SWR: Chapter 763/765

Chapter 763: Practice with Ferguson

The Community Shield has an interesting rule: it allows six substitutions.

Recently, Gao Shen had been thinking about a particular question, what kind of tactical and technical changes will occur in football when the number of substitutions increases from three to five in the future?

Looking ahead from the perspective of 2021, the trend in football over the next few years would be faster transitions between attack and defense.

The so-called "using speed to beat slowness" refers to how quickly a team transitions between offense and defense.

In other words, at the moment possession changes, the team that lost the ball switches to defense, and the team that gained it transitions to offense. The faster team creates a timing advantage and gains the upper hand.

This is the overall trend, but within that, it's clear that players will be required to run more—especially in terms of sprints and shuttle runs.

That also means their physical exertion increases.

In that sense, increasing substitutions from three to five is essentially an upgrade in a team's overall fitness level.

Take Klopp's Dortmund, for instance. They could only maintain their intense pressing game for 60 minutes. With more substitutions, they might be able to push it to 75 minutes or even more.

In other words, it's not impossible for a team to fight tooth and nail for the entire match.

At the same time, expanding the substitution quota would inevitably affect squad depth.

Two more players per match, regardless of whether they're used or not, means teams need deeper personnel reserves.

So it would be unimaginable for a team like Barcelona to go an entire season using just 18 or 19 players.

Gao Shen had always believed that players—or more precisely, player fitness—was the key factor in football matches.

That was why he placed so much emphasis on fitness, to the point of always having two physical coaches, Buenaventura and Pintus, on his staff.

At Leeds United, Gao Shen also paid close attention to this. Sarri's staff included both a fitness coach and a conditioning coach.

Think of physical energy as a battery. That makes it easier to understand.

Now that the "battery" is slightly bigger, many previous limitations are no longer an issue, and the overall ceiling has been raised.

The faster pace is just one aspect. The intensity of matches is also increasing.

More pressing. More sprints. More end-to-end running...

With five substitutions available, using all of them means replacing half the starting lineup. That could completely change a team's tactical setup.

In other words, the tactical flexibility and in-game adaptability required of managers will also rise.

It's even possible that a single team might use multiple tactical systems in one match.

But with this comes a problem—the gap between strong and weak teams will become more pronounced.

Top teams have greater financial resources and can field a bench full of star players. That's an advantage weaker teams simply can't match. So in general, strong teams will benefit more.

That's why Gao Shen wanted to use the Community Shield as a chance to experiment early.

…

Wembley Stadium. Community Shield. Manchester City vs. Manchester United.

As soon as referee Phil Dowd blew the whistle to start the match, Manchester City took the initiative and launched an aggressive, high-tempo attack on Manchester United.

Tonight, at Wembley, Manchester City lined up in a 4-4-2 formation.

Goalkeeper: Neuer.

Defenders: Leighton Baines, David Luiz, Kompany, and Lichtsteiner.

Midfielders: David Silva, Fernandinho, Yaya Touré, and Robinho.

Forwards: Van Persie and Suárez.

It was a powerful, attack-minded lineup.

Less than a minute in, Leighton Baines broke down the left, drawing a foul from Ferdinand, who was shown a yellow card.

Manchester City kept up the pressure.

In the third minute, Van Persie laid it off to David Silva, whose shot was blocked by De Gea for a corner.

The resulting corner caused chaos in United's box.

Contrary to their usual style, Manchester City relentlessly pressed United, as if determined to take them down from the start.

This kind of approach caught Manchester United off guard. They were forced to defend passively and couldn't build any meaningful attacks.

In the 13th minute, Manchester United tried to counter, but Evra's cross was headed away by Kompany, and they failed to get a shot off.

City quickly responded. Lichtsteiner crossed from the right, and Van Persie's header at the far post nearly crept in. Suárez and Robinho followed up with shots, but both were blocked.

The match tempo kept increasing, with no signs of slowing.

Most notably, Manchester United still hadn't registered a shot on goal.

It wasn't until the 29th minute that United got their first shot. After Ashley Young was fouled by Lichtsteiner outside the box, Rooney took the free kick but it missed the target.

