Beckham's New Role

Aldrich wallowed in a bit of self-pity, thinking he was unlucky to have missed an era when England boasted more world-class strikers.

But then he gave it a second thought and laughed it off.

England's frontline, let's be honest, had always been like this—nothing to write home about.

To finalize the national team's forwards, Aldrich only made calls to Michael Owen, the "Boy Wonder," and Emile Heskey, the "Black Panther." Owen was a definite choice, while Heskey was a reluctant inclusion—he wasn't exactly a prolific scorer.

As for others like Manchester United's Cole, Sunderland's Phillips, and the once-golden Fowler, Aldrich decided to observe for now and refrained from contacting them.

Once these tasks were out of the way, Aldrich finally had a moment to catch his breath. Stretching and glancing at the time, he realized it was already 6:30 PM.

When he drove out of the FA headquarters, reporters were still swarming outside, eager for an interview. However, Aldrich drove off without acknowledging them.

At home, Yvonne had fallen asleep on the couch, clutching a pillow. On the dining table, a plate of still-warm food awaited him. Knowing he had work later in the evening, Aldrich quietly ate his dinner.

"Back without saying a word, huh? England National Team Manager, no less."

Yvonne's voice startled him mid-bite. She was leaning against the wall, smiling at him.

"I saw you asleep and didn't want to wake you. I still have to go out later."

"Tell me about your day."

Yvonne sat across from him, resting her chin on her hands, her bright eyes filled with curiosity and joy.

Aldrich recounted his afternoon, adding some exaggerated reflections for effect.

"I have no idea why everyone's so obsessed. Maybe I'll have to resign next month."

"Humph. Hypocrite. You're enjoying it, aren't you? So, what's on for tonight?"

"I need to finalize the national team's coaching staff. Sigh, it'll probably involve money talks—not a topic I enjoy discussing with friends. Makes me feel... crass."

"Well, it's only your first day, and you're already this busy. Can your body handle it?"

Aldrich smiled at her concern. "I think it's fine. Compared to previous years, it feels about the same."

Yvonne considered this and understood.

Previously, Aldrich had poured his energy into club management. Now, with the club running smoothly, his workload was lighter. Adding the national team responsibilities balanced things out.

"If it's business, try not to drink. Drive safely."

Aldrich wiped his mouth, gave Yvonne a quick kiss, and left for the club office.

The coaching staff was gathering for their usual "Beer Night." At the venue, Millwall's coaches were busy playing pool, watching TV, or chatting over drinks.

When Aldrich arrived, Jansen put down his glass and clapped enthusiastically. "Look who it is! The England National Team Manager himself. Welcome!"

Aldrich waved dismissively, sat down on the circular couch, and addressed the group.

"Alright, listen up. I called you here for a reason. Let's talk."

Jürgen Klinsmann, Jansen, Bob, Craig, and André Villas-Boas gathered around, their expressions growing serious.

"As you know, I'm now England's head coach. But I can't do this alone. I need your help. So, I'm officially inviting you to join the national team coaching staff. Here's the deal I negotiated with the FA. The pay isn't great, but Millwall won't be letting you go, so this will be part-time work. This is the best salary I could secure."

Aldrich placed a contract on the table.

Bob picked it up and scanned the terms. The pay was indeed underwhelming, far from what a national team coach might expect. But as Aldrich explained, the part-time nature justified the reduced compensation.

For the coaches, money wasn't the main concern. Klinsmann and Jansen, for example, had already attracted interest from clubs offering head coaching roles with significant pay raises.

Still, loyalty to Millwall and their rapport with Aldrich made them hesitate. Now, Aldrich was offering them a fresh opportunity—a new platform.

Coaching a national team under Aldrich's leadership meant that any success would enhance their résumés significantly.

Villas-Boas glanced around, eager to agree immediately. But seeing his colleagues remain silent, he refrained from being the first to "jump ship." After all, from a hierarchical perspective, they were employees, and unity was key.

Klinsmann chuckled, leaning forward as he asked, "Do you really have the confidence to lead England's national team for the long term?"

Looking at the sorry state of English football, it felt like even the gods couldn't rescue them.

But Aldrich, standing among his trusted companions, answered candidly, "Confidence? Of course. But whether I can do it well… that's an entirely different question."

"England's squad strength isn't even top five in Europe right now. Even if you qualify for the World Cup, the country's overblown expectations could mean that anything short of the quarterfinals would end poorly."

Aldrich nodded. "Let's put it this way: if England were strong, I wouldn't have gotten this job. As for the World Cup, I'm not thinking that far ahead. Let's get through the qualifiers first."

With a grin, Klinsmann held out his hand, palm up. Aldrich, grinning from ear to ear, brought his hand down with a sharp slap.

