The Next Big Thing
Chapter 145: Match Squad Selection Finale II

Chapter 145: Match Squad Selection Finale II

The coaching staff stood around the whiteboard, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the list of attackers. They knew what was coming. After the chaos of selecting midfielders, they had already braced themselves for another round of heated arguments. Yet, to everyone’s surprise, the beginning was... peaceful.

Mike Phelan, who stood with his arms folded, was the first to speak.

"Alright, let’s get the easiest decision out of the way first. I think we can all agree—Odion Ighalo should be left out, right?"

He glanced around at the other coaches, waiting for any sign of disagreement. None came.

Brian nodded, exhaling. "Yeah, I can’t argue with that. He was really average in training today. His age is showing, and, honestly, he didn’t even look like he was trying. The intensity just wasn’t there."

Chris, leaning against the wall with a thoughtful expression, added, "It’s probably because in three months, his loan deal is over. He’s going back to China, and the club doesn’t seem too eager to sign him permanently. It’s a shame, really. He was pivotal for us last season."

Bill, shaking his head, scoffed. "Come on, are we really feeling bad about this? Did you see today’s training? He looked completely uninterested. And yeah, he was ’pivotal’ last season because we had no one else. Now we have an overload of options. He’s neither needed nor wanted anymore."

The words were sharp, almost dismissive. Mike turned to him, his expression serious.

"Look, I agree he shouldn’t be included, but that doesn’t mean we just throw away everything he did for us. The guy helped us a lot last season. The least we can do is show him the respect he deserves."

A few other coaches nodded in agreement at Mike’s words, while Bill groaned, rolling his eyes.

Mitchell, sensing the discussion was about to spiral into unnecessary debate, quickly cut in. "Alright, alright. We don’t have all day. Can we all agree that Ighalo should be left out?"

A unanimous "Yeah" echoed through the room.

Ten Hag, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up. "Okay then. Ighalo is out. Now, we still have two more players to drop."

A brief silence followed. The easy part was over. Now came the real challenge.

Brian, who had been deep in thought, finally spoke. "Okay, I know we’re deciding who to drop, but before we continue, I just want to say something. We should move Ronaldo out of this discussion. I know we mentioned age as a factor with Ighalo, but let’s be real—age isn’t affecting Ronaldo at all. He was one of our best players today and, honestly, overall."

Mike immediately nodded in agreement. "Yeah, let’s separate him. We should be choosing from the remaining six."

But Brian shook his head. "No, no. I’m not just talking about taking him off the elimination list. Just like how we immediately confirmed De Gea for the squad, Ronaldo should already be a starter. His speed may have slightly declined, but let’s not kid ourselves—he’s still one of the most clinical finishers in the world."

He continued, listing off Ronaldo’s strengths. "He’s lethal inside the box, his aerial ability is unmatched, his movement is world-class, and even if he’s not pressing as much as some of the younger guys, his presence alone forces defenders to adjust their positioning. He’s not just an attacker; he’s a game-changer."

Chris, arms crossed, smirked. "Well, it’s not like we even have a choice in that matter. The board, the media, the fans—they’d never let us bench him. We might as well give him a starting spot now."

Bill, his voice laced with irritation, immediately snapped back. "Come on, Chris. It’s not about the media or the board. If we give Ronaldo a spot, it’s because he damn well deserves it. Did you watch today’s training? He was the best player on the pitch."

Chris raised an eyebrow. "’Deserves it’? That’s rich coming from you."

Bill’s face scrunched up in annoyance. "What the hell do you mean by that? I’m just stating the facts—"

"No, no. I want to hear this. What exactly do you mean by that?" Bill challenged, stepping forward slightly.

Chris smirked. "Oh, now you care about respect? You were ready to toss Ighalo aside like trash five minutes ago."

Bill clenched his fists. "That’s completely different! Ighalo was—"

"Enough! Enough!"

Ten Hag’s voice cut through the rising tension like a blade. His sharp gaze swept across the room, silencing every argument instantly.

He exhaled, rubbing his forehead before speaking. "You’re all professionals. Act like it." His tone was firm, commanding.

He continued, "I do agree with removing Ronaldo from the elimination discussion. But let me make something very clear—my starting lineup is NOT fixed. Yes, Ronaldo was one of the best performers today, but I’m not deciding my starting squad based on one session. If he maintains this level throughout the coming weeks, then that’s different. But until then, no one has a guaranteed starting spot."

His words left no room for argument, but he wasn’t done yet.

His eyes hardened as he added, "And let me remind you all—this isn’t the board’s team. It isn’t the media’s team. It isn’t Ole’s team. It isn’t the fans’ team. And it sure as hell isn’t your team. This is MY squad. I will make the final decisions. You’re all here to assist me in making them, nothing more. Have I made myself clear?"

A few hesitant nods followed before the coaches all agreed in unison. "Yes, boss."

Ten Hag gave a single nod before exhaling. "Good. Now, do your jobs and assist me properly. We still have two more players to cut."

The room was still tense from the previous discussion, but the process had to continue. They had removed one player, but two more needed to be cut. The weight of their decisions hung over them, yet before another elimination could be made, one of the assistant coaches spoke up.

"Alright, I have an opinion. But not about removing someone. I want to talk about adding a player."

