Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 21

< 020. Willing >

“Oh my. How is Rohan so enthusiastic about everything? I wish the other kids were even half as diligent as Rohan.”

“It’s because people like me have to work hard.”

“Huh? What do you mean, people like you?”

Rohan simply responds with a smile to the teacher’s question.

He didn’t want to give an answer that might create a gloomy atmosphere.

He himself wasn’t feeling down at all, but he knew that others might perceive it that way.

‘If you don’t have talent, you have to work hard.’

People around him often comment on how hard he works and how amazing he is.

But for Rohan, it was just a matter of course.

Some people do well without even trying, while others have to work hard just to survive.

Rohan simply believed he belonged to the latter group.

That’s why he puts his all into everything.

It wasn’t anything particularly special.

“Anyway, it’s really impressive. Your grades have improved by one level in all subjects, so you might even get all A’s on the next exam.”

“I’ll try my best.”

Rohan had been preparing for the tryouts while also keeping up with his studies.

However, after joining the West Ham Academy thanks to his brother,

Rohan focused even more on his classes.

While training with the other kids at the academy, Rohan realized it even more clearly.

It was something he had known all along, but football has its limits with effort alone.

Especially,

He would be a fool if he couldn’t recognize it, seeing his brother up close.

His brother had aced the tryouts that he had repeatedly failed at such a young age, and to top it off, he debuted in the Premier League and was performing exceptionally well.

Seeing such ‘real talent’ right next to him, it was inevitable that his motivation for football would wane.

However, that was only as a player.

Rohan’s love for football was greater than anyone else’s.

He even thought that he might love football more than his dad.

Therefore, his desire to live with football in the future remained unchanged.

But as a player, Rohan was deeply troubled as he felt his own limitations.

But,

In the midst of all this, Rohan felt his mind clearing up after hearing his dad’s story this morning.

‘If I can help Yo Han…’

A beloved younger brother and a close friend.

Rohan had many emotions when he looked at Yo Han.

Among them, he doesn’t deny that there is definitely a feeling of envy.

However,

The feeling of gratitude was much greater than that.

It was because Yo Han was doing what he couldn’t do.

Wearing the West Ham uniform and showing what kind of blood flows in the Bahn family.

Enhancing the family’s honor.

Making their dad, who does everything for his sons, happy.

These were things he couldn’t do.

All of these impossible things wouldn’t have happened if Yo Han hadn’t put on his soccer shoes again.

But,

Because he made up his mind, these unbelievable things are happening now.

Rohan knew his brother well.

He knew how stressed his brother was because of football and how much he didn’t want to do it.

So, he could also gauge how much Yo Han had given up to be playing football now.

Rohan couldn’t help but be grateful to his brother.

Rohan wanted to be helpful to such a brother.

Perhaps it was like repaying a debt.

Supporting the only heir who would carry on the family line.

Rohan thought that was the role he should play.

Fortunately, there seemed to be many ways he could help his brother.

Methods that he was most confident in, methods that had potential if he worked hard.

‘Got on the popular posts. Hehe…’

Rohan smiled as he browsed Hammers.com on his phone.

It was because the column he had posted received many recommendations from fans and made it to the popular posts.

-Accurate analysis. Leaving a recommendation.

-As expected, Bahniboy’s column is worth reading.

-Recommend first, then appreciate. It matches my opinion exactly.

-Is Bahniboy currently working in the field? The analysis is really sharp.

-The club should appoint Bahniboy as a tactical coach!

‘Bahniboy’ is the pen name Rohan is using.

Bahniboy was already a well-known user on Hammers.com, to the point where almost everyone knew him.

It was because the quality of Rohan’s columns was considerable.

Tactical analysis, match commentary, analysis of key points.

In addition to the trends in the transfer market and professional information related to the current club.

Among the fans, Bahniboy’s column was even rated better than current experts working under their real names.

The reason why Rohan could write such high-quality columns was simple.

