Football Card System

"Is that Drinkwater?" John Aston sat next to Gao Bo.

This was the stadium at Manchester United's youth academy. The Premier League season had concluded, but for academy players, the season was far from over. For most 17- or 18-year-olds, this was a critical period in their careers—they needed to fight for their future.

At the moment, an U18 match was underway between Manchester United U18 and Southampton U18.

"That's right, it's him," Gao Bo replied, scanning the surroundings. Aside from the players' parents and a few die-hard Manchester United fans, most of the spectators were scouts like him, evaluating the talent on display.

Manchester United's youth academy was a vital source of talent for the English leagues. Among Premier League players, the highest number hailed from Manchester United's youth program.

Thanks to the academy's reputation, smaller clubs often sought to unearth gems from it. After all, not every player could make it to Manchester United's first team.

Drinkwater was one such player. While his performance was decent, he seemed far from meeting the standards of Manchester United's first team.

Manchester United U18 dominated the match. Before the first half ended, Danny Welbeck completed a hat trick, assisted by another star player, Tom Cleverley.

John Aston's focus remained on Drinkwater. He hadn't seen anything particularly special in him. Though Drinkwater's performance wasn't bad, it was overshadowed by Cleverley's brilliance.

John looked at his new boss, wondering why Gao Bo was interested in such an ordinary player.

"Have you noticed? Drinkwater hasn't made a single passing error," Gao Bo remarked, as if reading John's thoughts.

John Aston hadn't paid attention to this detail but didn't find it surprising. Drinkwater avoided mistakes, but he also didn't stand out.

Gao Bo had a different perspective. Despite being only 18, Drinkwater displayed certain qualities that hinted at his future potential.

One key trait was his positional awareness. Gao Bo believed Manchester United U18's clean sheet was largely due to Drinkwater's defensive positioning.

Before a goal is scored, there is a process of buildup. Preventing goals often involves actions that don't grab attention, like a goalkeeper's dramatic save or a defender's decisive tackle. Some players work in the background, disrupting opportunities before they materialize.

Drinkwater's positioning made it difficult for the opposition to attack effectively.

When John shifted his focus entirely to Drinkwater, he admitted the player was quite good. While he lacked the qualities of a star, for a team like Luton, Drinkwater was more than enough. His composure on the ball was especially impressive for someone so young.

"Will Manchester United let him go?" John asked.

Gao Bo was confident. "Yes. Drinkwater is good, but breaking into Manchester United's first team is extremely challenging. Players need to have something special, and Drinkwater, while balanced, lacks that standout quality."

For a smaller club like Luton, however, Drinkwater could shine.

"Let's go talk to him," Gao Bo said.

The game ended with Manchester United U18 thrashing Southampton U18, 5-0. While Welbeck and Cleverley grabbed the headlines, players like Drinkwater had to consider their futures.

Drinkwater, like many others, knew his chances at Manchester United were slim. If he couldn't make it to the first team, moving on was inevitable.

As Drinkwater walked out of the academy, Gao Bo called out to him.

"Hi, Danny!"

Drinkwater recognized him immediately. "Aren't you the Chinese coach from Chelsea U18?"

"Yes, I'm Gao Bo," he replied with a smile. "But I'm no longer at Chelsea. I'm now the manager of Luton Town."

Drinkwater nodded, sensing where the conversation was heading.

"I want to bring you to my team, Danny. Your performance impressed me," Gao Bo said.

Drinkwater looked skeptical. "I know Luton... A League Two club deducted 30 points before the season started. You'll be relegated to the non-league soon."

"That's true," Gao Bo admitted. "But it's too early to declare us relegated!" His confidence left Drinkwater momentarily speechless.

"Come to my team," Gao Bo continued. "I've studied you, and I know how to use your strengths."

Drinkwater hesitated. "I don't want to play in the non-league."

Gao Bo smiled. "We can include a clause: if Luton is relegated this season, you can leave next year."

After some thought, Drinkwater agreed. He would be loaned to Luton.

Manchester United didn't object to the loan. They had plenty of young talent, and loans were a normal part of development. Drinkwater's modest salary of £1,500 a week made the deal even easier for Luton.

---

In Basingstoke, a small English town, Gao Bo sought his next target: Charlie Austin.

Austin, a 19-year-old bricklayer, had dreams of professional football. Gao Bo had scouted him carefully. Despite playing in amateur leagues, Austin's goal-scoring record was phenomenal.

Austin's eyes lit up when he heard Gao Bo's offer. His father was more skeptical but eventually agreed.

With Austin on board, Gao Bo moved on to Sheffield, where he recruited Jamie Vardy, a 21-year-old with a similar story of balancing manual labor and football.

Finally, Gao Bo traveled to Paris to sign 17-year-old N'Golo Kanté. Despite his young age, Kanté already showed incredible stamina, defensive positioning, and tackling ability.

By assembling these players, Gao Bo was ready to lead Luton Town into an extraordinary season. With such talent, even overcoming the 30-point deduction didn't seem impossible.