Romantic on the Field

27.

Pietro Mutombo.

He is a player with a rather complex background as a Dutch-Congolese Englishman, and although he is only a 6th division leaguer now, he will advance to the Premier League later.

‘I said it was post-Ryckart.’

He is able to play as a central defender, defensive midfielder, and even box-to-box, and even his complex identity as a Surinamese Dutchman resembles him.

‘Somebody’s second who, why are there so many posts?’

Of course, when Jamie, who had a twisted personality, first heard his nickname, he took it with disapproval.

However, after actually facing him in a match, I had no choice but to change my mind.

‘It’s not a post-Ryckard.’

He wasn’t a second person, he was just Pietro Mutombo.

An excellent defender that even Jamie, who is considered world class, struggles.

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Later, after failing to adapt after moving from one team to another, he ended his career as a mediocre player, but he was a very talented player that even Jamie acknowledged.

“Hannah. You have to recruit them unconditionally.”

“…what the hell are you looking at and saying that? Is it because of its size?”

After returning home, Jamie kept urging Hannah to scout him.

“Just take my word for it. uh?”

No, it was almost reckless insistence beyond recommendation.

“I’ll go see a game.”

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Let’s pretend to be deceived and go. Hannah’s expression seemed to say so.

‘done.’

Watching the game in person will change your mind. Jamie was sure.

In fact, the reason Mutombo was in the 6th division was because of the visa problem. He was unable to sign a professional contract because he came to England without obtaining permanent residency.

After that, he obtained permanent residency and visa, but hadn’t played soccer for nearly a year, and was playing in the 6th division near his house to improve his condition.

In other words, the opportunity to sign a Premier League player in the future is now.

‘The problem is that Stoke has to become a team that can do that…’

Jamie checked the Stoke City fixtures before the winter transfer window.

‘Assuming I win all the games I play out…’

Considering the Papa John’s Pizza Cup and the League Cup, the number of victories that can be won in the league is between 3 and 4. 12 to 15 points in terms of points.

If I do well, I thought I could maintain the 5th place in the playoff qualifier rankings.

‘No, that’s not enough.’

Jamie shook his head.

A player who was called the ‘championship contract’ is running, so does it make sense to be promoted to a chin-up?

He raised his goals.

Championship.

That too, an overwhelming victory.

‘In order to do that, I must win right now against Accrington.’

He mentally pictured the play he would try with Brian against Accrington.

**

“…Injury?”

“uh. Oh, this is an important time.”

A few days later, on match day against Accrington Stanley.

Jamie received additional bad news.

“Wow, that’s really bad.”

“yes?”

“not.”

The injured player is Brian.

Except for Jamie, along with Robin, he is almost the only player on the attacking team who plays a human role.

He was out for 2-3 weeks due to a toe injury.

Accrington Stanley was not a very difficult team to play against. I could have won enough without Brian.

But the problem was then.

It is difficult to expect even a draw if both Jamie and Brown are missing in the matches against Cheltenham Town and Exeter City. In fact, it was no exaggeration to say that defeat was certain.

‘It’s not just one or two urgent things.’

Jamie shook his head.

Even if the player layer was thin, it was too thin.

At this rate, it was almost an established fact that players would spread out in the second half of the league.

‘Let’s win today’s match.’

That said, there was nothing Jamie could do. I was just concentrating on the upcoming game.

“I will be honest.”

Moments later, coach Charlie burst through the locker room door and said as if declaring.

When were you not honest? Jamie almost burst out laughing.

“Harry is missing, Brian is also missing. If you compare it to a person, it’s like a big hole pierced in the left arm and waist. Jamie.”

“Yes.”

“So today you have a lot to do.”

when was it not I recalled a similar impression as before, but unlike before, it didn’t look like I was going to laugh.

“Today Jamie plays on the left flank. Well, you could use terms like inverted winger or wide playmaker.”

It’s been a while since I used a detailed term. Jamie’s eyes widened slightly.

“However, I do not like such single words. The name doesn’t matter. What role do you play, and how much can you contribute to the team? That’s all that matters to me.”

Either way, Director Charlie continued his speech.

“Today, Robin is in charge of the front line. Jamie coordinates the entire game from the side. Then, if you think Robin has a chance, connect the ball without delay. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Robin, once Jamie gets the ball, infiltrate him.”

“All right.”

