Chapter 6 Simon Grayson

The whistle sounded at the end of the team's training match, and Chris Sally walked up and shouted, "Zach, David, come here, the others hurry up and pack up. Don't you bastards want to go home anymore!"

After Chris Sally called out, Nell Redfein and Rudy Crino also came up and yelled. In their eyes, the players of the reserve and youth team were their own children, and it would be normal to not hit them or scold them.

"Mr. Chris, what's wrong with you for me?"

David Soma was originally a first-team player, but now he is just recovering from injuries in the reserve team. He has a very polite attitude towards Chris Sally, but Wang Tiezhu is different. He may have been influenced by Zach Thompson, or Chris Sally himself has affinity, and this kid doesn't have so much concern when speaking. He regained some of his previous feelings in this training game just now. Even because of Zach Thompson's body and skills, he feels better. He wished that this training game would take a little longer.

Wang Tiezhu, who was in a good mood, came up and laughed, "Boss, I did a good job of playing the back midfielder?"

Chris Sally gave Wang Tiezhu a blank look and ignored him and asked David Soma with concern: "David, your knees have just recovered. How do you feel now?"

David Soma glanced at Wang Tiezhu beside him, then turned his head and smiled at Chris Sally, "Mr. Chris, thank you for your concern. I don't think there is any big problem with my legs. I just haven't played for a long time and I feel a little tired."

Chris Sally nodded: "Well, I'll feel relieved. Do you know if you go to the medical team for physical therapy and then go home?"

"Okay, Mr. Chris!"

"Okay, let's go now. Don't let that old guy Alan wait for a long time. He will complain to me!"

"Okay, I'll go there now! Then Mr. Chris, goodbye!"

"goodbye!"

David Soma did not leave immediately after saying goodbye to Chris Sally, turned his head and patted his shoulder hard: "Zach, I think defense will be more suitable for you compared to offense. I feel that you have the potential to be a world-class defensive player, especially the tenacity you showed when you pester me. It really made me think I met a professional player, but I know this is your first time playing as a midfielder, so... Come on!"

"Hehe...hehe!"

After hearing David Soma's praise, Wang Tiezhu felt embarrassed at all. Instead, he smiled silly and honestly. David Soma patted his shoulder and said, "Zach, don't forget to inform everyone to wait for me to leave in the evening. I said I would invite you to dinner together!"

"No problem! David, I promise to call them all and wait for you in the locker room!"

"Okay, Zach, Mr. Chris, I'll go first!"

David Soma waved his hand and left. Chris Sally looked at the handsome high center forward's departure and felt a little grateful to him. He believed that with what David Soma just said, even if he no longer encouraged Wang Tiezhu, he could really change his career in the defensive position.

"Zach!"

Chris Sally looked at Wang Tiezhu seriously and asked, "This is your first time participating in the team's training after more than a month. How about it? Do you feel that your ankles are not adapted to?"

"No!"

Wang Tiezhu shook his head firmly and laughed: "Boss, I think I am really a genius midfielder now. I really took a detour in the past, hey!"

Chris Sally laughed and scolded: "You kid is just a fool! I have told you a long time ago that your physical condition and your not-so-excellent offensive awareness have decided that you kid can only have a way out if you play defensive players! But what did you say at the beginning? You actually told me that you only want to play forward! Humph! You know now? I have been in youth training for so many years. Do you still misjudged what material you are?"

Alas, this Zach is such an idiot. He can't play the offense, but he doesn't know how to change his career and play defense. It's really a waste of his capital. But now... I just like to play defense!

Faced with Chris Sally's resentment, Wang Tiezhu hung up a signature silly smile again: "Hehe, boss, don't be angry. Don't I understand your good intentions now? I will definitely do my best to cooperate with your training plan in the future and ensure that it will meet your requirements!"

Zach Thompson, who was no longer depressed after being injured, became very cheerful and even "rogue". Chris Sally was amused: "Okay, don't be poor with me here. Although if you changed to defense earlier, you might have become a talent now, but you don't really realize that this is precious no matter what. But Zach, you have wasted a lot of time. Maybe I won't be too ruthless in your training these days, but at most ten days, I will let you know what hell-style training is. I will definitely train you to be a qualified defensive player!"

