I AM the Football Star

Chapter 127: Chapter 50: Left-Back Formation Change—Is San Remo’s New Season Goal Really the Italian Cup?

The match against Millwall allowed Lu Yang to acquire a new skill. Although it’s just a player-level skill, it significantly enhances Lu Yang’s attributes.

Defensive Positioning 60-63

Interception 72-74

Blocking 72-74

Breakout 60-63

Blocking 60-63

This is almost an all-around defensive boost.

After this battle, both Lu Yang and Morici believed that Lu Yang should play as a left-back in the upcoming matches.

The three-center-back formation is not impossible, but given the Star of Italy Team’s lineup, it’s indeed unfeasible.

Their strongest central defender, Lam, is only 1.85 meters tall.

The other two tall ones are not capable enough.

The traditional three-center-back formation relaxes the requirements for central defenders because the two wing-backs can drop back to form a five-man defense.

But on the Italian Star’s side, Sevajos’ defense is almost non-existent.

Canyes also can’t perfectly balance attack and defense. Often after pushing forward, he loses position.

With the two wing players not meeting the criteria, it’s impossible to play a three-center-back tactic.

Moreover, Millwall has also proven that when faced with English impact, the Star of Italy Team can’t control the ball, making the 352 even less necessary.

So they changed the formation and decided to play 4213!

Abandoning ball control, focusing on quick offense and defense, increasing tolerance.

After discussion, the final lineup is roughly: left winger Bai Zhami, central forward Sogel, right shadow striker Parrot.

Attacking midfielder Sevajos.

Double defensive midfielders Versachi and Morici.

Left-back Lu Yang, right-back Canyes, double central defenders Lam paired with a tall one.

Among them, Sevajos is the core of the frontline attack, and he can take on the role.

The team’s strong side is the right, mainly attacking down the right flank.

Canyes takes off, storming down the right wing together with Parrot, along with Sogel’s retreat to support, and Sevajos’ advancement and distribution in the frontfield, no one should be able to stop them.

While Lu Yang and his teammates on the left side focus more on assisting defensively.

When Canyes moves forward, Lam will shift right to cover the empty space, and Lu Yang will also shift right to act as the third central defender, forming a three-center-back defensive system without leaving the defense exposed.

If the right side can’t break through, then kick a long pass to the left side for Bai Zhami to chase after, leaving it to him to make the most of it, maybe there will be a miracle.

On the eve of the match against England U19, Lu Yang received a call from Sotu.

”Kid, do you know how much your market value increased after this Italy Star training camp?” Sotu asked exaggeratedly.

”What’s up? Does the club want to sell us?” Lu Yang asked.

”It’s not the right time yet; offers of just three to five hundred thousand, they’re really not valuing you properly!” Sotu laughed, ”Okay, to serious matters, you know about the team’s reinforcements, right? Do you have any opinions?”

Lu Yang was stunned: ”What opinions could I have? I’m just a soldier.”

Sotu said: ”You can have opinions.”

The two fell silent for a moment.

This sentence carries significant meaning.

Logically, players have no say regarding transfers, including team signings.

Even some head coaches don’t have decision-making power; they only have the right to suggest.

The club decides which players to buy, and you just make the best of it on the field.

But now, Sotu clearly holds the reins of San Remo’s recruitment power, and... he’s also extending a friendly gesture to Lu Yang.

”The players in the Star of Italy Team are pretty good, Canyes, Lam, Versachi, Sogel...” Lu Yang didn’t mention Sevajos and Parrot, those two are almost shining on the pitch, how could they move to the Italian Third Division?

Moreover, both of their market values exceed five million, especially Sevajos, whose value is probably close to ten million, unaffordable for San Remo.

Not to mention, a team like the Star of Italy is a temporary squad; even in prestigious seller clubs like Monaco Team, players of the same age and even similar talent can vary from being worth a few million to just tens of thousands.

The difference lies in their match performance.

