Chapter 7 Recruiting Players

"Is that Drinkwater?" John Aston sat right next to Gao Bo.

It's a stadium at Manchester United's Academy in Manchester, and the Premier League season is over, but for the Academy players, their season is definitely not over, with most seventeens and eighteen-year-olds in the middle of a crucial period in their careers and they need to fight for their future.

At this time, there is an Under-18 game on the pitch, with Manchester United Under-18s taking on Southampton Under-18s.

"That's right, it's him." Gao Bo looked around, except for the parents of the players and a small number of die-hard Manchester United fans, most of them were scouts like him who came with the purpose of scouting the players.

Manchester United's Academy is a major contributor to the English League, with the most players playing in the Premier League coming from the United's academy.

Thanks to the fame of Manchester United's Academy products, many smaller teams are often eager to get something out of the Academy. After all, not all players can play in the first team at Manchester United.

Danny Drinkwater is one such player, who seems to be decent at the moment, but looks too far from what he needs to be a first-team player.

The Under-18s were firmly in the ascendancy, with Danny Welbeck netting a hat-trick for the Reds a third goal before the first half, and the assist was provided by another star player, Cleverley.

John Aston has been looking at Drinkwater, he didn't find any sparkle in this player, although it can't be said that he didn't perform well, he can only be considered decent, compared to another midfielder, Cleverley, Drinkwater's shine is completely overshadowed by the opponent.

John looked at his new boss and wondered why Gao Bo looked at such an unremarkable player.

"Did you notice, so far, there hasn't been a passing error at Drinkwater." Gao Bo seemed to know John's thoughts.

John Aston didn't really notice that, but the assistant didn't think there was anything surprising about it, and Drinkwater didn't make any mistakes, but he didn't have anything to show for it....

Gao Bo didn't think so, and although Drinkwater was only eighteen years old, he could already see some of his future traits in him.

The first is the sense of position, in Gao Bo's opinion, Manchester United Under-18s have not conceded a goal so far, which has a lot to do with Drinkwater.

There is a process of development before a goal is scored from being shot, but how do you contain a goal?

Perhaps the goalkeeper's thrilling saves are eye-catching, or the centre-backs' excellent tackles and cover-ups are the ones that directly attract attention, but sometimes there are players who are not so noticeable, but quietly they will nip some potential goal in the bud.

Drinkwater's positional sense is good, and John Aston has noticed it all the time, especially when defending, and his position is often difficult for the attacking team.

When John put aside other thoughts and focused on Drinkwater's performance, he had to admit that this is a good player, although he does not have the temperament of a star player, but for Luton, such a player is quite enough!

In particular, Drinkwater's calmness in handling the ball makes people forget that he is only an eighteen-year-old player.

"With such a player, will Manchester United let him go?" If John Aston was a little skeptical about Drinkwater's quality before, now he thinks that this good player Manchester United will take him out on loan...

"Yes!" Gobo is sure of that because Drinkwater is a good player, but it's really hard for him to get a foothold in the first team of Manchester United, and if you don't have anything special to do, it's very difficult for a young player to squeeze in.

And Drinkwater is not like Welbeck or Cleverley, after all, Drinkwater is a player with relatively average ability in all aspects, in other words, average often means mediocre.

Of course, this is for a big club like Manchester United, and for a team like Luton, Drinkwater could be a star-caliber player.

"Let's go, let's go get in touch with this kid!"

The game was over with Manchester United's Under-18s beating Southampton Under-18s by five goals, with Welbeck and Cleverley shining brightly, and the United fans who watched the game were full of hope for Welbeck and Cleverley's future at Manchester United, two players full of talent.

Danny Drinkwater, like most of United's Under-18s, is not Welbeck's kind of player, and at this age they are already thinking about their future.

Danny Drinkwater doesn't want to pass up the chance to play for Manchester United, but he also knows how competitive the first team can be.

If he can't get a chance in the first team, Drinkwater will have to get out of the United Academy and look for opportunities in other teams, maybe going out on loan is an inevitable option....

The eighteen-year-old is frowning as he is said to have a number of League One or League Two sides looking for loan and he is still hesitating.

