The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 160: You reap what you sow.

Whether as a head coach or a club owner, Aldrich enjoys making friends, which not only broadens his connections in the football world but also expands the opportunities for collaboration to benefit the club's development.

When a group of coaches gathers, what do they talk about? Of course, it's football.

Aldrich is not the type to nod along to everything an older, more experienced mentor says. Instead, he challenges them, saying, "From a chemistry or physics perspective, one plus one might not actually equal two!"

It's this refusal to simply play the role of a student that allows him to engage in open conversations with his peers without any difficulty.

Wenger publicly shares the story of how he first met Aldrich.

When Wenger was coaching Monaco and their away performance was dismal, a young Aldrich bluntly told him, "Your players can't perform with the same efficiency under the same tactics at home and away."

At home, the fans create pressure on the visiting team, cheering for their own.

Factors such as the stadium size, the pitch, and the friction of the ball rolling significantly affect a player's sensation of the game, leaving the away team at a disadvantage compared to the home team.

The home team has the advantage of resting and preserving energy.

Conversely, the visiting team faces similar challenges.

Wenger, being a romantic coach, emphasizes maintaining his tactical style regardless of whether they play at home or away. Thus, when his players fail to overcome the inherent difficulties of playing away, their performance inevitably suffers.

After Wenger recounts this amusing anecdote about their relationship, everyone shares a chuckle.

Wenger then points to Aldrich and laughs, "He is a trailblazer, always bringing amazing ideas, and the achievements he has made over the past two years prove the practicality of his theories."

Aldrich does not enjoy being praised; it makes him blush with embarrassment. He waves his hand at Wenger to stop the flattery.

Yet as they watch the opening match of the European Cup and engage in conversation, Aldrich finds himself in heated debates with many of the attending coaches.

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"Why do you favor young players?" asks Halilhod?i?.

"Because my age and lack of playing experience are my biggest weaknesses," Aldrich replies. "Just imagine me telling a 26 or 27-year-old forward where to run. If he's in a good mood, he might just laugh it off; but if he's not, he might retort, 'What's wrong with you? What do you know? Get lost!'"

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"Whether they are wingers or wide midfielders, they must come back to help defend. It's not about matching the defensive capabilities of defenders, but they need to at least position themselves reasonably and take a defensive stance to compress the attacking team's space, cut through the opponent's attacking lineup, and block the pass routes of the ball holder."

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"Yes, Luis, you are correct. If you have two highly effective attacking full-backs, maybe your opponents will hesitate to commit too many players forward. So, your attacking players might not face as much defensive pressure. But you still need at least one defensive midfielder with strong awareness to protect that space, just like Dunga did with the Brazil national team. Such players need defensive skills, awareness, and experience - they're hard to find."

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"Mr. Guy Roux, I can't agree with your opinion. I'm not arguing that talented star players can disrupt a team with their individual abilities. However, we often see technically skilled players dribbling until they face a bunch of defenders before passing the ball. This creates a significant issue: it gives the opponent time to set up their defensive formation. I advocate for quick and simple play. If players can accelerate and break past the defenders, that's reasonable. But if a player keeps the ball at their feet, performing tricks without moving forward – twirling and spinning on the spot – it may be visually impressive and elegant, earning applause from the fans, but how long does it take? Two seconds? Five seconds? The entire transition from the back half to the attacking half should take under ten seconds! In other words, if a player holds the ball for too long, they give the opponent sufficient time to organize their defense, effectively neutralizing your attacking threat."

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"Oh, that's not feasible. If you have a double midfield setup with two attacking minded players, they might pose a greater threat together than as individuals. But if they lose the ball and a counter-attack ensues, the central area becomes vulnerable, and the backline can be easily compromised."

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Aldrich argues passionately with these coaches, and the heated discussion captivates the onlookers.

Especially David Dein, Arsenal's vice-chairman, who seems reminded of the time he first met Wenger—a remarkably similar scenario.

Years ago, Wenger met David Dein at a social gathering, where Wenger animatedly performed a rendition of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," leaving a deep impression on Dein. This led him to consider hiring Wenger to coach Arsenal, as he felt this romantic Frenchman was perfectly suited for the club.

After a long day of discussions, everyone is exhausted. The match finishes with England's opening game ending in a 1:1 draw against Switzerland.

They chat over drinks about humorous anecdotes from the football world, sharing complaints about players and UEFA's Bosman ruling. Coaches like Guy Roux, who manage smaller clubs reliant on selling players for transfer fees, express their frustration.

It's hard to say whether the Bosman ruling is right or wrong—this is a topic for football historians to analyze. However, the most immediate observation is that post-Bosman, not only Dutch and French teams that depend on player development have struggled, but hundreds of lower-league clubs across Europe have gone bankrupt in the past decade. A Russian billionaire's investment in Chelsea indirectly saved various clubs from financial ruin.

Aldrich, mildly tipsy, walks back to the hotel with Melanie on his arm. For days, he has enjoyed watching matches and sharing views with fellow coaches, while sightseeing in France with Melanie. Their evenings are filled with romance, and life has been carefree, almost making him forget his responsibilities.

By mid-June, Aldrich first sees Melanie back to her work in her home country, while he remains in France.

