Chapter 8 Speed’s choice

After returning to Sheffield from his vacation in Wales, 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, players who did not have international competitions have 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 came up with a report.

"The two of them have a good tacit understanding. 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. I have to say that the defense line formed by the two of them makes

Our forwards have suffered a lot and Harry has made great progress. I think it’s time to move him into the first team.”

Speed ​​was flipping through the training reports and thinking about the assistant coach's proposal.

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

His skills are very good, and his physical fitness is also great. Apart from being a little inflexible, he has almost no major shortcomings. It’s only been more than a year since he switched to playing in the midfield position. He may need to sharpen himself a little more and change some of the things he used to do in attacking midfield.

Habit.

It's a pity that what he lacks now is time. If he doesn't perform major surgery on the team, let alone surpassing the league this season, he should first consider how to avoid relegation. Oh, it seems that the team is already on the verge of avoiding relegation.

"It's difficult. What do you think about the offensive end? Which forward 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 into the main position, and then choose one of the remaining four forwards to partner with Li Mo.

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

"Cresswell is still too old. Now his confrontation ability and physical fitness have declined seriously. Bogdanovic can play as an offensive midfielder behind him. Let's let Chide and Lee partner."

The assistant coach's full name is Ched Evans. In 2009, the club spent more than 3 million euros to sign him from Manchester City. He was really deceived.

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 average.

However, he is only 22 years old, and his confrontation ability is relatively good. He can also do other things such as shooting and playing with the ball. He is good at everything, but he is not outstanding.

Sheffield United's current finances are not very good, and Speed ​​estimates that they won't be able to buy anyone in the winter window, so they will just use those who can be used.

"Then let Li Mo and Chide get familiar with each other today and practice offensive tactics. What do you think about the defensive end?"

Several assistant coaches looked at each other and finally suggested to Speed: "The only option is to use Harry and play three central defenders. Our two wing defenses are very poor. As Nosworthy gets older, he is not as fast as playing on the wing."

He has played as a central defender in the Premier League before and has rich experience. Let him play as the right central defender, Harry as the left central defender, Morgan as the central defender, and then put Matthew Lowton on the wing."

Speed's eyes lit up when he heard this. Before, he had been worried about the team's defensive problems in the back line. The players were old and young. Now that the assistant coach said this, he felt that it was really okay to switch to three central defenders.

After Nosworthy switches to central defender, he will definitely be able to help Chris Morgan more than the young Matthew Lowton. Matthew Lowton, who originally played as central defender, can return to the right-back position he played in the youth academy.

superior.

Speaking of Matthew Lowton, this young man is quite interesting. He was loaned to the Hungarian League by Sheffield United for a year to train. After returning, the team planned to reuse him. He played in the first game of this season.

Chance.

Unexpectedly, this guy came up and stayed for less than half a game. He got a ruby ​​card and was sent off. Then he was directly put on the substitute list by the coach. If Speed ​​hadn't taken over the team later, this guy might have

It was sold directly.

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

With his height, he is fine against ordinary forwards, but he is a bit weak against big centers. Moreover, because he is too young, he always seems a little impatient. Sometimes he also likes to attack forward, which gives Speed ​​a big headache.

But if Matthew Lowton and Nosworthy change positions, it seems that the entire defensive situation comes to life.

If you play on the wing, Matthew Lowton's physical fitness is at a crushing level, and he can run, and he will not suffer at all against wingers. The problem of likes to get in has also been solved. When the time comes, the two full midfielders will be removed.

442 changes to 352, let him rush freely from the wing.

"good idea!"

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

"Let Andy Taylor play on the left wing for the time being. Later, we will see if we can choose someone from the center to cover this position. In the midfield, Montgomery and Stephen will be behind."

Speed ​​spoke quickly, then thought for a moment and continued: "Let Jamie Ward play a false 9 position behind Lee. He will have no effect playing as a wide midfielder, so let him return to the center. This way

Once we come together, we can make full use of Li’s characteristics!”

Ched Evans is at the front to do some dirty work. Li Mo can get the ball in the frontcourt and do it alone, or like the last game, he can involve the defense and pass the ball to the wide players and behind him.

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 on the wing form the second group.

group.

The level of offense was immediately highlighted.

Speed ​​is a resolute person who does what he says. He immediately drew up a tactical diagram with the assistant coaches in the office.

"The only uncertainty now is whether Harry and the other two veteran players can support the defensive system. Otherwise, in the next game, we don't use the defense first, and then give Harry a few substitute games to see the effect?"

The older assistant coach is still a little hesitant. After all, changes in the defensive line are the ones that most affect the stability of the team.

Speed ​​shook his head and said firmly: "The result will no longer be bad. I trusted Li in the last game, and everyone has seen the results. At this time, don't we dare to take another gamble?

"

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 taking the ball, he took two steps and sent a long pass, which was passed to the top of the goal.

Li Mo in front easily caught the ball and sent a single shot to his teammate with his heel.

"With such a young combination, why don't we believe in them? They will bring us hope."

Speed ​​said with a smile that he himself was only 41 years old. As a young coach, when he met two young talents, his choice was very simple, wasn't it?
Chapter completed!