The Coaching System-Chapter 146: Striker Search, Tactical Planning & Pre-Match Preparation

Jake leaned forward, elbows on his desk, eyes fixed on the system notification glowing on his screen.

DING!

A familiar window appeared.

[System Suggestion: Striker Search]

The screen filled with data, scouting analysis, and two names.

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Chido Obi (Manchester United) – 19 years old. Strong, fast, and clinical in front of goal. A raw but explosive striker with immense potential, yet unproven at senior level.

Liam Delap (Ipswich Town) – 22 years old. A physically dominant forward, intelligent with his movement, and a proven goal scorer at Championship level. But already attracting interest from Premier League clubs.

Jake exhaled sharply, rubbing his chin.

Obi was a high-risk, high-reward project. He hadn't played consistent senior football, but his pace and finishing were lethal at youth level. If he adapted fast, he could become something special.

Delap was the safer choice—experienced, physical, and ready to step in immediately. But convincing him would be a battle. If a Premier League club swooped in, Bradford wouldn't be able to compete financially.

Jake didn't have time to overthink it. He grabbed his phone and dialed Michael Stone.

The sporting director picked up on the second ring. "Boss?"

"Stone, I need full scouting reports on Chido Obi and Liam Delap. Strengths, weaknesses, contract details, transfer feasibility—everything."

Stone's voice was sharp, professional. "Alright. Any preference?"

Jake leaned back in his chair. "I need to see everything first. Obi's an unknown at senior level. Delap has experience, but we'll have competition."

"I'll pull up their match footage, talk to our contacts," Stone said. "Give me a few hours, I'll have preliminary reports ready."

"Good," Jake replied. Then, after a pause, "Get Paul Roberts in on this. I need a tactical breakdown—how they'd fit into our system, what adjustments we'd need to make."

"I'll brief him," Stone confirmed. "Anything else?"

"Yeah," Jake added. "Find out Delap's wage demands. If he's expecting Premier League money, we'll need to move fast before the big clubs come in."

Stone hesitated. "He won't come cheap."

"I know," Jake muttered. "Just get me the numbers."

Stone exhaled. "On your desk first thing."

Jake ended the call.

Then, he opened a new document on his laptop, typing out a few notes.

Obi vs. Delap. Risk vs. Certainty. Long-term investment vs. immediate impact.

Jake tapped his pen against the desk.

He had a decision to make.

But first, there was a match to prepare for.

System Analysis – Inter Miami's Strengths & Weaknesses

Jake sat forward as another system notification flashed on his screen.

[Opponent Breakdown: Inter Miami]

A detailed tactical report loaded in front of him, analyzing every strength, every weakness—every possible vulnerability.

Inter Miami was still a dangerous team, even with an aging core. They had experience, quality, and world-class talent in key areas. But they also had exploitable flaws.

Jake's eyes moved to the two sections in front of him.

Inter Miami's Strengths

Messi's Playmaking. Even at this stage of his career, Lionel Messi remained one of the most dangerous creators in world football. He no longer had the blistering acceleration of his prime, but his vision, ball control, and ability to unlock defenses with a single pass remained untouched. If he was given space, he would dictate the game effortlessly.

Suárez's Finishing. Luis Suárez was still a predator in the box. His movement was world-class, always one step ahead of defenders, and he had lost none of his lethal finishing ability. A single mistake, and he would punish them.

Busquets' Composure. The heartbeat of Miami's midfield. He wasn't a physical presence, but he didn't need to be. His awareness, positioning, and passing range allowed him to control the tempo of games, ensuring Miami dictated possession. If given time, he could pick Bradford apart.

Tactical Familiarity. Inter Miami had played together in a consistent system for nearly two years. The core of the team—Messi, Suárez, Busquets, and Jordi Alba—had a deep understanding of each other's movements. That chemistry would make them hard to break down.

Inter Miami's Weaknesses

Aging Defense. Jordi Alba, Busquets, and Suárez were all past their physical peak. They had the experience, but they no longer had the legs to match a high-intensity team. Bradford's biggest advantage would be their energy and speed. If they played aggressively, Miami's backline could struggle to keep up.

Over-Reliance on Messi. Everything flowed through him. If he was shut down, Miami's attack lost direction. They had talented players, but none who could replicate his creativity.

Lack of Defensive Midfield Presence. Busquets was intelligent, technically gifted, and calm under pressure. But physically? He was vulnerable. He wasn't built for high-intensity pressing. Against younger, more aggressive midfielders, he could be overwhelmed.

Lack of Defensive Cover from Full-Backs. Jordi Alba and Gonzalo Luján were both attack-minded full-backs. While dangerous going forward, they often left space behind them. Bradford could target those wide areas and hit them in transition.

