Roy of the Rovers – A New Beginning

Week 26

* * *

Jake Cheetham stood still and waited to be invited to sit. Vernon Eliot had called him into his office to discuss the news that was dominating the sports pages across the country. “I just don’t understand why you would be drinking and behave like that in public. You are the captain of Melchester Rovers, I made you captain because I trusted you to keep up the highest of standards, both on and off the field. I don’t think you need a lecture, but I have to be strict; you’ll be fined two weeks wages and be suspended for the match versus Redstoke. You, Powell and Lyons all have the same punishment. I trust there will be no repeat. Again, I said the same to the other two; if you do then I will put you on the transfer list. Is that understood?” Jake sighed, “Yes boss. I’m so sorry. I know we were unprofessional, I know I let everyone at the club down. There will be no repeat. I just hope we can get a result at Redstoke.”

Vernon told his skipper to leave and turned to Gerry Holloway, “We have to be fair. I know Lyons was mainly to blame, but he should have prevented it, man!” Holloway agreed, “I think he’s a sensible lad. I remember overhearing him saying how he doesn’t even like clubs anymore and prefers a quiet beer at home. I have to say I’m surprised at Jake being involved in this.”

The newspaper headlines and blanket coverage on Sky Sports News had embarrassed the club. Clear video footage of their captain, top scorer and international midfielder brawling with rival players and bouncers had been replayed again and again. Some pundits and columnists were even calling for Lyons, Cheetham, Baker and White to been banned from playing for England. All four were pretty much guaranteed to be in Ritchie Gunn’s squad for the World Cup in Brazil and now the England manager was under pressure to deselect them. The two Melboro’ players in particular were first picks and Jake Cheetham would be if he returned to his early season form. Richie Lyons had been included in the last three squads as reward for his prolific goalscoring, but his temperament and attitude had always been an issue. His public demands to wear the Melchester Rovers number nine shirt had grated with many, especially the millions who still hold Roy Race up as some godlike image of a footballer. To them Richie Lyons was a poor, arrogant impersonation that summed up everything wrong with the modern footballer; he was flash and rude, now people could add drunk and aggressive to his list of flaws. It would be a long road back for Lyons, he was not in the first eleven at Mel Park and unless he dramatically improved his attitude and behaviour he may find himself moved on, surely to a lesser club.

As Jake Cheetham shuffled, head down, through the car park, a tall figure approached, “Jake, come with me. I think you might need my advice.” The current captain and star player of Melchester Rovers, followed the most legendary player in the clubs history, “Sure Roy. I’m hoping you’ve been through this, or something similar, but I doubt it!” Roy Race opened the door to his classic 1978 yellow Lotus and ushered Jake inside, “You’re right I’ve never done anything like that myself. But you’d be wrong if you think I never crossed my boss. I often had run- ins with those above me; Sam Barlow, Charlie Sutton and Ralph Gordon to name three. And of course plenty of players upset me when I was in charge. It’s about regaining that trust you had before the incident. I know Vernon trusted you completely, but he feels let down now. In time he will get that back, it could be tomorrow or it could be in ten years. Just play it cool and concentrate on your football.” Cheetham listened intently, Roy had such an easy way of offering advice, he thought.

“I suggest you stay home or go fishing, rather than clubbing for a few weeks at least. Maybe at the end of the season you can have a few beers out, but people will be out there trying to wind you up now. Fans of other clubs certainly, but even some Rovers fans will have a go, if

we’ve lost they will take it out on you. Tell Drew and Richie too, you are still the captain you can give them advice.”

Roy started the engine, “Would you like a lift anywhere? I’m going into town to meet my youngest for lunch, but I can drop you off anywhere if you want?” Jake declined saying he’d walk home along the river, it would be a good time to think.

* * *

It was still bitterly cold in the Maryland city of Baltimore, Rocky Race, now head coach of the Baltimore Bullets MLS franchise stood proudly observing his squad. Top-class international players from Europe in the twilight of their careers complemented a selection of young, hungry and super-fit graduates of the American college leagues. But the bulk of his quality players, those he would rely heavily upon, were those from neighbouring Hispanic countries, they did not require a work permit and Rocky’s predecessor had packed his squad with internationals from Guatemala, Puerto Rico and Honduras. The captain was Carlos Figueroa, who was also the captain and record appearance holder for Honduras. He was a deep lying central midfielder, who set the Bullet’s tempo with his vision and superb passing. At thirty-one years old he still had a good six years left at MLS level, Rocky had to keep him happy and in this his third week in the job, it was evident that that may be a problem.

