96.
In America, families rise and fall. – Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter
**
It was a novel I read a long time ago, so I don’t remember exactly what it was about, but strangely enough, I remembered that sentence clearly.
‘Beng rises and falls in Stoke City.’
And Jamie came up with the above sentence, thinking of Ben’s performance over the past few days.
After the FA Cup match against Chelsea, Stoke City played three league matches.
Among them, the match against Aston Villa was only three days after the match against Chelsea. So, while half of the starting list was either a reserve or a rotation member, only Benn came out as a starter. With Jamie on the bench, he was singled out as the player to carry the ball.
Unfortunately, Ben’s condition was the worst, and he only repeated turnovers throughout the game. Eric, who played in place of Vincent Herrero-Sancho, made a series of mistakes and was buried because he contributed two goals, but could not avoid being substituted out.
In the end, Jamie, who was put in instead, scored a goal to make up for one point. However, the result could not be overturned due to the godly save of Aston Villa’s main goalkeeper Sammy Carter. It was a very painful defeat for Stoke City considering that Manchester City, who are competing for the championship, won on the same day.
[ Jorge Benjor takes Jamie’s pass again. ]
[ Beng! great! Break through again! ]
[Beng, are you going to do it yourself again? ]
[ Ah, pass on Jamie Lee. ]
[Gooool! Goal! Jamie Lee scores an extra goal! ]
Fortunately, in the ensuing match against Fulham, Ben performed exceptionally – and it was only possible because he did what Jamie told him to do, but he helped the team win.
[ Ned Keating opens wide to the other side. ]
[ Jorge Benjor catches the ball. ]
[Are you trying to break through? hesitantly hesitantly… ]
[Ah, I get lost again. ]
Then, before Leicester City, it was worth shoveling again before replacing it.
[ Jamie Lee·······. ]
[I’m in! After all, it is Jamie Lee who produces results alone! ]
Fortunately, Jamie grabbed the team by the collar and brought them victory.
And today, the locker room before the league game against one of the favorites, Liverpool.
“Damien Manibel up front, Jamie Lee underneath, and Robin Price on the right wing.”
Ben was left out of the starting list.
‘It’s worth it.’
Jamie thought to himself.
Ben’s performance has been inconsistent in recent days.
Besides, today’s opponent is Liverpool FC.
It’s already been a long time since I’ve been in the early league, but then Stoke City was pushed throughout the game, but I barely won the victory due to the departure of the opponent’s defensive midfielder and the lack of skills of the attacker.
If Ben was put up as a starter, it would be embarrassing if he showed the worst appearance like the last match against Aston Villa, so it was a natural decision from the point of view of coach Milo.
“And…, Sancho will play at fullback on the left.”
Well? Jamie couldn’t help but flinch.
Demonstrating superhuman endurance, he did not turn his gaze to Keating. However, I was quite shocked.
‘Ned Keating not selected?’
Vincent Herrero-Sancho is originally a fullback player. It was no surprise that he played at fullback, considering the fact that he spent the last few days training in the fullback position on the training ground.
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
Moreover, considering Jamie’s appearance today as a third-line midfielder rather than a second-line, the fact that there would be a change in the overall starting lineup was predictable enough. Perhaps it was to make up for the loss of share in the last game.
However, it was quite surprising that the player who was left out of the starting list was Keating. After being recruited, Keating was a player who had never been excluded from the starting list, except for the dimension of physical fitness.
“Harry Harris and Pietro Mutombo play at centre-back and KK at right-back.”
Either way, Milo introduced the starting lineup with a calm expression.
“After losing against Aston Villa last time, we switched positions with Manchester City. I don’t want to put pressure on you by saying that you must win. However, if we do not win today, we may remain as the runners-up with the highest points in Premier League history.”
Then Milo’s words had quite a bit of truth.
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
Manchester City was recording a ridiculously good performance as much as Stoke City.
Whichever team wins, the runner-up team has a good chance of remaining the team with the most points among all-time runners-up.
“Did you hear what the director said?”
Right before the start, captain Oliver looked around the squad and said,
“A vague title is fatal. The runner-up team with the most points? How many of them will make fun of us. is not it?”
The players nodded. If I’m going to finish runner-up, I’d rather be runner-up. Some players thought so.
“If you catch Liverpool today, all you have left is Manchester City. Let’s focus properly and create results. Stoke.”
“Stoke, stoke!”
**
Stoke City’s three lines today were Jamie, Ralph and Mario.
However, the missions assigned to each of the three lines were different.
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
Mario is a halfback who protects the four-back right in front of the central defender, Ralph is a box-to-box player who breathes life into the team based on his vigorous stamina and activity, and Jamie is a deep player who coordinates the team’s attack as a whole and occasionally stabs a decisive pass. He served as the lying playmaker.
‘It must be the intention to increase the share.’
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 didn’t just drop Jamie to the third line, he replaced Keating with Sancho as a fullback.
If Keating was a player whose strengths were explosive speed and overlapping, Sancho was a player whose strengths were excellent defense, an eye for the game, and accurate long passes.
KK, who played as a fullback on the other side, is also a player with a wide field of view and accurate kicks.
In other words, it is to promote smooth development of the pass while placing three players with good vision and passing in the back.
‘Not bad.’
