Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 32

< 031. Stock Manipulator >

The second round of the season, against Watford, and the third round against Aston Villa were both away games.

Watford and Aston Villa.

Like Crystal Palace, both teams had fought for mid-table positions with West Ham last season.

Watford finished 14th, Aston Villa 10th.

West Ham had a record of one win and one loss against both teams last season.

This early schedule, with games against teams of similar strength, was bound to be an important period for West Ham.

After all, earning three points against top-tier teams is very difficult.

Therefore, they had to snatch all three points from teams they could beat to keep their season goal of securing a Europa League spot within reach.

Moreover, after these games, a match against their derby rival, Tottenham, who were arguably weaker, awaited them.

For West Ham, the results of these two away games were crucial.

To cut to the chase,

West Ham succeeded in earning three points in both games.

Watford game, 2-0 victory.

Aston Villa game, 3-1 victory.

West Ham achieved a three-game winning streak, displaying fiery firepower by scoring five goals in two games.

As expected, Johan made the difference.

Johan recorded one goal in the Watford game and two goals and one assist in the Aston Villa game, contributing four attack points.

In truth, neither game was a complete West Ham domination.

Especially the Aston Villa game; the stats suggested that Aston Villa should have won.

Villa had a slight advantage in possession, and they had more shots, nine to five.

However, West Ham ultimately took the three points.

And the reason that was possible was, as expected, the difference in the striker’s finishing ability.

Like West Ham, Aston Villa was also a team that heavily relied on their striker for goals.

In fact, Aston Villa’s striker, Danny Fraser, recorded the most shots in the game, with six shots.

However,

Fraser only had two shots on target despite taking six shots.

Of course, one of those shots on target was a goal, so it couldn’t be said that Fraser had a bad game.

Rather, Fraser played his part.

The problem was that Johan, West Ham’s striker, who was directly compared to Fraser, showed a completely different performance.

Unlike Fraser, who scored one goal from six shots, Johan scored two goals from just three shots.

Johan boasted a much more efficient conversion rate.

In the end, the difference in the striker’s finishing ability created a score of 3-1, even though the game was roughly equal.

However, Danny Fraser had reason to feel hard done by.

After this game,

Aston Villa fans harshly criticized Fraser, comparing him to Johan.

They said that Johan, their team’s striker, scored two goals from three shots, while he hogged the shots and only scored one goal.

But,

Fraser’s point of grievance was that six shots and one goal wasn’t a bad stat.

It was just that Johan’s three shots and two goals were ridiculous.

Being criticized for not doing that much felt too harsh on Fraser.

Anyway,

Having won both games and achieved a three-game winning streak including the opening game, West Ham returned home to prepare for a match against one of their London rivals.

Tottenham.

…

“Hehehe…”

Rohan couldn’t stop smiling as he looked at his laptop.

Three consecutive wins after the opening.

Rohan felt satisfied just by looking at the league table.

#1 WEST HAM 3-0-0

#2 MAN CITY 3-0-0

#3 CHELSEA 2-1-0

#4 LIVERPOOL 2-1-0

.

.

.

1st place, West Ham.

A ranking table that makes you laugh no matter how many times you look at it.

To have Man City, Chelsea, and Liverpool beneath them.

Of course, he knew very well that it didn’t mean anything yet since it was only three games,

But he couldn’t help but feel good.

Moreover, the scoring ranking was the same.

#1 Johan Van (West Ham) – 6 goals

#2 Diego Montaro (Leicester City) – 3 goals

.

.

.

Johan was the overwhelming leader.

Apart from the fact that his brother was the top scorer,

It was an unbelievable sight that West Ham’s striker was in 1st place.

Rankings that were unimaginable until last season had become a reality.

He couldn’t help but smile.

‘Johan’s value has also risen a lot.’

Following the ranking confirmation, Rohan accessed the transfer market and nodded in satisfaction.

The transfer market is a site that estimates how much a player would be worth if they were put on the transfer market, based on their recent performance and age.

Of course, there may be some differences from reality, but the transfer market’s estimated value often matches the actual value, so it’s a reliable indicator.

Since the opening, Johan’s value had skyrocketed in the three games.

-Name: Johan Van

-Position: Striker

-Age: 16 years old

-Market Value: €60.00M

Johan’s value was estimated at a whopping 60 million euros.

‘60 million euros is sleeping in the room next to me.’

60 million euros, more than 80 billion won in Korean currency [approximately $60 million USD].

It meant that the market recognized Johan’s current value at over 80 billion won.

But the important thing was,

Before the season started, Johan’s value was 20 million euros.

But now, after playing three games, it had tripled to 60 million euros.

It had risen by 20 million euros per game.

It was literally a skyrocketing stock.

‘But it’s still cheap.’

However, Rohan still thought that the value of 60M euros was undervalued.

He had only played seven professional games, so the market couldn’t easily assess his value.

But Rohan was sure.

By the end of this season, or even around winter,

Johan’s value would be proven beyond doubt, and his value would skyrocket even more.

When that time came,

It wouldn’t be surprising if Johan’s market value was twice what it is now.

‘What’s interesting is that all the other players on our team have also increased.’

In fact, Johan wasn’t the only one whose value had soared since the season started.

Most of the West Ham players boasted higher values than before.

Team captain Tim Gordon, who had a mediocre value until last season, had also jumped up.

Especially the values of the new transfers had risen sharply in just three games.

Left-back Martin Petrovic and midfielder Jonathan Naison were players who were signed for just over 20 billion won, but now they were valued at nearly 30 billion won.

