Football: The Journey of a Coach

9. Game Started

The quality of this kind of warm-up match was not high, the fans were lacking, and the spectator stands were rare. But this is not the time for Daniel Ward to sigh. He seriously led the players to do warm-up exercises like stretching. Sufficient warm-up can make the players devote their bodies and minds to the game. It is a necessary necessity of preparation to avoid injury and do your best.

Within minutes, the Crystal Palace players were also led by assistant coach Mick Jones to another part of the pitch to warm up. After the warm-up is over, Daniel leads everyone back to the dressing room, everyone starts to organize their equipment, and Daniel reminds everyone of things to watch out for.

"First, don't be nervous!. Second, stand in your own position!. Third, I just need to test your defense in this game. It doesn't matter whether you score or not, but you can also play on the counter-attack that should have been played!". As a junior, and with another goal in mind, Daniel Ward left the dressing room early and came down the aisle.

The audience gradually grew, by about three to four thousand people, including a small group of Croydon fans wearing Croydon jerseys. They probably know the players.

    "Come on!"

    "Come on!"

    ***

The match time is almost here. Players from Croydon and Crystal Palace came out of the dressing room one by one and the fans cheered them on. He could feel everyone's spirit quite well, and he was very satisfied. Daniel also aroused the curiosity of the Crystal Palace players. To be honest, it is not strange to be the head coach of an amateur team in their thirties, but it is not uncommon.

  

Soon Neil Warnock and several members of his coaching staff also came out of the player tunnel.

"Hello, Mr Warnock!". Daniel reached out his hand to shake hands, "introduction, I'm Croydon coach Daniel Ward".

"Hello!. Daniel!" Suddenly a young man stood in front of him and said that he was the head coach of the opponent, Warnock was a little confused, he reacted before reaching out and shaking Daniel's hand.

"You're a part-time worker?!". Warnock asked. "You look young, how old are you!".

"Yes, I was 30 years old, the owner of Croydon offered me as a temporary coach, so I did it for Croydon!". Daniel Ward wanted to introduce himself, but the timing wasn't right.

"Well, good luck to you! Daniel!" Warnock laughs.

"Good luck too, Mr Warnock!" Answer Daniel politely.

"You can call me Neil too!". Warnock replied, the old man gestured to leave and walked over to the home team coach, waving at Crystal Palace fans who called him on the street.

Neil Warnock is famous for his tough temperament in English football. He's always angry. Daniel Ward thought that this old man would give him a blank stare, but now it seemed to be nothing, and Warnock seemed to be himself. His acquaintance was good, and I couldn't help but have a good impression of the old man.

After that Daniel Ward walked to the visiting team bench, he did not sit alone on the visiting team coach bench. Some management teams are basically here. Daniel Ward's uncle Wayne watches his nephew's every move, and also sits on the coach's bench to watch the game .

Seeing Wen Sheng approaching, Wayne got up and asked Daniel. "How?!. How's the chat with Mr Warnock?!"

 "Is he. um..."

"No!. Jesus, Uncle Wayne! We just say hello!".

“Only to say hello?!”.

“Ya!”

“You should introduce yourself well, or take him for a drink after the game!”. Wayne shrugged and complained. Shit, why don't I think about this!. Daniel Ward wants to pat himself on the head!. It's not presumptuous, a friendly is also a competition, and drinking after a game is a good idea!.

***

Game's starting.

Daniel Ward adopted a 3-5-2 formation in the layout, and Neil Warnock saw his way after the opening.

"Hey, that kid will save a few goals!". Assistant coach Mick Jones stands next to Warnock. Despite the friendly match, there was no need to stand on the sidelines to greet the players, but Warnock could not sit still, he stood on the sidelines at the start of the game and had no idea what he was watching.

Warnock did not answer. Mick Jones has worked with him for a long time, and he probably understands what Warnock thinks. I'm afraid this old coach is not thinking about this game. Maybe he's thinking about the transfer market. This season is not a good thing for Crystal Palace. First, there is no money to enter. Second, Simon Jordan wants to sell some players to defuse the team's financial crisis. It's more worthy of Warnock's anxiety than this game.

"Consider its position!. Don't take it easy, stay tight! ". Daniel Ward's outfit today is no different than the one at the training ground. He was wearing sportswear, but he just changed a pair of his sneakers legs. Warnock didn't care, but he did. Tight, standing on the sidelines and right from the start of the game, like on the training ground.

The Crystal Palace player input is too low. Although Croydon's players were bad, like a bus parked near the penalty area, Crystal Palace could not get in for a while. Actually not too dangerous.

When the defender has a beautiful interception or steal, Daniel will shout loudly, "It's good!".

To stimulate his own players, I have to say that Croydon players are still not used to the intensity of the game at the beginning. It is different from a team training game. With his confidence, coupled with an already inspired fighting spirit, the defensive end became even more stable.

Warnock, an old coach, is only seriously examining Daniel's 3-5-2 formation at the moment. Croydon put 80% of his personnel in defence, and had a fully defensive posture. After observing for a while, Warnock felt that the opponent's defense was pretty good.

"The "defensive position is very well defended. It seems like this young coach also has a study on Italian football defense. I rarely see a low-level team that can be calm and defensive!". Warnock said, everyone knows that Warnock is an expert of small team upgrades and rescuers, and what does Warnock excel at? !. He is very good at guiding defense. Now Croydon's early defence looks good, inevitably I feel the day will be good for his team.

Warnock finally noticed Daniel Ward and smiled slightly.

“It seems, the team is having some problems!” Mick Jones frowned.

"How many hours now?!". Warnock raised his wrist to show his watch, "Don't rush, it's just a warm-up game!".