Just one minute later, David Silva played a beautiful through ball. Suárez timed his run perfectly, reached the ball inside the box, and squared it to the left just before De Gea could close him down. Van Persie followed up and scored into the empty net.

1–0!

…

Ferguson frowned as he watched Manchester City's players run to the sidelines to celebrate.

"What the hell is this kid doing?"

Ferguson was baffled.

The tempo of this match was unreal.

Yes, the Premier League is known for its pace, but even Ferguson was stunned by how fast the game was being played.

It felt reckless, almost suicidal.

It's just the Community Shield—why go so hard?

If Manchester City really planned to play like this all season, how long could their fitness last?

Ferguson didn't understand it. But one thing was certain—it looked powerful.

Was there a hidden logic behind this?

In the end, he gave up thinking about it and let it go for now.

Ferguson might have wanted to ignore it, but his players on the pitch couldn't.

In the 38th minute, Evra fouled Robinho on the left. David Silva sent in a free kick, and Kompany rose between United's two center backs and headed home.

2–0!

Ferguson slapped his forehead and shouted, "Fuck!"

Evra had been underwhelming all night. He just couldn't get into the game.

Four minutes later, Robinho dribbled in from the right and squared the ball. Van Persie received it just outside the penalty area. Vidic didn't close him down in time, and Van Persie fired a curling shot with his left foot toward the far post.

3–0!

Ferguson was speechless.

…

As an experienced manager, Ferguson could clearly see the problem.

At halftime, he made three immediate substitutions. Vidic and Evra were replaced by Phil Jones and Rafael, and Carrick made way for Lassana Diarra in midfield.

The changes instantly bolstered United's midfield and backline.

Manchester City had run rampant in the first half, claiming 65% possession with a stunning 87% pass success rate.

But it came at a heavy physical cost.

Less than ten minutes into the second half, Manchester United countered. Nani and Rooney combined up front, and Nani finished with a low-angle strike to pull one back.

Gao Shen was well aware of the physical toll.

Analyst Vargas had already pointed it out at halftime and repeated it just now.

So Gao Shen made two substitutions at once.

Hazard came on for Suárez, moving Van Persie into a lone striker role while David Silva shifted back to central midfield.

At the same time, Gareth Bale replaced Robinho and moved to the right, attacking Rafael's side.

This was also due to Robben's recent injury, which might keep him out of the league opener.

Gao Shen wanted to test whether Robinho or Bale should start on the right.

Just five minutes later, Gao Shen made a third change. Felipe replaced Leighton Baines.

Baines had also covered a lot of ground, and the fatigue was showing.

United made substitutions too, with Sneijder coming on to strengthen their attack.

Ferguson clearly wanted to exploit City's physical weakness and mount a comeback.

But Gao Shen quickly replaced David Silva with Sturridge, reverting to a 4-4-2.

Then Van Persie made way for Giroud, maintaining the two-striker setup.

With four substitutions made, City reignited their pressing game and began another high-intensity attack from the 75th minute.

In the 81st minute, Yaya Touré passed to Gareth Bale, who received it on the right side of the box. Bale shook off Rafael with a sudden cut inside and unleashed a thunderous left-footed strike into the bottom left corner.

De Gea had no chance.

4–1!

United responded quickly. Near the end of the second half, they launched a fast counter. Sneijder slipped a through ball behind the defense. Nani sprinted onto it.

Kompany, trying to clear near the halfway line, was pressured by Rooney and failed to clear cleanly. Nani pounced, rounded Neuer calmly, and scored into an empty net.

4–2!

The game was essentially over.

The entire Community Shield was played at a relentless pace. Both sides were so aggressive that it became overwhelming.

Manchester City in particular played much faster and sharper than before.

In the past, City were known to control possession. Tonight, it looked like they were on something—attacking at every opportunity and forcing United into a firefight.

In the end, Manchester City won. But Manchester United also managed to score twice.

…

"This is only the Community Shield, where you're allowed five substitutions!"

After the match, Ferguson angrily confronted Gao Shen.

