The Coaching System

August 2nd, 2024 – Training & Team Meeting

Bradford City Training Ground, England

Bradford City had returned home.

After weeks in Saudi Arabia, testing themselves against elite opposition, they were back where it all mattered.

The real work started now.

First Full Team Meeting –

The dressing room was silent.

No music. No chatter. Just the soft sounds of boots being adjusted, of tape being wrapped around ankles, of deep breaths being taken.

Some players sat back, arms crossed, waiting.

Others stretched, rolling out their muscles, their minds already locked in.

But every single one of them was listening.

Because when Jake Wilson stood at the front of the room, it wasn't just another speech.

It wasn't a casual team talk.

It was a statement of intent.

This wasn't about hoping for a strong season.

This was about demanding it.

Jake took his time, letting the weight of the moment settle.

His eyes moved across the room, taking in each player—the veterans, the rising stars, the new signings.

Then, finally, he spoke.

Jake's Message –

Jake let his words hang in the air, his voice steady, his expression unreadable.

"Last season, we proved people wrong."

It wasn't just a statement. It was a fact.

Bradford had been written off before a ball was even kicked.

Too inexperienced. Too small. Not enough depth.

And yet, they had defied every expectation.

"We fought our way up. We played our football. We showed we belong."

His eyes scanned the room, locking onto every player.

"This season? We do more than belong."

His tone sharpened, his words carrying an undeniable weight.

"We win this league."

He folded his arms, letting that sink in.

"No playoffs. No drama. We go up as champions."

A murmur rippled through the squad.

Some players nodded, the confidence already there.

Others sat up straighter, absorbing the message.

But no one was surprised.

They expected this.

They weren't just a team fighting for promotion.

They were a team built to win it outright.

"Automatic promotion. That's the goal. That's the standard."

Jake took a step forward, his voice unwavering.

"And we don't just stop there."

His gaze flicked toward the experienced players—Barnes, Harper, Novak.

"The EFL Cup. The FA Cup. Every match we play, we compete."

They weren't here to just focus on the league.

They were here to make a statement everywhere.

He paused, letting the words settle.

Then, his lips curled into a smirk.

"If anyone in here doesn't believe we can do that—" he gestured to the exit, "there's the door."

Silence.

The air in the room felt heavier, charged with something unspoken.

No one moved.

No one even thought about moving.

That was the answer he wanted.

They weren't just here to play another season.

They were here to take over.

Establishing the Squad Hierarchy-

Jake turned to the whiteboard, where the full squad list was already written out.

But this wasn't just about names on a board.

This was about leadership. Responsibility. Expectations.

And now?

Now, he was making things official.

He picked up the marker, underlined three words at the top.

Captain. Vice-Captain. Key Players.

Then, he turned back to the squad.

"You earn your place in this team. Nothing is given. But these are the players who will set the standard. The ones who lead by example. The ones who drive us forward."

He pointed to the board.

Captain: Nathan Barnes

The leader of the backline.

Vocal. Respected. Tough.

He wasn't just a strong defender—he was the kind of player who set the tone in every match.

"Barnes is our captain." Jake said firmly. "He's the voice on the pitch. When things get tough, he's the one keeping us together."

Barnes nodded once, expression unreadable. But inside? He was ready.

Vice-Captain: Elliot Harper

The engine of the midfield.

Relentless. Consistent. A player Jake trusted completely.

"Harper is our vice-captain." Jake continued. "Not just because of his experience, but because he leads by example. He drives the team forward every single game."

Harper gave a small nod, but his jaw was clenched.

He didn't need the armband to know his role.

But now?

It was his responsibility.

Key Players –

Jake tapped the marker against the board.

"These are the players we build around. The ones who will take us to the next level."

Lukas Novak – The goal scorer. The man who could fire them to promotion.

Santiago Vélez – The midfield maestro. The one who made everything tick.

Renan Silva – The winger who could change a game in a second.

Guilherme Costa – The striker who could turn half-chances into goals.

Jake's gaze swept across the room.

"You're the ones the team will look to when things get tough. You're the ones who will make the difference."

Novak gave a small smirk. Vélez leaned back in his seat, arms crossed. Silva cracked his knuckles.

They knew their importance.

Now, it was about proving it.

Breakout Potential –

Jake moved to the next section.

"These are the players knocking on the door. The ones who will break through this season."

Raphael Mensah – His pace and directness made him a serious threat.

