The Young Lion

The outstanding players in the Premier League are at least the attention of the Premier League team. If Aldridge knows that his team will be cornered, it is obviously the pressure from the Premier League giants.

As long as he can advance next season, Aldridge will try to use transfer fees and wages as obstacles to avoid the team core being poached. The only thing that worries him is that during the winter transfer window, like Manchester United missed the summer to introduce Andy Ke Well, no one knows whether Ferguson will rush to find the striker and hit his mind on Millwall in the winter.

However, Aldridge was slightly relieved that Ferguson at least respected him, otherwise, Manchester United only need to seduce the players outside, which would cause great trouble to Aldridge. The introduction of Andy Cole is such a strategy. It’s just that Kevin Keegan is biting aside.

After a draw at Aya Sumy Park Stadium, mid-week Aldridge led the bench to the Northeast to challenge the Magpies Newcastle United.

The game was relatively bland. Aldridge’s first confrontation with Kevin Keegan was on the stage of the League Cup. His backup lineup faced the main team Newcastle United and became completely passive, eventually swallowing 2:0 The bitter consequences of defeat.

When the League Cup was out, Aldridge didn’t mind. On the way back, he constantly instilled a concept in the young players: At this stage, they play the game to feel the atmosphere of the game, which is far more important than the result!

If Aldridge pursues the results, then putting a bus in front of the door and waiting for a counterattack may not necessarily lose, but what does it mean for these young players?

After the battle with Middlesbrough, the cohesion and combat effectiveness of the first team of Millwall suddenly increased by one grade. The process of Aldridge’s offensive tactical link was gratifying. Not only the offense of the two sides became sharper, Ned Vader showed the general’s style in the midfield, and aiming at the opportunity to enter the restricted area is also a sharp edge to see the blood seal.

In October, Millwall defeated Bristol City, Stoke City, Wolves, Sheffield United, Portsmouth, and won five consecutive victories.

The first four games were played once a week, of which the away win against the Premier League offensive firepower Wolves is very important, and the last league in October because it is in the middle of the week, Aldridge sent a full bench, in 3:1 at home killed the visiting weaker Portsmouth.

Millwall was firmly seated at the top of the league with five consecutive victories, and opened a 5-point gap with Middlesbrough behind him, and also with the group outside the ranking of the upgrade playoffs. The gap of 12 points.

Less than three months after the start of the League One, Millwall had a youth storm in the League One, and the outside media immediately turned the wind.

“Millwall sits at the top of the list and will debut on the Premier League stage for the first time next year” “Larsen Trezeguet: The Devil’s Frontline!” 》

“Aldridge sword points to the Premier League! 》

…

Aldrich was not stunned by the praises of the outside world. He kept a low-key words and deeds at all times, and did not make the team play more freely because of the consecutive battles. Instilled in the players is still a solid tactical system based on defense.

Before Christmas, Aldridge believes that the transformation of the team this season has reached a stage where it can be suspended.

To build a mature tactical system, it is impossible to achieve results with only a few words and a short period of one week and a half months. Aldridge used half a season to clearly define the strategy of siege from the midfield to suppress the defensive strategy. Ray, Nedvide, and Schneider were the starting points for the attack on the longitudinal center axis. Occasionally Larson retreated, making Millwall’s offensive in the frontcourt rich and flexible.

More than half of the league, Millwall’s main lineup has already had a pleasing effect on the court, and it has abandoned the POMO theory that has poisoned England and made English football back for thirty years.

Watching Millwall’s game, you will not see frequent side passes, nor will you see the offensive players blindly flock to the penalty area. Millwall’s offense is rich, smooth and varied.

However, Millwall’s record fell sharply during the Christmas period, losing three rounds. The poor record of two draws and one loss made the gap between them and Middlesbrough, the chaser behind them, suddenly reduced to 8 from 13 points in early December. Minute.

At this time, outside media began to clamor that Millwall had a sign of a crash.

Aldrich didn’t care, he knew where the problem was.

Most of the players in the team are playing for the first time in the UK. They are not familiar with the rhythm of the winter break here. In addition, during the Christmas season, the English League drives fast. The game is very frequent, which makes many of the team focus on Christmas and The players whose family members are reunited have some energy, which is justifiable.

