I AM the Football Star

”I want that too, but in one match, the team only has so many attacking opportunities. If they aren’t distributed, they’ll fight over them, and the team atmosphere will deteriorate faster.” Mr. Winter looked worried.

This problem is unsolvable.

Lu Yang, however, said, ”Can’t you just increase the number of attacks? Arsenal’s defense line is also national team level; your defense is high quality, there’s plenty of ball possession.”

”In Lola’s report, it shows Arsenal averages reclaiming ball possession sixty times per game, ranking third in the league. Even in the fast-paced Premier League, this is quite impressive.”

”But your number of attacking initiations is a third less than teams of the same tier. This is a huge hole; Arsenal’s midfield processor is problematic!”

”You have the best graphics card and fan, but only a highly inefficient processor. In fact... you don’t even have a processor!”

One sentence awakens the dreamer.

Arsenal’s defensive midfielder Plazza is versatile in both attack and defense, and even has a strong long shot, but he’s not the processor type of player. He’s more like an all-purpose accessory.

The position of Arsenal’s midfield core is played by Lock.

However, Lock is a youth training player, and he himself is not a commander-type player either.

He dribbles well and isn’t slow. If he gets stronger, he can become a B2B all-purpose midfielder. If not, playing as a trendy attacking midfielder works too.

But he doesn’t have the potential to grow into a midfield core.

Arsenal has a lot of ball possession but can only distribute it in the most primitive way to two wingers, who either use it themselves or pass it to the forward line.

Each segment consumes without creating.

Especially when Lock passes to the two wingers, the loss is considerable. Because his passing ability is not outstanding, brilliant passes are rare, and by the time he passes to Rubeus or Olic, the opposing defenders are already in place.

Such passing essentially means a lost opportunity after possessing the ball.

The true significance of a midfield core is to minimize loss during ball distribution.

Occasionally, it requires dribbling and brilliant passes to generate extra attacking opportunities.

Not just for the two wingers but also directly for the two forwards.

Arsenal’s current state is very similar to Real Madrid previously!

Only, the manifestation is solo play, but Real Madrid’s problem wasn’t in this loss part.

With Zidane, their loss was minimal. Their problem was defense, too few reclaimed ball possessions, which was a more serious fundamental issue.

”So, you think finding a midfielder good at passing can solve Arsenal’s current situation?” Mr. Winter fell into deep thought.

Lu Yang nodded, ”Pretty much. Plazza’s strength lies in his ability to uphold the entire midfield’s firmness alone. Arsenal only needs a distributor. Skilled in both short and long passes, with excellent vision, exceptional footwork, preferably able to pull back.”

”If Maniero were still playing, he’d be perfect.”

Mr. Winter laughed, ”Such classical midfielders, or even rear coordinators, are hard to find.”

Nowadays, such players are mostly team cores, hard to get.

Unless the other side isn’t strong.

”Real Madrid has one, just transferred from Bayern,” Lu Yang said.

”You mean... Bayern’s Collette?” Winter knew this player.

Currently, Bayern fans are relentlessly mocking Collette.

Because at Bayern, Collette was a bench regular, even starting in some matches.

But at Real Madrid, he’s completely a water jug manager, game time is scarce.

To date, Collette has appeared only five times in La Liga, four as a substitute, totaling no more than thirty minutes.

Pitiful indeed.

Everyone thinks Collette’s transfer this time was a great loss.

It’s very damaging for him during a crucial growth period.

”Will he work?” Professor Winter knew this person’s footwork was good, but... a distributor isn’t just good footwork, but also quick thinking.

Simultaneously, if four arrows are launched, to whom do you pass?

Lock is someone who doesn’t know whom to pass to.

Collette isn’t much older than Lock, right?

In terms of value, they’re not far apart, not exactly the same-tier players, but changing just one won’t necessarily lead to qualitative change for a team, right?

”He might just work very well! Moreover, he enjoys regulating, rarely inserting forward, perfectly matching Arsenal’s need,” Lu Yang said.

Winter: ”Are you helping him?”

Lu Yang: ”No... I’m helping Arsenal.”

Winter’s eyes displayed caution: ”Don’t tell me you... like Lola?”

Poof!

Lu Yang almost choked.

”Father-in-law, oops... old gentleman, you’ve misunderstood.” Lu Yang said, ”Arsenal’s financial situation isn’t optimistic; this batch of people might be the best you have. If you can’t fulfill your dream under this status, I’m afraid Mr. Winter, your coaching career will be full of regret.”

”After all these years as friends, I hope you have a decent conclusion.”

Winter looked puzzled: ”What? Is my future conclusion not decent?”

Lu Yang: ”Who knows? But if team performance isn’t good, it’s hard to end decently, right?”

Winter: ”Alright, I will consider borrowing Collette from Real Madrid.”

Lu Yang: ”If you want to use him, I suggest buying instead of borrowing. Because once he shines, Arsenal might truly not be able to afford Collette!”

Winter spread his hands: ”You think I don’t want to? Unless you inject capital into Arsenal?”

Lu Yang laughed: ”I do want to, but that greedy American won’t let go; Arsenal falling into his hands is every Gunners fan’s biggest disaster this era.”

”By the way, if you really plan on trying, remember to move Olic and Rubeus forward.”

Winter looked puzzled: ”Turn them into left and right wingers? 4-2-4? Are you crazy, or do you think I’m crazy?”

Lu Yang: ”Don’t get hung up on words. Although the job is the same, the title differs, changing their motivation and awareness entirely.”

”Playing with a sense of sacrifice definitely hopes the team compensates them. Occasionally taking wild shots is normal.”

”But playing with guilt makes them more willing to contribute. Olic and Rubeus aren’t unwilling to sacrifice; satisfy them, and they’ll give more rewards to the team. They’re good players.”

”People like you are just hell-bound! Human kindness is exhausted by people like you!” Winter laughed, ”But I will indeed consider it.”

”By the way, what do you want from doing this?”

Lu Yang thought for a moment: ”The transfer market next year, I hope Arsenal will spare no expense to buy...”