The situation at Millwall this season is different from last season, the difference is not that they are participating in the Championship and the Premier League, but that there is a difference in strength between Millwall and the opponents they face.

Millwall, who led the team Zhang Yang last season, faced only Wigan Athletic's strongest opponent.

Millwall will face top teams in England and Europe this season, such as Manchester United and Chelsea.

During this period, Millwall's improvement was not very large.

If you use a data to analyze, at the end of last season, Millwall's overall strength of players only reached five stars, and after a summer of recruitment, the overall strength of the squad is only five and a half stars, and it is not more than six stars at most.

Wigan Athletic's strength is up to six stars.

The strength of Manchester United and Chelsea is definitely rated more than eight stars.

For example, the Manchester United team on the field, in terms of the strength it plays, it is not an exaggeration to say that it is as fast as nine stars, and Millwall relies on new tactics and can only play seven and a half stars at most, and the gap between the stars is too large, which is also the fundamental reason why Millwall is completely suppressed.

That's the difference.

In last season's league, Millwall was passive and did not make many substitution adjustments, because even if there was danger, it was still under control.

Now it's a different story.

The game between Millwall and Manchester United was too passive, and when Manchester United scored the equalizer, not to mention the media reporters, even Zhang Yang knew very well that the game would continue, and it was only a matter of time before Millwall was scored again.

But it's still a long way off.

Millwall wants to defend the goal, even if God helps, it is very difficult, the ability of the players of the two teams is too different, Manchester United players in the front, simply unscrupulous cooperation, even a small range of dribbling, passing, Millwall's defense seems very weak.

If the game goes on, you're going to lose, so you'll have to make some adjustments.

It's a must-do.

Even small adjustments don't work, but they can show the players on the pitch that as a head coach he didn't give up on the game, but continued to work hard in the hope of winning, and the players would think, "The coach has made a change!" This adjustment may be useful, and we have hope. ”

As a result, the whole team will have more confidence and fighting spirit.

Zhang Yang also hopes that the adjustment will really work, and not just bring confidence in the game. He hesitated between two people: one was Jody Morris; One is Kevin Braniff.

Jody Morris played in order to increase the defense in the backcourt, and it will also increase the team's control of the overall situation, Morris's personal defensive ability is also enough to top the last defender, and the selection of Morris can strengthen the defense, which will make the game more stable; Braniff, needless to say, must be to increase the offense, let Braniff play, just to gamble', the team is so passive, even if Morris is on the field, it is difficult to hold until the end of the game, it is better to gamble, a little stronger counterattack ability, maybe create some surprises?

In the end, Zhang Yang chose Braniff, and the player who was substituted was Josh Simpson.

The game has reached this point, Josh Simpson is useless, his technical ability is average, it doesn't mean much just to be fast, and his free kick ability is excellent, but the team can't even attack half the court, it is difficult to get a free kick opportunity in front, and the most important thing is that Simpson's defensive ability is too poor, and he is not even as useful as Darren Bent, and he has been broken through by Fletcher and Alan Smith in the game, I don't know how many times.

"Maybe consider letting Simpson play as a striker?"

Zhang Yang thought.

Simpson's defensive ability is too poor, his role on the wing is very limited, and his long passing ability is also average, but he is fast, his shooting is good, and he is also suitable for attacking forwards.

It's a tough job for a normal player to adjust his position, but it's not much for a young player, Josh Simpson is still young and can adapt to his new position quickly, but Braniff is very versatile, can play multiple positions up front, and can play well in midfield.

"You can try it later."

As he pondered his players' position, Braniff stepped onto the pitch in place of Josh Simpson at right midfield.

Braniff is quite excited!

As he walked out onto the field, he whispered in Simpson's ear, "My secret weapon is finally out!" ”

“……”

Simpson listened inexplicably, "Secret weapon? What is the meaning? ”

Braniff didn't explain much, he curled the corners of his mouth and stepped into the field with a light step.

