Chapter 134: Lines Between Discipline
Chapter 134: Lines Between Discipline
Monday, September 6, 2010
Broadfield Stadium Training Ground
Monday morning was cold and tense after the tough win over Swindon. At Broadfield Stadium’s training ground, the wet pitches glistened under cloudy skies.
Niels pulled into the lot, his pickup’s engine sputtering to a stop. He felt a mix of relief and urgency.
The 2-1 win had moved Crawley to mid-table with eight points from five games: two win, two draws, one loss, but the late goal they conceded still bothered him. It felt like a warning, a sign that one mistake could undo their progress.
Plymouth’s fast counterattacks were up next, a real test of whether the team could stay consistent or buckle under the pressure of League One.
Media reaction was mixed. One paper said, "Crawley’s spark returns, but defensive frailty persists." Reddit showed cautious hope, "Freeman’s clicking, Kieron’s a live wire" but some fans called mid-table form a fluke.
The squad filed into the cramped meeting room, lit by flickering fluorescents and marked by years of wear. The projector hummed, showing grainy footage of Swindon’s late goal. Niels stood at the front, all focus, no sign of celebration. He froze the moment Reece lost his marker and the ball slipped past Fletcher. "This isn’t about effort," he said quietly but firmly. "It’s discipline. Reece, you drifted half a step. That’s the difference."
Reece sat tense, jaw tight, eyes fixed on the screen, taking the critique like a bruise. Niels moved to a clip of Pogba breaking Swindon’s press with ease, his passes opening space. "Paul, that’s the benchmark. You owned the middle, build on it."
Pogba gave a rare nod, pride flickering in his eyes, fingers tapping with quiet energy. Max, up front, met Niels’s glance, a silent nod for his goal and leadership, the captain’s armband burning like a badge of intent.
Kieron’s clip played, slow to track back, leaving space on the right. "Kieron, you’re quick, but late here," Niels said, firm but fair. "Match their runs. Every second counts." Kieron’s jaw tightened, hunger in his eyes, nodding as he took the lesson in.