"What's that supposed to mean?" someone quipped.

"It means we're on the same page!"

"Let's do this!"

The other coaches joined in, chuckling as they gave Aldrich high-fives of their own.

Aldrich assembled Millwall's coaching team for the national squad. Trusting his own people minimized adaptation issues, as they had years of experience working in England and understood English players thoroughly.

The biggest role shift fell on Villas-Boas. Tasked with scouting opponents and analyzing their squads, he transitioned from a club-focused role to one involving comprehensive international insights.

The medical staff presented another challenge. England's national team already had its own medical department. Aldrich proposed integrating Millwall's medical team with theirs, a suggestion initially rejected by the FA. Concerns about the privacy of players' health information arose, but since Aldrich was now the national coach, withholding such details seemed impractical. Ultimately, the FA agreed, fostering collaboration.

Discussing Strategy

The conversation soon turned to the England squad.

"Do you have a rough idea of the lineup?" Jansen asked bluntly.

Aldrich nodded. "I do, but there's one player I'm unsure about. If I can figure out how to utilize him effectively, I can finalize the core of the new team."

"Who?"

"McManaman."

Jansen frowned. "He had a terrible Euro campaign."

McManaman's move to Real Madrid saw him shine as a regular starter, his performances strong enough to catch the attention of the national team selectors. But Keegan, in the summer, played him in just one game. The result? It didn't work out, and McManaman was shown the door, his opportunity over as quickly as it began.

"Let's leave him aside for now. Do you have thoughts on the formation and tactics? Who's the focal point of the team?" Klinsmann interjected, steering the discussion deeper into strategy.

The room nodded in agreement; tactics dictate how players are utilized.

Aldrich wore a pensive expression. Before he could respond, Jansen remarked, "If we stick to a 4-4-2, there's no way this team will achieve a transformation anytime soon."

Breaking Away from Tradition

England's 4-4-2 formation, once a hallmark of tactical balance, had long been revered. Its adaptability allowed various tweaks, yet its success remained elusive after the 1966 World Cup victory.

Aldrich recognized the pitfalls. "If I stick to a 4-4-2, there's no way I'll outperform past managers who were far more experienced with it. I'd lack confidence in achieving anything significant with this team."

He dismissed the formation outright. "Theoretically, it's balanced, but player individuality disrupts that balance in practice. We lack top-tier defensive midfielders to secure the backline and creative dribblers for a dynamic attack. Over-reliance on outdated wing crosses and a 'big man-small man' striker duo is simply obsolete."

Villas-Boas suggested, "What about a 4-3-3? Millwall's 4-3-3 has already proven successful."

Everyone shook their heads in unison, rejecting the idea without hesitation.

Millwall's 4-3-3 thrives on dynamic wingers cutting inside, capable of one-on-one breakthroughs. Unfortunately, England lacks such modern wingers. Even players with the required technical abilities often lack the tactical awareness to excel in this role.

Fundamentally, national teams don't train players—clubs do. The national team only makes use of available talent. Aldrich cannot summon a Ronaldinho for England, nor can he transform Gerrard or Lampard into a Pirlo.

"I have a tactical concept for the England team—a 4-3-2-1 formation. What do you think?" Aldrich began. His coaching staff listened attentively, waiting for details.

He elaborated on the setup:

The Defense

The four defenders remain traditional, with central defensive strategies tailored to specific opponents.

The Midfield

Three defensive midfielders:

A central defensive midfielder as the anchor.Two box-to-box midfielders flanking the anchor, capable of contributing defensively and offensively.

The Attack

Two attacking midfielders need to be versatile, capable of receiving the ball, creating opportunities, and breaking into the box to score.

A lone striker will act as both a target man in build-up play and the spearhead during counterattacks.

This "Christmas Tree" formation isn't groundbreaking. Teams like Juventus and Real Madrid have deployed it successfully in the past. However, Aldrich emphasized its utility for bolstering defense. While its offensive potential depends on finding the right players for each position, it offers a solid foundation for experimentation.

Klinsmann raised his hand with a puzzled expression. "Are you seriously considering leaving out Beckham, England's most iconic star? There's no place for him in this system."

Aldrich shot back with a confident smile. "Who says there's no spot? He fits perfectly as a defensive midfielder. If I'm not expecting him to make those sneaky runs into the box as an unexpected scorer, why waste him on the wing? Especially when I don't plan on relying on endless crosses as our primary attacking strategy."

Klinsmann pressed further, "Do you think he'll agree to this?"

Aldrich shrugged, "If he outright refuses, I'll find a suitable replacement. But given his professionalism, I believe he'll adapt."