"If this were a real match, try that and I'll have you flat on the ground by the second half. You believe that?"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 764: Winner in Life

In Ferguson's impression, Gao Shen would usually argue with him after a remark like that.

But what happened next completely surprised him. Gao Shen didn't argue.

Not only did he not argue, he nodded readily and smiled, "I believe it."

That left Ferguson utterly confused. When did this kid become so agreeable?

Seeing Ferguson's puzzled expression, Gao Shen smiled again. "Ever since you sold Pogba to me, I decided not to argue with you for a while."

Ferguson felt both angry and helpless. This brat clearly had no sense of respect for his elders.

But then, something clicked in his mind. He stared at Gao Shen again, suddenly realizing he had been tricked.

"So you were after Pogba from the beginning?" Ferguson raised his voice.

Gao Shen smiled and waved his hand. "Don't be so surprised, Sir. Think of it this way. Manchester United doesn't have the right environment to develop young players, so now we'll do it for you. And you have plenty of money. When the players are developed, you can just buy them back."

At this, Gao Shen spread his hands. "Look, you get top-tier players, we get money, and everyone's happy."

"I'm not happy!" Ferguson snapped.

He truly hadn't expected it to be Pogba. After all, Gao Shen had shown disinterest in the French midfielder from beginning to end.

Turns out it was all a setup. All that effort had just been to get Pogba.

"Then what you said about Lingard being comparable to Messi, was that a lie too?" Ferguson was even more furious.

Gao Shen paused for a moment, then nodded quickly. "That's real. Absolutely true. More real than pearls."

That's Emperor Lingard!

In front of Emperor Lin, Messi is nothing!

Hearing Gao Shen say this with such confidence, Ferguson finally felt a bit better.

He'd spent his life outwitting others, and now, in his old age, this young man had outmaneuvered him. It was a bitter pill to swallow.

The more he thought about it, the more annoyed he became, so he finally extorted a few boxes of wine from Gao Shen as a small punishment.

"It's fine, it's fine. As long as you're not mad." Gao Shen agreed happily.

Seeing him like this, Ferguson finally calmed down.

After all, running a club wasn't easy.

Especially with a mess like Leeds United.

Others might not know, but how could Ferguson not? He knew everything about Leeds United's situation from top to bottom. After all, they were arch-rivals and practically neighbors.

"I watched the Championship match yesterday," Ferguson said.

Gao Shen was a bit surprised. He hadn't expected Ferguson to pay attention to Leeds United.

"Don't look at me like that. We're sworn enemies. If you're aiming for promotion, of course I need to keep an eye on you," Ferguson explained.

It was a bit of a stretch, but still acceptable.

Gao Shen wasn't worried about players being poached because Leeds United now had full control of their player contracts.

The real trouble comes with players in the final year of their contract.

In fact, renewing a player's contract is a science.

Sure, clubs are smart, but players aren't stupid either.

Take Berbatov last season. It was his contract year, and suddenly he turned in his best performances.

Another well-known case was Flamini. When he moved from Arsenal to AC Milan, he exploded in his contract year, only to cool off after signing the extension.

This kind of situation is often difficult to handle.

Look at Flamini's career. From Marseille to Arsenal, then Arsenal to AC Milan, then back to Arsenal from Milan—all his transfers were free.

Interesting, right?

Everyone knows that free transfers aren't actually cheap. Players ask for higher salaries.

In simple terms, Flamini's approach hurt the clubs but enriched himself.

And the key is, somehow this guy found a partner skilled in chemistry, developed some kind of product, and later got rich—making it onto the French rich list. He's definitely a winner in life.

There's never been a clear rule for resolving the conflict of interests between players and clubs. It's always been about bargaining and compromise.

…

"How do you feel?" Gao Shen asked with concern.

Ferguson had coached in the Premier League for decades. He had seen it all—every kind of team, every kind of situation—and his insight was still sharp.

"At the moment, the overall structure is still a bit loose. The squad needs more cohesion. If you can gradually build chemistry through matches, promotion is very possible. But to survive in the Premier League, you'll need to go further. Especially in terms of player development."

