Signing Adam was the logical choice.
However, Gao Bo did not immediately promote Adam to the first team. The boy had no prior experience with the structured youth training system of professional football, and throwing him directly from street football into the professional league would be irresponsible and detrimental to his growth. For young players to succeed, they must be well-prepared to face the challenges of professional football, ensuring a longer and more fruitful career.
Adam's ball control and skills were impressive, but there were significant areas for improvement—especially teamwork. Street football is a stage for individual flair, but professional football is a platform where victory requires cohesion and strategy. Moreover, Adam's physical condition was far from ready for the rigors of professional competition.
The other players at the youth training camp looked at Adam with admiration. They understood that he had caught the eye of the first-team coach. It wouldn't be long before he was training at the senior team's facilities.
Since Adam and his brother Alan lived in East London, some dozens of kilometers away, the Luton club needed to arrange housing for them. But that was a matter for the club, not Gao Bo. His focus was the team's performance, not the players' personal logistics.
Gao Bo spent the entire day at the youth training camp. After the children finished their sessions, he returned home. His brief holiday ended quickly, and when the first-team players gathered again, their morale was noticeably higher following their opening-round victory.
Though their opponent, Port Vale, was not particularly strong, winning at home showed that the team's training over the past two months had been effective. The win boosted the players' confidence, particularly in their ability to avoid relegation this season.
The next challenge, however, was not a league game but a League Cup match.
The English Football League Cup, known as the League Cup, involves 92 teams from across the English professional league system. It was established in 1962 to provide clubs with an additional knockout competition outside the FA Cup, which was controlled by the Football Association.
Despite its history, the League Cup is regarded as less prestigious than the Premier League and the FA Cup. Top Premier League clubs often use the competition to rotate their squads, fielding substitutes and even youth players, as they focus on the league, FA Cup, and European tournaments.
For smaller clubs like Luton, however, the League Cup presents an opportunity. Matches against stronger teams can bring in valuable ticket and broadcast revenue, as well as increased visibility. An upset victory can become a memorable highlight for fans.
Luton's Opponent: Nottingham Forest
In the first round, Luton drew Nottingham Forest, a Championship-level team. Fortunately, Luton was drawn as the home team, avoiding the need to travel.
Nottingham Forest, like Luton, competed in League One last season. However, their fortunes diverged: Forest finished as runners-up and earned promotion to the Championship, while Luton was relegated and began the current season fighting to avoid further demotion after starting with a 30-point penalty.
Gao Bo was familiar with Nottingham Forest. Although the team had been absent from the Premier League for years, they were once a European powerhouse. Nottingham Forest won back-to-back European Cups (now the Champions League) in the 1978-1979 and 1979-1980 seasons, making them one of England's most decorated clubs.
Initially, Gao Bo hadn't planned to prioritize the League Cup, given Luton's thin squad and the grueling demands of the league. However, just before the match, the football card system issued him a task:
[Task]: Win the match against Nottingham Forest.
[Reward]: 600 experience points and a random yellow card!
The possibility of earning a yellow card reward intrigued Gao Bo. Though the odds of drawing a valuable card were slim, it was worth the effort.
The match was scheduled for August 13, with Luton's next league game on August 18. This five-day gap gave the players ample time to recover, so Gao Bo decided to field his strongest lineup.
Victory against Nottingham Forest could potentially lead to drawing a Premier League opponent in the second round, bringing increased attention and financial rewards. Gao Bo knew these funds could significantly ease Luton's financial struggles.
However, if future League Cup fixtures began to interfere with the league schedule, Gao Bo would not hesitate to abandon the tournament. For him, the league remained the top priority. The sooner Luton could secure promotion, the better.
Defeating a Championship-level team like Nottingham Forest would be no easy feat. Forest was known for their resilience, mirroring the character of their home city of Nottingham, infamous for its connection to the legendary outlaw Robin Hood.
This tenacity wasn't just historical. Nottingham Forest, as a team, had a reputation for grit and determination. Though their play wasn't dirty, they were relentless—a testament to their storied heritage as two-time European champions.
Gao Bo understood that defeating Nottingham Forest would require meticulous preparation and unwavering focus from his players. This match would be a true test of Luton's capabilities early in the season.