Chapter 35: The most important game

In Aldridge's mind, the overall idea of ​​building a team is similar to eating.
The first is to eat a buffet, take whatever you want, buy a strongman on the wings if you want to fly together, and buy a fast-attack player if you want to play a defensive counterattack. design.
The second type is tailored to suit the meal. What kind of card you have in your hand, you need to use the most appropriate style of play to maximize the power of this deck. The tactics are simpler. The players in the hand are placed in the most suitable In terms of their characteristics and good positions, the frame of the tactical formation will be almost formed after they are placed one by one, but the limitations are bound to be great.
Middlesbrough's tactical formation is the second type.
In the tenth round of the Premier League, Aldridge's team will head to Middlesbrough in North Yorkshire to challenge the second place in the league!
Aldrich was very serious in the pre-match preparation meeting. The entire coaching staff believed that the most important game in the 46-round league is this game!
This season, Middlesbrough changed the club chairman and head coach, the situation is similar to Millwall, and the new coach employed by Middlesbrough is former Manchester United captain Brian Robson, based on player and coach Way to control the team.
With the prestige of Brian, and the transfer of Clayton Blackmore who came to Middlesbrough with him from Manchester United, sitting in the locker room, Middlesbrough had a surprisingly smooth transition in this turbulent summer, and There is almost no break-in period, Middlesbrough has become the champion of the Champions League!
In the first nine rounds of the league, Millwall had six wins, two draws and one loss, with 20 points.
Middlesbrough also achieved six wins, two draws and one loss, with the same points as Millwall, but the difference in goal difference ranked second.
In the eyes of outside ball critics, although Millwall is now ranked first, the team is too young will be an unstable factor. In contrast, Middlesbrough is a mature team with an average age of about 25 years old. The oldest players on the court are striker Hendry and defender Pearson, 30 years old, followed by former Manchester United hero Blackmore, 29 years old. It can be said that Middlesbrough has a very mature central axis. This is for the entire season. Stable performance is essential.
Another factor that makes Middlesbrough a favorite is their tactical formation.
Defensive 532.
Such a formation is also used by a team in the Premier League. Arsenal of George Graham, a passive tactic of extremely utilitarianism, can make the game boring and boring for points!
Aldrich believes that Millwall is barefoot now, Middlesbrough is wearing shoes, and he does not need to be afraid of the other side.
However, the result of this game is significant for the young team.
If you lose, the barefoot will be afraid of wearing shoes.
The team should not be given the idea of ​​losing.
Therefore, he is particularly careful when arranging tactics.
"Although the other party's John Hendry is thirty years old, he is a pure shooter. This player is a 90-minute game. He may not see him a few times, but may give him a highlight of one minute. , He will rewrite the game, pay special attention to his marking, and his partner striker is the 20-year-old Graham Cavana, this player's characteristics are very obvious, it can even be said that he is a defensive The forward will harass our back line by actively running in the front field. It should be noted that his header is very good, and the creativity after taking the ball can not be underestimated. Be sure to cut off his and Hengdeli’s contact."
At the pre-match preparation meeting before the departure, Aldridge arranged tactics on the tactical board, and in the defense arrangement against the opponent, first of all, it was naturally the analysis and defensive strategy of the characteristics of the other two forwards.
The players listened very carefully, everyone knows the significance of the next league, but that is the real top battle!
The next day, Aldridge led his team to North Yorkshire, and before the game in the afternoon, he was interviewed here in Middlesbrough.
Because of the top game, this league was held at night, also for ratings.
Sitting in the hall of the press conference, Aldridge looked at the reporters with more than twenty media representatives in front of him with a smile. Several of them were still very impressed.
This is a big change from the scene before the start of the Ligue 1 two months ago.
The young reporters from The Sun and The Daily Mail were also very excited to see Aldridge.
Before the reporters started asking questions, Aldridge first greeted the two reporters with a smile.
"Thomson, Richard, are you still an intern?"
Thomson, who represents the Sun, looked a little embarrassed, smiled awkwardly, and shook his head.
Obviously, he has turned right.
It’s just that his face is still a bit tender. After interviewing Aldridge two months ago, he submitted the manuscript he wrote to the editor of the newspaper for review. Eventually, the editor changed it beyond recognition. That article also turned Aldridge from the inspirational young man Thomson wrote into a who used the club as a toy.
In this regard, Thomson, who still has professional ethics, is ashamed. Fortunately, it seems that Aldridge does not care about it.
Richard looked much more experienced, and opened his mouth with a smile: "Thanks to you, I have been officially hired by the "Daily Mail", hehe."
Aldrichto asked his chin with some curiosity, "Is it related to me?"
Richard said triumphantly: "Of course I have. I have been following Millwall for two months. Millwall has surprised everyone. Haha, Mr. Hall, I have known that I have been following you. , I can't lose my job."