“Today’s offensive tactic is this one. So what do the rest of the players do? keep your place Stay in line and stick to your role. That is enough.”

Although it was said at length, the conclusion was not much different from before.

Jamie takes care of it.

**

[ Watching Lee play, he takes us to special places. ]

thump, thump.

[Oh, oh, oh. Stoke’s Romantics. ]

thump, thump.

[Oh, oh, oh. Stoke’s fantasy star. ]

As soon as the game started, the home fans started singing Jamie’s personal anthem.

‘No, don’t you sing the team’s official cheering song?’

Jamie was bewildered.

‘Well, it’s nice to hear.’

But I didn’t feel bad.

“Jamie!”

Central defender Eric passed the ball to Jamie.

“lee.”

Five minutes later, central midfielder Jack passed to Jamie.

After 10 and 15 minutes, the Stoke City players kept passing to Jamie.

‘Well.’

Jamie, who was positioned on the left flank, watched the situation without overdoing the attack. It was not the position I usually played in, but it was because I needed to adapt.

‘My field of view is different from when I was playing in the center.’

If you played with 180 degrees in the center and 360 degrees behind your back, you only had to look at half of that from the side.

So it was more convenient. Except for moving to the center and breaking through, there were only two options for developing an attack.

Run forward, or lift to the center.

If there is a fullback who often attempts overlapping, there will be one more option here, but the current left fullback of Stoke City was the owner of a very cautious personality. He rarely crosses the half-line unless he really needs a goal.

‘Shall we go soon?’

In the 45th minute of the first half, Jamie broke the silence and started moving.

“Hey.”

He made it to the half-line and raised his hand to Eric, who had the ball.

Erik saw this and kicked the ball at him.

‘No, that crazy guy.’

I should have just made a kicking pass like before, but I made an ambiguous pass that was not a lob pass or a chip shot, as if I wanted to get in the mood. Maybe it was just the development of the feet.

The problem is, not only was the identity ambiguous, but the speed and direction of the ball flying were also very ambiguous.

Jamie tried to turn his back on the opposing full-back who was running after the ball. However, the opponent’s central midfielder, who smelled it, also ran this way.

‘It’s gone.’

Jamie had a hunch.

That the opponent won’t miss this shitty pass.

oh i don’t know He waited and recklessly rammed his body just as the opposing fullback was about to catch the ball.

It was a foul considering that he would receive a yellow card.

‘uh?’

However, a nearby midfielder picked up the ball and the referee declared the advantage.

“Don’t stick!”

“Keep your distance! Stay seated!”

shouted from the Stoke City coaching staff, including Nick Powell.

At the same time, he came over to the Stoke City camp as if he had waited for the Accrington wing, attacking midfielder, and attacker.

“Hold the line!”

Coach Nick shouted again. I didn’t say it directly, but it meant to keep the offside line.

‘Ah, something like a dog.’

Of course, the Stoke players couldn’t keep it.

It moved along the striker penetrating into the penalty box, and the offside line was disturbed.

After that, it was obvious.

The pass went to the striker, and the striker calmly scored the goal.

“Ah-oh! I told you to stay…”

While the opposing players were celebrating goals, Coach Nick expressed his anger. No, I was trying to express it.

“Hey. Listen to me.”

However, when he saw Jamie, who was no different from the youngest member of the team, calling the players together and saying one thing, he shut up.

“Don’t try to do anything. Just like Eric did, don’t try weird passes, and don’t break the offside line trying to follow an infiltrating player. Because whatever you guys try to do, things get worse.”

“Jamie. No matter how much you say…”

Eric, who was openly criticized, tried to respond in a fit of rage.

“I do.”

Of course, Jamie didn’t give that gap.

“A pass that catches the eye, a pass that breaks the opponent’s line. Well, I’ll do all of that. Because that’s what the director ordered me to do. What did you guys order from the manager and coaches?”

“…”

“Keep your seat. keep the line What else? Leave the attack to me. Right?”

To the other players, ironically, it was all right. It’s so true that I don’t even know what to say.

“What role do you play, so how much help can you give to the team? That’s all that matters. Let’s do our part for the sake of the team.”

Jamie repeated what Coach Charlie had said before the game.

Actually, the key was ‘I’ll take care of it, so you guys don’t mess around’, but it was to make it sound like a saying for ‘one team’.

**

The second half has begun.

