Although Wimbledon still won more and lost more in the warm-up game, it was still better than last year's warm-up game, which was nine defeats in nine games. Eames didn't actually take the results of the warm-up game to heart, in his opinion, the warm-up game was originally used to run in the team, and the result is not important, what matters is the process. It doesn't matter what he loses in the warm-up games, the key is to see if the team reflects the things he requires in his usual training in these games, such as offensive routines, defensive tactics, and tactical coordination in positioning...... and so on, and even the ups and downs of a player's form, which need to be repeated with warm-up matches. Therefore, warm-up games are one of the most important components of the team before each season, and high-quality warm-up games will help the team a lot in the coming season, so those teams who take the team around the world to play some worthless commercial games in order to make money will not be able to keep up with the fitness by the middle of the season and lose the league title race.

From July 16 to August 12, the team played eleven warm-up games, winning two, drawing three, and losing six.

On 16 August, Wimbledon Athletic played their first league game of the new season away from home against Feltham. Last season's opening round of the league at Wimbledon was also away and it didn't go well, as they fell behind and came back from behind to win after Eames brought on Chu Zhongtian and Russell.

Now only one of the heroes who helped the team win that game is still in the team, but the team's performance is completely different. From the very beginning of the game, Wimbledon took the initiative in the game. Chu Zhongtian didn't sit on the bench and watch the play, and then stood up and asked the boss if he wanted to win or lose, he started the game and played the whole game. In defence, he helped the team to defuse the opponent's offensive on many occasions, and continued to actively try to assist with long passes in the attack - the official league is more intense and high-quality than the warm-up game, so he can develop his ability to control the ball and pass the ball skillfully in such a game.

However, he was a little disappointed that his pass was more accurate than before, but it was still far from his goal. He still didn't make any passes in the game like he did against Sporting Newport.

Wimbledon got off to a good start to the season with a comfortable 2-0 win over Feltham.

Last season's near-promotion was a success, which has attracted more attention for the team in the new season. Speaking to some local journalists after the game, Eames claimed that Wimbledon this season are even better than last season, and that their goal is definitely not to stay here, but to promote and win the title.

"It's really changed...... Wimbledon played halfway through last season before they dared to say they were going to be promoted and they wanted to win the title. Just one game into the season, Eames called out the goal of winning the championship and promotion...... "The media who heard Eames say this privately lamented that most of them had been called in by Wimbledon Athletic last season to build momentum for the team, and the difference between that was clear. What does this mean? It shows that Wimbledon Athletic are more confident, and what brings them confidence is the increase in strength. In fact, the team didn't have many people in the summer, but the team cooperated more tacitly and the goals were clearer, so they were more motivated.

The league in August is very intensive, with basically one game every two days. Despite this, Chu Zhongtian still did not give up going to the school court to carry out his training plan, and Russell was still waiting there.

Chu Zhongtian once had a question about this - if you want to resume training, isn't it better to work in a professional team? Why stay here?

In response to this question, Russell only said that he was not ready to go to the team and that he would not report to the team until he was fully recovered.

Chu Zhongtian only thought that it was an agreement reached between the head coach of Welling United and Russell, and it was someone else's business, so he didn't care about it. Anyway, with Russell by his side, the effect of his training is good, and he is a little reluctant to let such an excellent "coach" go...... On August 30, there is the last game before the start of school.

Like last year, he had to report to the school before that.

When he finishes his reporting, he meets Emily at school. Or maybe Emily came to him specifically. Because he had just finished his report, he came out to see Emily standing under a tree on the side of the road and waving to him.

"Are you still not going to be able to play in the midweek for the new school year?" Emily asked.

"Hmm." Chu Zhongtian nodded. Although he takes football and studying very seriously, in comparison, learning comes first. After all, he came to the UK to study, not to play football.

"It's a shame." Emily pursed her lips. "Actually, you ......"

Chu Zhongtian knew what she was going to say, and quickly interrupted her: "I know what level I am, Emily." ”

"Do you really know what level you are?" Emily asked rhetorically.

Chu Zhongtian nodded: "Anyway, it's not qualified to play in the professional league." ”

Emily shrugged. "Are the Chinese always so modest?"

Chu Zhongtian felt that this topic was a dead loop, and in the end, no one could convince anyone, so he simply kept his mouth shut.

"Are you going to practice today?" Emily also knew that Chu Zhongtian was sometimes stubborn and terrible, so she changed the question, and if she asked again, she would probably be honored to see for the first time how this Chinese boy lost his temper with her, right? So she pointed to the overcrowded school stadium and asked, there are stalls set up by clubs that recruit members, and want to play football? Unless he's going to practice dribbling in the crowd.

