The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 119: The Missing Millwall

Pirlo raised questions about the tactics of playmaking and deep-lying organization, and Aldrich was more than happy to dive into the discussion. Ballack, Vieira, Nedved, Lampard, and other midfielders eagerly listened in, showing their interest.

The 1990s marked a high point for the classic playmaker, yet thereafter, the role saw a significant decline and, even decades later, has nearly vanished from European football. Playmakers have progressed to become players who make incisive runs into the penalty area and support breakthroughs; they no longer bear the entire weight of offensive orchestration. This transformation is largely a product of the game's fast pace—players have become quicker, with an increased emphasis on defensive strategies in midfield and defense, alongside the rise of the "destroyer" role.

On the other hand, the benefits of deep-lying midfielders are strikingly evident: firstly, they create space that allows exceptional passers to operate with ease; secondly, having a core attacking player in front draws defensive focus, concealing the attack's true intentions; and finally, they significantly enhance control in the midfield.

Aldrich shared his knowledge with the players, hoping they could view the tactical landscape from a broader perspective, recognizing the midfield as a critical battleground.

As the first half of the Super Bowl wrapped up, both teams were neck and neck, and during the halftime break, one of the most explosive halftime shows began, much to the audience's anticipation.

The Super Bowl halftime show is a classic platform where top-tier musical artists perform. Many of the artists who take the stage have already won multiple Grammy Awards, representing the pinnacle of American music. However, Aldrich and his team found little interest in this year's performer, even though Diana Ross was declared the most successful female singer in history by Guinness just three years ago.

Melanie seemed quite excited as she ran over to Aldrich, singing along to Ross's performance.

Aldrich felt a pang of regret; he should have come to America for the Super Bowl three years ago.

The 1993 Super Bowl halftime featured none other than the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, whose performance still holds the record for the highest TV ratings in U.S. history.

After the halftime show, everyone took a moment to relax before the second half resumed with the Cowboys and the Steelers locked in battle.

The guys, now familiar with Rugby after the first half, were even more focused and engaged for the following plays.

They watched as the Pittsburgh Steelers defense repeatedly used power runs to contain their opponent's offense, almost building a wall of steel in their half. However, Steelers' superstar quarterback O'Donnell had one of his passes intercepted by the Cowboys' cornerback, leading to a swift touchdown for the opposition, causing an eruption of gasps from the box!

Even though they weren't Rugby fans, they experienced the thrill from the sudden explosion of passion that engulfed the field.

An attacking pass got intercepted, and the defensive unit raced down the field, striking decisively.

This scenario was quite common in football as well, and such a blunder was a critical mistake made by the team's organizational core, leaving no room for recovering from it.

Aldrich smiled at the players and said, "Before the game, I looked up some stats. Steelers' quarterback O'Donnell has one of the lowest interception rates in the NFL this season, but his passing success rate is obviously low today. Statistics don't mean much, especially when it comes to predicting outcomes."

The Japanese pioneered the early statistical tracking of various mundane data in football, often listing all sorts of statistics about a match in football magazines. While we can't entirely dismiss the importance of data, it certainly cannot reconstruct the truth of a game because football isn't a science.

As the second half intensified, any mistake could lead to irreversible conclusions.

Aldrich appreciated watching a match that could be referenced in textbooks.

When the fierce contest concluded, the Dallas Cowboys triumphed over the Pittsburgh Steelers with a score of 17-16.

Looking at the post-game statistics, Steelers' O'Donnell had more pass attempts, completions, and passing yards than Cowboys' Aikman. Yet Aikman managed to maintain a higher success rate, and O'Donnell's three critical passing mistakes directly contributed to the emergence of the game's MVP: Cowboys' cornerback Larry Brown, who had two successful interceptions that led to 14 points in the second half, thereby turning the tide of the match.

With the Super Bowl concluded, Aldrich left Sun Magic Stadium with a team full of satisfaction, heading straight to the airport to return to London.

They arrived in London early Monday morning. The players managed to get six or seven hours of solid sleep on the plane. After resting at home for a bit, the team took a bus to the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough's new ground for the season.

The match was set for the evening, and the players arrived early to familiarize themselves with the venue. The physiotherapists traveled along with the team to help players relax their muscles and ease tensions.

Aldrich walked back and forth on the field; while the players might still feel some fatigue from the journey, their spirits seemed high, and their conversations were filled with laughter.

There is a subtle relationship between spirit and body; sometimes, even if the physical body is fully energized, a low spirit can make a person feel incapable of fighting. Aldrich believed that the determining factor in a player's fighting spirit is their mentality. The body is the foundational equipment for explosive power; as long as they aren't overly fatigued, the mental state should be the primary focus.

