Chapter 16: Conversation with Ross.
A black SUV stopped outside the Peasant Club Stadium. A handsome young boy, almost 6ft tall, stepped out from the passenger seat wearing the Peasant kit.
Immediately, the dark brown eyes of the boy wandered around. He seemed a little confused, as if he had lost the path to his destination. The boy scratched the back of his head, messing up his neat and short black hair.
A few seconds later, he focused in one direction as if picking it. He opened the back door of the SUV, took out his bag and started jogging in the said direction.
Dozens of minutes later, the lean boy had made a round trip across the stadium. Sweat dripped down his slightly tanned face. The boy came to the SUV that had stayed. He knocked the driver's window, said something to the driver and ran back the way he came.
Not long later, the boy ran up to a path leading to the club's training grounds. He nodded to the security guards at the gates and jogged in. Soon, he went past the training grounds and got lost in the club's buildings.
Whilst the boy tried to find his way, he ran into the person he was looking for. A middle-aged man with blonde hair and blue eyes, as in Ross Taylor, the head coach of the Peasants.
"Hello there, Harry. What are you doing out here?"
"Ahh, Excuse me, coach. I can be bad with directions some times. I was trying to find your office and got lost." Harry spoke quickly with a relieved smile on his face. His ears turned a little red, hinting at his embarrassment.
Ross looked down at the watch on his wrist and spoke, "It's a little late for our meeting, but we still have some time before the training session begins. It's excellent that we have met before that, I have been hoping to get to know you a bit."
"I apologise again, sir. Ummm, I heard you were the one who scouted me. I cannot be anymore grateful than I already am. You've changed my life by giving me this great opportunity." Harry scratched the back of his ear, indicating his nervousness, before he responded.
"Boy, I only saw 45 minutes of you in action to pick you. It's your talent talking. You really impressed me. It's funny but actually, one of my good friends convinced me for hours to make me go watch you play. You should probably thank him."
"Wow, you really made that decision fast. I guess I am really lucky to join on such a lucrative contract. I would love to thank this person for recommending me." Harry was honestly surprised. He didn't have a clue who vouched for him.
"You'll get your chance. Don't worry. Anyway, I wasn't expecting competition for you, you know... Red Bulls are a great team who have nurtured many extraordinary talents. It must have been hard turning them down. Nevertheless, if they hadn't approached you, perhaps you might not have been valued so dearly by the club." Ross had a kind smile on his face as he spoke, but his tone of voice betrayed his joy that Harry picked the Peasants. An observant person might have noticed that Ross had high hopes for Harry, expecting big things from him.
Harry was not willing to talk about the what ifs or the club's poor handling of him in his time here. He stopped the topic before it could start. "Let's not dive into this pit sir. I'm extremely grateful you liked me as a player."
"It's your own ability that's incredible, my friend. You need not be so humble." Ross took his time to organise his thoughts before he asked Harry more about himself as subtly as possible. "So, umm.. Here's the thing... We as a club have sadly very little data on you. I would like to know your playing style and position preferences for reference. I pick the playing XI for the matches and I take into account what my players want for themselves."
"Thanks a lot, sir. Basically, my game is based on passing and movement off the ball. I have a good sense of when & where to attack. Therefore, with my vision and accuracy of passes, I'm good at making chances for the team. Also, I can sense the right positions to score instinctively. It's as if I can smell the opportunities.
I love playing on the left wing. However, currently you will get the best out of me from the traditional no. 10 position." Harry was excited to talk about himself as he wanted Ross to know his good points. Hence, he enthusiastically talked about his game.
"I thought that as well. Utilizing you centrally is the best option, but the team captain plays in that position. I'm sure you will understand that you can only be a striker or play as a winger."
"Yeah, it's not a problem for me. I'm a big fan of the captain. A World Cup winner and the scorer of the winning goal in the final, who wouldn't like him?" Thinking about playing alongside the team captain Mario Gotze, Harry's voice got a little louder in excitement.
"Easy there, you will get to meet him in a few minutes."
"That actually makes me nervous."
"Hahaha" Ross found it funny that the kid seemed more nervous about meeting the team captain than himself.
Harry quickly spoke to hide himself from any further embarrassment. "Anyway, I don't think my strength lies in playing as a striker. I'm not strong enough for hold-up plays. Additionally, heading isn't a part of my game that I'm proud of. Besides, I feel congested, uninvolved and out of place at the striker position. Therefore, I really believe that playing as a striker isn't a good option for me at this point of my career."
"I can see that you are uncomfortable with that area. So, I will play you on the wings. I have got to tell you that the team really needs goals. I hope you can make a difference on the pitch."
"Thanks, coach Ross. I will give it my all on the pitch. Recently, I have focused on improving my wing play.
I am not particularly a natural or smooth dribbler when it comes to running at people with the ball and getting an edge over them. Hence, I am working on my speed and dribbling skills. Also, I learnt some tricks to beat my man in these types of one-on-one situations.
My stamina is my third best asset, so I have no problem tracking back. However, my slide tackling isn't exactly professional level. Therefore, I have been working on it as well.
I have also been practicing shooting from long range. I don't feel comfortable jostling for the ball during set pieces. As a result, I often end up standing outside the box. I am working on my first-timed shots, volleys and hitting the target from a distance."
"Boy, that's a lot of work. However, you are not even 18, so you will improve as you play in matches. Although, as you will be playing in most matches, you will have less time for your individual training. You will have to go through many collective drills.
In your individual training time, you can focus on these things you have planned. I will get the designated coaches to help you out."
"Thanks again, coach."
"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. Harry, the professional games are much more physical than the amateur level. The top division is even harder. So, I would not recommend you perform fancy tricks and take-ons without some strengthening of your legs.
Let me clarify to you that, in normal circumstances, I would not have allowed you to play at this level. That's even if you have the talent to be the player of the year... As a professional coach, I shouldn't risk you getting injured out there with your current physique.
Hence, once this season ends, you will need to buff up your muscles and strengthen your body. You will also practise your heading, tussling for the ball and using your strength correctly.
Remember, being a professional player, you have to get out of your comfort zone and participate in the physical aspects of the game. Otherwise, you will never become an excellent player without being able to excel in this area of the game. Instead, you'll be bullied on the pitch and waste your talent.
I can't stress this enough, but I do not want to risk your career as a player for the team or my own job. What I am looking for is a positive change in the dressing room. I need to put pressure on the senior players that a young talent is on the verge of taking their jobs. I also want them to realise that there might be more players to come and take their places.
The club shouldn't have guaranteed so many minutes to you this early in your career. Nevertheless, risks are measured against the benefits. This is a Club, but at the same time it is also a business. Hence, I will have to play you in case you are consistently performing at a certain level.
Consequently, I have made a decision that might be hard on you. You can expect the majority of your appearances this season to be from the bench in the 2nd half. However, I will give you a full-match debut to let you understand the toughness of the professional level."
Harry listened carefully to Ross. He hadn't himself thought about the physical differences in the professional scene and the youth or amateur levels. Maybe because of the system.
He admired Ross for making things clear to him in the first meeting. On the other hand, he got bummed that he couldn't play as much as he thought. In addition, he felt nervous about being able to perform at this level.
Humans have complex feelings and thoughts. Besides, getting nervous and feeling bummed, Harry also felt that Ross looked down at him a little. It was contradictory to his admiration for Ross.
Harry wanted to prove his worth and become an integral part of the team. He wanted to become the last person that Ross wanted to leave on the bench. He wanted to be the automatic first choice in Ross's starting XI.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Zorr0
Zorr0 I fell down the stairs and injured my back, I might not be able to write for a while.
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