The room turned to him, curiosity flickering in their eyes.

"With Ronaldo already a given, I think Marcus Rashford should also be included. He’s been excellent in training—one of our best performers. And let’s not forget how great he was last season. If he continues at this pace heading into the new season, he could become even better."

A few heads nodded in agreement, the suggestion clearly resonating with some of them.

"Yeah," another coach chimed in. "Rashford’s directness, speed, and finishing make him a constant threat. Plus, he works hard off the ball. I’d say he’s a lock for the squad."

But then another voice spoke up. "If we’re adding Rashford, then we should also be talking about Martial. He was arguably more pivotal than Rashford last season. Some would even say he was our best attacker."

That statement sparked immediate reactions.

"Martial? Are you serious?" someone interjected, shaking his head. "Unlike Rashford, he didn’t look like he kept his form. He was sluggish today, lost possession too many times, and looked outright bad. If anything, we should be considering dropping him."

"Dropping Martial? Have you lost your mind?" another coach snapped back. "Don’t forget how good he was last season. He was one of our main goal threats, and we relied on him a lot."

The previous coach was quick to counter. "Why are we judging players based on last season? I thought the whole point of this process was to assess their performances in training and today’s tests."

"I’d much rather use last season as a yardstick than just one training session, to be honest," another voice chimed in. "Let’s not forget, these players are just coming off a break. They’ve spent weeks mostly stuck indoors. You can’t expect all of them to be at their peak straight away. Give Martial some time, and he’ll surely get back to his best."

"Oh, come on. Is that really an excuse?" another coach scoffed. "Weren’t the other players also stuck at home? Why is Martial the only one getting a pass?"

Before the argument could escalate further, another assistant spoke up. "Alright, let’s put Martial aside for a second. What about Daniel James? I feel like he could be given a chance. He’s incredibly fast, and we could use him in counter-attacking situations. He could be a great super-sub."

A small laugh erupted from one of the coaches. "Come on now. Yes, he’s fast. But after that, what’s next? He’s a one-trick pony. All he knows is how to run. If you had said Greenwood, then maybe I’d have listened. That kid is not only quick, but he also knows how to finish. He might be the best young talent we have."

That statement brought another name into the discussion.

Mike, who had been mostly listening, finally spoke up. "What? Greenwood isn’t the best young talent we have. Have you guys forgotten David Jones?"

The room shifted as some of the coaches straightened up, knowing exactly who he was talking about.

"He’s only sixteen, but he was one of the best players in training today. His speed, control, finishing—everything was top-notch. In almost every drill we ran, he was in the top three, except for defending. We’re not picking a starting lineup yet, but I’m telling you, we might have a generational talent on our hands."

There was a moment of silence before Mitchell, one of the more experienced assistants, responded.

"Yes, he’s good. No one is denying that. But he’s still too young and not fully developed. Did you not notice how his form dropped after the halfway mark of training? He started off strong, but by the end, he looked sluggish and exhausted. He needs to be sent to Carrington to train more before we rush him into the first team."

Mike’s face twisted in disbelief. "Are you joking? Even when he was sluggish, he was still better than most of the other players. The kid is sixteen and playing at this level. We NEED him."

Mitchell shook his head. "I’m not saying he isn’t good. I’m just saying you’re exaggerating. Yes, he was impressive, but you’re making it sound like he was miles ahead of everyone else. What about Antony? He was also one of the best performers today. He’s more developed and has actual experience playing at a high level."

Mike let out a short laugh. "So much better than the rest? Did you even watch the dribbling drills? David was in a league of his own. No one came close to him in that department."

That set off a chain reaction.

"Oh, come on, now you’re just being ridiculous!"

"We’re talking about a teenager who hasn’t even played at the highest level yet!"

"Antony is way more ready for the first team than David!"

"You’re all ignoring the obvious—David Jones is a special talent. Whether you like it or not, he’s already proving himself."

The entire room erupted into arguments, voices overlapping, tensions flaring. Coaches were pointing fingers, some shaking their heads in frustration, others passionately defending their stance.

The noise grew louder and louder, the chaos reaching its peak—until a thunderous voice silenced them all.

"ENOUGH! ENOUGH! ENOUGH!"

Ten Hag’s voice roared through the room like a hammer striking an anvil. The entire coaching staff immediately fell silent.

His sharp gaze scanned the room as he took a deep breath. Then, in a much calmer but still authoritative tone, he spoke again.

"I have heard enough."

The silence lingered for a few seconds before he finally turned to the squad list, his expression unreadable. The assistants watched, some shifting uncomfortably, waiting for his verdict.

Five minutes passed. Not a single word was spoken.

Then, Ten Hag looked up.

"Well, what do you guys think?" he finally asked.

A few murmurs filled the room as the coaches exchanged glances. None of them were particularly eager to be the first to speak after the chaos that had just unfolded.

Then, someone hesitantly voiced a thought that had been lingering.

"But... what if Sancho comes?"

A new tension settled over the group. It was a question worth asking—one that could change the entire discussion.

Ten Hag, however, remained unfazed. He simply exhaled and gave a small nod.

"That will be a discussion for later. For now, this is our matchday squad, gentlemen. "Let’s start making preparations."

The decision was made. The arguments were over.

For now.

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