Chapter 7 Promoted to the first team
After the small episode on the road, Ling Feng continued riding and soon returned to his home in the suburbs.
“I’m back!”
Seeing Ling Feng entering the home, his mother Julia immediately ran out of the living room and gave him a big greeting with a smile on her face. Embrace!
Twenty years ago, his father Lingshan came from the far East to study at the University of Leicester and met his mother.
The two fell in love at first sight and soon got married.
Two years later, Ling Feng was born.
As the only son in the family, Ling Feng has been doted on since he was a child.
Ever since he proposed to become a professional football player, his parents have stood behind him and supported him unreservedly.
Ling Feng’s mother, Julia, was a native of Leicestershire and a very gentle woman.
While taking Ling Feng's backpack, Julia reached out and touched her son's face, and said with a distressed look on her face:
"Why have you turned black again? Is training very hard?"
“It’s okay.”
“You haven’t had breakfast yet? I just made it, come and eat it!”
“Okay.”
Being held by his mother's hand, Ling Feng came to the restaurant and saw his father sitting at the top.
Lingshan, who was wearing a white shirt and black-rimmed glasses, looked like an intellectual. When he saw Lingfeng, he did not put down the financial newspaper in his hand, but raised his chin to him and said hello:
"Son, welcome home."
Smiling back, Ling Feng took the opportunity to sit on the seat on the right side of the dining table.
The breakfast on the table is very rich.
In addition to Western-style bacon, sausage and omelette, there are also Chinese-style millet porridge, fried dough sticks, steamed buns, siu mai and salted duck eggs!
Looking at these unfamiliar yet familiar Chinese breakfasts, Ling Feng, who had eaten nutritious meals in the youth team for several days, suddenly moved his index finger.
“Son, try this!”
“This bun is delicious! This shaomai is delicious too!”
“Eat slowly, no one will follow You grab it!”
Just as Ling Feng was happily enjoying his mother's handiwork, his cell phone in his trouser pocket suddenly vibrated.
The bell rang.
Putting down his chopsticks and taking out his mobile phone, Ling Feng saw an unfamiliar number on the screen.
“Hello?”
The next second, a slightly hoarse male voice sounded on the other end of the phone:
"Ling, it's me, Walsh."
"Coach?"
The caller was none other than Steve Walsh, the assistant coach and chief scout of the first team. .
Before Ling Feng could speak, the other party told him a piece of news that did not surprise him at all:
"Mr. Pearson asked me to tell you to report to the first team tomorrow!"
. . .
Both Lingshan and Julia were very happy about the good news that their son had been promoted to the first team.
After spending a relaxing and warm day at home, Ling Feng rode back to the Belvoir base again the next morning to prepare for his first-team career.
Under the personal leadership of assistant coach Steve Walsh, Ling Feng came to the first team locker room for the first time.
"From today onwards, Ling will become a member of the first team. Let us welcome him with applause."
Following the announcement by head coach Pearson, everyone in the Leicester City first team, led by captain Wes Morgan, applauded.
No one in the first team was surprised at all when Ling Feng was promoted to the first team.
With his amazing performance in the FA Cup in the last game, he is fully capable of establishing himself in the first team!
Therefore, except for a few competitive midfielders whose expressions could not be called enthusiastic, the other players all expressed their welcome to Ling Feng's joining.
It is worth mentioning that the black midfielder Jamal, who made his first team debut with him in the FA Cup, did not stay in the first team, but returned to the youth team.
Including Ling Feng, a midfielder who has just been promoted to the first team, the entire first team has a total of five midfielders.
Leicester City’s tactical formation is mainly parallel 442.
In other words, there are only two central midfielders starting each game. In the first half of the English Championship, the two central midfielder positions were rotated by the other four midfielders in the team.
Among them, Danny Drinkwater, a product of Manchester United's youth training, is the core midfielder.
Due to his interesting name, this old man was given a very appropriate nickname by Chinese fans: "Brother Drinking Water!"
Another young midfielder who also came from Manchester United's youth training, Matty James , is Brother Drinking Water’s midfield partner.
The passing organization and interception defense of these two former Manchester United youth players in the midfield are one of the reasons why Leicester City can remain at the top of the British Championship this season.
The remaining two midfield rotation players are Andy King, the "own kid" who has been in Leicester City for ten years and is loved by fans, and Southampton from the Premier League this season. Transferred veteran midfielder Dean Hammond.
There are 24 teams participating in the English Championship, with a total of 46 rounds.
Compared with the 38 rounds of the Premier League, plus the League Cup, FA Cup and other cups, the matches in the English Championship are more intensive.
Therefore, the configuration of the five midfielders is actually just right.
“That’s your position.”
As a newcomer who has just been promoted to the first team, Ling Feng’s position is in the far right corner of the locker room.
In a closet, there is a No. 23 jersey hanging.
The locker above has a sign with "LING" printed on it
This is Ling Feng's exclusive space in the first team locker room!
It is worth mentioning that next to him is Mahrez, who has just transferred.
As soon as he sat down, the handsome African guy sitting next to him raised his eyebrows at him and then shook his hand:
"Welcome to the first team, man."
"Thank you."
"After changing clothes, gather at the training ground."
With these words, the head coach and assistant coach turned around and walked out of the locker room.
At this time, Wes Morgan, the captain, said in a deep and deep voice:
"Ling, how about introducing yourself and letting everyone get to know you? ”
Hearing this, Ling Feng was stunned for a moment, then stood up without hesitation and came to the center of the locker room.
Looking around at everyone, there was no trace of the newcomer’s shyness or apprehension. He just opened his arms and said in a neither humble nor arrogant voice:
“Good morning, guys. My name is Ling Feng. You can call me Ling, both off and on the court.”
“I hope to learn how to play from you, fight side by side with you, pursue victory, and contribute my share to this team. "Thank you."
This generous and humble speech received applause from everyone.
At the same time, many people have some confusion and doubts in their hearts:
He does not look like an eighteen-year-old kid who has just been promoted to the first team. He is more like an old player who has gone through ups and downs and transferred from other clubs.
As for whether this kid can continue to stay in the first team and fight alongside them, it depends on his performance on the court.
While wearing his own sneakers, Ling Feng observed Everybody in the locker room.
In his opinion, it is somewhat difficult for him to become the main midfielder of the first team.
Even if he has the passing skills and vision of De Bruyne at his peak, he is fully capable of handling the offense in the midfield.
However, his running and defensive abilities are completely inferior to the other four midfielders.
In the tactical formation of Parallel 442, the two midfielders must be able to move up and down. They can not only pass and organize, but also have active running and defensive abilities.
His running ability is passable.
But in terms of defensive contribution, it is basically at the bottom of the team.
And Ling Feng believes that his best position is not the midfielder or the defensive midfielder, but the attacking midfielder!
Just like he did against Stoke City in the last game, with two midfielders behind him to protect and sweep, he can give full play to his talents on the offensive end without any worries.
However, in the parallel 442 formation, there is no position for the attacking midfielder.
While Leicester City is going smoothly in the league, the coach does not need to change tactics and formation rashly.
Modern football tactics are very complex and involve a wide range of factors.
Just a change of position may affect the whole body.
So, under the premise that he cannot let the head coach change his tactics and formation for him, Ling Feng knows very well that if he wants to get playing time, he must work hard to adapt to the team's tactics and play style, and then Strive to fully express yourself during the time when you come on the bench.
As long as you perform well on the court, everything is easy.
After all, in the cruel world of sports competition, food is the most unforgivable original sin!
(End of this chapter)