Having said that, Richard also raised eyebrows at the other colleagues, which made reporters from the major newspapers The Times and The Guardian scoff.
Shortly after Richard entered his career at a young age, he was not afraid of a newborn calf. Others disdain him. He used reflection skills and sneered contemptuously.
Now Millwall's strong momentum is attracting attention, and the reporters of the big newspapers also come here to run the news. Richard is very proud and feels that he has followed and followed Millwall.
"There are so many multimedia friends today, so, one question per person, as short as possible, and related to the game. I refuse to answer other questions. Let’s start, Richard, what do you want to know?"
Aldridge straightened up, his expression always gentle and smiling.
Richard also straightened his waist and asked aloud: "Mr. Hall, before the season, you said that Millwall’s goal this season is to relegate, but the league has passed nine rounds, and your team is ranked. The top of the League One, and the team’s outstanding performance is obvious to all. It can be said that in the eight games played by the main lineup, you have set a record of zero goals conceded. Nine games have only lost two goals. Secondary Wolves, what is your team’s goal now?"
This question is also of concern to other reporters. In fact, just by looking at paper strength, external ball critics do not think that Millwall is particularly powerful, because many players are new faces. Can they maintain stable and excellent performance? Still a question.
But will the thrill of victory brought by Lien Chan and Lian Jie stun the young Master Millwall?
Aldridge scratched his head and smiled bitterly: "This seems to have nothing to do with the next game. Well, Millwall's goal this season is relatively simple, that is, to train the players. I and the pre-season statement remain unchanged, this is a young The team has unlimited potential, I will not care about the gains and losses overnight, and I will not stare at the standings every day. As long as my team is improving every game, I will be satisfied. If I say this season The goal is relegation, and you will definitely call me hypocrisy in your heart."
Ha ha ha ha.
The reporters present smiled secretly.
Because of the large number of teams and the number of rounds in the Premier League, the relegation line is roughly around 50 points.
And Aldridge’s team scored 20 points after only nine rounds in the league. Even if they put a bus in front of the goal, they can easily relegate in the remaining 37 rounds...
Aldridge spread his hands helplessly and said: "Because the Premier League has shrunk the team this season, everyone knows that the only way to upgrade is to win the Champions League and pass the play-offs. The competition will be more brutal and fierce than in previous years, so now let’s talk about points The goals on the list are too early. I only value the next game. If you play one game after another, what will the final result be, and time will give us the answer."
The reporters are a little bit disappointed. They naturally want to hear Aldridge's brave words, so that they can write a special book. This low-key and pragmatic argument really has nothing to attract the eye.
Although Aldridge is talking about the truth, it is a bit premature to talk about the situation in the standings. As long as the top-ranked team loses two games, it will immediately fall to the middle of the standings, or even downstream.
Thomson raised his hand and asked: "Mr. Hall, Middlesbrough coach Robson was asked about your views at a previous press conference. He said that as a coach, you have a good start. Millwall has ushered in a new era in your hands, expressing respect for you and saying that Middlesbrough can’t despise the young Millwall. Other teams in the Premier League should also value Millwall’s Exist, what do you think of this? What do you think of Mr. Brian Robson?"
Aldridge lowered his eyebrows and pondered for a moment. Although Brian Robson didn’t say any bad words at first glance, it was actually a psychological battle. It was nothing more than to make Millwall the target of the League One. This kind of trick, It seems that Brian Robson copied Ferguson's suit.
In all fairness, Aldridge's coaching career and Brian Robson started at the same time, and the opponent only managed the team as a player and coach this season.
"I can only say that Mr. Robson had an in-depth study of Millwall. I actually hope that every opponent in the League One will despise us. It is best to put the main players on the bench when resting with us. Ha ha."
Hearing Aldridge's words so bluntly, the audience laughed again.
Despise Millwall?
The teams that underestimated them were basically disabled by Millwall's efficient defensive counterattack. Only pragmatic teams like Bolton and Reading scored points from Millwall.
"Mr. Brian Robson is an awe-inspiring person, and his coaching ability is not my turn to judge. The record of Middlesbrough in the past two months has explained everything. Compared with them, they are the most popular champions and want to rush to the Premier League team, will definitely hope to beat direct competitors by defeating Middlesbrough."
Aldridge’s remarks are not to compliment each other. Brian Robson was not only the Captain of Magic in the 1980s, but also a natural leader. It was this temperament that made him enter the Lord. Middlesbrough quickly filled the team with cohesion and fighting power.
However, coaching a team and being a team captain are two different things. The head coach's achievement limit is not determined solely by spiritual attributes.
Aldrich can’t commit grievances and hatred with Brian Robson. It’s enough to emphasize the fact that the opponent is a hot champion, even if other teams play Millwall with a hundred times spirit, at least Middlesbrough don’t want to take advantage.
Aldrich was free to talk, occasionally making jokes and having a lot of fun. The press conference was announced in a happy atmosphere.