I'm 1.9 meters tall and weigh 200 pounds, can I pull the hem?

"Therefore, our tactical meeting is now adjourned."

"Now there's one last question."

What are your thoughts on re-signing Liu Yang during the winter transfer window?

After Wenger made these remarks, the rest of the core coaching staff also fell silent.

They could certainly see the overflowing admiration in their leader's eyes.

but……

Over the past decade, Arsenal's financial situation has become increasingly strained.

While Abramovich fired the first shot in the era of big-spending football in the Premier League, Wenger still maintained his inherent romanticism.

The professor's earliest idea was to take out a loan to build a large stadium to increase matchday revenue, recoup the losses during the loan repayment period through the real estate project of Highbury Apartments, and at the same time rely on Arsenal's advanced scouting system and his own influence to discover and cultivate talented young players, ultimately achieving self-sufficiency.

Unfortunately, ideals are often grand, but reality is often harsh.

Construction of the Highbury apartments was only halfway completed when the subprime mortgage crisis hit, preventing the buildings from being completed and sold, which directly led to a break in the cash flow.

Arsenal had to sell players to pay off their loans, and those sold were all key players, causing the team's strength to gradually decline from title contenders to those aiming for a top-four finish.

Since 2004, Arsenal has had to repay at least 4000 million euros in debt every year.

When Arsenal opened up to external investment competition, it caused a period of management chaos.

The largest shareholder—the Kroenke family—and the second largest shareholder—Usmanov, nicknamed "Usmanov" by fans—are locked in a constant struggle for dominance.

The consequence of this situation is that neither side is willing to invest a large amount of money before a winner is determined.

If we don't outcompete our competitors, our current investment will be a complete waste.

If the bid is successful, the current investment will increase the stock price, leading to a higher cost when the acquisition is completed.

Only when one party achieves 100% ownership will they feel confident in investing in and building Arsenal.

Between 2004 and 2014, Manchester City and Chelsea spent a net €600 million on transfers, while Manchester United spent over €300 million.

Even Liverpool, which is considered stingy, has a net expenditure of over 200 million euros.

Arsenal - €1416 million.

The main selling point is that you have to sell as many units as you buy.

……

Teaching assistant Boulder was the first to speak.

"Boss, our transfer budget doesn't support that..."

"After Cazorla's injury, we have basically finalized Elneny's transfer and also plan to recall Gnabry ahead of schedule."

"The management has indicated that they will not invest further during the winter transfer window."

Wenger nodded helplessly.

In recent years, his influence in Arsenal's management has been repeatedly diminished.

He initially opposed accepting foreign investment.

Therefore, neither the Kroenke family nor Ulrich liked him very much.

"We'll continue to observe; if this kid continues to perform exceptionally well, management might relent."

"Even if it's just an advance on summer transfer funds..."

……

Meanwhile, in Aston Villa's office.

Gard is also watching video footage with the coaching staff.

He was also gesturing on the tactics board.

They are trying to gradually integrate Liu Yang into the starting lineup and see if he can maintain his performance.

Let's devise some tactics for him.

After all, starting and being a substitute are two different things.

The substitutes came on to face an opponent who had already been heavily exhausted.

Some players with excellent physical attributes, even if they are unfamiliar with the starting lineup, can take advantage of their rest and force their way through on their own.

However, most of the starting players are at full health against each other.

Without the advantage of physical fitness, players isolated from the team's system are more easily contained.

Even a top Croatian midfielder like Modric was criticized by fans as the "biggest flop" in his first year at Real Madrid.

One of the main reasons is the long-running transfer saga with Tottenham during the summer window, which caused him to miss summer training and preseason games.

It took them most of the season to adapt to Real Madrid's style of play.

He subsequently became an indispensable part of Real Madrid's midfield.

Of course, there are also some geniuses who can truly unleash their ability to single-handedly eliminate all their opponents at any time.

Other geniuses can adapt quickly enough to perfectly integrate into a new system and develop chemistry with their new teammates.

There are also geniuses among geniuses who possess both.

As for becoming the core of the tactics, that's even more difficult.

He needs others to adapt to his pace.

At the same time, it will also be subject to the most thorough research and the strongest targeted defense from the opponent.

