Players who perform well in the English League One are, at best, noticed by the Premier League teams. If Aldridge knows that his team is going to be poached, the pressure from the Premier League giants will obviously be the greatest.
As long as he can be promoted to the Premier League next season, Aldridge will try his best to use transfer fees and wages as obstacles to avoid poaching the core of the team. The only thing that worries him is that during the winter transfer window, like Manchester United missed the opportunity to introduce Andy Coe in the summer.
Well, no one knows whether Ferguson will be eager to find a striker in the winter and turn to Millwall.
But Aldridge is a little relieved that Ferguson at least respects him. Otherwise, Manchester United only needs to make rumors outside to seduce players, which will cause a lot of trouble for Aldridge. The introduction of Andy Cole is just that strategy.
It's just that Kevin Keegan is stubborn and won't let anyone go.
After a draw at Aiyasumei Park as a guest, Aldridge led the substitutes to the Northeast to challenge the Magpies Newcastle United in midweek.
This game was relatively dull. Aldridge's first confrontation with Kevin Keegan was on the stage of the League Cup. His substitute lineup fell into full passivity against the main Newcastle United, and finally lost 2:0.
The bitter consequences of failure.
Aldridge didn't mind being eliminated from the League Cup. On the way back, he kept instilling a concept into the young players: at this stage, they play the game and feel the atmosphere of the game, which is far more important than the result!
If Aldridge pursues results, then setting up a bus in front of the goal and waiting for an opportunity to counterattack will not necessarily lead to defeat, but what is the point of these young players?
After the battle with Middlesbrough, the cohesion and combat effectiveness of Millwall's first team suddenly improved to a new level. Aldridge's process of creating offensive tactics has achieved gratifying results. Not only have the attacks on the two wings become sharper, but Ned
Wade showed the style of a general in the midfield, and he was also a sharp knife that cut blood when entering the penalty area at the right time.
Entering October, Millwall defeated Bristol City, Stoke City, Wolves, Sheffield United, and Portsmouth, winning five consecutive games.
The first four games are played once a week, and an away victory against the Wolves, who have the strongest offensive firepower in English League One, is crucial. Since the last league game in October was in the middle of the week, Aldrich sent all substitutes.
Defeated the visiting underdog Portsmouth 3:1 at home.
Through five consecutive victories, Millwall is firmly sitting at the top of English League One, opening up a 5-point gap with Middlesbrough behind them, and also opening up a gap with the group outside the promotion play-off rankings.
A gap of 12 points.
Less than three months after the start of the English League One, Millwall created a youth storm in English League One, and the outside media immediately changed the direction.
"Millwall is firmly at the top of the list and will appear on the Premier League stage for the first time next year"
"Larson Trezeguet: Devil's Striker!"
"Aldridge aims for the Premier League!"
...
Aldridge has not been dazzled by the praise from the outside world. He always maintains a low profile in words and deeds, nor does he make the team's play style more unrestrained because of consecutive wins. On the contrary, he will be more serious in training sessions every week.
What is instilled in the players is still a solid tactical system based on defense.
By Christmas, Aldrich felt that the team's transformation this season had reached a stage where it could be paused.
To build a mature tactical system, it is impossible to achieve results with just a few words and a short period of one and a half months. Aldridge spent half a season clarifying the defensive strategy of siege and pressure starting from the midfield, and using the leather in the frontcourt.
Ray, Nedvěd, and Schneider are the starting points for the attack on the vertical central axis. Occasionally Larson drops back to provide support, making Millwall's attack in the frontcourt rich and flexible.
Halfway through the league, Millwall's main lineup has already produced a pleasing effect on the pitch, seemingly abandoning the poaching theory that poisoned England and set back English football for thirty years.
Watching Millwall's games, you will not see frequent crosses from the wing, nor will you see offensive players blindly rushing to the penalty area. Millwall's offense is layered, smooth and varied.
However, Millwall's record fell sharply during the Christmas period. They were winless in three games, with two draws and one loss. The gap between them and their pursuer Middlesbrough suddenly shortened from 13 points in early December to 8 points.
point.
At this time, outside media began to clamor that Millwall was showing signs of collapse.
Aldrich didn't care; he knew what the problem was.
Most of the players in the team have come to play football in the UK for the first time and have not yet become familiar with the rhythm here without a winter break. In addition, the English league plays at a fast pace during the Christmas period and the games are frequent. Many in the team are focusing on Christmas and Christmas.
