Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 33

< Episode 032 – Who Would You Use? >

Friday, September 4th.

The day before the season’s 4th round match between West Ham and Tottenham.

The managers of both teams engaged in a war of nerves during the pre-match press conference regarding the game to be held tomorrow.

In truth, neither manager Michael Schmidt nor Tottenham’s Mauricio Reyes were the type to enjoy verbal sparring outside the stadium.

Both were gentlemen, always responding courteously even when reporters hungry for a scoop asked mischievous questions.

However, today was a little different.

The starting point was a question posed to Manager Reyes by a reporter.

“Recently, there has been a renewed focus on West Ham’s youth academy. This is likely due to Johan Van. At the same time, there’s been talk that Tottenham’s academy hasn’t produced such a player in quite some time. What are your thoughts on this, Manager?”

In response to the reporter’s question comparing the youth academies of both teams, Manager Reyes did not hide his discomfort and answered at length.

“Well, I don’t think it’s because the academies are that different. Rather, I think it’s the difference in the first-team squads. West Ham’s first-team squad is so thin that a 16-year-old youth can secure a starting position. On the other hand, our first-team squad is solid. We also have players like Johan Van in our youth system. However, our first-team squad isn’t so weak that a promising youth still developing can aim for a starting role.”

In fact, criticism of Tottenham’s academy had been ongoing for some time.

The reporter’s question, using West Ham’s youth, especially Johan, as an example, was bound to irritate Manager Reyes.

And the reporters didn’t miss such an opportunity, asking again.

“Johan Van has recently recorded 6 goals in 3 league games. Are you saying that there are players like him in Tottenham’s academy as well? Currently, Tottenham’s main striker, Mason Maguire, has only scored 1 goal.”

Manager Reyes chuckled as if he was dumbfounded by the reporter’s question.

Mason Maguire, mentioned by the reporter, has been Tottenham’s striker since the season before last and has been consistently selected for the England A national team.

“Reporter, if you were a manager, with both Johan and Maguire on the team, who would you use as the starting striker?”

*It’s only been three games, yet they’re comparing based solely on goal records,* Manager Reyes thought.

When the reporters didn’t answer, Manager Reyes continued.

“Well, it’s not uncommon. It’s not unusual for a young prospect to show surprising performances in their debut season. However, it’s also common for those prospects to fail to maintain that form as the games go on. You’ll see tomorrow’s game. I think Johan is a good prospect, but I don’t think he’s *that* special. He’ll be ordinary tomorrow. Maguire will show that.”

Johan will be ordinary in the game against them.

Maguire will show it.

Manager Reyes asserted that and concluded the press conference.

Following that, Manager Schmidt, who came to the press center, was told the question that Manager Reyes had asked.

Manager Reyes’ question of who he would use as the starting striker if Johan and Maguire were on the same team.

To that question,

“Of course, it’s Johan.”

Manager Schmidt answered briefly, and

“What is the reason?”

To the reporter’s question asking for the reason, he also replied briefly,

“You’ll see tomorrow.”

West Ham and Tottenham.

The match between the two London neighbors was heating up even before the game.

***

Saturday, September 5th.

The day of the season’s 4th round, the London derby between West Ham and Tottenham.

With the London Stadium filled with fans from both teams.

Ban Seok-ho and Rohan are pouting, looking at the Tottenham fans filling one side of the away seats.

“I hate them.”

“Me too.”

“Tottenham isn’t a big club.”

“Tottenham isn’t a big club, right.”

“But why do they act like they are?”

“I hate them.”

“Me too.”

Tottenham finished 6th in the league last season.

Thanks to that, they got to play in the Europa League [a second-tier European club competition] this season, but Tottenham fans were very disappointed to be in the Europa League.

Tottenham is a team that should be in the Champions League [the top-tier European club competition], but they were in the Europa League.

Ban Seok-ho and Rohan didn’t like that from the start.

“They should be grateful for the Europa League; they’re just greedy.”

“They can’t even win the Europa League.”

“Since when was the Champions League a given for them?”

“Exactly.”

For the past 10 years.

I admit that Tottenham has had better results and achievements than West Ham.

Their league ranking was higher, and they consistently participated in European competitions.

It’s true that even West Ham fans can’t deny that they are a bigger team.

