Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 141

< Field with Romance Alive - 141 >

Nathan and Buckley knew better than anyone.

The reason they were chosen by Schmidt and came to West Ham.

The reason they could play as starters in this team.

The reason their value skyrocketed after playing a season.

And the reason there were rumors that Manchester City wanted them.

In a word, it was because of Johann.

Is there any need to explain this?

Just quote a sentence from a famous speech.

Of Johann, by Johann, for Johann.

They knew very well that they were nothing without Johann.

Think about it.

Everything started to go well after meeting Schmidt and Johann.

Before that, they were just players who were said to be only half-baked.

A player with a lot of activity but no attacking talent.

An inefficient player who just runs around a lot.

It was a reality that they were treated as players with no strengths, let alone being half-baked.

Because that shortcoming was quite fatal.

However, Johann covered all of their shortcomings.

It was entirely thanks to Johann that people started to see their strengths before their weaknesses.

Therefore, they had no intention of leaving West Ham.

What’s the point of going to Manchester City?

Johann isn’t there.

Of course, all the Manchester City players are great players.

All the players in every position are world-class.

It is a very proud thing to be on the same team as such players.

But that was also the problem.

There’s no place for them.

They didn’t really want them because they needed them.

What they need is Johann.

On the other hand, West Ham needs them.

They can’t do without them.

That was something that couldn’t be filled with any amount of money.

The most important thing for a man is to have his existence recognized.

Paah-!

Nathan, who cut off the ball, passed it straight to Johann without greed.

In fact, it was a good position for Nathan to finish himself.

Because he intercepted the opponent’s last defender’s pass.

However, Nathan just wanted to bet on the more certain side.

Johann seizes a clear chance in front of the arc.

Johann showed why Nathan gave him the pass without hesitation.

Ppeoooeeeoooong-!

Shooooooooong-

Thud-!

The right-footed shot, aimed at the corner of the goal, lightly tore the net, and all the players cheered and ran to Johann.

However, Johann pointed to Nathan and Buckley, giving the credit to them.

“Hey! Thanks for recognizing me!”

“Thanks.”

Buckley ruffled Johann’s hair, laughing, and Nathan nodded.

Indeed, it was the first goal that showed why Manchester City wanted to take these three.

It was also a goal that showed why Nathan and Buckley had no reason to go to Manchester City.

“Come on!”

Nathan and Buckley roared, tapping the emblem on their chests towards the silent away fans.

“Damn it.”

After causing a commotion in the technical area, Coach Ernesto sighed as he returned to the bench.

Games against West Ham had never been easy.

Not since Johann debuted.

However, it was especially so today.

Until now, Manchester City had only been dissatisfied with the outcome of the game, but the game itself had been going according to their flow.

But today, the content of the game itself is not satisfactory.

He told them to approach with the underdog’s mindset, but isn’t it obvious that Manchester City looks like a real underdog?

‘Really annoying.’

Today, Coach Ernesto’s gaze keeps going to Nathan and Buckley.

The reason today’s game is difficult is entirely because of these two.

Samir Rishard is out due to injury, and the overall physical condition of the squad is not good, but.

That’s all just excuses.

The fact is that the opponent is doing better, and Nathan and Buckley are at the center of it.

The two of them are interfering with all of the team’s build-up.

Where does that energy come from?

‘They’re good players.’

They are definitely good players.

For West Ham, they are so key that they can be described as essential.

Of course, if you only look at individual abilities, it would be difficult to see them as top-class players in the league.

They can secure a starting position in any team and show consistent performance.

However, football is a sport where 11 players become a team and play.

The important thing is the total sum of their abilities when all 11 are added together.

Also, that total sum is not simply the sum of the individual abilities of all 11 players.

Among the players, there are definitely players who do not have high individual abilities themselves, but have the ability to increase the abilities of their teammates.

In other words, they create synergy.

Players who make 1+1 equal to 3 instead of 2.

Nathan and Buckley were such players.

And, because of those two, today’s game is not going well.

The reason why there was talk that Manchester City was trying to recruit them was clearly not because they needed them themselves.

In the end, it was because they needed Johann.

But, looking at today’s game.

Coach Ernesto’s thoughts seemed to be changing a bit.

He was starting to really covet those two.

‘Hmm.’

However, even bringing those two seems like it won’t be easy.

The proud faces they had when they pointed to the emblem on their chests when they scored the first goal just now.

The sincerity felt in that expression seemed quite firm.

<58 percent is not a small amount, but for Manchester City, which usually has almost 65 percent as a base, it's a bit low. But today, West Ham showed a strong press and good midfield control, taking away a lot of possession.>

The first half ended with Manchester City failing to catch up with the 0-1 lead.