At that moment, he felt like he was the center of attention.

In fact, this is also true.

Almost all the cameras were on Braniff, and he did become the focus of the media and fans, but the difference between Braniff's thinking and Branifer's thinking was that the media wondered why Braniff was on the stage, "Is it to strengthen the offensive?" ”

"Or is it just a normal substitution?"

Many people don't understand, because it was Josh Simpson who was replaced, and Simpson was not good at defense, and Braniff replaced him, and the overall lineup didn't seem to change.

After Braniff came out, he quickly entered the game according to Zhang Yang's instructions.

Braniff plays as a right wing-back, but when Millwall is so passive, he only takes care of the right side on the defensive end, and his position on the field is actually very free.

Zhang Yang told Braniff to have two points: one is to have the opportunity to shoot from the perimeter as much as possible; The other is that when you don't have the opportunity, you have to cooperate more with Darren Bent.

First of all, Braniff is looking forward to it, his shooting ability from the perimeter is also good, maybe he can 'score' one in a good position.

The second point......

Braniff was a little dissatisfied, why did I, who was so good, have to work with Darren Bent?

The two are direct competitors.

Darren Bent didn't pay much attention to Braniff, and Braniff didn't like how to look at Darren Bent, thinking that he was acting as a 'secret weapon', Braniff suddenly became a little arrogant, "Don't care about this matter, let's cooperate with you more!" ”

Braniff's thoughts and thinking are probably difficult for ordinary adults to understand, and he will certainly have a common language with children under the age of ten.

Braniff's arrival did not have much impact on the situation.

After the game continued, Manchester United still pressed Millwall vigorously, quite a tendency to break through the goal in one fell swoop and quickly overtake the score, and soon everyone forgot about Braniff and focused all their attention on Millwall.

That's where the attention gets the most.

————

Livermore is a midfielder.

Before the halfway point of last season, Livermore was just an ordinary player, and it was difficult to play in the Championship, and his only hope was to play a little more, complete a contract extension with the club, and continue to receive a salary to support his sister's studies.

It was a very ordinary dream, but it was also a great dream!

Livermore's career turned around with the appearance of Zhang Yang, Zhang Yang told him that he had a good talent for long-range shooting, Livermore believed it, and began to train hard, and in the second half of last season, he was one of Millwall's best players, and it was easy to get a contract extension in the summer, and his salary was more than tripled.

Livermore is grateful for Zhang Yang, but he also has a bigger dream: he hopes to create his own sky in football!

It wasn't easy.

The biggest limitation for Livermore is his technical ability, his technical level is very poor, except for his physical strength, physical strength and a long-range shot that is attractive, he is very flat in other aspects, but he still wants to continue to improve, and he is not willing to be like this, so he cherishes the opportunity to play more than others.

Now, the opponent is Manchester United.

For more than two decades, Livermore never imagined that he would one day become an opponent of Manchester United, and this is the unimaginable stage.

Premier League!

The opponent is Manchester United, the overlord of the Premier League!

It was unimaginable for Livermore, but Millwall did, and after so long of their game against Manchester United, the team was still only tied by the scoreline.

There is still hope for them!

Livermore isn't going to think about anything else, it's possible as long as there's hope, the score is just a draw, and as long as they try to hold on, they won't necessarily lose.

Maybe...... Still looking for a chance to score a goal?

That's Livermore's simple idea.

Despite the fact that the goal was far away, he kept working hard and running desperately to help the team stop Manchester United's attack, just for a hope.

————

Darren Bent, who was at the front of the formation, was also working on it.

Darren Bent's dream is to become a big star, he is much clearer than Livermore, and has been doing well, completing a couple of good seasons at Ipswich Town and becoming one of the top strikers in the Championship.

But that's not enough!

If you want to be a big star, you have to perform in the top flight, and Darren Bent knows exactly what he needs to do.

So he chose to come to Millwall.

