The Coaching System

Saidi's Injury Changes Everything

Jake Wilson sat in his office, staring at the medical report in front of him. The words burned into his brain.

Ahmed Saidi – Torn Ligament (Estimated Recovery: 2 Months).

Jake clenched his jaw. His best center-back was out.

Losing a key defender right before the season started was a disaster. Saidi was the backbone of the defense, and without him, the backline suddenly looked shaky.

Paul Roberts, his assistant, sighed. "We've got cover, but none of them are at Saidi's level."

Jake nodded. "We'll have to make adjustments. Maybe drop deeper, stay compact in defense."

But before he could even process that, his phone buzzed with an email notification.

Bradford City Board Meeting – Urgent Discussion on Squad Depth.

Jake exhaled. Here we go.

The tension in the boardroom was heavy. The chairman, Henry Lowe, was seated at the head of the table, his hands folded.

"We need to talk about squad depth," Lowe said, looking directly at Jake. "Losing Saidi for two months is a problem. Do you have a plan?"

Jake sat forward. "We adjust tactically. Drop the defensive line, protect the back four with a stronger midfield."

"But do we need to sign another center-back?" Lowe pressed.

Jake hesitated. With the current budget, signing a decent defender would mean sacrificing funds for future transfers.

"I'll explore options," Jake finally said. "But I don't want a panic signing."

The meeting ended, but Jake knew one thing—if the defense failed in the first few games, the board would come knocking again.

A Shocking Transfer Offer – Lose a Key Player or Reject It?

As soon as Jake stepped out of the meeting, his phone buzzed again. This time, it was an email from the club's director of football.

"We've received an offer for James Richards from a League One club. They're willing to pay £500K for him."

Jake's eyes widened. Richards was his starting right-back.

Paul raised an eyebrow. "£500K is a lot for a League Two full-back."

Jake thought hard. Selling Richards would free up funds to sign a replacement for Saidi, but it would also mean losing one of his best defenders.

"Reject it," Jake said. "We need him."

For now, at least.

Later that evening, as Jake reviewed scouting reports, the system suddenly activated.

[Ding! Wildcard Transfer Suggestion Unlocked]

[An unknown player with elite potential has been detected. Should the system reveal the name?]

Jake frowned. This was new.

"Reveal it," he muttered.

The screen flickered before showing a name:

Name: Noah Fletcher (18)

Position: Center-Back

Current Club: Unattached (Released from Academy)

Jake raised an eyebrow. A free agent?

Projected Growth: Championship Level Starter

Jake sat up straight. This kid had no club but Championship-level potential?

Paul walked in, noticing Jake's expression. "What's wrong?"

Jake looked up. "I think I just found our Saidi replacement."

The squad gathered in the team meeting room, chatting amongst themselves. Jake stood at the front, arms crossed.

"Alright, listen up," he began, his voice cutting through the noise. "The season starts soon. Expectations are clear—we're not here to survive. We're here to fight for promotion."

Some players nodded. Others, especially the newer signings, looked uncertain.

Jake continued, his gaze sharp. "But that won't happen if we don't fix certain things. Defensively, we need to be more disciplined. Offensively, we need to be ruthless. And most importantly—we don't back down from a fight."

He glanced at Carter, Collins, and Novak—his key players. "We've had a strong preseason. Now it's time to prove it where it matters."

Jake wasn't just setting expectations. He was shaping the mentality of a winning team.

After the meeting, some of the senior players approached Jake.

"Coach," Thompson said. "The squad's been training hard. Let's have a night out before the season starts. Team bonding."

Jake raised an eyebrow. "As long as nobody gets arrested, fine."

That night, the players went out to a local restaurant—no alcohol, just a meal and time to relax.

It wasn't about tactics. It was about unity.

As Jake watched his players joking and laughing together, he knew one thing:

This squad was ready for war.