Volume 1: Playing football with me will break your legs Chapter 29 How old are you?
One of the disadvantages of a dense schedule is that a team can never field its strongest lineup.
A game is played every three days, which includes time for traveling to and from away games and adjusting to the team's condition. In fact, it also greatly reduces the time for the team to adapt.
The new Wimbledon first team has a total of 23 players, 9 of whom are new players joining in the summer, and 2 have just been promoted to the first team from the youth training camp. They originally needed a lot of time to run in the lineup and adapt to the tactics.
But just one month into the new season, they played 7 games non-stop, 5 players were injured and 1 defender was suspended for 3 games due to a red card. It can be said that except for the goalkeeper position, which is relatively well-staffed, other positions are short of manpower.
Looking at the densely packed schedule, Adre finally made up his mind and made the most correct choice:
"The focus of this season should still be on the league. Other cup competitions... can be abandoned!"
Cox immediately agreed:
"Let's let the youngsters get some exercise for tomorrow's British Championship!"
…
September 2nd.
The English League Championship has officially begun.
Wimbledon welcomes their first round opponent, Southend United.
As a League Two team, Southend United has only gained 7 points after 5 rounds, ranking 15th among 24 teams. Although it is not in immediate danger of relegation, for Southend United, which ranked 5th last season and was only one step away from promotion, such a start is definitely not a satisfactory one.
Therefore, for the British Championship, which is a waste of time and has a pitifully small prize money, Southend United also sent a second team consisting of substitutes and youth training players to participate.
In the third round of the league, the main players of both sides had already met once, and Wimbledon easily won 2:0 away from home. This time it was the home court of the Wimbledon team, and they naturally had a greater advantage.
The 35-year-old veteran Andy Frampton opened the scoring in the 7th minute, and the game entered the rhythm of the Crazy Gang from then on.
Li Polo scored a header from a free kick in the frontcourt in injury time in the first half, helping the team to a two-goal lead.
In the second half, the visiting team, eager to equalize, formed a good offensive, but due to lack of tacit understanding, they made mistakes one after another, and the home team seized the opportunity to counterattack. Unfortunately, Li Polo's cross was too accurate. His roommate Aziz almost ran for nearly 30 meters, but still failed to catch up...
Aziz, whose legs were weak from running, punched Li Polo in the stomach in anger:
"You should practice your cross-court skills! My grandma can pass the ball more accurately than you!"
The usually aggressive Li Polo didn't dare to say anything this time, because he even received a message from his teammates in his mind:
[Negative emotions from Aziz, +2! ]
Wow, this works!
He had no choice but to beg for mercy humbly:
"Calm down, brother. I'll treat you to a big meal tonight!"
I earned over 2,000 pounds last month, so I should spend it!
…
The score of 2:0 remained until the end, and Wimbledon successfully advanced to the second round of the British Championships, but the coaching staff was not particularly happy.
In their opinion, in this kind of competition, it is better to be eliminated early in the first round.
Anyway, even if they win the championship trophy, the prize money plus the TV broadcast fee will only be around 100,000 pounds. If you include the round-trip travel expenses, food and lodging, the club might even lose money...
If players get injured due to participating in such competitions, which ultimately affects league results, then that would be missing the forest for the trees and losing the forest for the trees!
It’s better to give up!
But just a few hours later, the coaching staff was speechless.
Cox handed the freshly-released second-round draw results to the head coach.
Adley's expression was equally solemn:
"On October 7, the second round opponent of the British Championship is... Milton Keynes?"
He was so angry that he tore the schedule into pieces:
"Why the hell are they here again?!"
…
Who will be the opponent in the next round will not affect Li Polo's mood for the time being.
Because he was already having fun in the bar with several roommates.
Of course they know that professional players should stay away from tobacco and alcohol, stay away from greasy food, and go to bed early and get up early, but... who cares?
Not everyone is a pervert like Cristiano Ronaldo, who eats boiled chicken breast every day!
Players like Messi also like to have a BBQ occasionally!
Arsenal players were just exposed to be smoking and inhaling laughing gas in a nightclub!
Benzema was less than 20 years old when he started playing with national team big brother Ribery.
Ronaldinho once proudly said that he could see the scenery of Barcelona at four in the morning every day, but it did not affect his historical status!
That's enough, they are just players of a fourth-tier team, what's wrong with having a drink occasionally?
——The above are all fallacies that deceive oneself and others.
Aziz viciously tore off a slice of pizza, chewed it and criticized:
"I'm not saying anything bad about you, but if that cross you made was just a little bit more accurate, I could have shot it into the goal!"
Li Polo begged for mercy again and again:
"You've criticized me all night, can you please have a good meal?"
Another roommate, Reeves, watched the fun and even fanned the flames:
"No wonder Barry Fuller doesn't have much hostility towards you now. With your skill level, how could you possibly squeeze him to the bench?"
The fourth roommate, McDonnell, laughed:
"You better be careful, Jack. If you dare to laugh at him again, be careful that he will break your ankle during training tomorrow !"
How many true words are said in a joking way?
This is.
Li Polo also laughed, but didn't care.
Isn't the reason why he was chosen by the coaching staff because of his fierce defense, tough confrontation, and accurate prediction?
Apart from these, what else does he have to gain a foothold in this fourth-tier team?
He glanced at Reeves:
"Jack?"
Seeing his eyes, the latter couldn't help but shudder:
"It's really just a joke, a joke."
Are you kidding? Li Polo has a bad reputation. He just joined the team and he sent the vice-captain to the infirmary for more than half a month. Reeves is just a substitute midfielder, how dare he mess with this butcher?
Li Polo shook his head:
"Can I practice passing skills with you starting tomorrow?"
Reeves was stunned for a moment, then nodded quickly:
"Of course, you can practice whatever you want!"
…
Although they said they were going to spend a lot of money, the four young players only spent a week's salary on Li Polo. After all, the young players knew each other's income. In London, where every inch of land is valuable , if they really wanted to spend money freely, they would probably have to sell their bodies in nightclubs to pay off their debts...
The next morning, Lee Polo, who was no longer drunk, dragged Reeves to the training ground.
"I know you want to improve your passing skills, but there's no need to be so impatient, right?"
Reeves yawned and complained:
"You haven't received any professional youth training, so many of your technical moves are amateurish, and your body muscles have already formed habits. It would be very difficult to correct them now... Who is that? He's even ahead of us?"
Li Polo shrugged:
"Who else?"
Following his gaze, as expected, I saw Akinfenwa .
The 200-pound strong man has already started a day of warm-up training on the track.
In 1982, Akinfenwa was already 32 years old, which was considered to be the end of his career , but he was still full of energy and motivation, as if his career had just begun.
Lee Polo, born in 1994, patted Reeves, born in 1993:
"Let's go, we can't be outclassed by these old guys!"
Reeves took a breath, and there seemed to be light in his eyes:
"Since you are asking for my advice so sincerely, I will pass on all I have learned in my life to you today...Ah!"
Li Polo slapped him on the head:
"You're just a substitute, don't pretend to be like Beckham!"