And in the 40th minute of the first half, Jamie had to admit that Milo’s choice was a very good one. Unlike the last Liverpool match, it was because the possession was almost 5 to 5. Of course, excluding Keating from the selection was still a shock.
However, simply having a good passing player in the back did not make it possible to develop smooth passes and secure possession.
“Damien! Come down and take it!”
For example, Damien, who played as a frontline striker, sometimes comes down to the midfield to receive the ball.
“Robin! go up!”
This was possible because Robin, who played as a right winger, moved up to the top position to lure defenders, and changed the attacking formation, such as Jamie filling the spot.
Although they suffered a few crises due to Liverpool’s aggressive forward pressure, Colin Weaver, who played as a one-top player, blew away every opportunity, so it did not lead to a goal.
‘What did they do without recruiting Pavel?’
Jamie glanced at the away team’s bench.
Pavel is a striker for West Ham United.
He is famous as a journeyman – a player who frequently changes teams – and he knew that his contract period was running out.
That’s why there was a strong link with Liverpool, which desperately needs a clear striker, but somehow Liverpool didn’t sign Pavel during the transfer window this winter. Maybe I tried, but I didn’t know that the negotiations had failed.
Beep-big.
Conversely, Stoke City also had several good chances but were unable to score, and the first half ended 0-0.
“Jay, how are you?”
Entering the locker room, Milo first asked for Jamie’s opinion.
“Did you have any difficulties playing the game?”
“Yes, what.”
“Attack?”
“Not bad.”
“like. The second half goes the same way. Instead, if a goal is not scored until the 20th minute in the second half, Jay will move up to the second line.”
He then ended the locker room conversation by explaining some strategies he could try in the second half.
‘Are you planning not to include Keating?’
Jamie couldn’t stand it this time and glanced at Keating.
Fortunately, he seemed quite calm.
The second half started, and Jamie played in a slightly elevated position, even though there was no instruction from the manager yet. At the same time as the start, Robin showed a fierce movement, because it was a waste to just go over it.
And in the 10th minute of the second half, Jamie, who beat the opposing defensive midfielder (the player who had been sent off last time) in the right half space, stabbed a through pass toward the penetrating Robin.
Robin received the pass well from a good position, but a nearby defender immediately covered it. Lacking ability to break through, he had no choice but to turn slightly to the right, which narrowed his shooting angle.
In the end, Robin, having no choice, crosses to Damien in the center instead of shooting.
[ Ahhh! ]
Stoke home fans groaned as the cross was blocked by the goalkeeper.
“Jay!”
The result was disappointing, but with this attack, the Stoke bench seemed to have decided it was time to keep pushing. 10 minutes ahead of schedule, I ordered Jamie to step up to the second line and play.
And that judgment led to valid results.
In the 15th minute of the second half, Ralph, who received Sancho’s long pass, passed it to Jamie without delay. Jamie, who received the ball from a higher place, moved diagonally to the right, and Robin penetrated into the center of the penalty box.
A situation with Jamie outside the penalty box and two Stoke City players inside the penalty box.
The Liverpool defense looked very flustered as it had never come out in the first half.
‘Who should I stop?’
Their thoughts were clearly visible on their faces.
‘Now.’
Unfortunately for the Liverpool defense, Jamie didn’t give them time to think.
to-tuk. After passing the fullback with a flip flap, he turned and moved to the center. The move created a situation where three attackers were in the penalty box in an instant.
The defensive midfielder immediately covered, but it was not a very meaningful action. It was because Jamie fired right away.
The shot luckily hit the defender’s body, changed its path at the last minute, and flew to a place where the goalkeeper couldn’t even touch.
The result is Gol.
[ eee-YeeeA! ]
The Stoke home fans on the other side all stood up from their seats and cheered.
“You madman!”
“Crazy Jamie!”
Stoke players came running excitedly.
“Even now, the top scorer is almost confirmed. Take it easy! hahahaha.”
“Is it a goal as soon as you come up in the second line?”
“If I had played in the second line from the start, I would have scored three goals.”
The last thing Brian said. However, even if he did, the chances of actually scoring three goals were slim, Jamie thought. It was because the Liverpool defense could not respond properly because it came up by surprise after adjusting in the 3rd line throughout the first half.
“Jay!”
The Stoke bench seemed to have a similar idea, and as soon as he scored a goal, he immediately brought Jamie back to the third line.
This decision also led to good results.
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Liverpool pressed Stoke more aggressively by moving up the line for the equaliser, which allowed more space behind them.
“Jay!”
Jamie, who played in the 3rd line, was able to be relatively free from pressure, so he actively stabbed Brian and Robin with space passes.
In the 24th minute of the second half, Robin’s shot was unfortunately blocked by the goalkeeper.
And in the 42nd minute of the second half, Brian, who received Jamie’s pass, scored an additional goal.
Afterwards, Liverpool had several more chances but were unable to score, and the game ended in a 2-0 Stoke City victory.
“Reclaim first place!”
“hahahahaha! Let’s go direct championship to direct promotion!”
In the locker room after the game, the players were excited and enjoyed the joy of victory.
Except for two people.
“…”
One was Keating, sitting in a chair with an ambiguous smile, and the other was Jamie watching him.
‘Should I comfort you?’
Is it right to comfort the team while it is winning? Jamie said Gingaminga.