Millwall are a promoted team, maybe he won't be able to stay long, maybe he will be able to play with the team for a few seasons, the only thing that is certain is that if you want to take your destiny into your own hands, you have to perform well.

In the previous games, Braniff scored more goals than himself, the media talked about Braniff, and Darren Bent was also a little envious, but he knew better that he was no worse than Braniff, and all he lacked was the opportunity to perform.

Now's your chance!

Darren Bent is thankful for the fact that he was given a starting role against Arsenal, Liverpool and now Manchester United, and it wasn't a fixed rotation: if it was just a normal rotation, it would have been Branifer's turn, but he was still in the starting line-up.

This shows that the coach trusts himself!

When Braniff scored more goals and there was more outside coverage, the coach still trusted him and let him play in key games, Darren Bent was still a little excited, he was very grateful for that trust, and he vowed to perform on the big stage.

Darren Bent scored a goal in the first half.

Darren Bent knows that that's not enough, and if Millwall loses, what is a goal? Others won't see goals, they'll just see Millwall lose.

Football is a winner's game and he has to try to get his team to win!

————

Braniff is also working on it in his own way.

Braniff's thinking is different from that of Darren Bent, and the two are in direct competition, but he doesn't think Darren Bent will be his opponent, and he also thinks that the coach is more inclined to himself: look at it! In the game against Manchester United, I was the team's secret weapon!

Now I'm on the pitch as a secret weapon, and of course the team will win against Manchester United!

That's what Braniff thought.

If United supporters had known about Braniff's thinking, they would have put the title of 'the world's most arrogant' on his head for the first time, and the title would not change for several seasons.

Of course, Braniff doesn't care.

Standing on the stage against Manchester United, he had no reason to believe that the team would win, so he didn't even care about Millwall's passivity, he just tried to participate in the game.

Opportunity, it will definitely come!

Braniff has a surprisingly constructed brain that operates quite positive thinking.

————

In addition to Braniff, Darren Bent and Livermore, Millwall's other players have also continued to work hard in their own way.

When Millwall's situation was very passive, each of them was working hard, and the efforts of the whole team also made Millwall break out at a very good level.

When Manchester United bombarded Millwall in the half, it took a while for many people to find out that Millwall performed quite well, and was not crushed by Manchester United's attack, but played better and better.

In the 75th minute, Millwall also played a wave of frontal advances, and a powerful shot from Livermore directly threatened the goal guarded by Van der Sar.

Sky Sports commentator Kevin Bullard couldn't help but be surprised, "Millwall seems to be getting better and better!" For a long time, they withstood Manchester United's attack! There was also a rather threatening counter-offensive! ”

Zhang Yang watched the game and was a little emotional.

Zhang Yang is rarely very emotional in the game, every goal is in his hands, he knows before others, maybe he will 'participate' in the process, and his emotions will not be as intense as others.

It's different now.

This Millwall team was created by him, many players are watching the performance slowly get better, Zhang Yang has always felt that how much strength the team can play can be explained by data.

But this is not the case in the current game, Zhang Yang is sure that he has not done anything, but the team's performance is getting better and better, everyone is working hard, they are all actively playing, and they have burst out with high morale in adversity.

At this moment, Zhang Yang also realized: the team's performance is not data!

Here's the reality!

Fighting spirit will affect the team's performance, enthusiasm will also affect the performance, when every player is working hard, the strength that can be played is not evaluated by 'star', on the contrary, when most people do not work hard, it makes no sense to talk about 'strength evaluation'.

Millwall is showing the positives.

Zhang Yang was also proud of this, he stood on the sidelines again, and his inner mood fluctuated, even making him forget to continue to use 'precognition' to analyze the game, just kept watching the game, thinking excitedly, "This is the team I created, the team that can play with Manchester United to this point!" ”

"It doesn't matter what the individual strength of the players is, they are already a strong team together!"

In the face of the fighting spirit and enthusiasm of the whole team, what is the difference between winning and losing a league?

They will definitely get better and better in the future!

Zhang Yang is very sure.