Chu Zhongtian looked at the crowded stadium and thought for a while: "Forget it in the morning, I'll come back in the afternoon." ”

Emily made an exaggerated expression: "You're really ...... Don't miss a little time, Chu. ”

"It's okay in the afternoon anyway." Chu Zhongtian shrugged. "And Emily, you know what? These three months of training were really useful. I could feel that my control of the pass was much better than before. As he spoke, he became happy with a satisfied smile on his face.

"That's good, if you can feel that the progress shows that the hard work of all of us has not been in vain." Emily is also happy about Chu Zhongtian's progress, but she also has regrets. "It's a pity that I can't come with you in the afternoon."

"Do you have a job?" Chu Zhongtian asked.

"I'm going to shoot an advertisement." Emily nodded, a little disappointed.

"Then I wish you all the best in your work." Chu Zhongtian couldn't say anything, so he could only stretch out his hand to Emily.

"Thank you, and happy training." Emily took his outstretched hand and pouted.

Seeing her reluctance, Chu Zhongtian couldn't help but laugh. Whether she laughs or gets angry, it doesn't affect her charm at all, and she really deserves to be a rising star who wants to make movies.

Emily knew that Chu Zhongtian was really looking at her jokes, so she puffed up her mouth, glared at Chu Zhongtian, and demonstrated to him.

Chu Zhongtian hurriedly suppressed his smile and said to her very seriously: "It's a pity that you can't come to train with me." ”

This sentence worked very well, and Emily smiled after saying it: "It's okay, I'll cheer you on the set of the commercial!" She also clenched her pink fist and waved it at Chu Zhongtian.

"Thank you." Chu Zhongtian thanked him very sincerely.

Emily also smiled sincerely.

The two looked at each other and smiled, and then said goodbye. Emily is going to shoot a commercial, while Chu Zhongtian is going to work at the Dons Bar and return to school in the afternoon. At that time, there will be a lot less people here, and there will be no need for a lot of field for shooting training, and one goal will be enough.

When Chu Zhongtian felt the Dons Bar, he found that the door was even more noisy than before - there was a team of workers climbing up and down there, installing new light box signs for the bar.

Boss John stood outside, looking up to give the men directions.

"What's going on, boss?" Chu Zhongtian leaned up and asked.

"A little higher on the left! A little higher...... Hey, right ......" Wiping the sweat on his face, Boss John looked back at Chu Zhongtian: "It's Chu, you're done reporting?" ”

"Hmm. Isn't the original signboard good, how can you change it, boss? Chu Zhongtian asked, pointing to the signboard that was being placed. Even the name has changed, are you going to change the owner of this bar? ”

"Nonsense! Change of owner? Unless I die! Boss John said impassionedly, then pointed to the sign, where the word "dons" had been replaced with "wombles", from "Dons Bar" to "Wimbles". "Pete. Winckelmann thinks keeping a 'dons' will appeal to us Wimbledon fans, what does he do with us? You must know that not everyone is as cheap as him! The word 'dons' has lost its value because of him, and I don't want to be asked, 'Hey, boss.'" Are you the Milton Keynes Dons fan bar? 'Continuing to use 'dons' makes me feel like a shame! ”

Colin. John, the chubby boss became more and more agitated the more he spoke, he waved his fists and his voice was sonorous.

"Devils are rare in his charity! If he's going to use 'dons', go for it! We don't! ”

He pointed to the sign again: "We have another nickname - 'Wemble'!" ”

Chu Zhongtian looked up at the new light box signboard that had been installed, and the workers were testing whether the light bulbs could be lit after the power was turned on. "Wombles" are constantly changing colors, from yellow to blue, back to yellow, and back and forth between the two colors. Blue and yellow are the traditional colors of Wimbledon.

"What do you think of the new name, Chu?" Colin. Boss John likewise looked up at the sign.

"Nice, very nice, boss."

Boss John laughed and patted Chu Zhongtian on the shoulder. "I love to hear that, haha!"

※※※ Instead of installing a signboard when the store is closed, but choosing to open during the opening hours, Boss John's move is to let those who come here to drink know that his bar has changed its name, and from now on it will not be called "Dons Bar", but "Wimbledon Bar".

After installing the new sign, Boss John put up a notice at the door of the bar, telling everyone who came to drink here about the name change of the bar.

So the drinkers gathered outside the bar, looking up at the new sign, and at the same time giving their opinions.

"Wimble's bar? Very good name! ”

"Not only will the bar be renamed, but we will also change its name in the future. I don't want to be called 'dons' and be seen as a Milton Keynes fan. ”

"From now on, we will be 'Wimble'!"

"This is good!"

"It's a pity for Dons...... We've been calling for so many years, and we've been forced to give up because of a shit-like chain musical instrument dealer. "There are also people who are more nostalgic and reluctant to change their self-proclaimed names.