System Prediction – Match Outlook

Jake clicked onto the next tab. The system had run simulations based on Inter Miami's tactics, squad composition, and recent performances.

Projected Match Difficulty: 7/10

Match Outcome Probability:

Bradford Win: 40%

Draw: 30%

Inter Miami Win: 30%

The key battles would decide the match.

Messi vs. Bradford's Midfield. If he found space between the lines, Miami would dominate. But if he was forced deeper, Bradford could limit his influence.

Bardghji vs. Alba. If Bardghji could get the ball one-on-one against Alba, Bradford had a huge advantage. The Swedish winger's pace and directness could expose Miami's defensive frailties.

Vélez vs. Busquets. If Vélez could press Busquets relentlessly, Miami's build-up play would suffer.

Costa and Richter vs. Miami's Center-Backs. Tomas Avilés and Maximiliano Falcón were physical, but not the fastest. If Bradford's strikers could make the right runs, they could break through.

Opponent Predicted Lineup (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Drake Callender

Right Back: Gonzalo Luján

Center Back: Tomás Avilés

Center Back: Maximiliano Falcón

Left Back: Jordi Alba

Right Midfield: Tadeo Allende

Central Midfield: Sergio Busquets

Central Midfield: Federico Redondo

Left Midfield: Lionel Messi (Captain)

Striker: Luis Suárez

Striker: Facundo Farías

Jake leaned back, eyes narrowing.

There were two clear areas to exploit.

Busquets' lack of pace. If they pressed him aggressively, he wouldn't have time to dictate the game.

Jordi Alba's aging legs. Silva or Bardghji had to target his side constantly. If Alba was forced into defensive situations, he wouldn't be able to handle the pressure.

This wouldn't be an easy match.

But if Bradford executed their plan properly, they could win.

Now, it was time to train.

Tactical Planning & Training

Jake stepped onto the training pitch, boots crunching against the grass, as his squad gathered in a semi-circle around him. The sun hung low, casting long shadows across the field. The air was thick with pre-season intensity—a mix of sweat, determination, and anticipation.

This wasn't just another friendly.

This was the first real test of Bradford's new era.

He scanned the faces of his players. Some were stretching, others were rolling their shoulders, loosening up for what was about to come.

Jake set down his clipboard and walked toward the whiteboard near the sideline. A 4-4-2 formation was already drawn out.

"Alright, listen up." His voice cut through the chatter, drawing every set of eyes toward him. "Miami plays through three men—Messi, Busquets, Suárez. Shut them down, and we take control."

Silence. Focused stares.

Jake tapped the board with his marker. "We take this game seriously. Messi isn't a name on a teamsheet—he's a threat. Busquets isn't just a veteran—he's their control tower. Suárez doesn't miss chances." His gaze hardened. "We stop them, we win."

Tactical Plan

He turned to Santiago Vélez and Andrés Ibáñez, two of the hardest-working midfielders on the team.

"Your job? Don't give Busquets a second to breathe. No time. No space. You press him every time he gets the ball."

Vélez smirked, adjusting his wrist tape. "I'll be in his shadow."

Jake nodded. Good.

Next, he pointed to Renan Silva and Roney Bardghji, standing toward the front.

"Alba's still good going forward, but defensively? He doesn't want to be running all game." Jake looked at Bardghji. "That's your job. Every time we have the ball, I want you running at him. Make him uncomfortable. Make him defend."

Bardghji grinned. "I'll make him wish he retired."

Jake's attention shifted to Nathan Barnes, the leader at the back.

"Suárez is smart. He's going to look for pockets of space, drift into gaps, try to force a mistake. Your job is to make sure he doesn't get a free shot all game."

Barnes set his jaw. "Understood."

Jake took a step back, looking at the entire squad.

"We're not sitting back. If we let them play their game, we lose. We press, we counter, we run them into the ground." He paused for effect. "This is a statement game. People are watching. Let's give them something to talk about."

Training Begins

The session started with intensity.

First, midfield press drills. Vélez and Ibáñez were tasked with suffocating ball movement, closing passing lanes, pressing high up the pitch. Any time the ball went to the deep-lying midfielder, they collapsed on him.

Next, defensive shape training. The backline adjusted to Miami's expected movement—Barnes and Fletcher practiced tracking Suárez's off-the-ball runs while the full-backs worked on limiting crosses.

Then came offensive patterns. Bardghji and Silva took turns isolating defenders in one-on-one situations. If Bradford was going to break Miami down, it would be through the wings.

Finally, they ran transition plays. As soon as the team won possession, the ball was launched forward, forcing the strikers to attack in a three-second window before Miami reset.

By the end of training, shirts were drenched in sweat, breaths were heavy, but the team looked sharp.

Jake gathered them once more, looking around.

"We're ready."

This wasn't just a friendly.

This was Bradford's first real test.