While preparing for the next round of league training, Aldridge invited Wenger to visit Millwall's training base.
The training ground was lackluster, but Wenger praised the hotel for indoor training, the modern sports medical team, scientific diet, rigorous intelligence collection and tactical conference rooms, etc. This was the first time Aldrich and Wenger met many years ago.
was discussed in depth at the time, and Aldrich realized it all with his own hands.
On the training ground, during the training sessions where visitors were not allowed to visit on weekdays, Wenger stood on the edge of the court and watched quietly, while Aldridge continued to work as usual, which puzzled his colleagues on the coaching staff.
But no one asked much, at least Wenger's appearance would not make people think wrongly.
Before the start of today's group match, Aldrich called the players in front of him and said: "We have performed well in the past two months. We have only conceded two goals in eight rounds of league games, but our goals have improved in recent times.
There seems to be a little bit missing, so the focus of today’s training is that the full midfielders can try to break through after getting the ball and add some new things to the offensive tactics.”
Aldrich's words made Pires and Schneider's eyes light up.
There were not many requirements for team training before. When the offensive players get the ball in the frontcourt, they should try their best to release the ball with one kick. They should be concise and clear in handling the ball. They should constantly form coordination through running positions and use precise ground passing and receiving coordination.
Use a fast pace to open up gaps in the opponent's defense, but this is a bit simpler for football with ever-changing offensive and defensive tactics.
Personal breakthroughs are indispensable in football. People talk about the cooperation of "passing the ball into the goal". It is indeed easy to become a classic, but such goals are not every one. In the process of creating goals,
, personal breakthrough is a very important link.
Aldridge's previous suppression of wing breakthroughs was just to lay the foundation for the defensive system, because wing breakthroughs are not just about a player getting closer to the bottom line and penalty area from the wing, but will inevitably affect the entire offensive system to press forward, and there is no turning back.
, before the attack gets more pressure, if it cannot be recovered in time, the pressure on the defense will be huge.
In order for the team's offense and defense to be able to retract and release freely, Aldridge cannot let go from the beginning and let the players play freely. They should find the feeling in the process of contraction. First, they should be familiar with the defensive mode and state, and then bit by bit
Releasing the offense is his overall idea of transforming the team.
First team coaches Tolop and Craig used tactical drawings to explain simple tactics to the players.
For example, the line of the cross from the wing, the 45-degree cross to the back point, the bottom pass to the front point, how the two forwards should move on the path of the wide player, how to cover and involve, etc.
Tactics are always rigid and must be tailored to suit oneself.
Millwall's forwards are fast and have a keen sense of smell in the penalty area, so the wing attack will naturally serve them.
Probably due to the richness of today's offensive tactics, the players were in high spirits. After the coaches gave a concise explanation, they geared up and divided into two sides to start the match.
Aldridge walked to the other side of the training ground and stood next to Wenger. At this moment, Wenger was looking at the players on the training ground attentively.
After half the match, Aldrich asked softly: "How was it?"
Wenger took a long breath, turned to Aldridge and nodded: "Although they are young, they have great potential. Aldridge, I deeply admire your vision."
Although there are not many skilled players on the field, it is precisely to make up for this shortcoming that Aldridge's team plays a very simple style. The ball moves quickly under the players' feet. No fancy moves are needed, as long as they are tacitly short-term.
Passing is enough, and then continuous movement is needed to form coordination.
Although it was only a short match, Wenger could already see that the players at this training ground had a bright future.
In the next few days, the players' training enthusiasm was very high. After all, they could be more active in the offense, which allowed them to completely unleash their long-suppressed offensive factors.
In the ninth round of the English League One, Millwall sat at the Lion's Den and ushered in an underdog: Luton.
It was precisely because the opponent was not strong in this round that Aldridge finally made up his mind to try a small tactical attack.
As usual, Aldridge would not give a long discussion about tactics in the locker room before the game, but just stimulated the team's fighting spirit before leaving the locker room.
He deeply understands that the shorter the time before the start of the game and the more tactics he gives to the players, the less effective it will be. Instead, it will only make the players nervous about how to play the game. It is not necessary to prepare one day in advance before the game starts.
If you keep telling the players, it will only annoy people.
The Lion's Den Stadium was packed, and Aldridge's team has won the recognition of the fans. In the stands today, not only Wenger was watching the game, but there was also a group of young guys who pulled up a banner that read: "Like Millwall
Well, then roar out! We are the roar of lions!"
The young people holding such a banner are none other than Brady, Fred, and Yiwen.
They were young and wearing Millwall's traditional dark blue jerseys and stood in the South Stand. As for their seats, Aldrich opened the back door for them. Fifty tickets were given to Brady according to the seats. This allowed Brady to
In just one week, the "Lion Roar", a fan organization with nearly a hundred members, gathered in the stands in unison, becoming a unique sight on the court.
