The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 38: ?The Turning Point

John Hendry's long, sturdy legs suddenly came into Kelleher's view, leaving him stunned, as if struck by lightning. All he could do was watch as Hendry expertly nudged the ball with the tip of his foot and then slid into the net along with it.

"John Hendry! John Hendry! He was almost invisible for most of the first half, but in this moment, he executed a beautiful combination play with Curtis Fleming, breaking through Millwall's defense! He extended his leg and sent the ball into Millwall's goal at the near post, leveling the score for Middlesbrough! Millwall's impressive defensive record has officially been broken by Middlesbrough!"

Since the start of the league, the defensive combination of Thuram, Stam, Southgate, Neil, and Kelleher had tasted defeat for the first time, their goal finally breached.

The atmosphere at Ayresome Park was electric as the crowd erupted into cheers. Middlesbrough's players gathered in celebration, lifting their heads high as they returned to their half, as if equalizing was merely expected, relying on their experience and maturity in matches.

Bryan Robson, having seen the goal, only clenched his fist briefly before remaining calm and composed.

Aldrich clapped his hands calmly in the pitch, encouraging his players not to lose heart. After all, conceding a goal just brought them back to square one.

Yet, Aldrich felt speechless about the goal they conceded, knowing deep down that Robson had just taught him a valuable lesson.

Millwall's conceding was not due to individual skill or player errors; it was entirely a result of Middlesbrough's successful tactics.

Sometimes, tactics rely on surprising the opponent.

Had Middlesbrough pushed their two full-backs forward from the start, Aldrich believed that neither wing would have had any success during the game—especially Thuram's side, where very few players in Division One could realistically break through his defensive capabilities.

At that moment, Aldrich realized that Middlesbrough's previous conservatism had lulled their opponents into a false sense of security.

The defensive 5-3-2 formation had deceived everyone. The slow tempo of the game created an illusion for Millwall's defense. As Millwall's defenders became overly confident and tried to pressure, Middlesbrough's full-backs made unexpected surges forward, catching Millwall's defense off-guard.

The tactic achieved the effect of "winning through the unexpected," and this sudden shift from a slow to a fast pace caught even Aldrich by surprise.

Aldrich thought to himself: Bryan Robson surely knows how to adapt.

However, he was not discouraged; the current Millwall squad was still taking shape. They were only beginning to figure out the rhythm of matches and tactically flexible maneuvers. This required more time and experience to hone, while Middlesbrough was a well-matured team, difficult to improve upon.

As play resumed in the center circle, Millwall's defense absorbed the recent lesson. Both full-backs were particularly vigilant about covering any wide attacks, while Pires and Schneider also began to drop back to aid in defense.

Seeing Millwall's players quickly adjust themselves now, Robson, who initially hoped to exploit Millwall's moment of confusion to score again, shook his head and calmly gestured for his players to play it safe.

As the first half came to an end, Aldrich remained calm upon seeing his opponents revert to their slow, conservative tactics. Millwall's defense had not crumbled after a single goal conceded; this was the defensive line he had worked hard to build.

The referee blew the whistle to signal the end of the first half, and Aldrich was the first to leave the field, heading toward the locker room.

Morale is a strange and intangible thing.

If Millwall had conceded first and then equalized, their spirits would have undoubtedly lifted.

However, having scored first only to be equalized, the players felt a slight sense of suppression.

The score was tied at 1-1, yet it felt as if something earned had been taken away; it was a strange sensation.

This was a natural human reaction, and Aldrich felt a tinge of it, too.

It was this shift in emotions that worried Aldrich at the beginning of his team-building. Losing games, especially being turned around, was a huge taboo!

Creating a relaxed mentality for the team and shedding that fear of gain and loss takes time; it requires cultivating strong hearts that remain unfazed in high-pressure situations—a daunting task.

Back in the locker room, the players sat in silence, panting and feeling the pressure in the air, as if it had solidified.

Aldrich didn't want them to carry that stress, knowing that pressure could lead to a domino effect of negative emotions. So, he shrugged and smiled, saying, "Robert, you really need to work on your shooting!."

The players paused, then burst into laughter.

Pires chuckled ruefully, "Boss, can we not talk about that goal? Give me a hundred more chances, and I still wouldn't slip."

He knew that the strange goal from the first half would become a source of jokes among teammates.

