The Coaching System

August 9th, 2024 – One Day Before Kickoff

Bradford City Training Ground

Press Conference –

Jake Wilson stepped into the media room, his entrance met with the familiar clicks of cameras and murmurs of anticipation.

The first press conference of the League One season.

The room was packed—local journalists, national outlets, even a few international reporters curious about Bradford's rise.

But the attention wasn't on Bradford City's title ambitions.

It wasn't on their preseason dominance, their squad depth, or their tactical evolution.

It was on one man.

James Holbrook.

The midfielder Jake had sold last season.

The player who had once worn the captain's armband at Bradford.

The player who had wanted to be the star.

But when Jake arrived at the club, he saw things differently.

Holbrook was talented—but he didn't fit.

He wanted everything built around him.

And Jake?

Jake wanted a team, not a one-man show.

Now?

Holbrook had his fresh start at Reading.

And fate had lined it up perfectly—his first game with his new club?

Against Bradford City.

Jake reached the podium, adjusted the microphone.

Before he could even settle in, the first journalist fired off the inevitable question.

"Jake, your first game of the season is against Reading—and James Holbrook. Do you have any regrets about selling him?"

Jake barely blinked.

His response was instant.

"No."

The room went silent.

The journalist waited.

Expected him to elaborate, soften his stance, maybe add some pleasantries.

But Jake didn't.

So, the journalist pushed further.

"But surely you expect him to want to prove a point against you?"

Jake finally leaned forward, his expression unreadable.

His gaze swept across the room, calm, composed, completely unaffected.

"That's up to him. My job is to focus on the players I have, not the ones who left."

His tone was measured, controlled.

No bitterness.

No disrespect.

No headline-worthy soundbites.

Just a simple truth.

Bradford City had moved on.

Holbrook?

He was just another opponent now.

There was a brief pause before the room came alive again.

A few reporters whispered to each other. They wanted more.

But Jake had given them nothing to work with.

No grudge match narrative.

No petty digs.

Just a manager who had made a decision and stood by it.

Another journalist tried a different angle.

"Do you think Holbrook will be extra motivated to face Bradford?"

Jake exhaled slightly, then shrugged.

"That's up to him. Every player should be motivated for every game. If he needs extra motivation, that's his problem."

More silence.

More notes scribbled.

Jake had effectively shut the topic down.

And that's exactly how he wanted it.

The next question came, shifting the focus.

"So, what should we expect from Bradford this season?"

Jake relaxed slightly.

This?

This was the question he wanted.

Now, he could talk about his team.

His players.

His vision.

Holbrook's story had already ended.

Bradford's?

It was just getting started.

The journalists moved on, shifting their focus to what really mattered—Bradford City's ambitions.

Jake had made it very clear from day one—he wasn't here just to compete.

He was here to win.

And now?

Now, the media wanted to know if that confidence came with a cost.

A reporter near the front, notepad in hand, leaned forward.

"Jake, you've been very vocal about wanting automatic promotion. Does that put extra pressure on your squad?"

Jake smirked slightly, leaning back in his chair.

His response was immediate.

"Pressure? No. Expectations? Yes."

A few journalists exchanged glances.

Jake locked eyes with the reporter, his expression unwavering.

"We know what we're capable of. We don't shy away from it. We want to win the league. Simple as that."

No hesitation.

No walking back his previous statements.

No "We'll take it one game at a time" clichés.

Just pure confidence.

The Media Pushes Further

The journalist wasn't finished.

"But League One is a long, grueling season. Plenty of teams will be fighting for those top two spots. What makes you so sure Bradford can do it?"

Jake tilted his head slightly, considering the question.

Then, he spoke with the same conviction as before.

"Because we built this team to win."

He gestured subtly as he continued.

"We have depth. We have quality. We have a squad that understands how to dominate games, not just survive them."

Another pause.

Another slight smirk.

"And if we do what we're supposed to do? No one in this league stops us."

The room stayed quiet for a second.

Jake had just put a target on Bradford City's back.

And he didn't care.

Setting the Mentality –

A different reporter, voice more cautious, spoke up.

"But if you fall short—if you don't get promoted—would you consider it a failure?"

Jake's jaw tightened slightly.