At this, Ferguson looked straight at Gao Shen, as if trying to see through him. "Your players are very young, but they're all capable. Good raw talent. How did you find them?"

After coaching for so many years, Ferguson could spot potential at a glance.

Take Koulibaly. He's a bit raw, but his physical attributes are outstanding. And he's only 20. In the next three or four years, as long as his defensive awareness and decision-making improve, he'll become a top defender.

Then there's Bolasie. His physicality is exceptional. He's fast and agile, and he's genuinely threatening on the pitch. His only drawback is age—he's already 22, so his ceiling isn't as high.

This also reflects a key standard in youth scouting.

Age matters.

If Bolasie were two years younger, his current form would be even more eye-catching.

For example, Zaha. Ferguson spotted him at first sight. Unfortunately, after joining Manchester United, Ferguson retired. Zaha was loaned out multiple times and eventually returned to Crystal Palace.

If Ferguson had been around to develop him, Zaha might have achieved much more than he did in Gao Shen's previous timeline.

Gao Shen certainly wouldn't reveal how he found all these gems, but he still humbly asked Ferguson for advice on youth development, especially in the British environment.

Ferguson knew Leeds United's situation well, so he advised Gao Shen to keep the players away from bad influences, particularly peers who loafed around and caused trouble.

That reminded Gao Shen of Ravel Morrison.

That kid was insanely talented. Even more so than Pogba. But he fell in with the wrong crowd.

Ferguson had repeatedly told him to stay away from those friends. Morrison himself had tried to cut ties. But they kept coming back, and in the end, he isolated himself and never fulfilled his potential.

There were reports that Ferguson even tried to send him to West Ham, hoping he'd get out of Manchester. But it didn't work. Morrison still failed.

"You know, kids at that age don't understand consequences. They care about bravado and brotherhood, and rarely think about the cost of their actions. So the best way is to keep them out of those environments."

Gao Shen understood what Ferguson meant.

Especially with players like Bolasie and Zaha. Their backgrounds were complicated, and their relationships outside of football weren't simple. So often, the club had to step up, care for them, and guide them.

But truthfully, clubs aren't charities. They can't do everything for the players. And the players might not even appreciate it.

So most of the time, the club's ability to help is limited.

"Actually, I think your current training base is good. It's far from the city, not much police trouble, and the players are all from outside the area. If you arrange fan families for them to stay with, you'll avoid a lot of problems."

Many youth players lived with host families. The club subsidized the costs, and fans were usually happy to help.

In the UK, many inner-city areas have worse crime rates than the suburbs. The roughest areas of Leeds are in the northern part of the city. But the Thorp Arch training base is located quite far out in a small town with excellent security.

"Times have changed. What used to be normal is now rare."

Ferguson smiled with some emotion.

"You know, back then, youth players staying with fans was limited. There were only a few spots, and they were in high demand. It built a bond between the club, fans, and players. But now, that connection has faded. It's become more transactional."

Ferguson was seventy.

After so many years in football, the hardest part for him was seeing how much had changed.

He couldn't accept it, but he had no choice but to adapt and compromise.

That's what happened when the Glazer family took over Manchester United, and it's the same with youth development now.

"Keep working hard. I only watched one match, but your players are genuinely good. If you can guide them well, you've got a real shot at staying up in the Premier League," Ferguson encouraged.

The gap between relegation battlers and mid-table Premier League teams isn't that big.

A club like Everton could find themselves fighting relegation if they weren't careful.

Just look at Birmingham. Ninth place one season. Relegated the next.

The Premier League is brutal. Every team has to be extremely careful.

So if Ferguson says this team has the strength to avoid relegation, he's essentially saying they're already lower-mid-table quality.

That's high praise.

But Ferguson's assessment still differed somewhat from Gao Shen's own expectations.

In any case, that's a concern for later. Right now, Leeds United's top priority is to integrate the squad, build chemistry, and perform well in the Championship to earn promotion.

As for surviving in the Premier League, that's a problem for next year.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 765: Gao Shen, Your Script Is Wrong

The first round of every season could be described as a concentration camp of upsets.

There were even rare occasions where multiple strong teams were upset at the same time.