Aldrich, however, shrugged nonchalantly, "No, no, no! If you had a hundred more chances and slipped each time, I'd still applaud you as long as you put the ball in the net—even if you scored with your backside!"

Laughter erupted again...

The atmosphere in the locker room brightened, and the cloud from the late first-half goal dissipated significantly.

After the laughter, Aldrich raised his hand to signal the players to quiet down and listen to his tactical briefing.

Aldrich never held back when it was time to get serious; he understood that simply boosting the players' spirits wouldn't necessarily secure a win.

In front of the tactical board, Aldrich outlined the positioning of the opposing defenders and quietly explained, "Middlesbrough's defense spent most of the first half near the penalty area, rarely pushing forward or attempting to create offside traps. This is why we struggled to penetrate their defense. For the second half, your task is simple: we need to draw them out, forcing their defense to create space for our attacking players to exploit. Robert, Bernd, Henrik, you three can roam around the edge of the box, and if you spot an opportunity, take long-range shots. Don't worry about the angles; what matters is how often you shoot and keep it on target. David, I need you up front, supporting your teammates' attacks and acting as a focal point for our offense. When their defense pushes up, tightening our shooting space, be ready to break the offside trap. Understood?"

The players nodded seriously.

Aldrich reminded them of a few defensive adjustments, then let them take a moment to prepare for the second half.

He had confidence in this defense; they wouldn't fall into the same trap twice, and another sudden breakthrough on the flanks like in the first half would not happen again.

In fact, Aldrich was thankful to Bryan Robson. That conceded goal had aided Millwall's players in improving their defensive awareness—a form of experiential growth.

Experience cannot simply be learned or practiced; in defense, it is forged from rising up after failures, embedded in one's memory.

As Aldrich stood at the sidelines, the second half began quickly, with cheers from both sets of supporters filling every corner of Ayresome Park.

Aldrich focused intently on observing Middlesbrough's tactical changes in the second half. Years of watching games across Europe had instilled in him an instinct to constantly visualize changes in formations and tactics while overlooking the field.

Millwall began to take frequent long-range shots, putting pressure on Middlesbrough's goal. This tense moment had both sets of fans on the edge of their seats, while Bryan Robson showed quick adaptability—he didn't push his defensive line forward. Instead, he instructed his attacking players to fall back; apart from John Hendry, who roamed freely in the front, the rest of the players retreated to half, creating an overload on defense.

Once they regained possession, Middlesbrough's counterattacks utilized the width of the field for long passes, but the effectiveness was limited. Their full-backs, drawn into supporting the attack, found themselves closely marked by Millwall's retreating wide players.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, the game became increasingly tense, with the ball moving back and forth between the two penalty areas, as both sides struggled to find a shooting opportunity.

At this point, Aldrich finally grasped Bryan Robson's tactical setup.

It was neither a defensive 5-3-2 nor an all-out attacking 3-5-2; more accurately, it was an asymmetric 4-4-2. Though the visual presentation of this formation seemed odd, it didn't indicate much; tactics are the synthesis of formation and style of play.

Middlesbrough's two full-backs worked in synergy, assisting effectively without both overlapping. They maintained at least four defenders' positioning, ensuring they never were outnumbered during defensive duties.

The rotating surges of the full-backs often caught opponents off-guard.

Aldrich felt a newfound respect. No wonder Middlesbrough had thrived despite a turbulent summer; their overall strength hadn't visibly improved, yet they performed admirably in the first nine rounds of Division One.

Robson managed to mold such a competitive team with limited resources, which was quite impressive—though this remained in the realm of Division One.

What surprised Aldrich further was how, while England was still grappling with Charles Hughes' infamous pomo theory in the 70s and 80s, Middlesbrough's play leaned toward ground attacks, rather than overwhelming the opponent with a mass of attacking players in the final third.

Teams that could defeat the "long-ball" and "maximal positioning opportunity" pomo theory with ground-based attacks were quite unique in England. This distinctive style had led to Nottingham Forest's two-time European Championships, with Brian Clough widely celebrated for his achievements through ground-based passing tactics.

Aldrich felt hesitant; the game was locked in a stalemate, and if his team could walk away with a point here, it would benefit their entire season, especially since they hadn't lost to promotion favorites Middlesbrough on their own turf. This was crucial for the players' morale and mindset.

As Aldrich pondered whether to take the risk for a win or settle for a draw, the dynamics of the game shifted dramatically!