Chapter 38 : Southampton High School's proudest number!

  "What are you doing together if you are not training?" Coach Carter asked majestically.  

Captain Bread quickly said: "No coach, we are just... guiding Rusty."

  Minato and the others nodded, "Yes, we are instructing Rusty."

  Carter frowned and shouted, "Instruction? Bullshit! Do you think I will believe you? You must have gathered together to play as soon as I left!

You are all veteran team members! You really disappoint me! Look at the newcomer Gu Ran, why doesn't he play with you?"

  All the players lowered their heads and dared not refute.

  There was a pile of footballs on the ground where Gu Ran was, which had been wiped by the drummer before.

  But at this moment, the drummer was also next to Rusty, so it seemed that all the dirty work was done by Gu Ran.

  Gu Ran quickly explained: "Coach, I actually didn't do anything..."

  "Listen!" Coach Carter said in a deep voice, "Listen to Gu Ran! He has done so many things, but he modestly says that he has done nothing!

Look at you! Don't you feel ashamed? Don't you feel embarrassed? After the training is over, except for Gu Ran, everyone else will practice for an extra half an hour at the training ground!"

  "ah?!"

  The players all complained bitterly!

  Coach Carter shouted sternly, "What? If you do it again, we'll have to practice for an extra hour!"

  This time, all the players shut up.

  Everyone's negative emotions are close to bursting.

  Gu Ran felt secretly regretful.

  If there is still progress to be picked up, it would be great!

  No, I used to be afraid that I would not have the opportunity to pick up the professional training results. Now that I have joined the team, I have to pick up selectively!

  Okay, starting from tomorrow, I will pick up selectively.

  Seeing that the players were too quiet to speak, Coach Carter nodded in satisfaction, "Now, everyone, gather here. I'll announce the 22-man roster for the national competition!"

  All the players in the training ground immediately lined up in front of Carter.

  There are more than 30 players in the entire Southampton Private School, but only 22 of them can make the national competition roster.

  From a professional perspective, this is also called the registration list.

  If you are not included in this roster, you are not a registered player for the high school competition, so it is absolutely impossible for you to start or be a substitute, and it is even more impossible for you to appear directly on the field.

  Of course, even if you register for a 22-man roster, they will only be starters, substitutes, and backup.

  Substitute players are not even qualified to follow the team to the game venue and can only advance when substitute players need to be replaced.

  Only those who are included in the 18-man match roster can enter the competition venue with the team.

  Only if you are included in the 11-man starting lineup can you be considered a main player and be able to walk out of the player tunnel and enjoy the cheers of the fans.

  The 11-man starting lineup must be selected from the 18-man match squad, and the 18-man match squad must be selected from the 22-man registration squad.

  This is also true for the operation of professional clubs every season.

  Every season, professional clubs must first determine the "registration list" for the league, Champions League, and cup competitions at all levels, and then make selections and adjustments based on the players on the list to finalize the 18-man "match list". Then, one hour before the start of the official game, they must submit an 11-man starting list.

  Generally speaking, the 11-man roster must be submitted at least one hour before the start of the game, but there is an exception for World Cup matches, which require the 11-man roster to be submitted at least half an hour before the start of the game.

  In some crucial matches, when to submit the 11-man roster is also part of the coach's tactics.

  And now, the Southampton High School team has just confirmed the 22-man registration roster.

  Head coach Carter began announcing the names and jersey numbers of the registered players.

  Gu Ran stood in the last row of the team, listening to Carter's announcement calmly. 

  All the main team members that the drummer had introduced to Gu Ran before were present.

  The rest were all names that Gu Ran had never heard of before.

  The faces of these non-main players whose names were called were full of excitement, and other players also applauded and congratulated them.

  When announcing the last person, Coach Carter paused for a moment, looking for Gu Ran through the gap in the crowd, "...The last person, Gu Ran."

  No applause.

  No one was surprised by this. After all, Coach Carter had been waiting until the last minute to apply for registration just to wait for Gu Ran's emergency physical examination report to come out.

  Gu Ran's face remained calm and he felt slightly relieved.

  It doesn't matter whether you get applause from others or not. Being able to register means you have a chance to be on the bench.

  Being able to enter the substitute lineup means having the opportunity to play in the game.

  Everything was in line with Gu Ran's original plan.

  Then Coach Carter continued, "Gu Ran's jersey number is... 3."

  Wow!

  All the players on the field exclaimed in surprise!

  The No. 3 position is the main left back position!

  It is also the jersey number of Olin, the "dog" of the Bucks Steel Horns!

  Not only that, the No. 3 jersey has a special meaning for the entire Southampton!

  Bale, the "Great Saint" who came out of Southampton's youth training, wore the No. 3 jersey!

  Therefore, the No. 3 jersey of the Southampton school team is also a very important number.

  No one expected that Coach Carter would give it directly to the new Chinese boy!

  Even Gu Ran himself was a little shocked.

  Although this does not mean that Coach Carter will let Gu Ran start directly, Coach Carter will definitely cultivate Gu Ran as a core player in the future.

  No. 3 jersey...

  Gu Ran couldn't help but feel a little excited.

  Coach Carter said in a deep voice: "Gu, the No. 3 jersey was originally the core number of our Bucks Steelhorns, but its previous owner abandoned it, bringing shame to it and the entire Bucks Steelhorns!

Today, I hand the No. 3 to you. One day in the future, you have to wash away the humiliation for it and make it the proudest number of Southampton High School again!"

  Coach Carter asked loudly in a hoarse voice: "Tell me, Gu, can you do it?"

  Gu Ran suddenly felt his blood boiling. He looked at Carter with a determined gaze and shouted, "Coach! I can do it!"

  Coach Carter nodded in satisfaction, "Very good! This is the answer I want!"

  Gu Ran: ...

  Damn, I'm a middle school student!

  I thought I would be a middle school student two days later, but I didn't expect the atmosphere to be so intense. I have to be a middle school student!

  Oh!

  It's all because of these stupid teammates!

  I'd better not get involved with them too much...

  Coach Carter then announced, "Alright, except for Gu Ran, everyone else will stay and practice for another half an hour. We will have a group competition tomorrow afternoon.

I will determine the 18-man roster based on your performance in the group competition. Your new jerseys will also be sent to you tomorrow."

  Coach Carter gave a few more instructions about training, then left with the tactical board.

  "Gu Ran...!!!"

  Rusty took a deep breath and walked towards Gu Ran with a gloomy face!

  (End of this chapter)