Aldridge has become accustomed to the behavior of fans in the stands beside the tunnel asking for his autograph when he enters the stadium. Occasionally, he will be patted on the shoulder to cheer him on, or give him a few words of praise.
What was different from usual was that after the game started, Aldrich did not stand on the sidelines to direct. Instead, he sat on the coach's bench and watched the game on the court with a calm expression.
Since the start of the game, cheers have been heard from the stands.
Millwall's home record can be regarded as the best at home, which makes fans happy to go to the stadium to cheer for the team. For ordinary people who have worked hard for a week, there is nothing better than shouting and singing indulgently in the stadium.
It came even more happily.
But after the game started, the situation on the field was very stalemate.
Luton's overall fighting strength is not strong, and they did not retreat defensively when they came to the Lion's Den Stadium. The main problem still lies in Millwall's offense.
Aldrich couldn't help but glance at the visiting team's coaching bench. The other team's head coach was also sitting there. There was a baffle blocking his view. Aldrich couldn't see clearly the opponent's expression. He said silently in his heart: It seems that the other team also made a move.
A lot of effort.
It is Nedved who organizes Millwall's attack in the middle, but in past games, Nedved did not go deep into the opponent's penalty area and mainly did the transition work in the middle. Therefore, the two wingers, Schneider and
Pires is the starting point of the attack and the most threatening link in Millwall's attack.
Because of this, Luton's two full-backs were staring at these two people from the beginning of the game.
It's almost like a pair in a chess game.
Pires and Schneider, who were allowed to pass through by Aldrich, seemed to be too happy. This game showed some signs of showing off their footwork. The first action after receiving the ball was to pass, pass, pass.
...
After the opponent intercepted the ball two or three times in a row, the situation became even more serious!
By the 30th minute of the first half, even the fans in the stands could see that as long as Schneider and Pires got the ball, their next move would definitely be a pass!
These two people don't have the speed and explosive power to overpower their opponents. Do they want to use their skills to get past the rough defenders of England? And what's more, when the opponent sees through you and knows how to pass?
This is too disrespectful to the other party!
You simply treat your opponent as a wooden stake!
"Do you want to remind them?"
Jenson asked in a low voice in Aldrich's ear.
He is rather strange. The reason why Millwall's offense is hindered can be seen by ordinary fans. Isn't it because the two wide players just want to pass people when they get the ball?
But Aldridge always sat calmly, showing no sign of getting up to give instructions from the sidelines.
Aldrich shook his head and said: "It's useless to shout anything now. We need to give them a period of time to calm down, during the halftime break."
Wenger in the stands felt that what he said to Aldridge a few days ago was exaggerated.
At least with Millwall's current two full-backs on the field, he felt that he had made a mistake.
Pires and Schneider, who played freely in training, played terribly on the field!
But he was more curious: What would Aldrich do?
Scold these two players during halftime?
Or replace someone?
Or tell them not to try anyone else again?
The unappreciative first half ended with the referee's whistle. The fans in the stands were a little discouraged and many were drowsy.
Millwall don't look as threatening as before.
There were only two shots in the first half. The two forwards had no support and became invisible at the end of the first half.
Aldridge returned to the locker room without changing the tactical arrangement. He just drew the positions of several Luton players on the tactical board and told the team's defense to pay attention to the opponent's player movements.
Before playing in the second half, after Aldridge and other players had walked out, he specifically stopped Schneider and Pires, dragging the three of them at the back. Aldridge was in the middle of them, hugging them on the left and right.
neck.
After the half-time break, both players calmed down and realized that their performance in the first half was a mess and they couldn't hold their heads up.
Previously, I complained in my heart that the boss did not give them a chance to show their extraordinary ability to make breakthroughs.
Well, the boss allowed you to kick like a child, but you ended up kicking like a bird.
Ashamed!
How shameless!
"You two were really tired in the first half."
"Um?"
Pires and Schneider raised their heads in surprise and looked at Aldrich's face close at hand, looking slightly confused.
So tired?
Doesn’t it really stink? It’s really bad?
Aldrich rolled his eyes and said calmly: "Any fool can see that after you get the ball, you must pass by others. What does the best defender rely on for defense? The body? No, it is the awareness of anticipation! Okay, you two directly tell the opponent the next step.
What should we do? Do we still need to predict? It’s too easy to guard against you.”
Pires and Schneider lowered their heads again.
"The tactics remain the same, but what you have to change is the rhythm. Listen to me. You do this on the field. After receiving the pass from your teammates, pass it three to five times and then try to pass the ball once. Pass the ball three to five times and then
Break through once, understand? When you have accumulated more experience, whether you should pass or pass, it can be done almost subconsciously. For now, let's use this stupid method."
After Aldridge finished speaking, he let go of the two players, patted them on the back and let them go out to play.