Rocky had built a solid reputation as a coach at Baltimore College, leading his team to the final stages of the play-offs for three consecutive years, something no-one had ever achieved before. The college system really did highlight superb coaching, as the head coach would have to work with a rotating squad of players on a yearly basis. His interview had gone really well, and the coaching session he led, one borrowed from Derek Mostin, was first-class. Now Rocky hoped he could transfer his skills to the professional game. With his name, “Race”, and a championship ring he would receive top offers from the Premier League, he was sure of that.

The MLS regular season began on the Saturday, Baltimore Bullets at home to Springfield Sharks. The Bullets had finished outside the play-offs for the past seven years, while the Sharks had reached the semi-finals in 2013 and 2011. They were a strong side managed by former Selbridge midfielder Eddy Grant. They played like a Premier League side, lots of long passes, tough tackling and a focus on the physical side of the game. Rocky wanted his Bullets to play the Melchester Rovers way. It was all he knew, he had watched avidly as a child as his father led Rovers to trophy after trophy, before leading the line himself during one of Rovers’ less successful periods. He believed, like his father, like Vernon Eliot, that the Rovers system was the only way to play, to win with style.

Rocky had great confidence in his coaching ability and as a highly respected former international footballer he had never had any problems having his ideas accepted by either senior players or upstart youngsters. This time was different though, Carlos Figueroa really did not like the new tactics, he was so used to playing deep and in last week’ friendly match, he had completely refused to step up into the more advanced role assigned to him. It dragged the other two central midfielders out of position to the point where they were overrun and unable to keep possession or break down attacks. Rocky’s dilemma now was whether he should drop the captain and star player or adapt the system, but could he allow a player to dictate tactics in his first professional job?

* * *

Preparation for the Redstoke match was well underway. Vernon Eliot had decided on his starting eleven early in the week in; it was not a difficult selection with the suspensions of Cheetham, Powell and Lyons forcing his hand. There were no injury worries so it would be the same team that had beaten Oldfield with the addition of Nick Batty for Powell and Joshua Jordan for the captain. Steve Daley would take the armband leaving: Daniels; Piedra, Daley, Jones, Lamidel; Batty, Tonks, Jordan; N’Diaye, McKaffree, Jacobs.

Redstoke were fighting for their Premier League lives having been promoted via the Championship play-offs in 2012/13. Their form was patchy, it seemed like they could get a surprise result, like the nil-nil draw away at Melboro’, then follow up with a shocker, a four-nil home defeat to Deans Park. But they were playing a high-tempo, direct game, the kind of tactics that Rovers had struggled against this season. Redstoke’s record signing, Dutch striker, Rob Van Vossen had hit some form, scoring in five in the last six games and Scottish right-winger Robbie Fielden was providing the chances. Redstoke’s approach was clear and simple; get the ball to Fielden and cross early to the big £12million Dutchman.

Gerry Holloway and Derek Mostin jointly led training on Thursday morning. Rovers’ young striker, Kelvin Dickson was playing the part of Van Vossen, with Harry Jacobs acting as Fielden. The star-Scottish winger was left-footed, like Jacobs, but was switched to the right-wing at Burndean, by now England manager Ritchie Gunn. He was effective at cutting inside the left-back and sending accurate inswinging crosses over the heads of the centre-backs, angling in towards the goalkeeper’s far post. It only needed the merest of touches from the striker or a back-peddling defender to see the ball sneak in.

Jacobs was proving a good imitator and Dickson was really troubling Daley and Jones. But the defenders were adapting quickly to the different angle. It was getting predictable and the big defenders were soon dealing with the crosses easily. “Well played Jonesy! Remember the key is to head the ball to the same angle you would if it were an outswinger. Head it towards the corner flag or touchline!” shouted Mostin. Holloway offered some advice of his own, “Mozzie’s right, you won’t get any power trying to head it back upfield, the angle of your body will be wrong. Weak headers will fall to their advancing midfielders, we don’t want them getting free shots from the edge of the box!”

The manager was watching keenly, Vernon was not a fan of left-footers on the right, he saw it as a waste of the rare left-foot, but he knew it could work. Perhaps Jacobs and N’Diaye could swap wings sometimes in games. Roy Race had used the tactic successfully as manager of Melchester Rovers and it was a widely used method on the continent. Melboro’, the defending champions also used their Spanish left-footer, Dani Garcia, on the right of a forward three. It certainly worked for him, he was one of the players of the season in the 2012/13 Premier League season and one of the first names on the Spanish national team sheet.

The training session had gone so well that Vernon left feeling confident of victory, even without his captain, star creative midfielder and top scorer. Redstoke were unpredictable but with the quality in the Rovers side, they should dictate play and win comfortably.

Storky Knight

NEXT – Can Rovers defeat Redstoke with a weakened side?