However,

The problem is that they overrate themselves even more than that.

They act like they’re Chelsea or Liverpool level.

Of course, it would be fine if that was all, but the problem is that they look down on West Ham.

They’re embarrassed to even call the game against a team that can’t even get into the Europa League a derby, saying that their London rivals are only Chelsea and Arsenal.

What a joke.

“What’s even more infuriating is that even if I want to argue back, there’s nothing to argue with.”

“Just thinking about last season still makes my blood pressure rise…”

Honestly, looking at last season alone,

Even if I was angry at their arrogance, there was nothing I could say.

The differences in various cup competitions and league rankings were like that, and

Most of all, they had never won a single game against them.

They lost 3-1 in the first half of last season,

And lost 2-0 in the second half.

Even in the FA Cup [a prestigious English domestic cup competition], they met in the round of 32 and lost again, being eliminated by them.

Losing every time they met, I couldn’t argue with their words that they were embarrassed to even call it a derby.

But, you know what?

From today, it will be different.

“They’re going to get a big surprise.”

“Of course. Because we have Johan.”

“Johan, just score three goals, like you always do.”

“Don’t worry. Didn’t I promise this morning?”

“Right. Johan will keep his promise.”

Ban Seok-ho and Rohan nod.

This morning, the two received a promise from Johan as he went to work.

To win no matter what today.

Johan will never break his promise.

Because,

Ban Seok-ho used a cheat key.

“Hehehe.”

The two smiled slyly and waited for the game to start, then stood up and started cheering as the players entered.

“Kill! Kill those chicken heads!”

“Arrest all the chicken heads!”

“You! And Ban Rohan! Are you going to use such bad words?”

Kim Ra-hee scolds, seeing the two becoming violent as the Tottenham players come out.

Ban Seok-ho and Rohan flinch at Kim Ra-hee’s scolding.

“But…”

“Those guys need to die.”

“What do you mean kill? You can’t just curse at others like that.”

“But those guys are different.”

“What do you hate about those guys so much?”

Kim Ra-hee, who has only been into soccer for three months, can’t understand the rivalry between the two teams.

However,

“Those guys ignored our Johan.”

“That’s right. They said they would show our Johan who’s boss.”

“What?”

Hearing that those guys in the white uniforms touched Johan.

Kim Ra-hee jumped up from her seat.

“You impudent things! Kill them all-!”

Kim Ra-hee’s high-pitched voice echoed loudly throughout the London Stadium, where tens of thousands of people had gathered, and

“Kill them!”

“Wipe them out!”

“We’re going to win no matter what!”

That voice spread around and infected all the West Ham fans.

Even before the whistle signaling the start of the game, the London Stadium was starting to heat up.

*

“Tottenham is my enemy! Today, I’m going to catch those guys and cut off all their heads!”

“You’re overdoing it again, Buckley. Just do what you always do.”

“I can’t do what I always do! Tottenham is our team’s enemy! Therefore, my enemy!”

“Anyone would think you’re a homegrown player, you.”

“I am a homegrown player! I vowed to be buried here the day I joined, so I’m a homegrown player!”

“What homegrown player speaks Scottish dialect in London.”

“Eh? I’m a London citizen! West Ham is the owner of London!”

The bustling West Ham locker room.

The players laugh as they watch Buckley, who hasn’t even lived in London for a few months, shouting “Down with Tottenham” louder than anyone else.

For players who have been playing in London since they were young, the fighting spirit naturally flares up because they have clashed every time,

But, perhaps because they have developed camaraderie while struggling to the death under Manager Schmidt.

West Ham’s newcomers were particularly more motivated than the original players.

But what’s surprising is that,

Johan is the same.

“Hey, kid.”

“Yes?”

“Your eyes are a little different?”

“Because we have to win no matter what today.”

“Oh, what’s wrong? You’re burning with motivation. Do you also have Hammers blood flowing through you?”

Johan’s eyes are determined.

The only time Johan had shown this level of intensity was when he heard people laughing at his brother during the entrance test.

That’s how motivated Johan is showing.

“The other team’s manager touched him. It would be strange if he wasn’t angry.”

“I see. Hey, kid. Show them properly. Who you are.”

“I believe in our kid. Mason Maguire? He’s nothing.”