……

After gesturing in front of the tactics board for a while, Gard and his coaching team came up with three general plans.

The first option is to use the team's standard 4-2-3-1 formation and place Liu Yang directly in the central attacking midfield position.

The only drawback of this tactic is that it requires the use of two defensive midfielders.

With his outstanding performance, Gay is sure to secure a starting position.

This means that Veretout, the French midfielder brought in for over ten million euros in the summer transfer window, will have to take on more defensive duties.

However, he still seems unable to adapt to the intensity of the Premier League, and defense has never been his strong suit.

He is better at long passes and late runs into the box.

The problem is that this characteristic might give him some preferential treatment at top clubs, but for a team like Aston Villa that is aiming to avoid relegation, they will generally adopt a defensive-first tactic.

Otherwise, given the team's limited overall strength, their defense would be easily breached when facing a stronger team.

The club spent a lot of money and high salaries to bring in Veretout, not to have him sit on the bench.

Too extravagant.

The second tactic is to push Liu Yang to the front line. He has a good nose for goal, and his good footwork allows him to drop back from time to time, developing him into an all-around center forward like Benzema or Ibrahimovic.

It reduces the need for frequent ball possession and movement, thus minimizing energy expenditure.

The problem is that the team already has a starting center forward, Gasted, while another center forward, Agbonlahor, who is also the team captain, is about to return from injury.

This doesn't even include Jordan Ayew, who plays on the right wing and is also a center forward.

The team has no shortage of players at the center position.

The third tactic involves a 4-3-3 formation, with Liu Yang positioned further back, partnering with Veretout and Guy.

This will maximize Liu Yang's ability to advance and make runs from behind.

However, the two central midfielders must take on more defensive duties.

Veretout at least has some defensive skills, but how good is Liu Yang's defense?

Most importantly, can he withstand such a drain on both offense and defense?

If the two central midfielders cannot fulfill their defensive duties, then Guy, as the lone defensive midfielder, will be even less able to hold on.

The team's defense will collapse completely.

As for some of the whimsical ideas of a certain member of the coaching staff...

"Are you kidding me? Sending Liu to play as a winger?"

Gard looked both amused and annoyed.

"The last time this kid played as a winger was when he was twelve years old, before he even grew taller!"

"He's been playing in the middle position ever since!"

"Seventy percent of the time I play as an attacking midfielder, and thirty percent of the time I play as a center forward!"

"1 meters tall and over 96 kilograms!"

"Have you ever seen a winger this big?"

……

Two games, three goals: Young Chinese-Canadian player ignites Villa Park!

Another equalizer! Can Liu Yang be the savior for a disappointing Aston Villa season?

Arsenal are reportedly on the verge of activating their buy-back clause in the winter transfer window!

Debunking Rumors! Arsenal are close to signing Basel midfielder Elneny in the winter transfer window, but lack the budget to sign Liu Yang!

Aston Villa fans are finally starting to take this rising star seriously.

My goodness! He single-handedly destroyed Arsenal's entire midfield and defense!

[He scored as soon as he came on in the first game against Newcastle, and I thought it was just a fluke. But after he played more in the second game, I realized how good this kid is!]

[Among the few personnel changes made by the management during the off-season, Almstadt enjoys a week of immunity from criticism!]

[No need to criticize! This useless guy agreed to a buy-back clause for Arsenal just to save money!]

Don't worry, Arsenal won't spend 20 million euros in the winter transfer window. They're stingier than my grandma!

The mere mention of Arsenal sends Gunners fans into a frenzy of comments.

[Conceding two goals in the final moments?]

[Wenger really should retire; Arsenal can't even beat bottom-placed Aston Villa now!]

[This is ridiculous! Our own child was released, and then we lost points!]

Sold for two million euros, then bought back for twenty million euros in less than a year?

[This year, all the big clubs have faltered. If Wenger can't win a title this year, he might as well go back to France and retire!]

Most British Arsenal fans neither understand nor care about economics, finances, equity, team management, or positioning upgrades.

All they know is that in recent years, the team has sold off its top stars every year to buy some scraps or simply buy lottery tickets.

And they haven't won the Premier League title for many years.

……

June 14th, 12 PM.

The assistant coach blew the whistle to end the training session.