His response was measured, but firm.

"Yes."

The word hung in the air.

There was no "We'll see how the season plays out."

No "We'll reassess our goals in a few months."

Just one simple truth.

Bradford City was playing for promotion.

Nothing less.

Final Thoughts –

The last few questions came and went, mostly focused on the upcoming Reading match.

But as the press conference wrapped up, one thing was clear—Jake Wilson wasn't hiding from anything.

Bradford wasn't just hoping for success.

They were expecting it.

And if that put extra weight on their shoulders?

So be it.

Because Jake didn't just want to win League One.

He wanted to own it.

System Prediction & Tactical Analysis

Later that evening, back in his office, Jake Wilson sat at his desk, the soft glow of his laptop screen illuminating the room.

The preseason was over. The talking was done.

Now, it was time for results.

He clicked open the system screen, his eyes immediately scanning the data as a familiar notification popped up.

[Ding! System Prediction]

Reading Win Probability: 35%

Bradford Win Probability: 55%

Draw Probability: 10%

Jake exhaled slowly, a small smirk forming.

Favorable odds.

But he knew better than to put too much stock in numbers.

Football wasn't played on percentages.

It was played on the pitch.

And Reading wouldn't just hand them the win.

They would fight.

They would scrap.

They would try to turn this game into a battle, especially with Holbrook leading them.

Jake leaned forward, eyes narrowing as the system tactical report loaded.

[System Tactical Report]

Reading's Strengths – Where They Could Hurt Bradford

Holbrook's Creativity – If given space, he could dictate the tempo and unlock defenses with his passing.

Set-Piece Threat – Their center-backs were dominant in the air, making them dangerous from corners and free kicks.

Compact Midfield – Reading's midfield stayed disciplined and organized, making it tough to break through the center.

Jake rubbed his chin.

None of this was surprising.

Reading would try to slow the game down, control possession, and feed Holbrook as much as possible.

They would play safe, structured football.

But if Bradford dictated the tempo early?

If they rushed Reading into mistakes?

The game would swing in their favor.

Tactical Approach –

Jake walked into the team meeting room, his presence immediately shifting the atmosphere.

His coaching staff and analysts were already gathered, notes spread out, tactics drawn on the whiteboard.

At the front, Paul Robert, his assistant, stood by the tactics board, arms folded.

Jake didn't wait.

He stepped forward, voice firm, direct.

"We control the tempo. We press them out of the game. We punish their mistakes."

His words were measured, but his intent was clear.

This wasn't just about winning.

This was about dominating.

Jake picked up a marker, turning to the board.

The Game Plan

Exploit the Flanks

Silva and Mensah would target Reading's full-backs, who struggled under pressure.

One-on-one situations. Direct runs. No hesitation.

"Make them panic. Make them uncomfortable."

Press Aggressively

Harper and Vélez would be tasked with hunting Holbrook down.

They wouldn't let him dictate play, wouldn't let him get comfortable.

"He wants time on the ball? He won't get it."

Fast Transitions

Novak and Costa would constantly make runs in behind Reading's slow center-backs.

Every turnover? An opportunity to strike.

"They can't handle speed. We exploit that."

Jake turned back to his staff.

His gaze was sharp, unwavering.

"This is how we win."

No doubts.

No second-guessing.

Just pure execution.

Tomorrow, Bradford City would step onto the pitch knowing exactly what they needed to do.

And Reading?

They wouldn't be ready for what was coming.

Media & Fan Reactions –

Later that night, as Jake finally got home, he checked his phone.

Social media was buzzing.

The press conference had sparked a reaction.

The media ran headlines dissecting his confidence.

📢 "Jake Wilson: No Regrets Over Holbrook Sale – 'We Focus on Our Players.'"

📢 "Bradford Boss Makes Bold Title Claim – 'We Expect to Win.'"

But what really mattered?

The Fan Café.

The heart of Bradford's supporters.

Jake scrolled through the messages.

"That's our gaffer. No nonsense. Just business."

"I love that he doesn't give Holbrook the attention he wants. We've moved on."

"Wilson is building something special. I believe in this team."

Jake smirked slightly.

They got it.

Tomorrow?

They'd see it for themselves