This is the first time Richard Scudmore has come to Southampton! Staplewood.

From the highway exit, all the way down south, bypassing the Test River, it didn't take long to arrive.

Adjacent to the residential area, the road is a brand-new and shiny asphalt road. The roadside is full of emerald green British holly, which is more than two meters high, and is neatly trimmed and airtight.

Arriving at the gate of the training base, Skudmore was attracted by the unique modern style security room at a glance.

"Hello, who are you looking for?"

The security guard in a straight police uniform walked over, and first asked with a polite but dignified salute.

Skudmore pressed the window, "Hello, I am the chief executive of the Premier League, Richard Skudmore."

The security had obviously received the news, and after hearing it, there was another salute, but this time it seemed a lot more friendly, at least not as unfamiliar as before.

"Hello, Mr. Scudmore, please go here, turn right at the intersection ahead, and you will be the first team training area."

"Okay, thank you, sir conscientious."

After speaking, the security backed away, and the electric remote control opened the door, allowing Skudmore's car to be released.

The roads in Staplewood were clean, as if they had just been washed with water, and there was no trace of wheel marks.

Each training area and both sides of the road are separated by two-meter-high British holly trees, which are connected to the outer wall, so that when people enter, it is as if they have entered a maze.

But don't worry about getting lost, because the road signs are very conspicuous, and which intersection to go to and where to go is clearly marked.

This makes Skudmore feel very comfortable. Compared to the training bases of most Premier League clubs, Staplewood is simply too good.

"Hello, Richard, welcome, welcome!"

As soon as the car stopped at the gate, I saw Nicola Cortez approaching from the gate with a smile on his face.

As soon as Skudmore got out of the car, the executive chairman of the saint stretched out his hand in front of him.

"Hello, Nikolai, I'm so sorry, I took the liberty to interrupt."

"Well, Richard, we welcome you at any time!"

After the two shook hands vigorously, Nicola Cortez continued.

"I'm sorry, Richard, Young Master Huan went back to China for a vacation. You know, their Spring Festival is very, very important. They just came back yesterday, so..."

"Well, I understand!" Richard Skudmore nodded.

Yang Huan cannot be blamed for this, because he came too hastily.

Had it not been for a good relationship with this Young Master Huan on weekdays, this kind of meeting without an appointment would have been impossible.

This young master Huan is very busy now!

"Young Master Huan just called, he is already on the way, let me receive you first!"

Richard Skudmore nodded, and then looked around, "Well, why not just walk around?"

"Yes, please!" Nicola Cortez laughed.

The two were walking on the road to the Staplewood Training Base. Skudmore didn't seem to want to visit the major stadiums and facilities. Nicola Cortez did not actively recommend it, just like that. Walk aimlessly.

Because just finished a league game yesterday, Southampton broke the Crystal Palace 4-0. Today the team's training will be postponed to the afternoon to give players plenty of rest.

Therefore, the training base was a bit empty and there were no players in sight, but the staff arranged the training ground in a leisurely manner.

However, after a small half-circle, Skudmore stopped outside a training ground.

In the training field is a coach, gesticulating to the players in front of him, explaining what he is talking about, standing outside the training field vaguely and can't hear him clearly.

When I saw him occasionally demonstrating moves and explaining some skills, people guessed that it should be about defense.

But it is not these that really attract Scudmore, nor the few Southampton players on the pitch.

Although these players are now well-known, such as Varane, Nastasic, Laporte, Luke Shaw, David Alaba and *Boss, the first team defenders are all in .

However, Skudmore's eyes are always on the coach.

Soon, he recognized it.

"That's Stam?" Skudmore was taken aback.

Stam?

The main central defender in the Manchester United Triple Crown period, the only mistake Ferguson admitted in his life, the former top central defender recognized by the world.

How could he become a coach in Southampton?

I haven't heard any wind before!

"Do you know him?" Nicola Cortez chuckled.

"Of course!" As he said, Skudmore walked to the side of the training court. After Stam's explanation was over, he asked his assistant to take the players to train. He yelled softly, "Yap!"

When Stam heard someone calling him, he looked over immediately, but he was obviously strange to the person outside the wire fence.

But he still came over.

When he got closer, he suddenly remembered, "Hey, hello, Mr. Scudmore!"

The two met and exchanged several times during Stam's play for Manchester United.

"Heh, I didn't expect to see you here!" Skudmore was a little surprised, "Why are you..."

"Yeah, it's been almost a year."

"It's almost a year?" Skudmore was a little surprised, they didn't receive the news at all.

The ubiquitous British media didn't even know that this happened?