Players who are reunited with their families are somewhat lacking in energy, which is understandable.
A young team needs to be familiar with new things in order to accumulate experience. Aldrich did not criticize the team's poor performance. Moreover, out of the three games without a win, two were played by the substitute lineup, and he had no expectations for points.
It has just entered January, and there is a break of nearly two weeks in the English League One. This is to make way for the cup competition. Millwall has exited the League Cup early, and will not join the FA Cup until the end of the month. They are unlucky.
The ground drew a cross-town rival: Arsenal.
During the ten days or so without games, Aldrich announced that the team would have four days off so that the players could relax.
Aldrich also began to prepare for a short trip.
On the road to a new life, Aldrich had plenty of time and rich property. He would always tell himself in his heart: Cherish your time and see more of the outside world.
In the past six years, Aldrich has traveled all over Europe. In addition to watching one football game a week, he spends part of his time traveling, taking pictures of the landscapes of places of interest and historical sites in various places.
Experience the charm of different cultures.
If he stayed in that part of London all day long, he would feel sorry for letting him travel through the possessed God.
Before leaving home, Aldridge received a call from the club's CEO Adam, claiming that a team was interested in Millwall players.
After making inquiries, Aldridge discovered that several Premier League teams had made offers for Millwall players.
Teams including Makelele, Thuram, Nedved, Larsson, Pires and Schneider are interested.
It's just that no real wealthy family has taken action here.
After asking the team for a quote again, Aldridge felt dumbfounded.
Companies such as Aston Villa and Leeds United want to buy players, but they don't even do their homework well.
Makelele's price was actually only 1.5 million pounds, Pires's price was 800,000 pounds, Larsson's price was the highest, 1.8 million pounds, and Nedvěd's price was only 1 million pounds.
There is a reason why wealthy families don’t sell it, because they can’t afford it!
Thuram cost Millwall three million pounds. As long as you are not a fool and don't pay at least five million pounds for a contract with a top Premier League star, don't try to take him away from Millwall.
The same goes for Larsson and Makelele.
Most of the clubs that offered the offer were motivated by their own ambitions and did not conduct a detailed investigation into Millwall's big move in the transfer market last summer, otherwise they would not have made a hasty offer that would have caused humiliation to themselves.
Aldrich said to Adam on the phone: "Reject all offers for first-team players and declare that they are not for sale. In addition, you just mentioned the names of several reserve team players, right?"
"Yes, boss, most of them come from teams in League Two and League One. The transfer fee is not high, and the most is only 100,000 pounds."
Aldridge thought about it, and those players who did not leave Millwall in the summer were sent to the reserve team. In fact, he was mostly planning to wait until the first team's performance was poor, and Aldridge would still use the veterans from last season, but Millwall
However, they had an unbelievably good record, so when the winter transfer window arrived, they gave up their expectations. Leaving quickly to continue their careers was the best option.
"Those who want to leave the team should put their names up, even if there is no transfer fee. This can save wages and avoid delaying their future."
"Okay, boss."
Many players in the reserve team were still the main or substitute players who ranked third in the English Premier League last season. It cannot be said that they have no strength, it can only be said that they have no greater potential. They have not yet reached the age of retirement. Aldrich does not want to waste them.
, it would be beneficial to both of us if we could send them away, so they could get together and part ways easily.
After making a decision on the transfer, Aldridge put on a slim coat, put on a backpack, and embarked on his winter excursion to the capital of Scotland: Edinburgh.
Strangely enough, Aldridge has been to France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and even Northern Europe in the past few years, but he has never been to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, which is right next to his home. He probably thought it was too close and did not arouse his curiosity.
In addition, the essence of Scottish football is in Glasgow, so it is ignored.
With a relaxed mentality of traveling, Aldridge browsed around the places of interest in Edinburgh. In this small and exquisite city that has the power to support Scotland, Aldridge admired the gorgeous buildings everywhere here, including the Victorian era.
outstanding creativity.
For three days in a row, Aldrich walked alone in the city. When he was tired, he found a cafe to rest and looked at the scenery outside the window.
When the day came when he decided to go home, Aldrich walked into a cafe called Nicolson's with satisfaction. After a short rest here, he was about to return to London.
But he would never have imagined that the sudden decision to give the team a holiday, the short trip that suddenly sparked his interest, the step he inadvertently stopped, and he turned around and walked into this unknown cafe would leave him with an unforgettable memory.
Even when he is old, he still feels how incredible his destiny is.