Also, Jacob Buckley and Jeff Hurrichel had gone from the 30 billion won range to the 40 billion won range.

Thanks to this, West Ham’s first-team squad value, which was €430M last season, had ballooned to €540M.

‘In fact, if you look at it coldly, it’s not that much.’

Rohan loved West Ham more than anyone else, so he could look at it more objectively.

To be honest,

Rohan thought that the rise in value of the other players, except for Johan, was a bubble.

Because,

Rohan thought that none of the players in West Ham’s current squad, except for Johan, could perform as well as they do now if they transferred to another team.

Petrovic, Naison.

Buckley and Hurrichel were all the same.

These players were all perfectly suited to West Ham’s current tactics.

The current tactics are focused on Johan.

It was certain that these players were a perfect fit for the current West Ham.

But,

If the striker wasn’t Johan, would these players have been able to receive this much of an increase in value?

It wouldn’t have been.

The fact that their weaknesses were hidden and only their strengths were highlighted was solely because of Johan.

‘He’s completely a stock manipulator, my brother.’

Because of Johan, the value of the surrounding players increases.

If they used this, West Ham could become a con artist-like merchant in the future.

If they buy suitable players like now, Johan will skyrocket their value, and they will sell them again at the skyrocketed price.

And with the money they earn…

‘I have to take care of Johan. Yes.’

Even if they can sell all the other players, they have to protect Johan no matter what.

No matter how much money it costs, really.

It wasn’t because he was trying to benefit from his brother.

To reach the Europa League, which is the team’s goal, they have to protect Johan unconditionally.

‘It’s clear that big clubs will be aiming for him.’

Thinking about Johan being sold to a big club makes him feel complicated.

In some ways, it’s a good thing, but on the other hand, it’s heartbreaking.

Johan, who said that his goal was to win the championship.

To be honest, that goal was unrealistic.

As long as he plays for West Ham.

Therefore, it’s right for his brother to go to a big club to achieve his goal.

But… how can he let his brother go?

His dad and himself.

They are so happy just by the fact that his brother is playing for West Ham.

Really, there haven’t been such happy days in recent times.

Whenever there is a Johan’s game, the house is always filled with laughter.

‘If that day comes, Dad said he would leave it up to Johan’s choice.’

He can’t meddle as his older brother.

All choices are up to him.

But, if that day ever comes, he thinks he will feel really complicated.

‘Still, it’s a distant future story.’

Rohan smiles.

He’ll worry about the future later, and for now, he’s just happy.

These days, he’s having fun imagining things because of Johan, and he doesn’t even notice the time passing.

At this rate,

He thinks he might be able to see the team go to the Europa League next season.

He even starts to imagine that they might be able to go to the Champions League.

Of course, it won’t be as easy as it sounds,

But if they have Johan.

If they have Johan, it might not be impossible.

‘First of all, I hope they beat Tottenham this week.’

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

If they win the London derby game this weekend, he will be happier than ever.

‘Honestly, I hate them the most.’

West Ham’s derby rivals based in London are Chelsea and Tottenham.

Both teams are classified as Big Six teams [the six most successful and well-supported clubs in the English Premier League], so they are definitely formidable opponents.

But,

Rohan especially hated Tottenham.

That’s probably the same for all West Ham fans, not just Rohan.

Of course, his dad is the same.

He admits that Chelsea has won the league and the Champions League, but Tottenham hasn’t won a single trophy in decades, and their objective strength isn’t much different, but he gets angry because they pretend to be a big club.

“Look at this, look at this. They really think they’re a big club?”

Rohan sighed as he looked at articles related to the West Ham vs. Tottenham game.

West Ham fans and Tottenham fans were fighting in the comments, and these chicken-headed guys were making him quite angry.

└Being in 1st place at the beginning of the season doesn’t mean anything… Well, when else would you be happy? Enjoy it as much as you want…

└Tottenham, who can’t even be in 1st place at the beginning of the season, has no right to say that^^.

└CP [Crystal Palace], Watford, Villa, easy schedule, and they’re talking about being in 1st place lol. How long do you think it will last?

└I think it will last at least until next week?? This week is also an easy schedule~

└It’s disgusting how these mid-to-lower-tier guys are so arrogant lol. Do you think that Johan or Joseph guy will be able to do well when he plays against us?

└West Ham’s reality is that they’re putting all their expectations on a sixteen-year-old prospect lol. How terrible is their squad lol.

└The team’s representative player is a prospect who debuted three months ago lol.

└We’ll properly verify that kid^^ Big club verification^^.

“They’re so cocky…”

Trembling.

He doesn’t need anything else, he really wants them to win against these guys.

He wants them to be crushed mercilessly.

‘I can’t do this.’

Rohan suddenly gets up from his seat.

Rohan heads to Johan’s room next door.

“Johan!”

“······Huh?”

“Do it!”

“······Huh?”

“Win! No matter what, smash the heads of those Tottenham bastards!”

“······Huh.”

“You promised!?”

“······Huh.”

After getting a promise from Johan, who was answering in his sleep,

Rohan returned to his room and smiled brightly as he wrote a comment.

└I’m Johan’s brother. Johan just promised to smash the chicken coop [defeat Tottenham]. You’re all dead.

Immediately, Tottenham fans leave a reply.

└If you’re Johan’s brother, then I’m Johan’s grandfather.

└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ.

└Does anything change if he promises lol?

└If your brother cries, please comfort him lol.

“Yeah. Laugh as much as you want.”

Rohan smiles confidently as he looks at the replies.

Just wait and see.

This is the only time you can afford to be so relaxed.