In preparation for the next round of league training, Aldridge invited Arsene Wenger to visit Millwall's training base.

The training ground was lackluster, but Arsene Wenger praised the indoor training hotel, the modern sports medicine team, the scientific diet, the meticulous intelligence gathering and the tactical meeting room, etc., which Aldridge and Wenger had discussed in depth many years ago when they first met, and Aldridge made it happen with his own hands.

On the training ground, Arsene Wenger stood on the sidelines of the pitch and watched quietly, while Aldridge continued to work as usual, much to the confusion of his colleagues in the coaching staff.

However, no one asked much, at least Wenger's appearance did not make people think about it.

Before the start of today's group match, Aldridge called the players in front of him and said: "We have performed well in the last two months, we have only conceded two goals in eight league games, but our goals seem to be a little less in recent times, so the focus of today's training is that the full-backs can try to break through after they get the ball and add something new to the attacking tactics." ”

Aldrich's words made Pire, Schneider's eyes light up.

There were not many requirements for team training before, and the attacking players tried to get the ball out of the front court as much as possible, handled the ball concisely and clearly, constantly formed a coordination through running, and used accurate ground passing and fast pace to tear apart the gaps in the opponent's defense, but this is still simpler for football with changing offensive and defensive tactics.

Individual breakthroughs are indispensable in football, and people talk about the combination of "passing the ball into the goal" is indeed easy to become a classic, but such goals will not be every one, and in the process of creating goals, individual breakthroughs are a large part of the link.

Aldridge's previous suppression of the wing breakthrough was just to lay the foundation for the defensive system, because the wing breakthrough is not only a player from the side closer to the bottom line and the penalty area, it is bound to lead the entire offensive system to press forward, there is no turning back arrow from the bow, and the attack is more pressed, if it cannot be recovered in time, then the pressure on the defense will be huge.

In order to make the team's offense and defense free, Aldridge couldn't let go of the players at the beginning, let the players play freely, find a feeling in the process of contraction, first familiarize himself with the mode and state of defense, and then release the offense little by little, which is his overall idea of transforming the team.

First-team coaches Joshua Tolop and Craig took tactical drawings and explained the simple tactics to the players.

For example, the line of the cross from the wing, the 45-degree cross to find the back point, the bottom cross to find the front point, how the two strikers should run on the ball route of the wide players, so as to cover and pull, etc.

Tactics are always rigid, and they need to be tailored to suit themselves.

Millwall's forwards are quick and have a keen nose in the box, so it is only natural that the wide attack will serve them.

Probably because of the abundance of offensive tactics today, the players were very interested, and after the coaches' concise explanations, they were divided into two sides to start the confrontation.

Aldridge walked to the other side of the training ground and stood next to Wenger, who was now watching the players on the training pitch intently.

Halfway through the match, Aldridge asked softly, "How's it going?" ”

Wenger let out a long breath, turned his head to Aldridge and nodded: "Although they are young, they have a lot of potential, Aldrich, I am deeply impressed by your vision." ”

Although there are not many skillful players on the field, and it is precisely to make up for this shortcoming, Aldridge's team plays very concisely, the ball moves quickly at the feet of the players, and there is no need for fancy movements, as long as it is enough to make tacit short passes, and then constantly run to form a combination.

Although it was only a brief match, Wenger already saw that the future of the players at the training ground was limitless.

In the next few days, the players' enthusiasm for training was very high, after all, they can be more active in attack, which made their long-suppressed attacking factor completely burst out.

In the ninth round of the English League, Millwall sat at the Lion's Den Stadium and ushered in a weak team: Luton.

It was the lack of strength in this round that made Aldridge finally determined to try to tactically unleash a small attack.

As usual, Aldridge doesn't talk at length in the dressing room before the game, just to get the team motivated and leave the dressing room.

He deeply understands that the shorter the time before the start of the game, the more he advises the players on tactics, the less effective it is, but it will only make the players nervous, how to play the game, prepare a day in advance, and there is no need to mention the players before the game starts, which will only annoy people.

The Lions' Den was packed, Aldridge's side had already won the affirmation of the fans, and today in the stands, not only Wenger was watching, but also a group of young lads were seen pulling up a banner that read: "If you like Millwall, then yell out!" We are the roar of the lion! ”

The young men holding such banners were Brady, Fred, and Evan.

They were young and wore Millwall's traditional dark blue jerseys to stand in the South Stand, and their seats, Aldridge opened the back door for them, and fifty tickets were given to Brady according to their seats, which made Brady pull up nearly 100 members of the fan organization "Lion's Roar" in the stands in just one week, becoming a unique scenery on the field.