This year's Premier League opener was unusual. There were no upsets among the top teams, but there were plenty of draws.

On August 13, the new Premier League season kicked off.

In the opening match, Blackburn Rovers hosted Wolves and lost 1–2 at home.

At 3 p.m., Liverpool faced Sunderland at Anfield. Benítez's team could only manage a 1–1 draw against the Black Cats. It was a surprising result.

Torres had not transferred to Chelsea like he did in his previous life, but signs of his decline were already showing—he even missed a penalty.

Mark Hughes' Queens Park Rangers also played at 3 p.m. This team, which had just poached a player from Leeds United, was thoroughly schooled by Bolton, losing 4–0 in their first Premier League match after promotion.

Jonathan Howson, who was highly rated by Mark Hughes, started the match, but his performance was difficult to describe.

As Match of the Day host Gary Lineker put it afterward, "Whether Jonathan Howson is as highly rated as the rumors say or not, how to make the best use of such young players is a complex issue."

A bit confusing, wasn't it?

In other words, if you don't know how to use him, that's your problem, Mark Hughes. There's nothing profound about it!

After just one match, Jonathan Howson was nearly branded a flop.

Arsenal visited St. James' Park to face Newcastle. After 90 minutes, the score was 0–0.

In the 76th minute, Gervinho was shown a red card and sent off.

That was it?

It was embarrassing that both sides, supposedly strong teams, ended in a goalless draw on the opening day.

At noon the following day, Chelsea traveled to face Stoke City. Boas' team also drew 0–0.

At 4 p.m., Ferguson's Manchester United drew 1–1 with West Bromwich Albion away from home.

It was enough to drive people crazy.

The entire English football community was left scratching their heads.

What was going on?

The grand opening of the new season, and the top teams all looked unprepared?

And in the end, it all came down to one team—my Big Blue Moon.

…

On the evening of August 14, at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.

Gao Shen started with an attacking 4-3-3 formation, with David Silva, Yaya Touré, and Rakitic in midfield. Yaya Touré was even given license to push forward as needed.

Because it was the season opener, and many of the top teams had already drawn their matches, Gao Shen was a bit nervous.

So before the game, he instructed everyone to play it safe.

No need for speed. Prioritize stability.

As a newly promoted team, Brendan Rodgers' Swansea City had nothing to lose. They played without fear. Add to that the team's consistent, attractive playing style, and they came out aggressively from the start, launching a fierce assault on Manchester City.

How intense was it?

In the first 15 minutes, Manchester City had only 30% possession!

Even commentator Andy Gray exclaimed, "This season's promoted teams are unbelievable!"

"My God, have you ever seen any Premier League team dominate Manchester City like this?"

"Only 30% possession? That's crazy!"

"And this is a newly promoted team!"

It really was outrageous.

Manchester City didn't register a shot on goal until the 23rd minute.

This made the home fans uneasy.

Manchester City fans are loyal and supportive, and they knew their team was usually steady. But tonight, they were playing a bit too conservatively.

The supporters started getting restless.

Eventually, City adjusted to Swansea's rhythm and began to regain control.

Thanks to their superior individual quality, Manchester City began turning the tide and gradually pushed Swansea back.

The biggest difference between the two sides was that City's players had superior individual skills.

In the 29th minute, Robinho dribbled into the right side of the penalty area and squared the ball. Rakitic arrived at the top of the box and struck a clean shot into the back of the net.

1–0!

Andy Gray shouted in excitement.

The Manchester City fans erupted in celebration.

This was the real Manchester City!

…

After conceding, Swansea tried to respond with another attack, but by then City had fully adjusted and held the upper hand.

In terms of squad strength, overall tactics, and in-game control, Swansea had no advantage.

At best, their players were more fired up when facing Manchester City.

But that was all.

Before the end of the first half, Yaya Touré played a brilliant through ball. Van Persie latched onto it and finished coolly from close range to double the lead.

2–0!

Clinical!

At halftime, Gao Shen expressed his dissatisfaction with the first-half performance.

"Listen to the fans' reaction. That's what they think of your performance."

The players all looked aggrieved.

