The England national team changed coaches, and the famous Aldridge took over. News media in Fleet Street and even the entire European football world were very busy.
There are joys and sorrows.
The media likes excitement and the spotlight.
But the most immediate interests are those of the England internationals.
Who will leave the national team with a baggage?
Who can usher in spring?
Aldrich, who has just taken office, needs to call the confirmed national team players one by one as soon as possible, not to win their support, but to inform them of their team status so that they can feel confident and reassured.
Aldrich looked through the list.
The first is the goalkeeper position.
In terms of strength and competition experience, Seaman is still the first choice for the national team.
Aldrich started contacting the other party according to the phone number left on the national team player profile.
He and Seaman had nothing to talk about. The content was to tell the other party the time of the next national team training camp and to urge the other party to maintain good condition. The national team will rely on the other party in the future. In fact, he was telling the other party: You are the main force of my national team this time.
!
Seaman went through the storm without being flattered and ended the phone call with Aldridge naturally.
There are three goalkeepers, one of the other two is a substitute, and one is basically unused to make up the numbers.
England's No. 2 and No. 3 goalkeepers in the European Cup this summer, Leeds United's Martin, Wright, who has now moved to Arsenal, and Aldridge all plan to give up.
There is no big change in the goalkeeper position, after all, the probability is very low.
Aldridge directly called James and Robinson and informed them that the former was a substitute and the latter was the third backup goalkeeper. He would compete to succeed Seaman in the future.
The two of them were flattered. As one of the hottest guys in Liverpool back then, James had been condemned many times by Aldridge in public opinion. Of course, he didn't name him by name, but he was just criticizing unhealthy tendencies as a typical example.
Originally, James thought that with Aldridge taking office, he would have no hope of entering the national team. Unexpectedly, he was unexpectedly blessed to be able to serve as a substitute.
Robinson is grateful. Aldrich ignored the past grievances, switched to Leeds United, and is now recruited into the national team. Even though the No. 3 goalkeeper is often invisible, it is better than not having a chance at all.
The main frame of the defender gave Aldridge a headache for a while, but it would not be too difficult to choose a permanent one.
He first called his captain Southgate.
"Hi Gareth."
"Boss, congratulations, you should have been the national team coach a long time ago. There is no more suitable and better coach in England than you."
"You don't get bonuses for flattering."
"Of course I'm not complimenting you. I'm telling the truth."
"Okay, without further ado, I still have a lot of phone calls to make. Adams has left the national team, and Keown's age also makes me plan to abandon him. From now on, you will be an indispensable figure in the defense."
"No problem, boss, I will probably be too excited to sleep today."
"One more thing. At the next training camp, I will announce that you will be the captain of the England national team. Is there any problem?"
"Well, maybe people outside don't think I should be the captain."
"I'm asking you now, what do you think, do you have the confidence to be the captain well? I know that the situation in the national team is more complicated, with ties to Liverpool, ties to Manchester United, etc."
"Me, no problem! Absolutely no problem!"
"Okay, this is the momentum, this is the attitude. Goodbye Gareth."
"Thank you, boss. Goodbye."
Aldrich smiled after hanging up the phone.
He knew that his decision to appoint Southgate as captain would be subject to great pressure, including abuse of power for personal gain and nepotism.
He doesn't care. From a competitive perspective alone, Southgate's club honors and achievements on the field are enough to convince others.
After years of fighting in Millwall, he has accumulated experience in top competitions. Southgate is more outstanding and stable than before in history. Adams has just left, and the national team needs a leader, a true leader on the field.
For the central defender position, Aldridge has only settled on Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand for the time being. Brown and Carragher are backup candidates. Brown is a consideration of strength, but Carragher is because he is still in Liverpool.
Not used correctly at centre-back
In terms of position, as for Terry, the youth training player of Millwall's rival Chelsea, it's not that Aldridge doesn't want to recruit him. He can put aside the club's position on this point, but if he recruits Terry in the next big list, this
The decision will definitely cause great controversy.
Terry's top league appearances in the past four years combined were less than 20! Last season, he was loaned to Nottingham Forest in the English League One and only had 6 appearances.
Whether he is a dragon or an insect, no one knows.
If he can perform stably in the next year, Aldridge is willing to give him a chance, provided that Aldridge is still the coach of the national team.
The full-back position is a big problem.
There are many choices for right back, including Gary Neville, Mills, and Phil Neville. Aldridge first called Gary Neville to confirm his main position. As for the summer sinner Phil Neville,
, Aldridge also ensured his status in the national team, but did not promise to be the main starter. On Mills' side, Aldridge clearly informed the other party that he must steadily obtain the main position in Leeds United in order to ensure that he can make a difference in the national team.
.
The left back that gives Aldridge a headache is that at this time, candidates for this position are very scarce.
He hesitated for a long time, and finally picked up the phone and called Ashley Cole.
