Chapter 114: Chasing the Midfield
Saturday, July 10, 2010
The morning was cold in Crawley, with a bit of sunlight breaking through the clouds over Broadfield Stadium.
Niels got there early as always.
The transfer window had been brutal. Luka Radev was already off to Parma, leaving a hole in the squad. Max Simons was still deciding whether to accept Levante's offer to play in La Liga.
Niels carried his old backpack with him. Inside was a notebook filled with plans, ideas, and names. Paul Pogba, James Dunne, and John Lundstram were all marked in red. He also kept an old book about football psychology tucked away in the same bag.
He reached into his pocket and touched the worn note he had carried for days. He already knew every word on it.
Out on the pitch, the team was beginning to take shape. Thiago played with the freedom to do the unexpected. Dev Patel kept making runs into space, while Jamal Osei held the middle together, calm and steady.
