(Third person pov)
After two long hours of discussion about passing channels, sequences, and positional tactics, coach John peacock and Adam stan turned off the projector.
"About the captaincy, Mark Noble, you will be our captain. Make sure you give your best, because that's the least we expect from you" said John.
Everyone clapping hearing him, Mark the future Mr. Westham gave a shy smile as Matt patted his back.
"About the set pieces, there's no question. Matt Delevigne, you will take all of them. Freekicks, penalties, corners. And we'll discuss the tactics regarding them tomorrow."
Same. After a series of hair ruffles and back claps coach continued.
"It's 4pm, get you evening snack in, we'll be playing a starting 11 vs reserve 11 matches. Get on the field 5:30 sharp." Saying that he ushered everyone out of the room.
"Mate, I'm toasted. Gaffa sure know how to grill. He didn't even let us go to wee" said Levi streching his hands.
"Noble boy became captain, you became hogger, Knowing us done good to these lads" said Richard from the side.
Matt noded but looked thoughtful.
'They sure appear as hooligans, but everyone he talked to got selected... He might become one legendary scouter one day' thought Matt.
"Heh, Princy, we'll be partner from now on" he said looking at Fraizer.
"Doesn't that make you a prince?" Asked Richard from the side.
"Hey! I don't wanna be a bloke's Prince"cried Levi
"You said it! Prince of Leicester and Princess of Manchester, what a love story that would be" Matt said out loud.
Richard almost died of laughing, noble gave him water. He didn't wanted to loose a teammate so soon.
Both Fraizer and Levi looked at eachother and nodded,
"Let's forget about this"
"I'll be on the bottom"
Nobody knows what happened, but Matt, Richard and Noble looked red, veins popping out of their forehead, eyes red.
"I'll be on the bottom!" Roared Richard from time to time.
The group was sitting around a table having sandwich and apple juice.
Apparently the food menu was designed by nutritionist and it came from a fancy hotel nearby.
"We're free for an hour.. let's talk. Tell me who's your favourite player. I'll start, the phenomenon R9" said Levi.
"The best striker on the planet, a goal scoring machine. Man's got finishing to the bone, walk past the best defenders with a goofy ass grin" exclaimed Richard with a thumbs-up.
"Hmmn, I like him too, but he doesn't play prem. Alan Shearer, a force of nature." Said Mark.
"I kind of agree, he's been never tested in the toughest league in the world, we're too physical. He might not score even 20 goals here" said Richard.
"He'll score 20, he's Ronaldo Nazario." said Mark.
"Henry for me" said Matt.
"Ha! I knew it, you north London bum. Go see the world there are dozens better than him" exclaimed Levi.
"You know you're talking bout last seasons golden boot, second time winner.. the only player to give 20+ assist and to score 20+ goals" asked Matt stating facts.
"He's a pace merchant! He outruns defenders, got no flair" Richard butt in, which made Levi point finger to him.
"Oh and who's your favourite player, great dribbler Richard" asked Matt sarcastically.
"Ronaldinho, he smiles knowing he's boutta destroy the other team. Joga bonito lives in him. Shite, I forgot. Maldini! Paolo Maldini, the artist, the greatest to ever defend" said Richard.
"He's got character, I give you that, nobody can match Maldini or Ronaldinho for a fact" said Mark in agreement.
"Titi's got Aura, they have different play styles. Maldini plays different position" said Matt, he can't diss Ronaldinho or Maldini now can he.
"Heh, Henry's got none. Wait until his legs give out" said the quiet Fraizer making the group pause and look at him.
"What? I'm United, I'll bleed for Ryan Giggs" said Fraizer.
It took everybody a second to realise what he had said.
The rivalry between United vs Arsenal knows no bounds. Vieira vs Keen had made premier league heat up every match up.
"You're worse than that showman, Talk about having no taste! You got Cantona, bloody Eric Cantona" Said Levi.
"Henry's got more Aura than giggs, surely" exclaimed Matt, questioning if he should be friends with these lot or not.
"Yes yes he has, sit down Matt" said Nobel trying to calm the boy down.
"What! Giggsy a legend! Henry's okay but nothing compared to giggs and Scholes" said Fraizer not backing down.
Levi looked horrified, Richard mouth hung open.
"Shits going down mate, I always thought north londeners were delusional.. but this. I apologise mate" said Levi with his hand on his heart.
"I apologise too, guess being from Manchester is a disability" said Richard.
Matt accepted their apology, he agreed Thiery lacked a little flair when compared to Ronaldinho, but he was a legend of his team, and his favourite player.
"Hey hey, wasn't the question favourite player, not the best. It's their choice" said the noble Mark.
"Oh my bad, I forgot" replied Levi, sipping water.
"Oi, you asked the question" said Fraizer pointing finger at him.
"C'mon Princy, take that stick out your arse" said Richard.