Eighteen years old is an inflection point for players, and if you don't choose carefully at this age, you may have to take some more detours in your career....

Drinkwater picked up his bag and turned and walked out the academy doors.

"Hi Danny!"

When he saw Drinkwater come out, Gao Bo greeted him.

Drinkwater is a giant academy at all, and it is more difficult to get it out of the several players that Gao Bo wants to introduce, after all, Luton is only a small club in the second division, and with Manchester United's status in England, they can find some teams in League One or even the Championship at any time to loan Drinkwater out, and compared with those teams, Luton does not have much advantage.

So the will of the players is relatively important.

"You are.... That Chinese coach at Chelsea's Under-18s?! ”

Danny Drinkwater was quick to recognise Gobo after Manchester United Under-18s were beaten by Chelsea Under-18s in the FA Youth Cup final not long ago, a defeat that left United's youth director, Mr Brian McClair, furious in his academy office. After all, in terms of strength, although Chelsea U18 has a lot of players in the network in the past two years, their U18 strength has not yet reached the level of Manchester United U18.

"Yes, my name is Gao Bo!" Gao Bo smiled, "But I'm not a Chelsea coach now, I'm a Luton manager now!" ”

Drinkwater nodded, he probably guessed where Gao Bo came from.

"I'm here to invite you to my team, Danny!" Gao Bo said, "I'm very impressed with your performance. ”

There was a wave of shame on Drinkwater's face, if the other party hadn't explained the purpose in advance, he would definitely have thought that the person in front of him had come to humiliate him.

After all, the general of the defeated army, how can he be brave.

"I know Luton, a team in the second division that was deducted 30 points before the start of the game, and you will soon be relegated to the non-professional league, Mr. Gao Bo." Drinkwater said.

"That's right, we were deducted 30 points, but it's too early to say we're demoted!"

The confidence in Gao Bo's eyes made Drinkwater not know how to refute for a while.

"Boy, come to my team, I know you, I've studied you, I know how to use you!" Gao Bo stared into Drinkwater's eyes, "You're going to be loaned out anyway, aren't you?" ”

"I don't want to play in a non-professional league!" Drinkwater hesitated for a moment and continued.

Gao Bo was happy in his heart, as long as you waver, it would be easy to do.

"Well, we can sign a loan deal and as long as Luton are relegated this season, you can leave next season!"

Drinkwater thought about it, he was going to be loaned out anyway, and the coach in front of him gave him a good impression, and the sincerity of the other party was much greater than that of some other teams - the head coach was personally approached, which is a big affirmation for a young player.

"I promise you, Mr. Gao Bo. I'm not against a loan move to Luton! ”

Gao Bo smiled.

"You won't regret your decision today, lad!"

.....

The loan deal with Drinkwater was simpler than expected.

Manchester United did not put any obstacles in the way of loaning Drinkwater, after all, it is difficult for Manchester United's first team to give these eighteen or nineteen-year-olds any chance, and it is a normal option to let them get training on loan. And that's where the will of the players comes in.

Luton Town have made a loan offer to Manchester United to sign Drinkwater on a two-year loan, but of course, there is a clause that if Luton are relegated from the Second Division this season, the second year's loan will not count...

Manchester United quickly agreed to the loan request after asking the player for his wishes, with Luton only responsible for Drinkwater's salary.

As a young player, Drinkwater received a very average academy salary at Manchester United, with a weekly salary of only 1,500 pounds, which is not a high price for Luton.

Gao Bo was not involved in the specific details of the contract, and Luton had dedicated legal counsel to deal with the work.

At this time, Gao Bo appeared in Bassinstock, a suburb of an English town.

It's a brickyard, and if nothing else, Gobo can find his second player on his radar – Charlie Austin!

It's 2008 and in another year's time, Charlie Austin will be taken to the professional league by Championship side Swindon, where he has been in excellent form, scoring 18 goals in 29 games, compared to 48 goals in 43 games for his former club Poole in the sixth tier.

He was a goalball striker with a keen nose before Charlie Austin was called up by Harry Redknapp to join Queens Park Rangers and start playing at Premier League level.