Not from single matches like those of the Star of Italy, but from stable, high-level, long-term leagues.

This is the primary factor determining market value.

Of course, the World Cup is another story.

Even in the World Cup, the likelihood of non-performing players is significant, which is the result of not being tested in high-level leagues.

So, Lu Yang and Morici’s market values can’t rise unless they play in higher-level leagues and reach a million-dollar market value, as they don’t have Vedian’s distinctive speed trait.

Speed is almost the only factor allowing young players to gain an exceptionally high market value.

And with Vedian angling Benevento for promotion to Serie A next season, they’d even offer a premium transfer fee for a one percent promotion probability.

Otherwise, it would be hard for Vedian to sell for one and a half million!

”You have a keen eye; it seems this Star of Italy Training Camp was arranged for you,” Sotu laughed, amused by Lu Yang.

”So you can’t buy them, right?” Lu Yang actually knew it wasn’t realistic because these players are all from major youth academies.

Speaking of which, lower-tier players don’t sell for much, but players from top-tier youth academies are different.

If players from top-tier academies perform even slightly, two to three million is not a problem; this is the added value from a high starting point and big platform.

As for Bai Zhami’s two hundred and fifty thousand... to be honest, his punch to the youth training director at least offset a value of five hundred thousand!

Inter’s youth training director couldn’t wait for him to disappear immediately, willing to let him go even at a loss.

Seventy-five thousand would be Bai Zhami’s real market value, but no one would spend seventy-five thousand on a player who’s not a team player, hits leaders, and lacks tactical coordination.

Even in the Star of Italy Team, Bai Zhami’s performance is quite lackluster.

His only goal was from a speed counterattack, better than nothing.

He stays on the fringes of the team.

Otherwise, in the upcoming 4213 formation of the Star of Italy, the left route wouldn’t be mainly for defense.

In such a formation, even if the right side is dominant, the left side should fake attack a few times, but it is almost entirely devoid of independent offensive arrangements as per the Star of Italy Team’s plan.

This is equivalent to severing an arm!

This is the cost of trying to use Bai Zhami.

Regardless of whether injuring a thousand, at first, you lose eight hundred yourself!

”It’s not completely without a chance.” Sotu chuckled, seemingly having another arrangement, ”We will strive to get one or two of them, to find some help for you and Morici for your Italian Third Division journey.”

”Additionally, after this Star of Italy Training Camp, make sure Morici is well-prepared physically. Next season, we might have a dual campaign!” Sotu’s words excited Lu Yang.

It’s not about player recruitment; Lu Yang, based on Sotu’s words and Maniero’s previous performance, already guessed who might join San Remo next season.

He was thrilled by the words ”dual campaign”!

Besides the Italian Third Division, it means... the Italian Cup!

The Italian Cup here is a domestic cup competition in Italy, rules have changed, similar to England’s FA Cup.

All teams within Italy can participate in the Italian Cup, including amateur teams.

This is one of the main reasons why the Italian Cup is thrilling, as it can give birth to true grassroots miracles.

However, over the years, no amateur team has ever made it past the third round.

Twenty Serie A teams directly enter the third round.

All other professional teams start from the first round.

While amateur teams must go through four qualifying rounds to reach the first round proper.

Typically, starting from the fourth round, only Serie A and Serie B teams are present.

Up to now, no team below Serie B has made it past the fifth round.

This also proves the stability of Italian football.

Because, under the same system, the English FA Cup has seen situations where third-division teams made it to the sixth round.

”You have such ambition, Coach. So, you set such an ambitious goal as the Italian Cup! Lu Yang complimented, filled with confidence, ”Rest assured, Coach. Morici and I will be fully prepared!”

But after hanging up, Sotu wondered if there was a misunderstanding? The Italian Cup championship is not something a third-division team can strive for.

Historically, even Serie B teams have only won the Italian Cup just eight times, with the most recent occurrence over thirty years ago!