Chereads / Soccer: I have the attributes of Messi in his Prime / Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Loan Arrangements

Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Loan Arrangements

If the first goal was scored based on individual ability, then the second goal belongs to utilizing one's organizing ability to link up the team's frontcourt attack, ultimately completing the goal.

"This goal shouldn't have been lost!"

On the sidelines, while the coaching staff applauded the substitute team, they also expressed some dissatisfaction with the main team's conceding.

"The possession-based tactics are impressive, but the demands on the players are too high!"

"That's right. The first team has players like Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, and a bunch of other excellent midfielders. Even talented defensive midfielders like Mascherano couldn't find a spot and had to play as a defender."

"In contrast, apart from Lin Quan, the substitute team's midfielders are almost all lacking in strength. Without a strong midfield and without forwards like Messi who excel at individual play, it's quite normal that they can't play out the possession game like the main team."

The main team did create opportunities. In fact, during the time they pressured the substitute team, they managed three shots, two of which were within the frame of the goal.

Unfortunately, the substitute team's forwards had a significant gap in individual ability compared to Messi. Their shots either got blocked or saved by the goalkeeper.

As a result, the main team dominated possession but struggled to score goals.

This situation reminded the coaches of the Spanish national team.

The Spanish national team's players shine brightly, especially the midfield masters, who could form a team by themselves! Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Fabregas, Alonso, David Silva, Mata, Cazorla, Navas, and others are almost all midfield cores of their respective clubs.

With such a strong midfield lineup, Spain could easily control the midfield.

However, embarrassingly, Spain lacked a superstar forward, a finisher like Messi.

As a result, Spain's games often saw them dominating possession but struggling to score. Against strong opponents like Portugal, Paraguay, Germany, and the Netherlands in the knockout stages of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Spain only scored one goal in each game.

Although it seemed economical and practical, the lack of a sharp striker was evident.

Although each of these midfield masters had the ability to score goals, none of them had top-notch shooting skills compared to regular forwards.

Therefore, it was common to see them waste scoring opportunities in matches.

If Messi chose to join the Spanish national team, the team built around Barcelona would have been almost tailor-made for him.

Such a Spanish team would be terrifying on the world stage, beyond imagination!

Unfortunately, there's only one Messi, and he chose to join the Argentine national team.

"There's no good solution. Even with such a strong midfield in the national team, it's still difficult to score, isn't it? Our problem is similar to the national team's, but the players' abilities are much worse, so scoring goals naturally becomes even more difficult."

The coaches frowned, feeling somewhat worried about the problems that arose in the youth team: Once the midfield masters of the first team retire, with the current level of these midfielders in the team's youth ranks, it's probably going to be challenging for them to fill their shoes.

By then, can Barcelona continue to execute the possession-based tactics?

This crisis is actually more severe than the current problems of the youth team because the first team's performance is crucial to the survival of the entire club.

Fortunately, they still had one talent in their hands, Lin Quan.

Lin Quan's abilities were already good, and his performance in this game won unanimous approval from the coaching staff.

Although the position he played in today's match was a bit strange, not quite like a defensive midfielder, more like an attacking midfielder.

But his performance in this game was outstanding, prompting the coaches to subconsciously ignore this issue.

Moreover, the positions of young players on the field are not fixed.

Internal training is actually about finding the most suitable position for them so that their potential can be fully developed.

So, instead of criticizing Lin Quan, the coaches even reminded the main team's defensive players to be careful with their tackles and not to injure him.

He's the treasure of the youth team and must be well protected, without any problems arising.

The midfield banner of Barcelona is waiting for him to take over!

At the same time, in the office of the youth team's head coach, Enrique took out a large stack of loan team application forms from the drawer.

He was looking for suitable loan destinations.

Barcelona is currently a hot favorite in the football world, and La Masia youth academy is full of talent.

So, many teams, especially smaller teams that are relatively poor and cannot afford to sign new players, like to loan players from them.

Spanish players are known for their technical finesse and produce many midfielders.

And coincidentally, Barcelona has a rich reserve of midfield players, many of whom from the youth team struggle to establish themselves in the first team and have to go out on loan for experience.

When their loan period expires, if there still isn't a suitable position for them within Barcelona, they are likely to choose to leave through a transfer.

And when they do leave, the teams that loaned them naturally become their first choice.

After all, after adapting and blending in during the loan period, they've already integrated into the team's tactical system.

If they were to transfer to another team, it might take a long time for them to adjust.

And for young players, if they fail to perform satisfactorily within the limited playing time, they might lose the trust of the head coach and end up being sidelined.

After all, the professional arena is very harsh.

The capable rise while the incompetent fall; if you're given a chance and don't seize it, you'll inevitably face consequences.

This is the calculation Enrique is making. He plans to loan Lin Quan to a league not too high in level, where the team's strength isn't strong, but they still need to achieve results.

Such teams don't have much patience with young players. If he doesn't perform well in matches, the opposing coach may lose patience with him after just two or three games.

By then, sitting on the bench for a year in that team, even if Lin Quan has some talent, it's likely to go to waste.

Moreover, if he doesn't have any outstanding performances during this year, Barcelona would have enough reason to refuse to renew his contract.

In this way, President Rosell's task to him would be completed.

According to his requirements, he eliminated teams outside the top five leagues.

The strength of those teams' leagues is too weak, and the players from Barcelona's youth team could easily secure a regular position.

The level of the top five leagues is much higher, and even players from La Masia youth academy can't become regulars at his age.

Among the top five leagues, it's obvious that the teams from La Liga submit the most loan applications to Barcelona.

However, Enrique doesn't intend to loan Lin Quan to other La Liga teams because these teams play Barcelona at least twice a year.

And when these teams face Barcelona, the media naturally bring up Barcelona's loaned players in their team, which would increase Lin Quan's presence in the hearts of Barcelona fans, making it difficult to downplay his existence.

So, he first ruled out La Liga.

Premier League teams are actually very good, and the physical confrontations are intense enough.

However, young players, especially Spanish young players, seem to have an inexplicable resistance to playing in England.

The cold weather of the British Isles, intense physical confrontations, rough fouls, and lenient refereeing standards are very disadvantageous for Spanish players who play a technical style.

Therefore, Lin Quan is likely to reject a loan to the Premier League.

Finally, after considering various factors, Enrique found a league that he considered most suitable, and the players were less likely to refuse - the Bundesliga!

And over in the Bundesliga, there happened to be a team that submitted an application!

In that case, you're it - Werder Bremen!