immediately drew a tactical map with the assistant coaches in the office.

"The only thing that is uncertain now is whether Harry can support the defensive system with the other two veteran players. Or, in the next game, we will not move to the defense and give Harry a few substitute games to see the effect?"

The older one among the assistant coaches is still a little hesitant. After all, changes to the defense line can most affect the stability of the team.

But Speed ​​shook his head, and said firmly: "The result will not be bad anymore. In the last game, I trusted Li, and everyone has seen the effect. At this time, don't we dare to gamble again? "

Speed ​​put down his pen and walked to the window. At this time, Harry Maguire on the training ground was completing a wonderful frontal defense. After getting the ball, he took two steps and sent a long pass, topping the goal Li Mo in front easily received the ball and sent a single shot to his teammate with his heel.

"Such a young combination, why don't we believe in them? They will give us hope."

Speed ​​smiled and said that he himself is only 41 years old, a young coach meets two young talents, his choice is very simple, isn't it?

(End of this chapter)