Marco Bianchi – Young, fearless, and already holding his own in defense.

Tobias Richter – A natural finisher. A player on the verge of something special.

Jake turned back to the squad.

"You might not have the experience of some of the others, but that doesn't matter."

"If you prove yourself, if you perform, you'll play. Simple as that."

Mensah sat up straighter. Bianchi nodded. Richter clenched his fists.

They weren't waiting for their chance.

They were ready to take it.

Jake's Final Words –

Jake capped the marker and set it down.

Then, he faced the squad one last time.

"This is our spine. This is our identity."

He let the words settle.

No one argued.

No one disagreed.

Because they all knew—this was the team that would take them to the next level.Final Tactical Adjustments Before the Season Opener

The first match of the season was only days away.

Jake stood at the tactics board, marker in hand, running through the final details.

They had tested themselves in preseason.

They had faced different styles, different challenges.

Now, it was about fine-tuning.

Making sure they were ready to dominate from day one.

High-Intensity Pressing –

"We don't sit back. We dictate the game."

Jake pointed to the midfield and forward lines.

"Every time the opposition has the ball, we make them uncomfortable. We press high, we force mistakes, and we take control."

The goal was simple—win the ball back as quickly as possible.

Harper and Vélez would lead the midfield press.

Silva and Mensah would cut off passing lanes out wide.

Novak and Costa? They would hunt down defenders, forcing rushed clearances.

This wasn't about just chasing the ball.

It was calculated. Relentless. Organized.

They weren't just going to play in League One.

They were going to own it.

Fluid Attacking Rotations –

Jake drew arrows on the board, mapping out the attack.

"We do not stand still. We move. We create space. We pull defenders out of position."

Novak and Costa weren't just two strikers waiting for service.

They would interchange, drag defenders around, and create chaos.

Silva and Mensah?

They wouldn't just stick to their wings.

They would cut inside, overload central areas, stretch the defense.

Vélez and Ibáñez would dictate the tempo, feeding them at every opportunity.

This was about attacking with intelligence.

About being unpredictable.

The opposition wouldn't know where the next threat was coming from.

And that was exactly how Jake wanted it.

Defensive Stability –

Jake turned to the backline.

"Aggressive, but disciplined. We do not make mistakes."

Barnes and Bianchi would be the backbone.

Barnes, the captain, the organizer, the leader. Commanding the defense, keeping the structure.

Bianchi, young but fearless. Winning duels, stepping up when needed.

Richards and Taylor at full-back would push forward when possible, but never recklessly.

And behind them all?

Okafor.

"You control the box. You keep us in the game when needed."

Jake looked around the room.

This team wasn't just talented.

It was built to win.

The First Match –

As the final cones were collected, the last passes struck, and the session wrapped up, Jake took a moment to check the fixture list.

The season was here.

The first match?

Reading.

Jake exhaled slowly.

And suddenly, this match had more meaning.

It wasn't just any season opener.

It was against the player he had sold last year.

James Holbrook.

A player with talent, with ability—but who never fit Jake's system.

Holbrook had wanted to be the star. The centerpiece. The player Bradford City built around.

But Jake hadn't seen it that way.

He needed players who would buy into the system.

Who would sacrifice personal glory for the good of the team.

Holbrook?

He wanted the spotlight.

And when he didn't get it, he wanted out.

So, Jake let him go.

Now?

Holbrook had landed at Reading.

A club with bigger resources, a stronger squad.

A club that, like Bradford, had ambitions of promotion.

Jake knew exactly what was coming.

Holbrook would want revenge.

He would want to prove that Jake had made a mistake.

That he should have been the player leading Bradford to League One glory.

Jake smirked.

"Let's see who proves a point first."

LEAGUE TABLE

# Team P W D L GF GAb GD Pts

1 Barnsley 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2 Birmingham City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

3 Blackpool 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

4 Bolton Wanderers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

5 Bradford City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

6 Bristol Rovers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

7 Burton Albion 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

8 Cambridge United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

9 Charlton Athletic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

10 Crawley Town 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

11 Exeter City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

12 Huddersfield Town 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

13 Leyton Orient 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

14 Lincoln City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

15 Northampton Town 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

16 Peterborough United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

17 Reading 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

18 Rotherham United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

19 Shrewsbury Town 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

20 Stevenage 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

21 Stockport County 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

22 Wigan Athletic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

23 Wrexham 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

24 Wycombe Wanderers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0