Chapter 122: Starting XI Practice
Chapter 122: Starting XI Practice
Monday, August 2, 2010
It had been three days since the team’s last intense session, and Broadfield Stadium buzzed with energy.
The training pitches simmered under the relentless August sun, turning Crawley’s air into a heavy, almost suffocating heat.
Niels pulled in at dawn, his pickup sputtering to a stop next to the training ground’s rusty gate.
The air was thick with the smell of scorched grass and the distant scent of a fryer van’s grease. His heart raced, a mix of nerves and focus.
The season’s opening whistle was just days away, like a storm brewing on the horizon.
Today was all about pushing the squad to their limits with a full 11v11 match simulation, designed to mirror the raw intensity of League One.
With Pogba and Freeman starting to settle in, this session could be the key to finalizing Crawley’s starting lineup and setting the tone for their battle ahead.
Niels gripped a weathered clipboard, its edges frayed and stuffed with formation notes.
A 4-2-3-1 setup was scrawled across one page, with Pogba and Freeman’s names circled, marking them as the midfield backbone. These two could be the engine that powered the team forward.
But it wasn’t just about the formation. Niels knew the real test was how these players would bleed for each other on the pitch.