Although Ashley Cole is a regular player in the lower-level national teams, he has not had a chance to play in an official game for the national team, nor has he been a substitute.
He played for Millwall's first team for two years. He played very few games in the first year. In the second year, last season, he played a total of 21 times in cup matches and rotations. His performance was remarkable, even though he also played against AC Milan.
Although he has experience in the Champions League, his experience in major competitions is still very little.
Aldridge recruited him and focused on establishing his status. He had to withstand great pressure and take risks.
"Hello. Who is this?"
"Ashley. It's me."
"Ah, ah, boss! Why are you calling me now? I knew it! I knew it! Boss, you told me that I will be included in the 18-man national team roster, right?"
Aldrich held the phone with a strange expression.
This kid was a little too excited.
Moreover, listening to his words, it seems that he is very satisfied to be able to play as a substitute.
Aldridge was silent for a long time, and Ashley Cole became uneasy after getting excited.
"Boss? Boss? Talk! Talk! Did I screw up?"
"Ashley, calm down first."
"Oh. Oh, I calmed down."
"I will recruit you for the next national team training and let you play in the next national team game. Your national team future depends on your performance in the next game. If you perform well, I can withstand the pressure.
I have asked you to be the main full-back. If you don't perform well, I can only give the opportunity to Bridge. So, what you have to do now is to train more seriously and work harder to improve yourself. Welcome your own moment and seize it.
Seize the opportunity.”
The phone suddenly went silent, and Aldrich waited for a long time for no response.
"Hello? Hello? Is your kid asleep?"
"Ah! Boss! Thank you, thank you, thank you, I, I don't know what to say, don't worry, I will do my best, I will do my best!"
"F! Defenders don't just work hard. Please calm down. Getting too excited won't do any good."
"Yes, I remember it!"
Aldridge shook his head after hanging up the phone, and then called Bridge. In fact, left back talents are scarce. Otherwise, if Bridge is not selected, there will be no better candidate.
There are many players available in the midfield of the England national team, but Aldridge still finds it difficult.
Speaking of midfielders, there are many, but the first type of player needed is scarce.
Pure defensive midfielder, or defensive midfielder!
Both Germans are not purely defensive midfielders.
It sounds wonderful to be both offensive and defensive, but in the ever-changing game, when the offensive attributes of such players come into play, and they are suddenly counterattacked in a short period of time, can such players play the most efficient defensive role? Are they there?
In terms of location, this is the most critical point.
They can attack and defend, but it takes time to attack, and it also takes time to retreat.
Therefore, Aldridge has always firmly used a purely defensive midfielder at Millwall, and does not really expect one person to play the role of two players. There are such composite players, but it is difficult to achieve pure effects.
to the extreme.
Manchester United's Bart can be regarded as a useful defensive midfielder, but Bart was suppressed by Keane at Manchester United and could not maintain his form. In recent years, Bart has been wasted and stopped progressing. His strength can no longer be expected.
How much can it be improved?
Because of this, he is eager to hope that U21 will focus on cultivating Hargreaves.
Seven or eight years later, Hargreaves was a man of glass, but in the next few years, Hargreaves has grown very rapidly, able to establish himself as the main player in Bayern Munich, and was even selected as one of the best midfielders in Europe.
Aldridge put aside his worries and first called Beckham, Scholes, Gerrard, and Lampard. Others, such as Barry and Bart, who were still playing defenders, he had to observe for a while.
, and like Newcastle United's Dyer, he directly chose to abandon it.
Finally, he hesitated for a moment and called Hargreaves.
Aldridge went through a lot of trouble to get Hargreaves' phone number by contacting Bayern Munich through the Football Association.
Now Hargreaves has many national team options, including Germany, Canada, and England.
When Aldrich called him, Hargreaves' confused voice came over the phone.
"Hello, who is it?"
"Hello Hargreaves, I'm Aldrich Hall..."
"Ah? Are you the head coach of Millwall? Really or not? This joke is too much!"
He probably thought someone was pretending to be Aldrich and teasing him.
The transfer window is closed, why is Millwall's coach looking for him?
It took a while for Aldrich to convince Hargreaves of his identity, and at the same time, the other party had just learned of Aldrich's new identity.
England national team coach!
"Owen, I am calling you as the coach of the England national team. I hope you can play for the England national team. The U21 national team will send you an invitation soon. You have also entered the Bayern Munich first team this season.
When the time is right, I will give you the opportunity to perform in the national team. As long as you work hard, you will be a very important player for me in the future."
Aldridge's own job with the national team may still be in jeopardy, but talking to players certainly requires writing some empty promises.
Hargreaves was shocked for a long time, and finally agreed to Aldrich without hesitation.
He does not have German ancestry, but has lived in Germany for enough time, so he is eligible to choose the German national team. But since Aldridge, who is now famous in Europe, has taken the initiative to invite him, he made the decision without thinking.
Made a decision.
Young Marshal, let’s hang out with you! (To be continued...)
