Glory Of The Football Manager System

Chapter 123: The Last Dance at Moss Side II

The Walsh Changing Rooms

Funded by the transfer of JJ Johnson to Brighton & Hove Albion

In honour of the manager who made us champions, 2015/16

***

I reached out and touched the cool metal of the plaque, my name etched into the history of this place. Memories flooded back - the first day I’d walked in here, a nervous wreck with a crazy idea; the arguments, the laughter, the tears, the triumphs. It was all here, in this room.

"The lads are inside," Terry said softly. "They want to see you."

I pushed open the door, and the room erupted.

The players, my players, were on their feet, cheering, applauding. Scott Miller was in the middle of his pre-match team talk, but he stopped, a wide grin on his face. "Gaffer. Perfect timing. I was just telling them about pressing triggers. Want to add anything?"

I shook my head, too choked up to speak. I just watched as Scott took command, his voice confident, his instructions clear. He was using my tactics, my system, but he’d made it his own. He spoke with an authority that hadn’t been there before. He was a manager now, a proper manager.

He’d grown into a leader. Big Dave was there, a youth team tracksuit on,

learned," he

roared, a single, unified

pulled Scott aside. "You’re ready for

eyes

place on the bench. This was Scott’s team now. I sat in the stands with Emma, my heart a tangled mess of pride and sadness. The whistle blew, and the game began. And for the first time in

high press, the relentless energy. But it was different. It was better. "He’s tweaked the pressing triggers," I murmured to Emma, my eyes glued to the pitch. "Made them more aggressive. They’re not waiting for the sideways pass anymore; they’re pressing the center-backs

asked, her focus on my face, not the

to her, a slow smile spreading across my face. "It’s brilliant. He’s made it his

was relaxed, a post-season friendly against a local rival, but the players were competing with a fierce intensity. They were sharper, fitter, more

the ball for a fraction of a second too long. That

sprinted towards him, cutting off the passing lane to the fullback. Jamie Scott, reading the play perfectly, pushed up to intercept the panicked pass to the midfielder. He took

sat down, my face

I had tried to build. The aggressive press,

pure possession football. It started with the

circulating the ball from side to side, waiting for the opening. The ball moved from the defense to