“I’ll erase that bastard! You shake them up!”

The teammates speak, thinking it’s because of what happened at yesterday’s press conference.

But, in fact, that’s not why.

It wasn’t because today’s opponent was their rival, Tottenham.

The only reason Johan is showing this much motivation is because of the promise he made with his dad this morning.

“Johan, if you win today…”

What his dad held out was a jar of Nutella [a popular hazelnut cocoa spread].

His dad promised to let him eat a jar of Nutella if he beat Tottenham today.

Today,

I can’t lose no matter what.

“Okay, let’s go!”

“Let’s go kill them all!”

“If there’s anyone who has the strength to speak after the game, that guy is dead to me!”

“I’m going to wipe them all out!”

The West Ham players headed to the stadium.

*

“Beeeep-!”

As expected, the game was rough from the start.

One side claims it’s no longer a derby, but a derby is a derby.

From the beginning of the game, the referee’s whistle was constantly blowing, and the London Stadium was deafening with the cheers of both teams.

“Stick to them!”

“Stick to them more!”

In the midst of that, West Ham was the one playing a little more aggressively.

The players are playing rough, not afraid of fouls, and running as if today is the FA Cup final to seize the initiative.

I hate to admit it, but honestly, Tottenham is objectively superior in power.

So, to beat them, you have to run one step further and challenge them a little more aggressively.

That’s the way West Ham has been pursuing from the beginning, but today everyone is running one step further.

But,

Tottenham is definitely a formidable opponent.

“Here!”

“This way!”

Tottenham slowly increases its possession by turning the ball from the back, as if not to be caught in West Ham’s pace.

West Ham’s wingers, Nathan and Buckley, follow the ball and try to press from the front, but it’s not easy.

It’s probably because of Johan.

Front pressing must be done in an organized manner.

Basically, if you’re short on numbers, pressing will only lead to chasing after the chickens [a futile effort].

Since Johan, who is at the apex, doesn’t press from the front, it’s difficult for Nathan and Buckley to retrieve the ball no matter how hard they try.

Tottenham’s defenders aren’t players without ball skills either.

“Come down! Hold your position!”

Eventually, Gordon in the center starts to adjust.

Pushing Nathan and Buckley back, it seems like they’re giving up on pressing from the front for now.

I can’t help it.

For now, I have no choice but to give up possession.

However, it’s not unexpected.

Rather, West Ham has been training assuming this situation would happen.

“Don’t miss your man!”

“Block them from coming into the center!”

Then, from now on, the key is not to concede a goal.

Even if you give up possession, if you don’t concede a goal, you can rather easily solve the game.

So, for now, you have to strengthen the defense.

In that regard, the one to be most wary of is Tottenham’s center forward, Mason Maguire.

Buh-uh-uh-uhm-!

Shooooo-!

Pa-ang-!

The pass from the back reached Maguire’s head.

Maguire, who has top-notch physicality, has good aerial ability and always plays the role of a stronghold for the attack.

“Right!”

Pa-ang-!

Maguire is also good at linking up.

After taking the ball with his head, Maguire immediately passes it to the right side.

At the same time, Maguire penetrated into the box,

Buh-uh-uh-uhm-!

A cross immediately comes up from the side.

A fast cross of moderate height.

That cross,

Shooooo-!

Buh-uh-uh-uhm-!

Reached the forehead of Maguire, who was powerfully pushing in.

Shooooo-

“Ugh!”

Fortunately, Maguire’s first header went wide of the goal.

However, it was fortunate that it went wide, but it was a header that Hurrichel couldn’t even react to, so it was virtually the same as conceding a goal.

Maguire is definitely Maguire.

It was evident from the first header that it would be difficult for West Ham’s defense to suppress Maguire for the entire 90 minutes.

‘Is this how it is, Manager Schmidt?’

After seeing Maguire’s first shot,

Tottenham’s Manager Reyes clapped and thought.

Schmidt’s words that he would use Johan as the starter if there were two players, Maguire and Johan.

Of course, it is natural to choose your own player there.

However, Manager Reyes wanted to ask honestly.

Not in front of the reporters, but with his hand on his chest.

*Would you* not use Maguire out of those two?

That’s ridiculous.

Manager Reyes chuckled.