48 What Can You Offer?

The crowd remained, even after the exciting one versus one match finished.

It's somewhat usual for there to be people watching the first team practices in the stands, since the team permits people to do so unless there are some special closed door training sessions that only happen before some pivotal match days.

Now, the team was still scattered around the ground, as everyone knows that there is no compulsory physical training today except for their post game video meetings. After all, yesterday was a match day.

Some of the squad was huddled around the star of the earlier show with great fervor.

Blaise, after a performance like that, was being welcomed with a proper introduction by many of the first team's players. They shook hands and exchanged pleasantries and warm welcomes with him. Some even invited him to hang out later.

After which, Blaise joined the cooldown routine of George without any qualms. What surprised the duo and the team, was their manager also joined in on the cooldown session like it's the most natural thing to do…

"Lads, don't fool around so much, our analysis of the game yesterday will start at twelve noon sharp. Don't be late." He gave one final order to the team before he followed the two who'd already sped away.

"Say… will we see the boss playing as a goalkeeper more in our practices?" Damian snuck in a bold question once Bronson was out of earshot, while punching his own hands. "I want him to try and save some of my cannons."

***

"I should've scored that, I have no excuses." George Williams was annoyed about how he missed a goal handed to him on a silver platter.

For the fourth time in this game analysis session, the striker said those exact same words.

He missed a ton of opportunities last time out away to Macclesfield, so he really wasn't looking forward to this video analysis session where he's going to get roasted alive every five minutes or so. He doesn't want to make excuses for all those sitters he missed last night… because there's just too many! The team had twenty shots on target, and he attempted more than half of those!

This particular video analysis was currently focused on their lead man. Since it's a win, Bronson focused on their bright spot first, which was their fantastic attacking intensity and rhythm. It's just that… focusing on the attack inadvertently nudges the topic back to their wasteful man up front.

"You missed twelve shots on target, and scored one." Steve Bronson paused the replay in the middle of another one of Williams' missed shots. "What do you think about George's profligacy in front of goal, rookie?"

Blaise cursed the manager in his mind for this random question that could put him on a tight spot, but he had to answer. "It's unacceptable."

"Yeah, unacceptable is the right word for it." Potts backed the youngster's words.

"You can also say we're lucky we won despite all those misses!" Hastings piled even more misery to Williams.

The door to the video room suddenly opened to the surprise of no one but Blaise. A youngster with freckles on his cheeks and headphones resting on his neck entered without much noise.

Blaise was bewildered at how late this guy came in! And why is it just me reacting to this?

The youngster that came in jumped to the empty seat next to Blaise Atkinson and casually opened up a conversation like nothing happened. "Yo mate, you got promoted so fast! It's not even the midseason yet!"

"Yeah…" Blaise had a wry smile on his face about how this guy was so shameless coming in late on such an important session. "...had some nice performances here and there, showed my potential…"

"Oy Alain, you fuck. How many times do I have to tell you to not be late on video meetings?" Potts pulled the headphones that Alain was about to put over his ears. "This is pivotal! You hear me?"

Alain shrugged with his shoulders, and smiled at Potts like he's innocent.

"I promise I'll improve, boss. Don't drop me just yet, please." The trio's eyes returned to the front of the room, where George was already pleading his case not to be dropped. "I… I'll be better, sir."

"What can you offer?"

"A goal in two shots."

The room went silent. Everyone's looking at Williams like he's joking, except for the two youngest, Blaise and Alain— who both liked the determination in that statement.

"I'll expect a goal in two shots next game. Everyone, see you in training tomorrow, 8 in the morning sharp. Dismissed." The manager closed the video down and shooed everyone away. "Atkinson, Prosser, you two stay."

"We'll wait for you on the pitch, kids." Potts blocked Prosser, who's trying to slip away while holding his game console without any remorse. "Oy, don't screw around, you're being called by the gaffer."

"I just tried if it will work… hehe…"

As all the other first teamers left the room, manager Steve Bronson finished up closing all the video equipment. He then called the two youngest members of the team, which are both midfielders too, Alain Prosser and Blaise Atkinson to sit down.

He reprimanded Prosser for coming in late for the fifth straight post match video analysis meeting in a row. He doesn't want to dwell on the issue much, since the teenager is only a loanee and would most likely move on to do greater things in the world of football, however since that's the case, he doesn't want the youngster to develop bad habits that would be detrimental to his future prospects during his time here.

"If you continue arriving late to both meetings and training sessions, I'll drop you from the starting line up, even if you are doing a good job." The threat in there was clear for Prosser, whose mind snapped back to attention after what Bronson said. "We now have a suitable replacement for you that is not on loan… you see."

The gaffer then shifted his attention to the newly promoted Blaise.

"Atkinson, you'll be a backup player for now, but expect to be on the bench and expect some game time within the next few weeks so that we can evaluate you." He said without much emotion. "There's spots up for grabs, since we only have three playable center midfielders in three central midfield spots. I won't hide my massive expectations from you. I hope you can nail down a starting spot before Prosser leaves next summer."

Prosser broke out in a cold sweat from the challenge. He never was the kind of guy to like challenges like these. He only wants to play, play, play. That's what he came here for.

Regular first team football.

"Alain, I hope I urged you to fight for your spot. It is not guaranteed."