79 Young Prospect

Now it was one thing for Omari to know that Teesside had to win the match against Norfolk, and it was another thing for Teesside to actually win the match.

Sixty minutes into the match and it was still goalless. It was almost as if there was some charm or voodoo in the boots of the Teesside players, every shot they took miraculously wounded up in the gloves of the goalkeeper.

In other words, asides from scoring goals, Teesside were doing every other thing right. They were good in possession, they weren't taking their chances. As a result, they weren't able to win the match.

"Goddamnit!"

Omari cursed, Teesside had wasted yet another chance.

Michael punched the air in frustration. The way at which they were playing, he would have to give them back to back finishing drills. But if they got to do finishing drills then they wouldn't make any meaningful preparations towards the next match.

He looked at his bench, hoping to make one or two changes, then he sighed. Majority of his players were under twenty three players, they didn't have much experience, but the way his players were performing he would need to make one or two changes.

"Goddamnit!" Michael muttered. Being a coach was very stressful. He took one more look at the bench and sighed. "Arkenberg start warming up!" He said after one more moment of thought. 

Even though he was worried about the fact that most of the players on the bench didn't have any first team experience, he heard from Jurg that David used to play first team football before he was scouted. Even though the intensity was nothing compared to what he was going to face as he comes out, but it was still something.

'And it looks like Teesside have yet another gem from their academy. David Arkenberg starts to warm up. It seems like Michael Carrack has decided to put his fate on the shoulder of the sixteen year old'

'It's not as if he has another choice. The sixteen year old is the player with the most experience on the bench filled with so many young talents. There's also Omari Hutchingson who made his debut a few days earlier. I'm sure the travelling fans from Middlesbrough would want to see '

Even with David's introduction into the match, it was still the same old story. Even though the youngster managed to add a bit more control into the midfield, he didn't manage to affect the poor finishing from the forwards.

The game was nearing the eightieth minute and Norfolk were beginning to pressure Teesside. It seemed that the grasp that Teesside had on the game was beginning to wear off.

The away fans let the forwards know exactly how they felt. They kept singing chants that were either directly insulting them or asking the manager to take them off. It was agonizing and angering for them to watch the forwards miss so many chances created by the hardworking players.

'I think that Michael Carrack would want to make a change in the attacking departments. In fact, I think it will be in his best interest to sub all of the forwards off. They've been really terrible from the start of the match. They've been sloppy in possession, they've been uninvolved defensively, and they have wasted every chance that they have been fed. Really poor football from them'

'I agree. Since the beginning of the match, the only thing that the forwards have been able to do quite efficiently is throw away chances. Michael Carrack can't just let them off. Sub them off for under nine players if you have to'

"Shit!" Michael muttered under his breath. The commentators were right. He had to take some of the forwards off. They've been playing rubbish football.

He took a look at the bench and sighed. "Omari start warming up!"

Omari was elated when he heard what Michael said. To Michael, it might bee giving a talent some minutes to give him a bit more experience playing first team football or to satisfy the angered away fans but it meant the world to Omari. He had another chance to dazzle the world with his talent.

'It looks like the manager has finally cracked under pressure, Omari Hutchingson has began warming up'

The moment Omari started warming up, majority of the travelling fans started cheering. They were excited to see Omari play, especially after his man of the match performance against Oxford City earlier in the week.

'And it seems like Omari Hutchingson is about to fulfil his calling with the heavens. His football boots lightly trudge the grass, his football boots which might be the pen with which he writes his legacy on the grass. Sixteen year old Omari Hutchingson makes his debut in the second tier of English football'

'I think the Teesside fans are also excited to see him play. They haven't been quiet since they saw him warm up about a minute earlier'

'They have reason to, absolutely fantastic talent'

Omari couldn't help smiling lightly when he heard what the commentator said. He was just some youngster making his debut in the second tier of English football, no need to get all Peter Drury on him.

While he ran to take his position on the left flank, several thoughts crowded his head. All of them were centered on one thing.

He had to play well today.