Boss, you told us to play cautiously—why are you blaming us?

"What I meant was we should pursue progress while maintaining stability. Be solid, but improve. Understand?"

Gao Shen knew what they were thinking.

"I don't care. If you don't put on a good second half, I'll offer you all up to the fans!"

The players were baffled.

They came out after the break like they'd been injected with adrenaline.

Rodgers' players had hoped to mount a comeback in the second half, but from the moment the whistle blew, City came charging like wolves, like tigers descending from the mountains, tearing into Swansea without mercy.

In the 48th minute, David Silva passed the ball, and Robinho's shot from the right was blocked for a corner.

A minute later, Rakitic delivered a pass and Yaya Touré drove into the box but shot wide.

In the 52nd minute, Robinho found Rakitic, who shot from a tight angle on the right, but his effort went straight at the goalkeeper.

A minute later, Gareth Bale crossed from the left, and Van Persie's shot was saved.

Manchester City attacked in waves, relentlessly bombarding Swansea's goal.

The poor Swans were completely overwhelmed, gasping for air.

Finally, in the 57th minute, David Silva dribbled through and passed the ball. Bale's shot from the left was parried, but Van Persie pounced on the rebound and scored.

3–0!

In the 60th minute, Gao Shen made a substitution, bringing on Suárez for Gareth Bale.

The Welshman was carrying a slight injury and hadn't played particularly well.

David Silva shifted to the left, and City switched to a 4-4-2.

Suárez looked fired up as soon as he came on.

In the 68th minute, Leighton Baines crossed from the left, and Suárez tapped in at the far post.

4–0!

Just three minutes later, Suárez got another chance in the box. He rounded the keeper, but the angle was too tight, so he cut it back, and David Silva slotted it home.

5–0!

City continued to press.

In the 87th minute, Yaya Touré played the ball to Suárez, who dribbled past a defender and lashed a shot from 25 meters that flew into the net.

6–0!

The City fans were ecstatic!

Andy Gray was full of praise.

"A spectacular, dominant, statement victory!"

…

Rodgers was gutted. He looked at the scoreboard, then at the players on the pitch, not knowing how to describe his emotions.

This was nothing like the script he had envisioned.

He had hoped that the opening flurry would disrupt City's rhythm, make them anxious, and open the door for a counterattack.

It was a classic underdog strategy.

But Gao Shen had thrown the script out the window.

Two goals in the first half, and a relentless onslaught in the second half. There was no mercy for a newly promoted side.

Rodgers had been Mourinho's assistant and knew the Premier League well. But he still underestimated Manchester City.

This team was too strong.

He began to wonder if the early dominance had been due more to his own aggressive setup and City's cautious approach, rather than any real advantage for Swansea.

When the final whistle blew, Gao Shen walked straight to the visiting dugout and extended his hand to Rodgers.

"You taught us a lot tonight," Rodgers said bitterly.

Any team would face criticism after a 6–0 loss, especially a newly promoted one like Swansea.

"You had a good plan and executed it well. But you picked the wrong opponent and underestimated us," Gao Shen said frankly.

Rodgers froze, then gave an awkward smile and nodded.

"To be honest, I watched you in the Championship and liked your coaching. Now that you're in the Premier League, keep pushing forward and stay true to your style," Gao Shen encouraged.

Rodgers wasn't yet a big-name manager. Even in his previous life, when he went straight to Liverpool, he had some highlights but also plenty of problems.

But he deserved encouragement.

After all, he was only 38.

Whether it's Boas or Rodgers, young coaches should be encouraged. They need time and experience to break through.

As for Gao Shen, although younger, he had the [Tactical Library].

Experience for others had to be earned. For him, it could be learned and absorbed.

Live and learn.

Rodgers didn't expect Gao Shen to be so open and approachable. He didn't know what to say, and could only thank him twice.

"Keep going!" Gao Shen encouraged him once more before heading to his bench.

His players were preparing to leave the pitch, and he went to greet them.

Behind him, Rodgers watched Gao Shen walk away with confidence.

Suddenly, a thought came to him.

This is what a world-class coach looks like.

(To be continued.)