"Forget it, I'm loosing my sanity talking to you lot." Said Fraizer, sighing in defeat. He pulled his dark hair with frustration.
Matt looked at Levi and Richard with a little respect, they have just shut up a united fan, and he knew from both of his lives how hard it is for them to shut their mouths.
Mark, the captain was regretting his decision. How can he take care of these guys!
'Im going to loose my hair early.. it's because of them' he thought rubbing his temple.
"All of us are in playing 11, you make them runs, else I'll score all of them" said Levi pointing at Fraizer.
Fraizer smirked, "I'm gonna smoke your ass on the field"
"Look at that, Princy got spine, let's see you on the field" said Levi intentionally breaking his voice which made Matt sigh and others laugh.
"One more time.. and I might not see you at all Levi" said Matt nonchalantly, looking at his sandwich.
"Learn to take a joke mate, it's all laugh" said Levi with an laugh.
"Right" said Matt, not looking at him.
"Right?" said Levi, his smile faded a little, he looked at Fraizer who had a huge smile plastered on his face.
"Right"
"Wahhh, Richard. Let's go, assassin's a bully, let's go and tell coach. He has no bloody humour. He's sabotaging the team" Said Levi, his face was a little red, and he was genuinely scared
"But he's joking" said Richard pointing at Matt who finally laughed.
"You bastard" said Levi
"Sabotaging, didn't know you knew that word mate" said Matt laughing.
"Learn to take a bloody joke brev", said Richard who had enjoyed Levi's scared face.
The training after the snack was easy for the starters. Matt scored few goals, but he made sure to gauge the abilities of Levi and Fraizer, he didn't wanted for them to miss an important chance in a real game.
Levi was fast and unrefined, he could shoot from anywhere in the box, but if there was more than two defenders, he get's nervous and shoot wide.
Fraizer had the mentality, he was calm and shot carefully, he didn't wasted as many opportunities, plus he was left-footed, which made him assisting fun.
After training they were done for the day, they were shown their dormetories, each room had two players.
The room was not big, there was Matt's bags placed on the right bed while the other one was of main team's goalkeeper who didn't talked to him.
'This is the first time im not sleeping in my bed, I miss home' thought Matt as he felt something stir in his heart.
He closed his eyes, and drifted to sleep.
-----
"Elite Passing, even better finishing, above 95% Accuracy with both foot. Is this a joke John?" Asked Trevor Brooking, Director of Football Development, FA.
He had picked John peacock to coach U-17 team, and what a disaster it has been, back to back failed qualification for the FIFA U-17 world cup.
"Trevor, that 95%, it's not right" said John peacock, he was sitting in his office, the window was open, a cold breeze hit his face.
"So why it's there, did Adam made a mistake. What's his accuracy then?" Asked Trevor.
"I've yet to see him misplace a pass Trevor, we are playing Ireland in 2 days, you must meet him before the game. You want to win something with the first team, right? He is the key, to Finally, bring it home." Said John, there was melancholy in his eyes.
He had seen the same thing, Adam had tried to convince him the same way.
"Great news then John, A friendly with Ireland? I have to see my schedule, there also problems withe the league I have to deal with" said Trevor, he couldn't be bothered, he didn't had the time to attend a friendly, U-17, with Ireland.
"I still think you should be here, even for just 5 minutes" said John peacock.
"Why?", he was genuinely confused.
"His grandmother's Irish, that's why" said John making Trevor pause.
"Fuck", escaped from Trevor's mouth.
'she had to be from there didn't she. Shite' he thought smacking his palm on the table.
"You know what.. bench him. Don't make him play that game" said Trevor, the last thing he wanted was giving away a generational talent to Ireland.
"He's 12, kids hold grudges. What reason would I give to him?" Asked John.
"Then discipline him, no player is bigger than the system, make him understand that, without antagonizing him of course." Said Trevor.
"Sure Boss, I won't play the best player I have" said John.
"In a friendly" said Trevor with ice.
"That'll be the last game before facing Ukraine. That's all, I got to wake up early, night." Said John not bothering to argue with the stubborn man.
"Yes" said Trevor as he put the phone down with a clang.
His hand was on his jaw, he sat there for a while, just blinking and staring into nothingness.
After some time, he again picked up his phone and dialed a number.
"Do I have any meetings, day after tomorrow"
"Let me check sir" said a feminine voice on the other side of the phone.
"You have meeting with lawyers, about new policies of UEFA and FIFA."
"Can we delay" he asked.
"I can inform the law firm"
"Good, clear the schedule, im going out that day" he said sighing.
"With your wife" she said with ice in her tone.
"You jealous, I think my secratary needs spanking" he said as lust creep in his voice.
"Where are you going Trev" she asked.
"To meet a player, U-17 friendly with Ireland, don't worry about it, just clear the schedule. I'll see you on Monday, darling"
There was a sigh of relief on the other side,
"Sure thing Boss" she said hanging up the call with smile.
(Pov end)