In the locker room after the first half, coach Charlie didn’t say much.

I don’t know what’s inside, but Coach Charlie’s silence was accepted by the other players as ‘I already said everything I wanted to say before the game’ or ‘Jamie said everything I wanted to say a while ago’.

“Jamie.”

“…”

5 minutes into the second half, Stoke’s throw-in attack.

As I was taking my seat, Eric, who had just missed a pass, approached me.

“sorry.”

“what.”

“I’m sorry I missed the pass earlier.”

Eric wasn’t as good as Robin and Oliver, but he was considered a ‘senior’ on the team.

He was admonished by a 20-year-old kid who had just joined the team.

It was something to be proud of. Even if he was angry with the enemy, not a few people would understand him. However, Eric was not angry. And he went one step further and even apologized directly.

“Why are you apologizing to me for that?”

Of course, Jamie didn’t care much about this.

“···yes?”

“If you really want to apologize, yes. do it to them.”

With a sullen look on his face, he raised his finger and pointed at the audience.

“···Ha ha ha ha ha. yes. You are right. I’ll go apologize after the game.”

Then, leaving behind Eric, who burst into laughter, he went to his seat.

‘How to do it.’

Jamie preferred a straight play.

That’s why there were many cases where I ran from the half line to the opponent’s penalty box without rest and then scored a goal or an assist.

‘Then what about playing on the side?’

After receiving the throw-in, Jamie crossed the half line.

Today he plays as a left midfielder.

When it comes to a straight breakthrough from the side, there are not many options.

He can dig inside and make cutback passes, but most of the time he crosses into the center. And that was the fix.

‘I don’t want to raise the cross.’

But Jamie didn’t want to do that.

Today, Robin played instead of Mikel, who has good air control. Even if he raised a cross, the possibility of connecting it to a goal was not high. However, apart from that, I just didn’t want to post crosses.

The reason was different.

It was because there were scenes that came to mind from earlier.

Amazing shots from the left flank by Gareth Bale, Ned Keating and more.

A play that breaks the opponent’s flank only with speed.

‘What did they do…’

I couldn’t stop even thinking about it.

To-wook.

Maybe it was because I was thinking of a similar scene.

As the opposition full-back approached, Jamie let the ball forward long and started running.

Perhaps feeling the discomfort, the opposing fullback tried to block Jamie with rough hands.

It was an action that took into consideration even receiving a card.

But Jamie wouldn’t allow that either. Before I could do anything more, I sped up and passed him.

Oh oh.

I could hear the home fans groaning.

It’s still too early to be surprised. Jamie thought to herself and continued running.

At its peak, Jamie’s top speed is about 33 km/h.

It’s a little less than Gareth Bale, but since the comparison was Bale, in fact, 33 km/h was a figure that could beat top players and beat them with just one run.

At 20, it’s unclear what his top sprint speed is at this point.

However, it was certain that it was a speed that ordinary 3rd division players could not keep up with.

“lee!”

“lee! run!”

Amid shouts from the crowd, Jamie reached the side of the penalty box.

‘A defender?’

was in front

One right in front, two inside the penalty box.

‘It goes like this.’

Don’t slow down here.

Jamie decided.

Aside from practicality, it was because it was cooler to run non-stop from the half-line and score goals.

Two-woong.

He shot a back shot at the defender who was hesitantly keeping his distance.

This was because it was good for speed and also good for opening the shooting angle right from the side.

‘done.’

Indeed, the shooting angle opened at the same time as the defender who was marking lost his center of gravity.

Without hesitation, Jamie immediately attempted a right-footed kick shot.

The shot was fired after running tens of meters alone.

If it leads to a goal, there was no picture as good as this one.

squash-.

Fortunately, the ball was sucked right into the top right corner, and a very nice picture was completed.

“eee-Yaaa!”

“aaa! lee! lee!”

Stoke home fans were in a state of excitement.

“Jamie! this madman.”

“Is it possible to do so well on the side as well!”

Stoke players and coaching staff were excited as well.

In particular, Eric, who was the cause of the loss, ran towards Jamie with the most excitement.

“Go back to your seats, you bastards.”

Jamie, on the other hand, took the ball out of the net and gestured toward the half-line.

“Eh?”

“What is this? Aren’t you going to score a come-from-behind goal?”

It was a game in which he played as a starter.

He had no intention of being satisfied with a draw.