And in the Premier League, Charlie Austin has also performed well, and he even occupied the top scorer list in the star-studded top flight for a time.

It's an inspirational story of going from amateur to professional, and for Gobo, Charlie Austin is one of the best strikers for Luton right now.

First of all, of course, there is quality, Charlie Austin definitely has the quality to play in the second division - you know, when Charlie Austin goes to play in the Championship next year, his goal efficiency is already very high. And the most important thing is that it doesn't have to pay too much to poach people from amateur teams - Gao Bo's transfer budget is only 200,000 pounds....

There are no walls, the dust is flying, and the brick-carrying carts are coming in and out, and the workers are busy inside.

Gao Bo, who was wearing leather shoes and suits, stood out of place here, so that the mud truck drivers who came in and out couldn't help but look at him.

Nineteen-year-old Charlie Austin wore a mask and piled up bricks piece by brick, and he did it very carefully and with a focused gaze.

He's going to be here until 3 p.m., and then he's going to play for a local amateur league team, where he's the main striker and scores goals.

But that's not the life he wants, he wants to be a professional footballer, he wants to go professional.

Charlie Austin, a bricklayer, is not without professional training. In 2005, at the age of 14, he arrived at Reading's academy. But soon, he was abandoned by the coach because he was "too small". Later, Charlie Austin went to work in the bricklaying factory owned by his father. Every morning, he wakes up on time, has a simple breakfast, meets up with his co-workers, and then goes to nearby Bassinstock to lay bricks.

When I got home in the evening, it was 6 p.m. He didn't give up on his football hobby completely, and after squatting in the big truck for dinner, he headed to a nearby amateur club to play a late game. From 2005 to 2008, he played for amateur teams such as Kimberley Rangers and Hungerford City.

Seeing his son working so hard, Charlie Austin's father looked a little distressed. Just two months ago, his father allowed Charlie Austin to call a day early at 3 p.m. so he could rest before heading to the game. He went to Bournemouth for a while but was unable to join. But after his professional training, he noticed a noticeable increase in his speed, which made his dream of becoming a professional footballer even stronger.

The nineteen-year-old bricklayer was doing his work in earnest, bricks were piled up one by one, and a brick wall slowly appeared, like a wall of dreams in Charlie Austen's heart.

As he put the last brick on the brick wall, a worker ran in.

"Charlie!! There's a coach from the second division looking for you!! ”

.....

In a brickyard shed, Gao Bo and Austin sat opposite each other.

Old Austin looked at the person sitting across from him with suspicion.

A Chinese?

A very young Chinese?

A very young Chinese who claims to be the manager of Luton?

Do Chinese play football? At least Austin hasn't heard of any great stars from China, maybe Manchester City's Sun Jihai is a good defender, but if it's a head coach, the old Charlie really hasn't seen a head coach from China.

The old Austin, who has a lot of life experience, doesn't trust others easily, not to mention that this man also claims to take his baby son to Luton to play?

Compared with the suspicion in the eyes of the elder Austin, the nineteen-year-old little Austin was excited.

This is the second division! It's a professional league, but it's much better than his amateur league in the ninth and eighth divisions.

For Austin Jr., it is his strength that has attracted the attention of scouts, and the opposing head coach has come to the door in person, which shows that the team attaches great importance to himself!

Here's your chance! A chance to step onto the professional scene!! An opportunity to be able to hold on to your dreams!

The wall of dreams is quietly built high in little Austin's heart, and no one can stop him from pursuing his dreams!

Little Austin looked at his father eagerly, but old Austin still didn't seem to trust the Chinese in front of him.

Gao Bo, on the other hand, was looking at the second player he was about to recruit, and he quietly opened his eyes to check Charlie Austen's attributes.

Shots: 76

Header: 78

Runs off the ball: 72

In terms of other technical aspects of forwards, Charlie Austin's attributes are not weak, and most of them can also reach more than sixty.

And what makes Gao Bo even more satisfied is Charlie Austen's red spiritual attributes.

