Chapter 4: Preparing the Ground
A week of preparations culminated in Marcus Reynolds' arrival at the club, ready to embark on the journey of the upcoming season. With a month and a half remaining before the start of the next season, time was crucial.
Marcus delved into evaluating the club's situation and assessing the players. To achieve the season's goal, which was promotion to the 3rd Division, he decided to release seven players from Luton Town's squad of 30 athletes.
The seven departing players included five Englishmen and two Irishmen: among them, two forwards, three midfielders, and two defenders. They are: [James Foster] (English) - Forward: Quick, with some agility and basic dribbling skills. Capable of attacking on counter-plays but inconsistent in finishing. [Charlie Barnes] (English) - Forward: Physical, with a presence in the area. Some success in aerial plays, but with technical limitations. Occasional contributions with assists. [Ryan O'Connor] (Irish) - Midfielder: Versatile, with basic notions of vision and simple passes. Helps in building plays but with defensive limitations. [Liam Doyle] (Irish) - Midfielder: Energetic, with physical stamina. Willing to work but limited technical abilities. Lack of tactical consistency. [Jordan Cooper] (English) - Midfielder: Basic technical abilities, limited ball control, and passing skills. Puts in effort but struggles to create plays. [Nathan Phillips] (English) - Defender: Solid in basic positioning and aerial play. Might face challenges in leading the defense and dealing with technical demands. [Sean Kelly] (Irish) - Defender: Determined, physically strong, but basic technical skills in marking. Could struggle in critical moments due to technical limitations. Marcus considered them players with amateur-level abilities.
Their time at Luton Town had come to an end as Marcus sought to refine the team, aligning it with his tactical vision.
With this pruning complete, Marcus devised a plan to bring in three crucial players, essential for the season's success. These new additions were handpicked to seamlessly fit into his preferred 4-1-3-2 formation, reinforcing the team's strengths and addressing specific positional needs.
After meticulously detailing his transfer strategy, Marcus approached Yago to kick-start the season's planning. It was time to put this plan into action for the team's evolution, constructing a squad ready for success and poised to pursue their promotion aspirations.