Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Uphill (5)
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Black-Haired Tactical Genius
Chapter 125: Uphill (5)
May.
Ahead of the 45th round of the league, Bolton Wanderers held a meeting.
Veteran power analyst Neil Rose stood beside the screen filling the wall, continuing his explanation.
"Brian Ducks of Plymouth Argyle is one of the fastest wingers out there. He's a resource who mainly shines from the left wing position, with a style that exploits space."
"A classic winger style."
Jeong-woo nodded and added.
"He slips the ball into the side or half-space and bursts forward on a sprint. Rather than underlapping to charge into the center, he's the type whose strengths lie in running crosses from the touchline or cutbacks followed by crosses."
He then reached for the tactics board on the table.
"And here, target man Tony Butland is the type of striker who gobbles up those crosses."
Over the past few days, he'd analyzed Plymouth Argyle's match footage.
One of their main attacking routes was side play through cutbacks and crosses.
Jeong-woo tilted his head slightly, as if questioning himself.
"So, what's the shutdown method?"
All eyes turned to Jeong-woo.
Jeong-woo lifted the corner of his mouth slyly and answered.
"Smash into him head-on."
"Smash into him?"
Neil Rose was the one who questioned it.
Rose furrowed his brow and asked again.
"He's a winger with excellent timing and speed on his runs, and you're saying we can shut him down just by smashing into him?"
Some coaches nodded in agreement with Rose's doubt.
But Jeong-woo nodded without hesitation.
"Yes. His speed and line-breaking ability are top-notch, but he's physically quite frail. In a zonal defense setup, just charging a shoulder into him the moment he penetrates should be enough to control him."
Jeong-woo moved the magnetic pieces on the tactics board one by one as he continued.
"For defense, how about protecting with a five-back? As a counter to Plymouth Argyle's sequential counters involving their left and right wingers, striker, and playmaker."
He further added that they'd form a zonal line without anyone stepping out of position, matching the opponent's advancing speed.
Jeong-woo cocked his head at an angle and said.
"I watched their last match footage. They defended in a five-back, but one center-back stepped up, creating a pocket zone in that space. Plymouth's striker exploited it without fail."
Jeong-woo reached for the magnetic piece he'd designated as Plymouth's playmaker.
"This guy lofted a pass right on cue to break the line."
He immediately placed the striker's piece behind Bolton's five-back.
"In an instant, Plymouth's striker ends up in a one-on-one with our keeper."
Everyone nodded in agreement with Jeong-woo's explanation.
They had the speedy center-back Dennis Slip, but they saw him as outmatched in a foot race.
"Even under equal conditions, this striker, Tony Butland, has a slight edge in speed. Plus, the defender has to chase with his back turned, so he'd fall even further behind."
The analysis of Plymouth Argyle continued for a while like that.
For Jeong-woo, this meeting demanded more focus than usual.
He listened intently to Neil Rose and the staff's opinions, immediately applying them to the tactics on the board.
That was how crucial the Plymouth Argyle match was.
*If we lose this one, it's all over.*
It'd be no different from kissing the title goodbye.
*And it's not like Hull City is going to lose both their remaining games.*
Even if Hull City picked up one win and one loss, Bolton needed to win both of theirs to clinch the league title.
The thought made his brow furrow deeply.
The radio had spouted something about great achievements coming from great risks, but what bullshit.
*Damn it, why are the league leaders and third-place team our final opponents?*
He'd just been puffing up the players' morale by acting tough.
They'd shown their mettle beating Man United, but this was a different beast.
Either way, this had to be the work of the gods.
Time passed.
*I'm beat.*
Hee-won, who'd offered a few opinions from his seat on the right, turned his head and let out a short yawn.
A quick glance at the wall clock showed evening approaching.
*How many hours has it been?*
The meeting felt like it had been going for a solid three hours.
Even so, Jeong-woo was on his feet, passionately shuffling the Bolton and Plymouth Argyle magnets on the tactics board without pause.
Like he was playing a simulation game.
"First, when closing the gap between the winger and central midfielder...!"
"Here, give Owen some freedom...!"
"Against Plymouth Argyle, we need to minimize inefficient space. Meaning no overlapping positions. So here...!"
Everyone was used to this by now, wearing detached expressions.
Veteran analyst Neil Rose nodded along with bloodshot eyes, trying his best to listen.
Hee-won, scanning the staff, couldn't help but chuckle in disbelief.
*That guy's a Jeong-woo fanboy.*
Ryan Enby, the young talent, had been absorbing Jeong-woo's passion with sparkling eyes from start to finish.
*One of the Mad Dog. diehards, huh.*
Jeong-woo had mentioned it before.
Among the Mad Dog. fans, he was the top one—every tactics proposal was just copy-pasting the wildest ideas.
That's when it happened.
Thud-!
