Array football

Chapter 18 The Second Opponent: Miburg
The "Football Today" program broadcast on Sky TV that night also focused on the analysis of the relegation battle between Manchester City and Wigan Athletic.

This prime-time show is hosted by Martin Taylor and Andy Gray.Martin Taylor has a stable hosting style and is known for his comprehensive knowledge; Andy Gray has radical views and takes a slanted sword.Together, the two commented Zhang and Chi, and were hailed as the best partner.

Now this pair of best partners is sitting in the studio, and the highlights of Manchester City and Wigan Athletic are being played back on the big screen behind them.

"In this afternoon's league match, Manchester City defeated their relegation rival Wigan Athletic 3-1 at home. Judging from the score, the game was definitely one-sided. But I believe everyone who has watched the game knows that this game is actually, Manchester City are not dominant," said Andy Gray.

"We can look at the technical statistics of this game." Martin Taylor said: "Whether it is the ball possession rate, pass success rate, or the number of shots...even the number of offsides, Manchester City has an overall disadvantage. In terms of technical statistics, apart from goals, Manchester City has nothing to show for it, but they won the final victory of this game! This is definitely a very strange thing..."

"It's no wonder you can guess..." Duncan said in front of the TV in the small apartment. Duncan sat here early and waited to watch the TV. Victory, Duncan also wanted to see how others praised him.

"The most dazzling person in this game must be Samaras. After half a season of confusion, this shooter finally broke out in this game. He scored three goals with four shots, which is very efficient. Scary!"

"Of course, we also found a very interesting statistic." Martin said: "Manchester City's pass success rate in this game was only 72%, but the pass between Samaras and Andy Cole The success rate of the ball is as high as 100%! That is to say, there are no passing errors between the two." Martin Taylor said.

"What do you think is the cause of this situation, Martin?" Andy Gray asked.

"It should be said that it is luck. After all, Samaras has not scored a goal in a season. Although luck is too bad, luck should also be on his side..." Martin Taylor used two consecutive " It should be," indicating that he himself is not sure about such speculation.

"I think it's because of Steben Duncan." Andy Gray looked "pretty sure": "As far as I know, the game in which Samaras was called into the reserve team was also a hat-trick. , the head coach at the time was Duncan, but after returning to the first team, Samaras did not show much good form. In this game, Samaras scored three again, and the head coach happened to be Duncan. Once was Coincidentally, but two times, I believe that there must be some kind of inevitability in it."

"Do you think it's Duncan? How is it possible? He's only 26 years old..." The steady Martin Taylor obviously didn't believe in such speculation.In his view, Duncan sat in such a position more because of Pierce's dismissal.

"I think the head coach is only 26 years old, but compared to Jewel, he is a bit silent and terrible. I watched the video of the whole game. The only time Duncan stood up and directed was when Wigan Athletic scored a goal. At other times, no matter whether he was leading or trailing, he was very calm, and this was his first game. Martin, do you remember your performance when you first commented on the game?" Andy - asked Gray.

"I was very nervous, and I even mispronounced the players' names several times." Martin Taylor said: "But Andy, based on this alone, I still don't believe that everything is due to this young coach. He still needs to prove himself .”

"How about we make a bet?" Andy Gray suddenly laughed.

"What bet?" Martin Taylor obviously paid more attention to this bet.

"I heard that you have a bottle of 82-year-old Lafite at home. If you lose, share it with everyone." Andy Gray showed his fox tail.

"Okay, Andy, have you been thinking about my bottle of wine for a long time, but I'll bet you on this bet, because I will win. If you lose, I want a bottle of wine of the same value... ..."

"Lafite in 82?" Sitting in front of the TV, Duncan smiled: "Then Martin Taylor must have lost."

Duncan had reason to think that just now, he accepted the task reward of Wigan Athletic's game and raised the Erlong Chushui Formation to the intermediate level.

And obtained the right to temporarily change an attribute of a certain player in a certain game.

The second dragon out of the water array has been promoted to the intermediate level, and changes have also taken place.

In the previous two dragons out of the water formation, only forward players could be put in. After being promoted to the middle level, Duncan found that midfielders and defenders could be put in, but in terms of positions, they were limited to two positions: central midfielder and central defender.

In this case, the scope of action of the two dragons out of the water array will be expanded.

Before training started the next morning, Duncan announced that the main striker combination for the next season would be Samaras and Andy Cole.Although Ismail Miller contributed an assist, Duncan put "execution" first, and discipline is the most important.

Miller's "self-play" has instead become a minus item.

Once the issues outside the court are resolved, all problems will return to the court.

Manchester City's next opponent is Middlesbrough.

The Boro coach is also very young, a 35-year-old player who also serves as head coach Southgate.Although Boro is now ranked in the middle and lower reaches, only 12th, this is not a reason to belittle them.

The Boro team was very vigorous last season. They broke into the Europa League final. Although they lost to La Liga Sevilla in the end, it did not hinder their outstanding performance last season.

Although their meritorious coach McLaren was called up by the national team in the new season, Manchester City, which has just escaped the relegation zone, is still not sloppy with such an opponent.

Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium on March 3.

Although the winter in the UK is not very cold, a cold wave a few days ago made many players wear long-sleeved jerseys.

Of course, the most tragic thing is not this matter.After winning the last game, the team’s main central defender, the young Richards, was also popular. One day after training, several young female fans came to take a photo with Richards. As a result, the good-tempered and single Richards was in love , I took a group photo with the female fans and signed autographs. There was a gust of cold wind, and I caught a cold the next day.

As a result, Richards, who did not miss a game, was absent in this game.

The backup central defender Mills suddenly felt that happiness came too suddenly.

Suddenly, before he could react, the team lost the ball...

At the beginning, Boro planned a simple but effective blitzkrieg, and Mills was their breakthrough.A long pass from the midfield found a teammate who was plugging in from the wing, and the Middlesbrough striker pressed Mills with a header.

And then there are the cheers of the home fans at the Riverside Stadium...

"goooooooooooal! Boro made a fantastic start, they lead Manchester City 1-0 at home!"

(End of this chapter)