※※※ In the new bar with a new name changed until it closed at three o'clock in the afternoon, Chu Zhongtian changed his clothes and ran to the school with a football. The training content in the afternoon is shooting, shooting is simpler than passing, it doesn't need so many people to cooperate, and it is a target, and it is interference, he only needs to have a goal. However, Russell still goes every day, he is not a professional shooter, and he can't see this at all when he teaches people. So Chu Zhongtian will think that Russell has "the talent to be a coach".

When Chu Zhongtian ran to the school, there were already many fewer people here than in the morning, especially on the court, and there was basically no one in sight.

He saw that Russell was already waiting for him under the goal, so he kicked the ball over with a long pass.

Russell looked up at the soccer ball, took a few steps to the left, and then used his chest to stop the soccer ball in the air.

When Chu Zhongtian ran up to him, he said to Chu Zhongtian: "It seems that three months of training have really made you improve a lot, you couldn't pass such a ball a year ago." ”

Chu Zhongtian smiled, he was also very satisfied with his kick just now. You must know that he just passed it at random, and he was able to pass it so accurately, which is indeed very fulfilling.

"But when you can make seven of ten passes in the game, then be happy, go warm up first, and we'll practice shooting."

Chu Zhongtian nodded, put his backpack on the ground, and jogged around the court with Russell to warm up.

After running the lap, the two men held each other's arms and began to stretch.

It's like training in the team, it's very formal.

While doing the pulling, Chu Zhongtian suddenly thought of the first time he and Russell did the pulling. At that time, they were still "enemies", competing with each other, even if it was a warm-up such as stretching, they had to find ways to torture each other, such as leaving five red finger prints on each other's arms with both hands, such as lying on each other's ears and constantly scolding...... It's funny to think about it now.

He couldn't help but laugh.

"Laughing at what?" Russell asked.

"I remembered something from the past. When we first did this pulling, how did we do it? ”

After saying this, Chu Zhongtian felt that Russell's hand was straining.

"Isn't it cool?" Russell laughed badly.

Not to be outdone, Chu Zhongtian also used his hands hard and held Russell's arm tightly.

So the two of them grinned and hugged each other with hideous expressions, which looked really weird.

After the stretching was done, there were five more red fingerprints on both arms of the two men.

Then they looked at each other's "masterpieces" on each other's arms and couldn't help but laugh at the same time.

For a moment, it was as if I had returned to a year ago. The two men were constantly punished by the head coach because they were hostile to each other, and who would have thought that in such punishment, they would develop another kind of friendship. Two brothers who were once brothers and sisters are now about to separate.

"Alright, let's start practicing. We don't have much time. ”

Russell put the whistle in his mouth.

"We don't have much time" is Russell's mantra for the three months of this summer, and whenever it's time for training, he's saying that. No one was surprised, because they really didn't have much time - there was no such good space for them to use alone when the school started; When the season starts, Russell will also go to Welling United to teach Chu Zhongtian this kind of thing, and it will never be possible again. They only have three months left, and of course they don't have much time.

※※※The afternoon training lasted until 5 o'clock. It was Russell's opinion that the training time was not long, and he strongly objected to Chu Zhongtian's simplification of football training like an animal into "a lot of repetitive mechanical labor". He told Chu Zhongtian that the effect of training is not necessarily proportional to the time, and it is not that the longer the practice, the better the effect. In a relatively short period of time, as long as the method is correct, the effect of practice is better than not knowing the method and just burying your head in the whole day.

So the training time in the morning is from 9 to 10:30, and in the afternoon it is from 3:30 to 5. Each training session lasts for an hour and a half, never more than that.

After finishing the training, Chu Zhongtian sat on the ground and changed his shoes, changed his sneakers and changed them into lighter and more comfortable jogging shoes, and he had to run back.

Russell also sat next to him, changing into his sneakers.

Chu Zhongtian suddenly remembered that today is August 29th, there will be a league tomorrow on August 30th, and the next 31st is Sunday, and he can practice for another day, and then school will start. Then I guess I won't see Russell after that, right?

He was about to ask Russell if he was still here on the 31st, but Russell spoke first: "Today is the last time I will train with you." Russell never said that he was teaching Chu Zhongtian, but only that he was sparring, although the fact was that he was guiding Chu Zhongtian to train.

"Huh?" Although it was two days earlier than he expected, Chu Zhongtian was not too surprised. There is no banquet in the world that will not be dispersed, and the once difficult brothers and brothers also have separate days. "Are you going to report to Welling United?"

Russell laughed, a little weirdly.

"Actually, no."

"Oh......" Chu Zhongtian didn't react at first, but he immediately found the problem: "What? Not going to Welling United? So where are you going? Have a better team invited you? ”

Russell waved his hand: "Not really." ”

"Then why are you ......" Chu Zhongtian was confused.

"I'm not going to play anymore." When Russell said these words to him with a smile, Chu Zhongtian felt as if he had been struck by lightning - this news was too unexpected for him!

(To be continued)