The Dutch bald-headed Qiang laughed, not at all the fierce energy he used to be on the football field, and his smile was particularly kind, "Yes, I don't want to be harassed."

"Then what are you..." Skudmore wanted to say, why didn't you go to Manchester United, or Milan, if not, you went to the Dutch team, how did you come to Southampton?

"Actually, after I retired, I worked as a scout, later as an assistant coach at Zwolle, and later as a technician at Ajax, specializing in coaching players' defense. Maybe I think I did a good job at Ajax, so ..."

Speaking of this, Stam smiled again, and looked behind him, "Actually, Southampton is very good. This group of players has great potential, and this club has this unique culture, which attracts me very much. I can learn a lot by working with the best professional technical team on the Internet."

Oh I got it!

Skudmore understood that Stam’s goal now is to learn things, and he certainly hopes to coach alone in the future.

"Then what are you mainly responsible for now?"

Stam turned his head again and pointed to the court. "We provide one-on-one targeted coaching to some players, as well as a defensive training course of about 30 minutes, both for the first team and the youth team. The other is to work with the coaching team."

Skudmore was really surprised.

Stam was undoubtedly the world's top central defender at the time, even compared to Nesta and Cannavaro.

Such players naturally have their own unique understanding and understanding of defense and football.

It is undoubtedly appropriate for him to coach young players and strengthen defensive training.

But, can Stam’s experience still adapt to the current development of football?

You know, today's football tactics are completely different from the era he was in.

The most typical one is tackle. In order to encourage offense, all leagues and referees impose more and more severe penalties on tackles.

As if seeing the suspicion in Skudmore's eyes, Stam chuckled again.

"Actually, I have had such concerns, but after coming to Southampton, I discovered that this team, known for its crazy offensive on the football field, also attaches considerable importance to defense, especially defense. Details of organization, defense, and reading analysis of the game."

Speaking of this, Stam showed a look as if he had come to realize it at first, "You know, many things have changed, and even become completely different, but football is still football, and it still needs offense and defense. So many things have just changed one form and one angle, but the essential things have not changed."

Skudmore frowned. This is so profound, what do you mean?

But Stam did not intend to analyze it further, especially when he heard the shouts of the assistants behind him, he apologized to Scudmore and Nicola Cortez, turned around and ran back to the training ground. went.

Instead, it was Nicolas Cortez. After seeing Stam leaving, he smiled and said: "The current tactics have very high requirements for defenders. To some extent, they are even higher than the frontcourt players. So, in the way of cultivating players, changes must also be made."

"Previous defenders started from the youth team and accumulated bit by bit, but now, many of them are played in midfield, and some even played forwards, and then they are transformed into defenders. Therefore, their tactics and The defensive understanding is naturally different from that of traditional defenders who have received defensive training since childhood."

"However, on the football field, they still need them to sabotage the opponent's offense and prevent the opponent from scoring goals. Therefore, traditional defenders like Stam, their experience can still play an important role."

Skudmore couldn't help nodding, although he didn't understand, he felt like it was very powerful.

No matter how simple Stam and Nicolas Cortez said, but if you study it in depth, it must be very complicated.

Maybe Southampton has a whole set of people who specialize in this direction, and there may be many former legendary stars like Stam.

Looking at the training ground again, Stam even personally demonstrated a very simple defensive movement, including how to get out and when to get out. He even saw that Stam personally demonstrated an indecent **** lift. action.

Could it be that the hips also affect the defense?

If so, Neuer's fat butt...

Well, maybe, in the eyes of some weird researchers, Neuer's ability to become the world's top goalkeeper may have something to do with his fat buttocks. Who knows?

Just as Skudmore was thinking about Neuer's fat ass, Nicola Cortez's phone rang.

After answering the call, Nicolas Cortes smiled and said, "Master Huan has arrived!"

The two walked from the training ground to the training building and saw that Yang Huan was already waiting for them in the lobby on the first floor.

After some greetings ~lightnovelpub.net~ I went directly to the meeting room on the second floor.

As it is said that nothing is going to go to the Temple of the Three Treasures, Skudmore's sudden visit for no reason is definitely not without reason.

Therefore, after the coffee was served, Yang Huan asked straightforwardly.

"Richard, don't know if you are here today, what's the matter?"

Skudmore sighed, nodded and said: "Yes, Master Huan, I am here today. There is indeed a very important event. I hope to hear Master Huan's thoughts."

"Oh?" Yang Huan was a little funny, a very important event?

His first reaction was related to the past. In addition to Southampton, Manchester City and Arsenal have stopped in the Champions League semi-finals. This was ridiculed by the British media as a habitual group destruction.

But what does this have to do with us in Southampton?

Yang Huan was very puzzled.

...()