Friday, 3 October – Travel Day
The morning at the training ground felt muted—not tired, just tuned in.
Clouds hung low but didn't rain. The pitch was slick but didn't puddle.
Inside the team room, the projector lit up before anyone spoke.
Jake stood at the front—not pacing, not scribbling. Just there. Marker in hand. Whiteboard full of empty shapes.
Jake:
"We don't overcomplicate tomorrow.
Tempo. Simplicity. No passengers.
We control them by controlling us."
Behind him, Paul clicked through video stills—West Brom's defensive line shape, their wingback tendencies to overextend, and their No. 8's tendency to dive into press traps.
No one took notes.
They didn't need to.
Out on the pitch, they went short and sharp.
Just 40 minutes. Rondo squares. One-touch passing circuits. A ten-minute defensive reaction drill led by Kang barking instructions in three languages.
No finishing drills. No tackles. Just rhythm.
Jake (midway):
"Don't get clever. Get precise."