However, on the day after the semi-finals have concluded, Aldrich decides to return home early.

The captain of Millwall, Southgate, has become the new scapegoat for England.

Aldrich feels he must get back to London to protect his players.

He had hoped history would take a different turn, but watching Southgate's decisive penalty kick being saved gave him a sense of dread.

"Sorry, everyone, I have to return to London."

After saying goodbye to the other coaches, Aldrich steps outside.

But Wenger and Dein follow him.

Dein is driving, while Wenger and Aldrich sit in the backseat. The car moves slowly, making Aldrich aware that the two might have ulterior motives.

"I initially wanted to wait until after the European Cup to discuss this, but since you're heading back, I'll mention it now. Aldrich, once I finalize matters in Japan, I'll come to London. However, I want two players from Millwall."

Wenger's words make Aldrich turn to him in surprise, "Why didn't you say so earlier? You know that if you want to poach my players, I definitely won't allow it."

"That's why I'm telling you now. Remember how you approached me two years ago?"

Aldrich chuckles, a hint of self-deprecation evident.

What goes around comes around.

Two years ago, he asked Wenger to sell him Thuram; now, Wenger is looking to take players back, with interest, wanting to take two at once.

This fits Wenger's style perfectly—he hasn't even officially started at Arsenal yet and is already getting involved in transfer dealings, just like when he left Monaco.

"Who?"

"Vieira and Pires."

"One's my starter, and the other's my key substitute. Arsène, isn't that a bit harsh?"

Aldrich forces a laugh.

Dein, the driver, observes their expressions in the rearview mirror, feeling tense.

He hired Wenger, naturally wanting to support him with desired players, but other figures from Arsenal might thwart the plan.

Millwall is, after all, a London team, and they see themselves as the kings of London. They aren't going to sell their starters to Arsenal!

Wenger knows that having Dein front the request would likely backfire, which is why he came in person to advocate for it.

"How many seasons does Vieira need to spend as a backup at Millwall before he gets a chance to start? That young Italian lad you promoted at the end of last season should be your future midfield star, right? As for Pires, I admit asking you to sell him back to me is somewhat unreasonable, but Millwall has to have alternatives, right?"

Aldrich turns to glare at Wenger without answering. "Have you been in private contact with my players?"

Dein immediately interjects, "No! Really, no! We wouldn't engage in any dirty business!"

Aldrich rolls his eyes, saying coolly, "I have always respected my players. I will try to persuade them to stay. However, if Arsenal presents an appealing offer, I won't hold them back. Just give me a satisfying bid."

"I'm offering ten million pounds for the two together."

Wenger smiles.

Aldrich shook his head and said, "It's impossible. They both have four years left on their contracts with Millwall—one is 23 and the other is... You are trying to buy the backbone of the club for ten million pounds? Arsène, I'm not exaggerating when I say this, but the rules of the transfer market have changed. Just wait and see. This summer, you'll witness what top stars are worth, and this is just the beginning."

Since the league wrapped up in May, rumors have been rampant.

Meanwhile, in the Premier League, Manchester United is flush with cash after winning the title and will be back in the Champions League next season. Ferguson is in high spirits, having lined up Solskj?r, but by mid-May, he made a secret ten million pound offer to Aldrich for Larsson.

Happily, Larsson showed no desire to transfer and promptly declined the offer.

But Manchester United continues its pursuit for a superstar striker, since Cantona will be 31 next season.

Outside rumors are swirling around Brazilian sensation Ronaldo, with Manchester United and Barcelona both offering twenty million dollars to PSV Eindhoven for the Brazilian forward.

This is edging closer to the world record set when AC Milan signed Lentini for 13 million pounds.

Ronaldo's first season in Eindhoven was remarkable, racking up over thirty goals, but he spent a significant part of the second season injured and wrestling with the club coach, making last season's performance unremarkable. Therefore, the transfer fee doesn't reflect his peak value, and its sensational nature is undeniable.

After failing to acquire Ronaldo, Manchester United shifted their focus to Alan Shearer, the top performer in the Premier League. Currently, it appears they are only waiting for the European Cup to wrap up before announcing Shearer's signing, with only a contract remaining to be signed.

In just a few days, a twist in this transfer is imminent as Kevin Keegan's involvement sees Ferguson narrowly miss out on another English talent. Last time it was Gascoigne, and now it will be Shearer, with the transfer fee expected to set a new world record: 15 million pounds!

In this context, even though Pires and Vieira's popularity and public acclaim may not match that of Shearer, if Wenger, with his discerning eye for talent, believes that the two together are worth only ￡10 million, Aldrich would not agree to a transfer, even if it meant having a falling out with the players.

Wenger's eagerness to secure these two players indicates his confidence in being able to convince them to join Arsenal. Since they are both French and Wenger has a long coaching history in France, it's likely that Pires and Vieira have long been aware of his illustrious name. Moreover, in comparison to Arsenal's prestigious legacy, Millwall remains a small club that finds it challenging to retain such exceptional players.

Regardless of the circumstances, Aldrich and Wenger have diametrically opposed positions regarding this transaction.

He spent his own hard-earned money to buy Thuram.

Wenger would be spending the club's funds to acquire Aldrich's players.