All eyes snapped to Jeong-woo, who'd slammed his fist on the table.
Hee-won startled and looked up.
Jeong-woo's eyes were sharper than ever as he spoke.
"Therefore, for the Plymouth game... we're running the formation."
In that instant, everyone's eyes widened like saucers.
* * *
[Will Bolton Wanderers unleash fiery attacking soccer against Plymouth Argyle?]
[Soccer experts unanimous: 'Bolton will run a defensive setup against Plymouth.']
As match day approached, media and public opinion buzzed with curiosity over the two teams' win-loss prospects and styles.
Above all, people were wondering about Bolton's game management.
Korean fans were no different.
- <LifeIsAFootballMile> : Plymouth Argyle is super aggressive..., but Bolton's aggressive too, so maybe they'll trade blows.
- <BlackDragon> : I think Bolton will park the bus in a two-back like against Man U and melt them with a counter.
- <JisongPark> : I guarantee it. Bolton will set up defensively and go sequential for the win.
Opinions were split.
For a simple reason.
Bolton's tactics had been a rainbow of variety so far.
Jeong-woo always brought custom tactics tailored to the opponent's playstyle.
Some experts even said.
Their attacking levels were similar, but Plymouth Argyle was superior defensively.
"Bolton ranks 16th out of 24 teams in goals conceded per game."
Plymouth Argyle's Ryan Bowan was a middle-aged man with a deeply furrowed brow and sharp eyes.
The day before the match, at his press conference, he said this.
"Ironically..., Bolton is also the team that minimizes goals conceded against strong sides by committing the whole formation to defense in a two-back or ten-back setup."
"So that's why I'm asking, Coach Ryan. Do you see Bolton basing their tactics on defense against Plymouth?"
Ryan Bowan nodded at the reporter without hesitation.
"Exactly. Even though we're third, one point behind them..., we pride ourselves on better balance in attack and defense."
But inside, he thought differently.
*They're obviously going aggressive.*
Tong-a Pak and Sensuous Ruff were the league's top attacking duo.
*And Emmanuel Adebayor's form is improving by the day.*
Adebayor had the finishing and movement to dismantle defenses with minimal effort.
*Shearer Kane... can score from nowhere angles.*
Bolton's youngest forward, Kane—who'd been alternating starts and subs—was steadily improving.
*They were threats against Man U, Sunderland, Arsenal...!*
He couldn't imagine them going defensive with those assets.
*If it were me, I'd drop Owen back and run a three-top.*
Of course, Plymouth Argyle's attack was also top-tier in League One.
Along with Hull City and Bolton.
Plus, Ryan Bowan had closely analyzed Bolton's games.
Sometimes they traded blows even against the big teams.
*And yet..., they only yielded specific pockets behind while shutting down the rest. They absorbed the attacks when prepared.*
Ryan Bowan knew Bolton's Manager Ma was an exceptional tactician.
But in interviews, Bowan showed his sly side.
"In every aspect, Plymouth Argyle overwhelms Bolton."
He relentlessly downplayed Bolton at times.
Even naming specific players.
It was a feint and provocation.
To induce complacency and sow confusion in their tactical choices.
Personally, he hoped they'd ditch defense for aggression.
He judged they had the edge in an open firefight.
"So we'll crush Bolton with our usual attacking tactics, just like last round. I bet Bolton will be shaking tomorrow in the face of our fierce attack."
Like Bolton, this match was vital for Ryan Bowan.
Plymouth trailed Hull City by three points, but two wins could put the title in play depending on results.
*We lead Hull in goal difference...!*
Truth be told, the title wasn't everything.
Bowan's top priority was automatic promotion.
But a loss here meant playoffs.
*We have to avoid the playoffs...!*
Ryan Bowan was born in Plymouth, Devon, England.
Having played for the club, he had a special affection for it.
And he'd felt it to his bones.
After financial blows, Plymouth lost its core and spiraled downward.
Relegated from the Championship in 2010, they plummeted to League Two and languished as gatekeepers.
Their promotion to League One was just four years ago.
His fist clenched at his knee.
*No more...!*
In those four years, they'd always crumbled in the playoffs.
So Bowan desperately wanted a win over Bolton to secure second place and automatic promotion.
*This is no different from a final.*
* * *
Match day.
Entering Bolton's University Stadium, Ryan Bowan was already flustered multiple times.
First, the massive stone monument at Gate A entrance threw him off.
They were the Wanderers, yet chanting that Man U were shit-fodder.
And now, from the technical area, he was even more rattled.
His pupils trembled finely as he eyed the pitch.
Plymouth had hoped Bolton would play aggressive to open up the back more easily...,
*Four forwards?*
A straight-up four-top.
He wondered what the hell they were thinking with this setup.
Right before his eyes: Emmanuel Adebayor, Tong-a Pak, Sensuous Ruff, and Shearer Kane all starting.