I AM the Football Star

Chapter 183: Chapter 71: In Silence, Death or Kingship

Lu Yang passed the football back to Versachi near the center line.

This probing attack was declared over.

Versachi switched play from the back, passing the football to the left-back.

The San Remo left-back mirrored the right-back’s actions, directly passing the football to Bai Zhami at the front.

Bai Zhami took the ball and ran, leaving the belated Brescia right-back chasing after him from behind.

However, the opponent’s defensive experience was solid; they contracted immediately to prevent Bai Zhami from cutting inside, allowing him to go wide instead.

This time, San Remo’s left side mounted some offensive momentum.

But as the opponent’s midfield retreated, Bai Zhami was thoroughly blocked, leaving him no choice but to pass the football to Lu Yang, who was in support from behind.

By this time, some fans began to feel something was off.

How is Lu Yang everywhere?

Though it sounds lengthy, transitioning the attack from San Remo’s right side to the left side is actually quite fast.

But how could Lu Yang be there to receive on both sides?

After receiving the ball, Lu Yang feigned a return pass to Bai Zhami but actually let it slip through on his right foot before using his left foot to execute a rabona cross into the half-space.

This was absolutely unexpected.

Lu Yang’s ambidextrous skills made the rabona move at least twice as dangerous!

Sogel leaped high in the penalty area, but the two opposing center-backs were focused, and with coverage from both sides, Sogel missed the opportunity and failed to head the football.

Nonetheless, it was undeniably a beautiful and threatening cross.

”That’s it, well done!” Sotu cheered the team on from the side.

The home fans also started to cheer.

The team is different!

Everyone noticed.

Even though the opponent was stronger and the outcome was unknown, today’s Lu Yang clearly played more freely and happily than in the past half month.

The Brescia head coach furrowed his brow slightly.

He noticed San Remo’s change.

”They’ve given up the midfield, removed the team’s metronome position, and lost their midfield commander,” the Brescia head coach said to his assistant. ”The downside is that they can only initiate attacks from the left and right flanks according to their formation attributes; otherwise, they won’t attack.”

”Moving forward, our players just need to defend their wing attacks and prevent them from entering dangerous areas of the attacking third, and they won’t create any threats.”

The assistant appeared dumbfounded. So, is San Remo surrendering?

With such a rigid tactic lacking a midfield commander, it’s absolutely impossible to break through a Serie B team’s defense.

Why would they do this?

Even having Versachi as the midfield metronome would be better than having no midfield at all, right?

The Brescia head coach said, ”Because they want to completely liberate Lu Yang! Top teams have three organizational cores. Someone in defense can take up organizational duties, the midfield also has someone capable of significant responsibilities, and there’s someone in the front too.”

”But among the three cores, the one in the midfield is undoubtedly the real brain of the team. The cores in defense and the front can only be considered as cerebellums. Attacks initiated from the back can only be tricks, not regular tactics, otherwise, it would concede too much possession to the opponents.”

”And attacks initiated from the front core, although more lethal, are highly unstable. They often come from a player’s fleeting inspiration, and once they fail, they must bear the huge cost of being counterattacked. So many teams require their front players to take every opportunity rather than pursue a perfect chance.”

”San Remo has no defensive attack core, and they’ve lost their midfield organizational core. They liberated Lu Yang and advanced his position because they hope Lu Yang can become the front attack core.”

”From past cases, Lu Yang has this potential.”

The assistant was stunned.

Is the head coach endorsing the opponent’s tactics?

In fact, this head coach did have insight.

Lu Yang’s left-back play is actually an alternative form of front core play.

And when he played defensive midfielder for Star of Italy or San Remo, frequently pushing forward and swapping roles with forward players, it was also a form of attacking midfield core play.

He has long proven himself to be an excellent cerebellum.

Asking a cerebellum to do the brain’s job may not be effective.

But doing what the cerebellum is supposed to do poses no issue at all.

In choosing between a low-end brain and a high-end cerebellum, San Remo leans toward the latter.

Whether this choice is worthwhile for San Remo depends on whether this cerebellum is stronger than the average brain.

In the subsequent matches, Lu Yang didn’t deliver very threatening balls because the team’s flanks were indeed restricted by the opponent.

Bai Zhami and Fernandez couldn’t advance, effectively making them no different from side midfielders, struggling to penetrate the attack third.

But accordingly, San Remo’s defense stood relatively firm.

Mainly due to Lu Yang’s extensive sweeping in the central area.

Honestly, no team’s attacking midfielder ever defends right outside their own penalty box first thing.

You are the front attack core!

If you linger too long in the backfield, are you still going to attack?

This point became especially profound when Arnold broke through San Remo’s left defense and chose to cut inside.

Bam!

Lu Yang collided with Arnold from behind, effortlessly scooping the football away during their physical contest.

Arnold appealed to the referee, but the referee indicated it was a good tackle.