Liu Yang walked to the sidelines, picked up a towel to wipe his sweat, and then quickly wrapped himself in a thick down jacket.

Today was the first time he had been grouped with the main players.

"What did I tell you? Dude, you're definitely going to be a starter!"

Grealish, standing beside him, still maintained his nonchalant demeanor.

"Hey buddy, I'll take you to a club tonight and have some fun!"

Seeing Liu Yang's expression, Grealish laughed again: "Oh, don't I know you too well? Same as always, I'll give you a ride!"

Only then did Liu Yang feel relieved enough to get into the passenger seat of Grealish's newly purchased Aston Martin.

"Hey Jack, this bus is so crowded..."

"Bear with it, Liu. Next time you drive my Range Rover out..."

Liu Yang wasn't some freeloader; he didn't just hitch a ride with Grealish for no reason.

The last time Grealish got completely drunk in the early hours of the morning, it was he who carried him home, practically on his back.

Grealish was extremely grateful: Liu Yang's back was so broad that it completely concealed him, thus preventing tabloid reporters from recognizing his identity!

……

The two sat in the same sports car with a great sense of boundaries.

Grealish was driving with upbeat car music playing, nodding and swaying his head.

Liu Yang leaned back in his chair, reviewing today's training session.

In the first half, he played as an attacking midfielder, replacing Veretout, who had been a regular starter.

In the second half, Gasted was substituted, and the coach immediately put him in the role of center forward.

That said, the Sanchez module I drew before did provide a significant boost.

Not only his headers, but also his header passes and header returns when playing as a center forward, are all handled with more ease and accuracy.

Unfortunately, of Villa's players, only Grealish's crosses are relatively reliable.

Veretout has good footwork, but he's on the opposing team's bench.

……

On the second day of training, Liu Yang discovered that his role had changed again.

Veretout, who wasn't in the starting lineup the day before, was sullen.

But it was brought up again today.

Liu Yang was positioned further back than the previous day, and had few opportunities to head the ball.

Gard assigned him the responsibility of advancing the attack, as well as more defensive duties.

However, today he was paired with Jordan Ayew on the left wing.

This aggressive and physically imposing striker helped relieve a lot of his defensive pressure.

As for Grealish, who used to play as a left winger, he was late for training because he stayed out too late at nightclubs.

I was punished by the coaching staff to run laps.

……

For several days in a row, Liu Yang's position kept fluctuating during training.

He didn't think this was a sign that he was about to make his debut.

It seems more like the coaching staff is looking for their best way to use it.

As expected, on December 19, during the final training session before the away game against Southampton, Garder announced the starting eleven.

Liu Yang's name was not mentioned.

"Hey, that's not fair, man!"

After the training session, Traore, who was walking towards the team bus with Liu Yang and Grealish, was somewhat indignant.

"You scored three goals in two games, trained with the starters for several days, and yet you're still sitting on the bench with me!"

"You went clubbing all night and were late for training the next day! Oh, sorry, Jack..."

Liu Yang was both amused and exasperated. This guy was indeed a bit stubborn, blurting out those words right in front of Grealish.

Grealish wasn't a petty person; he, like Traore, felt that Liu Yang should be in the starting lineup.

Liu Yang didn't think anything of it.

Even if Aston Villa remains unbeaten in two rounds, they will still be at the bottom of the table.

Southampton have had a very strong season and are currently ranked 6th in the standings.

Facing such an opponent, especially playing away from home, it's understandable that the head coach of the relegation-threatened team would want to focus on defense.

In addition, unlike Arsenal.

Southampton's midfield and defense are very solid this season.

……

Southampton.

After a day of training, Southampton's head coach, Ronald Koeman, sat in front of his computer screen, leading his coaching team in a final pre-match analysis.

During his playing days, he was incredibly strong.

As a defender, he scored a total of 193 goals in his career.

At PSV Eindhoven, he scored 51 goals in 94 appearances over three seasons, helping the team win their first-ever Champions League trophy.

At Barcelona, ​​he scored a stunning free-kick goal in the Champions League final, helping Barcelona win their first-ever Champions League trophy.

……

"In the next game, we must contain that young man named Grealish."

"As for that Liu..."

Koeman fell into deep thought.