Young teams need to get acquainted with new things in order to accumulate experience. Aldrich did not denounce the team’s poor performance. Moreover, two of the three wins were played on the bench. They did not expect the points.

Just entering January, there is a nearly two-week rest period in the middle of the Premier League, this is to give way to the cup, the Millwall League Cup is out early, and the FA Cup will not join the team until the end of the month. They are unlucky. Draw the opponent in the same city: Arsenal.

In these ten days or so when there was no game, Aldridge announced a four-day vacation for the team, so that players can relax.

And Aldridge also began to prepare for a short trip.

On the road to life again, Aldridge has plenty of time and wealth. He will always tell himself in his heart: Cherish time and look at the outside world.

In the past six years, Aldridge’s footprints have been all over Europe. Apart from regularly watching a game a week, part of his other time will be spent on travel, photographing the landscape of various places of interest, or Enjoy the charm of different cultures.

If he stayed there all day in London, he would feel sorry for letting him pass through the possessed heaven.

Before leaving home, Aldridge received a call from the club’s CEO Adam, claiming that the team was interested in Millwall players.

After querying Aldridge, he found that several teams in the Premier League have made offers to Millwall players.

Including, Makelele, Thuram, Nedved, Larson, Pires, Schneider, all are interested in the team.

It’s just that there really isn’t a real giant.

After asking the team for an offer, Aldridge felt ridiculous.

Such as Aston Villa, Leeds United, want to buy players, even the homework is not good.

Makelele’s offer was only 1.5 million pounds, Pire 800,000, Larson’s highest, 1.8 million pounds, like Nedved, it was only 1 million pounds.

There is a reason for the giants not to take action, because they cannot afford it!

Thuram spent three million pounds on Millwall. As long as he wasn’t a fool, he didn’t pay at least five million pounds to the Premier League’s top stars. Don’t try to take him away from Millwall.

Larson, Makelele too.

Most of the clubs that offered the offer were happy, and did not investigate the major moves on the Millwall transfer market last summer in detail, otherwise they would not take humiliating and sloppy offers.

Aldridge said to Adam on the phone: “Reject all offers for first-team players and declare that they are not for sale. In addition, you just mentioned the names of several reserve players, are you?”

“Yes, the boss, most of them come from the teams of England B and League A. The transfer fee is not high, and the most is only one hundred thousand pounds.”

Aldridge thought about it. Those players who did not leave Millwall in the summer were deported to the reserve team. In fact, most of them planned to wait for the first team’s poor record. Aldridge will still use the veterans of last season, but Millwall However, they had an incredibly good record, so after the winter transfer window came, they did not expect it, and it was the best choice to leave quickly to continue their career.

“If you want to leave the team, you need to list, even if you don’t need to transfer fees, you can save your salary and avoid delaying their future.”

“Okay, boss.”

Many players in the reserve team were still the main or substitute players of Millwall ranked third in the last season. It can not be said that there is no strength, only that there is no greater potential, and that they have not reached the age of old age. Aldridge does not want to waste them. It’s good for both sides to be able to send them away.

After making a decision at the transfer, Aldridge wore a slim coat, stepped on a backpack, and embarked on his winter excursion to the capital of Scotland: Edinburgh.

Strange to say, Aldridge has been to France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and even Northern Europe in the past few years, but Edinburgh, the Scottish capital at his doorstep, has never been there. He probably feels that the distance is too close and did not arouse his curiosity. Mind you, plus the essence of Scottish football is in Glasgow, which is why it is ignored.

With the relaxed mindset of traveling, Aldridge browses around the places of interest in Edinburgh. In this small and exquisite city that supports the power of Scotland, Aldridge admires the gorgeous buildings that can be seen everywhere, including the Victorian era. Outstanding ideas.

For three days in a row, Aldridge strolled alone in the city. When he was tired, he found a cafe to rest and looked at the scenery outside the window.

When the day of the decision to return home arrived, Aldridge walked into a coffee shop called Neil Corson with satisfaction, and after a short break, he would return to London.

But he could never think of it. He suddenly decided to leave the team for a short trip, and stopped inadvertently. He turned into this obscure cafe, but left him with an unforgettable memory. Even if he was old, he felt how incredible his destiny was again.