He was born as a Hammers fan and loves football more than anyone else.

Rohan was confident that no expert could match his love for West Ham and football.

‘Shall I finish writing what I was writing?’

Rohan opened his laptop to continue writing the column he had been working on during the remaining break time.

This column will probably be on the popular posts as soon as it’s written.

The power of the pen name Bahniboy is great.

Title – Yo Han Bahn. Why we should pay attention to this player.

Tap tap.

Rohan began to write a vast amount of content.

As he did, he thought.

In whatever way, he would definitely become a brother who could help his brother.

ㆍㆍㆍ

“What… does he seem to be in even better condition?”

“He didn’t do anything for 4 days and rested.”

May 22, 2027, Turf Moor Stadium in Burnley.

The Premier League Round 36 match between West Ham and Burnley is in full swing.

“I thought his body would feel heavy if he rested for that long.”

“Don’t try to understand it with common sense. He’s not a normal guy…”

Today, coach Jamie and manager Schmidt were shaking their heads again.

Of course, it was because of Yo Han.

After the game against Norwich, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.

Yo Han, who hadn’t shown his face for 4 days, barely appeared at training on Friday. Looking even more dead than usual.

It was only natural.

Because the more you rest, the more you want to rest.

He hadn’t even gone out to play during his break, but had been lying at home all the time.

The guy who saw the sunlight for the first time in 4 days even looked pale, or maybe it was just his imagination.

That’s why manager Schmidt was a little worried.

Regarding Yo Han’s condition.

It was usually common for your condition to drop if you rested for too long.

His senses would be dulled, and there would be physical problems.

But his performance at training the day before yesterday was okay, but the actual game is different, so manager Schmidt started Yo Han with half-doubt.

However.

“Good, that’s right! Oh! Are you spitting out what your brother is feeding you, Tulio!” [Referring to a player’s performance boost, implying Rohan’s influence]

Yo Han’s condition in the game didn’t seem to be a problem at all.

No,

He looked even better.

Whether rest is really a tonic for him,

Yo Han was showing off an even sharper look than in his debut match without any regrets.

“They’re blocking it so stubbornly. Annoying guys.”

It was true that today’s opponent, Burnley, was also in the lower ranks, just like Norwich.

However, that’s why it was a difficult team to get 3 points from.

Burnley’s goal in the game itself was a draw.

Burnley, whose basic base was the so-called ten-back, all-defense posture, was rather difficult for teams like West Ham.

Teams with the power to be in the Champions League break through that ten-back with their size, but West Ham, which didn’t have a proper spear, often self-destructed by suffocating in that ten-back.

“Good, you opened it well!”

However, today was different.

West Ham had a new spear called Yo Han.

A heavy spear that dents the shield every time it stabs.

Yo Han was showing an undeniable presence even in the situation of being trapped in the ten-back [a defensive strategy where most players focus on defending].

He jumps up alone in the swamp full of defenders to win the aerial ball,

He receives the ball with his back to the defender and opens the way by spreading it left and right,

Occasionally, he threatens the goal with lightning-like shots at unexpected timings.

Because of Yo Han alone,

The Burnley’s ten-back was constantly cracking.

So,

Even if this opponent was also a lower-ranked team like last time.

Yo Han’s performance was real.

“If the strikers these days could do even half of that, they’d be making a fuss about 70 billion or 80 billion. What a windfall we have? Right, manager?”

Coach Jamie’s words were true.

It’s been talked about for 10 years already, but there’s been a lot of talk lately about whether the players’ values are too inflated.

Among them, the striker.

The values of strikers are soaring without knowing how high the sky is.

The position of strikers in the transfer market these days is that they start at a minimum of 50 billion even if they just have basic conditions without any particularly outstanding features.

The striker shortage is getting worse and worse.

In this situation, Yo Han, who has a transfer fee of 0, popped out, so what kind of luck is this?