As much as Nathan and Buckley were motivated, Manchester City’s Granach also moved with motivation.

However, perhaps because he was too motivated, he also looked frustrated.

Granach recorded 4 offsides in the first half alone.

Of course, Granach also broke through the offside trap a few times.

However, the problem was his speed.

It seemed like a one-on-one chance with the keeper was created with Price’s exquisite pass and good penetration, but Bellamy repeatedly blocked the shot because his feet were slow.

Granach said that he would make the fans no longer want Johann through today’s game, but judging from the first half alone, it seemed like a failure.

The second half followed.

Manchester City raised the line back to its original position.

Judging that there would be no benefit in lowering it vaguely.

It seemed like they thought it would be better to make the most of their strengths.

They also thought that West Ham’s energy level would gradually decrease.

Nathan and Buckley swept through so much during the first half.

Those two wouldn’t be able to run around the same way in the second half as they did in the first half.

Of course, it was also because they were behind 0-1 and it was a game where they had to get at least 1 point.

West Ham’s points, which are on a frightening streak of 13 consecutive wins, are already 39 points.

If the points widen further here, they may not be able to close the gap.

Whatever the case, Manchester City had to be aggressive in the second half.

It is certain that Manchester City, which is determined to be aggressive, is dangerous.

Manchester City is probably the team that has faced the most ten-backs [a defensive strategy where ten players focus on defense] in Europe, as much as Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, or Barcelona.

As such, Manchester City is used to attacking against teams that retreat.

Manchester City’s strengths are best demonstrated in situations like this.

However, it doesn’t seem to be the case today.

Bellamy is showing smart defense.

Bellamy is thoroughly blocking Granach’s left foot.

Left-footed players have a unique tendency.

Strangely, they are more dependent on their dominant foot than right-footed players.

To the point where they often attempt a rabona kick [a football move where the kicking leg wraps around the standing leg] to use their left foot even when they should be using their right foot.

Granach is the same.

He is trying to create a left-footed shooting angle somehow, but it doesn’t seem to be working in front of Bellamy.

Especially in these situations, it is difficult to create the pretty angle he wants.

Because the opponent’s defense is already prepared.

Of course, it was possible to take advantage of that.

If the opponent is blatantly blocking only the left foot, then you can just take advantage of that.

However, that’s not as easy as it sounds.

In the first place, if he used his right foot well, there would be no reason to be so dependent on his left foot.

Even now, Granach easily created a right-footed shooting angle and took a shot, but it went far off the goal.

Unfortunately, it’s a scene that shows why Bellamy is blatantly blocking only Granach’s left foot.

“His right foot is really a prosthetic leg.”

“I’m dying of frustration without Rishard. Granach can’t do it alone.”

“The pattern is too obvious. I could block it like that.”

The Manchester City fans are frustrated because shooting opportunities continue to come out, but goals are not being scored easily.

Just when the Manchester City fans were feeling thirsty.

A desperate scene came out for Granach.

Manchester City, which is aggressively attacking, is dangerous.

This sentence has two meanings depending on the interpretation.

It also means that it is dangerous from the standpoint of having to block Manchester City, and it also means that Manchester City is dangerous.

Manchester City’s rear, which had raised the line high, was wide, and Capello’s pass was fired towards that wide space.

And, Johann and the Manchester City defenders ran towards the ball.

Tatatat-!

“Hey! Ref!”

The Manchester City defenders, running towards the ball, looked at the assistant referee with urgent faces and raised their hands.

However, the assistant referee only ran towards the goal line as if there was no problem at all.

Manchester City’s offside trap was broken.

That meant that there was no way to stop Johann, who was running without worry.

Tatatat-!

Johann, who crossed the Manchester City camp at a terrifying speed and caught the ball,

Shhh-!

As Manchester City keeper Eduardo came out, he began to quickly wave his legs.

He started to do a feint dribble.

The boldness to get past the goalkeeper.

Eduardo seemed to be shaken, unable to grasp the direction of Johann’s dribble.

It was natural.

Unlike Granach, Johann has perfect both feet.

He can go either way.

Eduardo was in a position where he had to choose one of the two options that boasted a perfect 50-50 balance, and naturally, it was difficult to choose.

Tatatat-

Ppeoooeeeoooong-!

Thud-!

In the end, Johann lightly got past Eduardo and lightly put the ball into the empty goal.

It was a goal that highlighted Johann’s class, finishing a single counterattack with a goal.

Watching that goal, the Manchester City fans had no choice but to beat their chests.

I really don’t want to do that, I don’t want to keep comparing our team’s players with other team’s players.

“We don’t want to do this either, but it’s too much of a comparison!”

“I’ve endured as much as I can! Granach out!”

I can’t help it.

It’s such an obvious comparison, how can I not compare?

“Haa…”