Work commitment: 80

Teamwork: 76

Willpower: 88

Brave: 86

Calming: 83

If you ignore Austin's not too fast and his technical shortcomings, just looking at his mental attributes, this is definitely a world-class player... In fact, Charlie Austin's final development is also limited by his technical shortcomings, so that he can only become a goalscorer in the middle and lower reaches of the Premier League, and it is difficult to go further.

What a hidden gem in the amateur arena.....

Even so, Gao Bo is still quite satisfied with this attribute, after all, Luton is only a team in the second division, and Charlie Austin is already a BUG-level killer when he goes to play in the second division!

"You're Luton's manager?"

'Yes, I've seen the footage of Charlie's game and I think he's a striker with a lot of potential. Gao Bo said directly.

"Are you really the manager of Luton?"

"Yes, you can think about it, I'm always waiting in Luton, but I have to remind you not to miss the league registration time!"

Austin Jr. was a little anxious, "I do, I'm willing to play in Luton!! ”

"Charlie......." Old Austin cupped his forehead.

Gao Bo smiled: "Uncle Austin, you can not believe me, but it is not far from Luton here, you can go to verify it yourself, maybe you don't believe in the existence of a Chinese head coach named Gao Bo, but at least, the club of Luton exists!" ”

"Daddy...."Little Austin looked at his father eagerly.

"Well, I'll take Charlie to Luton." The elder Austin agreed, after all, it was clearly a brighter future to become a professional player than moving bricks in a bricklaying yard.

"It's not that far from Luton." Gao Bo worries about long nights and dreams.

Austin Sr. hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded in agreement under Austin Jr.'s eager gaze.

Gao Bo smiled, to this point, this thing is basically successful!

In fact, after making sure that Gobo was not a liar, Charlie Austin signed a four-year contract with Luton Town for five thousand pounds a week!

On top of that, Luton Town have paid the price of fifty footballs – and this is for Charlie Austin's current parent club, Poole City, who are in the ninth tier!

After getting Charlie Austen, Gao Bo immediately went to Sheffield, another city in England.

Here, Gobo sees the future Premier League champion, Jamie Vardy!!

Vardy's story needs not be repeated, as the future Premier League goalscorer is an example of an amateur player's success in counter-attacking.

Vardy, who was 21 years old by the time, worked as a mason for a construction company and then played part-time for a local amateur team, training twice a week and earning £30 a week.

So when faced with Gao Bo's solicitation, Vardy agreed without hesitation.

"Jamie, you're going to do your own miracle, I promise!"

Gao Bo knew what Vardy would achieve in the future, perhaps out of guilt for changing Vardy's future without permission, Gao Bo pressed his hand on his shoulder and said to Vardy.

Premier League champions? I'm sure I'll get it!

At this time, Gao Bo, who was still in the second division, said to himself in his heart.

Jamie Vardy was only a coach encouraging himself: "I'll do my best, coach!" ”

......

Seventeen-year-old Frenchman N'Golo Kante met Gao Bo on a field pitch in Paris.

This Chinese man, who claims to be the head coach of the English second division team, wants to take himself to England?

Playing in England?

Seventeen-year-old Kante was a little uneasy, but the temptation to play in the professional league was too great for a seventeen-year-old.....

Gao Bo looked at the little black man opposite with great satisfaction.

Steals: 82

This attribute alone is enough to impress Gao Bo, this is only a seventeen-year-old player, if it is another two or three years, Kante's steal attribute will definitely be greatly improved.

He is worthy of being the future Premier League steal king!

On top of that, Kante has several attributes that he admires for Gobo.

Defensive Position: 76

Prognosis: 77

Stamina: 80!!

A seventeen-year-old already possesses such qualities, so it's no wonder that this short man is going to be such a formidable midfielder in the future!

The seventeen-year-old N'Golo Kante did not resist the temptation from England and signed Luton Town on a four-year contract!

Having recruited four players who could make a name for themselves in the Premier League in the future, Gao Bo is full of confidence in the English second division next season.

If it weren't for the 30 points deducted, it would not be impossible to win the league championship!

Gao Bo thought with some regret.