In a situation where guys who can’t even do half of that are demanding huge amounts of money as striker prospects.

“Didn’t we save hundreds of billions?”

At coach Jamie’s question, manager Schmidt runs the calculator in his head.

Considering the appearance he is showing on the pitch,

Considering his age,

At least 100 billion no matter what.

At least 100 billion no matter what.

It was not a joke.

As an expert who has been in this industry for decades, he was making a very objective prediction.

But,

That’s the story in the state of his second league appearance today.

What if he completely adapts to this league and his skills gradually mature?

Perhaps,

It was the story that he could create a completely new team thanks to that guy alone.

‘New team…’

Manager Schmidt had a concern from the moment he saw Yo Han playing his first practice game.

And, while watching the game last time, that concern filled manager Schmidt’s head.

That concern was,

A major concern that could have affected the entire next season.

“He seems to be getting tired, what should we do? Manager.”

“Replace him with Garay. And, Gilmore instead of Barton. Timangs instead of Coleman.”

“Yes. I understand.”

Around the 15th minute of the second half.

Manager Schmidt gives the substitution signal.

He replaces two midfielders whose mobility has decreased due to stamina problems at once, and takes out Yo Han, who also seems to be losing stamina.

“Good job, good job.”

“Good job, kid!”

“…”

Perhaps because he only accumulated 1 goal stat,

Yo Han walks out with a not-so-good expression.

He seems dissatisfied with being substituted earlier than he thought, even though he could have played more.

The performance he showed today could not be defined by stats alone.

His interest is only in training exemptions through stats, so it can’t be helped.

Manager Schmidt smiled at Yo Han and thought.

‘Liverpool game…’

Next game, Premier League Round 37.

The opponent is Liverpool, currently 2nd in the league.

A strong team with quite a difference in size from West Ham, which is marking 9th place.

Manager Schmidt was planning to start Yo Han in that game as well.

But,

From Yo Han’s point of view, the Liverpool game will be different from the previous games.

Liverpool is a strong team that is on a different level from Norwich and Burnley, but,

The bigger difference than that is that it will be his first full-time game.

‘It will be a good test…’

At the point when there were only two league games left,

West Ham and manager Schmidt had already started planning for the next season with the rankings confirmed.

But,

The appearance of Yo Han, an irregular who suddenly popped out from somewhere, was enough to shake up manager Schmidt’s plan, which had already been somewhat grasped.

Therefore,

Manager Schmidt wanted to check one last thing.

A game against a strong team called Liverpool.

Whether Yo Han can show potential in that game as well.

‘It’s not like there’s no risk at all…’

Some might ask what more needs to be confirmed when a sixteen-year-old has scored 3 goals and 2 assists in two games, including his debut.

But,

Clearly, Yo Han’s playing style was a style that put risks on the team.

In order to utilize Yo Han, the stamina of other players had to be consumed more.

Manager Schmidt, who hates such risks the most, wanted to check one more time.

However,

In fact, there was another reason why manager Schmidt had no choice but to be cautious than those risks.

That is,

It was because he was trying to bet something bigger on him.

Next season.

A very huge thing called the team’s one year.

No matter how risky it is, if you have a talent like Yo Han, there is no reason to kick him out.

It was clear that he was a talent that should be grown well and used somehow, even if it takes time.

But,

What manager Schmidt was thinking about was the immediate next season.

Immediately, the starting position for next season.

Depending on what potential Yo Han shows in the Liverpool game,

Manager Schmidt was going to make a decision and go.

It was the plan for next season.

So, next Sunday will be a more important day than anything else.

For Yo Han, and for West Ham.

‘I’m ready.’

Manager Schmidt was ready.

Manager Schmidt didn’t even keep lazy players on the squad.

So, it didn’t make sense to use such a player as a starter.

But,

If Yo Han shows potential in the game against Liverpool.

He was ready to break it as much as possible.

His stubbornness, that is.