novelraw Chapter 326 - 101: The Core of the National Youth Team, the Man-Eating Red Wolf! (13,000-Word Warm-Up)
Chapter 326 - 101: The Core of the National Youth Team, the Man-Eating Red Wolf! (13,000-Word Warm-Up)
There are rumors that this summer Rome will pursue multiple wingers, including Becher’s.
The Wolf King has always been complaining that the wings of the team aren’t giving him enough support and that he needs stronger opponents.
Evidently, Aguirre also cannot satisfy the Wolf King.
After Aguirre left, Balera sighed heavily in exhaustion.
If you don’t know how to speak, then damn well speak less. You’re the most suitable for Rome, so what is Perrotta? What am I, Balera? What is team vice captain, Drake?
Idiot!
I really hope the team sells off this fool in the summer.
If Aguirre hadn’t let them down this year, perhaps Rome would have had a chance to compete for the league title.
This year, Juventus’s dominance in the league isn’t that strong. Even Florence, with just a single star, can contend for the top spot, so Rome isn’t far off either.
What a wasted opportunity indeed.
But it’s still okay now, securing an Italian Cup can be considered better than nothing.
It’s been some time since Rome tasted the flavor of victory.
The reason for this confidence is that if AC Milan makes it to the Champions League final, they’d have to throw an Italian Cup for everyone to enjoy happily.
By then, they wouldn’t even rotate Izalelt, they’d rotate half the team, and Martivini wouldn’t say a word against it.
Of course, that’s just speculation.
For now, we still have to play this game well.
Just as Balera told everyone, this San Remo isn’t simple, everyone must not underestimate them.
Whistle!
A whistle blew.
The semi-final match of the Italian Cup has officially begun.
Rome immediately displayed why they are currently fourth on the Serie A standings!
Their strength is formidable, far surpassing relegation-threatened teams like Sampdoria.
Their backfield has great coordination, and their ball control is strong, easily advancing the ball upfield.
Aguirre faked an inside cut, then genuinely headed to the corner, crossing from the wing.
Although the cross wasn’t particularly beautiful, Rome’s substitute central forward, the 1.92-meter-tall Amindo Savio, exhibited immense individual ability, somehow managing to contest for the header amidst San Remo’s tall defensive duo.
However, Savio didn’t generate enough power, and Jalard collected the ball.
Afterward, San Remo attempted to counter Rome with a stamina-based ball control strategy.
Surprisingly, even though San Remo could control the ball, their play struggled to cross midfield. Even when they did, they were quickly pushed back.
Rome’s midfield defense is very tough.
Their number ten midfielder, Balera, and their number eight, Drake, both have impressive defensive capabilities.
Especially Drake, he’s Rome and the Italy National Team’s vice captain and number eight!
He’s a top-notch national player, known for his defensive midfield position.
Similarly, Rome has over nine national players on the team, and six of them are playing today, so they’re going all out.
As for San Remo... National team... Well, there’s actually one!
Latu Yidi was once France National Team’s main midfielder.
Of course, after joining San Remo, he understandably lost his place in the national team.
This has something to do with him voluntarily bidding farewell to the national team, but likewise, the national team can’t trust an old player playing in the lower leagues.
"This Red Wolf, not easy to deal with!" Lu Yang exchanged a few words with Morici while coming to support.
"Red Wolf" is one of Rome’s nicknames.
"Their midfield is too strong. In positional play, we can’t get past their midfield," Morici frowned deeply. "Perhaps we should pull back a little, let them attack, and then hit them on the counter."
Lu Yang nodded.
Both had clear thinking.
Strategically, that’s indeed the way to go.
But... sometimes, the situation on the field is something that thinking and tactics can’t quite decide.
Pulling back to defend, of course, means focusing on defense, but it doesn’t necessarily strengthen it.
The simple point is that Rome is most accustomed to playing positional warfare.
Their two midfield national players both have the ability to score from long range.
Their central forward Perrotta or the current substitute forward Savio both possess immense attacking and heading ability.
Their wingers and fullbacks can deliver exceptionally strong crosses.
They are very adept at breaking through opponents’ "parked buses."
If San Remo pulls back, it undoubtedly gives Rome the strongest space to execute.
If San Remo’s defensive level in ball control play is 4, and Rome’s offensive level is 6.
Then, after San Remo pulls back, their defensive level may rise to 6, a significant improvement.
However, Rome’s offensive ability might soar to 12! A huge improvement!
This trade-off is not a profitable change.
But to score goals, this is the only change San Remo can make.
Not just San Remo; most teams face this issue when dealing with Rome.
They can’t mount an offense, can only counterattack, and Rome’s offense doesn’t rely on counters; they just crush opponents outright!
This is what Rome’s Iron Midfield Defense brings, one of their treasured strengths.
Rome has three treasures, the golden central axis!
Iron midfield, the ever-strong Italy’s second national keeper Ameluci, the city-legend of Rome, the Wolf King Perrotta!
The Wolf King’s only dissatisfaction with the team is... if this Rome playing style had another top-tier wide player, adding "breakthroughs causing threats" to their repertoire of long shots, crosses, and lofted passes, they’d truly be unbeatable.