Aldridge has become accustomed to the fans in the stands by the aisle asking for his autograph when entering the stadium, and occasionally being tapped on the shoulder to cheer him on or praise him.

Unlike usual, after the start of the game, Aldridge did not stand on the sidelines to command, but sat in the coach's seat and watched the game on the court with a faint face.

From the start of the game, there were constant cheers in the stands.

Millwall's home record is also a home dragon, which makes fans happy to go on the pitch to cheer on the team, and for ordinary people who have worked hard for a week, there is nothing quite like indulging in shouting and singing in the stadium.

But once the game started, the situation on the field was very stale.

Luton's overall strength is not strong, and they did not shrink their defense when they came to the Lion's Den Stadium, and the main problem was Millwall's attack.

Aldridge couldn't help but glance at the away team's coach's seat, the opponent's head coach was also sitting, there was a baffle blocking the view, Aldridge couldn't see the other party's expression clearly, he said silently in his heart: It seems that the other party has also put in a lot of effort.

Millwall organized the attack in the middle of Nedved, but in the past games, Nedved did not go deep into the vicinity of the opponent's penalty area, mainly doing the work of transition in the middle, so the two wings, Schneider and Pire, are the starting point of the attack, and they are also the threatening link in Millwall's attack.

Because of this, Luton's two full-backs kept an eye on them from the start of the game.

It's almost like a pair in a chess game.

And Aldridge allowed to pass through Pire and Schneider, seems to be overjoyed, this game has some signs of showing off footwork, the first action after receiving the ball is passing, passing, passing

This situation is even more serious after being cut off twice and three times in a row by the opponent!

By the thirtieth minute of the first half, even the fans in the stands could see that as long as Schneider and Pire got the ball, the next action would definitely be passable!

These two didn't try to eat the speed and explosiveness of their opponents, and wanted to use their foot skills to get past the rough England defenders? And is it in the case that the other party sees through you?

This is too bad for the other party to take people!

It's like using your opponent as a stake!

"Would you like to remind them?"

Jenson whispered in Aldrich's ear.

He is more strange, the reason why Millwall's attack is blocked, ordinary fans can see, isn't it just that the two wide players only want to pass people with the ball?

But Aldridge sat calmly and showed no signs of getting up to direct from the sidelines.

Aldridge shook his head and said, "It's useless to shout anything now, give them a cool time period, at halftime." ”

Arsene Wenger in the stands felt he had exaggerated what he had said to Aldridge a few days ago.

At least with Millwall's two wing-backs on the pitch at the moment, he felt like he had lost sight.

Pire and Schneider, who were free in training, played terrible on the field!

But he was more curious: what would Aldrich do?

Scolded these two players at half-time?

Or a substitution?

Or tell them not to try again?

The unspective first half ended with the referee's whistle, and the fans in the stands were a little discouraged and many drowsy.

Millwall doesn't look as threatening as it once was.

There were only two shots on goal in the first half, and the two strikers were not supported and were invisible at the end of the first half.

Aldridge returned to the dressing room without changing the tactical set-up, but only drew the positions of a few Luton players on the tactical board and told the team's defence to pay attention to the movement of the opposing players.

Before coming on the pitch in the second half, after Aldridge and other players had walked out, he deliberately called Schneider and Pire to stop, and the three dragged behind the most of them, with Aldridge in the middle of them, wrapping his arms around their necks from left to right.

After the half-time calm, the two players also understood that they were a mess in the first half, and they couldn't lift their heads.

I complained in my heart that the leader didn't give them a chance, and they showed the ability to break through.

Well, the boss allowed you to kick like a bird.

Shame on you!

There is no place to be ashamed!

"You two were so tired in the first half."

"Huh?"

Pire and Schneider looked up in surprise and looked at Aldrich's face close at hand, slightly dazed.

Really tired?

Doesn't it really stink? Really bad?

Aldridge rolled his eyes and said lightly: "Fools can see that you must pass after you get the ball, what does the best defender rely on to defend?" Body? No, it's pre-judgmental awareness! Okay, you two directly tell the opponent what to do next, do you still need to predict? It's too easy to keep you at bay. ”

Piret and Schneider lowered their heads again.

"The tactics are the same, it's just that what you have to change is the rhythm, listen to me, you do it on the field, you get a pass from your teammate, you pass three to five times and then try to pass once, pass three or five shots and then break through once, understand? When you accumulate more experience, you should pass or pass, that can be done almost subconsciously, now use this stupid method. ”

Aldridge let go of the two players and patted them on the back to get them out to play.