Middlesbrough, also a newly promoted team, boasted strong performance this season under Brian Robson's guidance. They had managed to distance themselves significantly from the relegation zone, and with just thirteen more points, they could secure their safety with fourteen league matches remaining.

Millwall had failed to hold their customary pre-match press conference, causing a stir on Fleet Street.

They typically enjoy following and covering prominent teams, consistently seeking insights during mid-week training. However, after Millwall finished their FA Cup match on Tuesday, their training ground was abandoned as they prepared for Monday's league game. Reporters observing the deserted training ground outside speculated wildly, thinking that a financial crisis had caused Millwall to vanish without a trace.

They dug deeply for information but were puzzled by Millwall's sudden disappearance.

Overnight, the entire coaching staff and players from Millwall seemingly vanished.

Even their attempts to stake out player apartments yielded no results, leading to local free newspapers proclaiming, "East London's supernatural incident: Millwall mysteriously disappears!"

On the day of the match, Millwall surprisingly appeared at Riverside Stadium, catching everyone off guard.

They hadn't returned to their training base but had come straight to the away fixture.

As the match was about to commence, Riverside Stadium was packed to capacity. Aldrich settled on the bench, appreciating the comfort of the new seat. His mind wandered to the plans for his team's new stadium. Sitting in someone else's new stadium, he made mental notes for what to expect later; if he was dissatisfied, he would have to address it with the contractors.

Bryan Robson sauntered over, blocking Aldridge's view until he looked up and saw Robson. He smiled and said: "Congratulations! We have all avoided relegation!"

Robson laughed heartily and shook Aldrich's hand. He then asked, "Where has Millwall been lately?"

"Hmm?"

"Reports have been saying Millwall is missing."

"Oh, I gave the players some time off. There are too many foreign players in my squad, and they're not used to winter without a break."

"Didn't it go the same last year when you were in League One?"

"Ah, you can't say that. Just because you've gone through it once doesn't mean you can handle it perfectly the next time. It's a bit like a conditioned reflex; when you reach that stage, it naturally creates an imbalance psychologically."

"So, managing a team requires studying psychology?"

"Of course! Didn't Brazil bring a psychologist when they won the World Cup?"

"Ha! Is he the same psychologist who said Pelé was childish and considered Garrincha to be mentally impaired?"

Both Aldrich and Robson chuckled heartily, enjoying their conversation on the sidelines. The live broadcast naturally focused on the two of them. Robson's Premier League coaching debut was successful, while Aldrich's first season in the Premier League has been nothing short of spectacular. Both coaches were highlighted focal points of the season and notable discoveries in English football, with some media speculating about whether the two would coach the England national team in the future.

For head coaches, it's a little world within the league, where they can find like-minded friends and also face formidable foes. An individual who stands apart may become the center of attention, but they won't easily integrate into the mainstream.

Aldrich counts many friends among his acquaintances, including Clark, the Nottingham Forest coach who dealt him his first defeat of the season; they were able to enjoy a pleasant chat after the game. Conversely, his adversaries are well-known, such as Redknapp and Keegan, who also have their issues with him. Aldrich's stance in public is unmistakably clear; regardless of how he's interpreted by outsiders, he will never be categorized as just another ordinary figure, least of all as a coach relegated to a supporting role in the Premier League.

When the match began, Aldrich settled in the coach's seat. His expectations for this match weren't high; he merely wanted the players to perform normally and adhere to the tactical requirements. What he didn't tell the players was that winning or losing wasn't the most critical aspect.

He thought to himself this way, but he wouldn't necessarily convey it to the players.

For the match, he instructed the players not to pursue a fast pace because they had just returned from travel. Instead, he wanted them to control the game through continuous passing, slightly retreating their formation and slowly seeking attacking opportunities.

Middlesbrough had managed to earn a draw through staunch defense at the Lion's Den in the first half of the season, where they fought tooth and nail for points. Now, however, there was a bit of relaxation, especially as it was their home ground. They wouldn't want the embarrassment of a defensive struggle, so they were adamant about embracing an attacking style.

Aldrich was pleasantly surprised with the players' performance on the field; they appeared calm and confident, exuding a sense of control over the match, with a hidden danger amid their unhurriedness.

Middlesbrough fought tooth and nail.

Pires made a cutting shot that was saved by the goalkeeper, but Larsson followed up to score, opening the record for his team.

Twenty minutes later, Middlesbrough equalized with a corner kick.

In the second half, Nedved delivered a brilliant pass to Trezeguet, who fired a shot into the near corner and put the team ahead again.

In stoppage time, Schneider's free-kick was deflected, and Stam scored with a header from inside the box, sealing the victory.

Millwall, after their time off, easily triumphed over Middlesbrough in their first league match back.

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