"Ah, boss, don't be polite to me. If a genius midfielder like me is not trained, it will be your responsibility! Okay, boss, I have to remind everyone that David treats you tonight, I'm leaving!"

Wang Tiezhu turned around and ran away. Chris Sally watched him run away with a smile, feeling the pleasure of guarding the clouds and seeing the moon brightly. Zach Thompson is the most favored player in the declining Leeds youth team under his command, especially the ruthlessness of this kid when he was training after losing his loved ones. Chris Sally felt a little distressed. He believed that with such a persistent person, it would be impossible for him to fail. It’s a pity... This kid took the wrong path!

But now, there is no problem!

Chris Sally believes that as long as Zach Thompson, who is calm and resolute in defense, can still have that ruthlessness, then in half a year, he can become a qualified defensive player at most.

When Chris Sally was in a good mood, Leeds United's first team coach Simon Grayson was having a headache at this time...

Simon Grayson started his career at Leeds United. He was able to be both midfielder and defender at the same time, but his career was not very glorious. He did not make a breakthrough at Leeds United. He only made two appearances for the team in four years. In March 1992, Grayson signed with Leicester City, helping the team win the 1997 League Cup, and was selected as the club's Player of the Year in the same year. In 1997, he transferred to Aston Villa. In July 1999, he joined Blackburn Rangers. He played 34 times for the team in his first season. He then lost the main position of the team and was frequently on Sheffield Wednesday.

Teams such as Stockport, Notts County and Bradford. On July 19, 2002, Grayson joined Blackpool as a free agent, playing for the team for more than 100 games and eventually became the captain of the team. He initially served as the right back position of the team, but was then appointed to the forward position by Colin Hendry, then coaching the team to strengthen the hardness of the midfield. After retiring in 2004, he began his coaching career at Blackpool, and had the achievements of leading the team to relegation and rushing into the English Champions League, and also led the team to achieve ninth place in the English Champions League, which is Blackpool's best record in nearly 40 years.

In 2008, Leeds terminated the contract with coach Gary McAllister, and Grayson's name was frequently associated with the Leeds coach's position. Blackpool tried to prevent Leeds United from contacting his team's meritorious coach, but Simon Grayson finally chose to sign a new work contract. After all, it was Simon Grayson's wish to change his identity and return to his parent team. All he could do for Blackpool was to get more liquidated damages from Leeds.

Under the leadership of Simon Grayson, Leeds United finally returned to the English Champions League last season and regained its foothold through last season's efforts. The team has begun to be expected to achieve better results this season. If they can make the play-offs and have the chance to enter the Premier League, it would be the most perfect. For this goal, club chairman Ken Bateston raised 12 million pounds for Simon Grayson, but only 2 million pounds of this money can be used for transfers, and the remaining money is the team's salary budget.

Two million pounds may seem like a lot, but this little money can't even make a wave of money when throwing it into the transfer market. If Simon Grayson wants to buy people, he can only find some players from the lower leagues.

Sitting in a messy office filled with information, Simon Grayson frowned and looked at the first team roster in front of him, a list with twenty-four players' names. To be honest, the Leeds United's lineup is still very neat, with three goalkeepers, eight defenders, nine midfielders, four forwards, and eight defenders happen to be four center backs, two left backs, two right backs, and four forwards. Although there is no high center forward like David Soma, it is also very comprehensive. Only the midfield part makes Simon Grayson worried. There is not a defensive midfielder among the nine midfielders, and no one who can play as a midfielder is worthy of.

After having the experience of leading the team to compete in the Championship last season, Simon Grayson has realized that he is facing a problem that his mentor Colin Hendry faced, that is, the lack of hardness in the midfield!

The technical and tactical level of the English Championship is not comparable to that of the Premier League, but the intensity of the game is very high and requires higher physical fitness. Without midfield hardness, it is absolutely fatal for Leeds United. They can no longer use tactical advantages to attack their opponents like they did when they compete in the English League One.

If Leeds United wants to make progress in the Champions League and even become a super team again and return to the Premier League, the team needs to do better and their overall strength must become stronger.

But now... Simon Grayson really wants to exchange three or four midfielders in his hands for two midfielders!
Chapter completed!