Football System: Touchline God
Chapter 57: First Training Session III

Chapter 57: First Training Session III

"Right, listen up," Maddox called out, his voice carrying across the training ground.

The players jogged over, gathering around him, sweat already beading on their foreheads from the warm-up drills.

"We’re going to have a scrimmage. Forty minutes. I want to see how you play under pressure and also get familiar with your play style."

The holographic panels flickered in his vision as he looked at each player. Formation suggestions floated at the edge of his sight: 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1.

But first, he needed to see them play. Really play, in other to confirm what formation suited them best.

"Teddy, grab the bibs," Maddox said. "There’ll be red and blue teams. We’ll split them down the middle."

Johnson nodded and jogged to the equipment bag. The players shifted on their feet, some stretching, others bouncing with nervous energy.

Jack Stones was already organizing the defenders, his captain’s armband catching the afternoon light.

"Who’s picking teams, coach?" Ishaan asked, flicking his hair out of his eyes.

"I am," Maddox replied. He’d studied their stats, their strengths and weaknesses. Time to put theory into practice. "This isn’t about best versus worst. It’s about balance, to find the right structure."

The system panels updated as he looked at each player. Current ability ratings, potential stars, detailed attributes. It was like having a scout’s report for every single player floating in his field of vision.

"Red team," Maddox began, pointing as he spoke. "Freddie Booth in goal. Darnell Vickers right-back, Jack Stones center-back, Marcelo Rocha left-back. Harvey Quinlan and Émile Fournier in midfield, with Ishaan Bhatt ahead of them. Ethan Suleiman right wing, Declan Whittaker left wing, Luis Navarro up front."

Freddie pumped his fist. The young goalkeeper had been fighting for his place all season, and starting in the scrimmage meant something.

"Blue team," Maddox continued. "Luca De Santis in goal. Jonny Dacres right-back, Finnley Mayers and Will van Drunen center-backs, Kaiden Shaw left-back. Noah Mbete-Sekou and Toby Kuipers holding midfield, Reece Alden playing behind Zayn Carter up front. Myles Garrison left wing."

The players began separating, pulling on their colored bibs. Red and blue groups formed naturally, with excited chatter filling the air.

"Wait," Zayn called out. "That’s only ten for both teams. There’s still a goalkeeper and a full-back left out."

Maddox nodded. "Ollie Pritchard, you’re playing right wing for blue. That’s ten against eleven. Red with offensive strength and blue with defensive strength."

The utility player shrugged and jogged over to his team. Nothing flashy, nothing poor. Just steady.

"Forty minutes," Maddox announced. "Twenty each way. I want to see intensity, but keep it clean. No injuries before Sunday."

Teddy Johnson set up cones for goals at either end of the training pitch. The players took their positions, red attacking the near goal, blue defending.

"You ready, Freddie?" Darnell called to his goalkeeper.

"Always," Freddie replied, bouncing on his toes. His reflexes rating of 7 showed as he moved—quick reactions but that short reach the system had noted.

Maddox stood on the touchline, his eyes scanning the field. The system panels flickered constantly, updating with real-time observations as the players moved.

"Let’s go then," he shouted.

Jack Stones kicked off for the red team, passing back to Harvey. The box-to-box midfielder’s heavy first touch was immediately apparent—the ball bounced awkwardly off his foot, but his stamina rating of 10 showed as he sprinted to recover it.

"Switch it," Émile called from deep. The French midfielder’s silky technique was obvious even in this simple pass, the ball floating perfectly to Marcelo on the left.

The Brazilian full-back’s pace rating of 10 became clear as he surged forward, leaving Jonny Dacres scrambling to keep up. But just as the system had warned, Marcelo’s defensive vulnerability showed when he lost the ball attempting a fancy stepover.

"Track back!" Jack shouted, his leadership qualities on full display.

Jonny picked up the loose ball and played it inside to Noah. The young defensive midfielder’s strength rating of 11 was evident as he shrugged off Harvey’s challenge, but his poor vision showed when he played a square pass straight to Ishaan.

"Thank you very much," Ishaan grinned, his creativity rating of 11 sparking to life. He dropped his shoulder, fooled Toby completely, and slipped a perfect through ball to Luis.

The young striker’s clever movement was like watching the system’s analysis come to life. While Zayn Carter would have charged at the ball, Luis Navarro ghosted between the center-backs, his movement rating of 10 creating space from nothing.

"Luca!" Will van Drunen called desperately.

The backup goalkeeper’s nervous tendencies showed immediately. His handling like a squirrel on caffeine, as the system had noted, was obvious when he rushed out to collect the ball and dropped it under low pressure.

"Steady, lad," Finnley Mayers called to his keeper. The composed center-back’s positioning rating of 10 was clear as he moved to cover, but his poor tackling technique became apparent when Luis skipped past him easily.

Luis’s finishing rating of 11, the highest Maddox had seen, showed as he placed his shot perfectly into the bottom corner. 1-0 to red.

"Yes!" Declan shouted, his pace rating of 11 was obvious as he sprinted to celebrate with Luis. But even in celebration, his poor end product showed when he skied the ball trying to volley it back into the net.

"Good finish," Maddox called out, making mental notes. Luis was finding space the others couldn’t see. The system’s recommendation for regular playing time was starting to make sense.

Blue team kicked off through Zayn Carter. The main striker’s poor link-up play was immediately evident when he tried to play a one-two with Reece but his heavy touch sent the ball yards wide.

"Keep it simple," Toby Kuipers called, his deep-lying playmaker instincts showing. His long passing was crisp, just as the system had noted, finding Myles Garrison on the left wing with a perfectly weighted ball.

Myles’s energetic dribbling lit up the touchline. His dribbling rating of 10 was clear as he twisted past Darnell Vickers, but his questionable decision-making showed when he tried to beat two more players instead of crossing.

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