Chapter 8: Recruiting Players
"Is that him?"
John Aston leaned slightly forward in his seat.
The two men sat quietly in the stands of a youth stadium in Manchester.
Below them—
A match was underway.
Manchester United U18 vs Southampton U18.
The senior season was over.
But for these teenagers—
This was the most important phase of their lives.
Every touch.
Every pass.
Every mistake.
Could determine their future.
Joshua Smith sat calmly, eyes fixed on the pitch.
"That's him."
His gaze followed a midfielder in red.
Not the most eye-catching.
Not the fastest.
Not the flashiest.
But always in the right place.
Around them, the stands were scattered with people.
Parents.
A few die-hard fans.
And—
Scouts.
Because everyone knew—
Manchester United's academy was a gold mine.
If you couldn't make it there—
You could still make it anywhere else.
And today—
Joshua was here to dig.
On the pitch—
Manchester United dominated.
Before halftime—
Danny Welbeck completed his hat-trick.
Assist?
From Tom Cleverley.
The crowd applauded.
Excited.
Future stars.
John's eyes stayed on the same player Joshua had pointed out.
Drinkwater.
He watched carefully.
Closely.
Minutes passed.
Then—
John frowned slightly.
"I don't see anything special."
Joshua smiled faintly.
"Look again."
John refocused.
And this time—
He stopped looking for brilliance.
He looked for consistency.
Positioning.
Movement.
Decision-making.
Then—
He noticed it.
"...No misplaced passes?"
Joshua nodded.
"Not one."
John hesitated.
"That's… solid. But not extraordinary."
Joshua shook his head slightly.
"You're watching the ball."
"I'm watching the game."
He leaned back slightly.
"He cuts passing lanes."
"He blocks angles before danger forms."
"He makes attacks uncomfortable… before they become attacks."
John fell silent.
Because now—
He saw it too.
Quiet.
Invisible.
But essential.
A player who prevented danger—
Before anyone noticed, it existed.
"Will they let him go?" John asked.
"Yes."
Joshua didn't hesitate.
"Because he's not spectacular."
At a club like Manchester United—
That was a flaw.
But at Luton Town F.C.—
That was gold.
"Let's go."
Joshua stood.
"The game's decided."
Final score—
5–0.
Welbeck and Cleverley took the spotlight.
And Drinkwater—
Walked off quietly.
Just like always.
Outside the academy—
Joshua approached him.
"Danny."
Drinkwater turned.
Surprised.
Then recognition flashed in his eyes.
"You're… the coach from Chelsea?"
Joshua nodded.
"I was."
A brief pause.
"Now I'm the head coach of Luton."
Drinkwater understood immediately.
Recruitment.
"I've come for you."
Simple.
Direct.
Drinkwater hesitated.
"Luton… got a points deduction, right?"
"Thirty points."
Joshua didn't deny it.
"You'll be relegated."
Joshua smiled slightly.
"Too early to say that."
His eyes were steady.
Confident.
"You'll be loaned out anyway."
Drinkwater didn't respond.
Because it was true.
Joshua stepped closer slightly.
"I've studied you."
"I know how to use you."
A pause.
"Come to Luton."
Silence.
Then—
A breath.
"…If you get relegated?"
Joshua answered immediately.
"Then you leave."
No hesitation.
No tricks.
Just certainty.
Drinkwater looked at him.
For a long moment.
Then nodded.
"…Alright."
Joshua smiled.
"You won't regret it."
The deal—
Was done faster than expected.
Manchester United agreed to the loan.
Two years.
With a relegation clause.
Low wages.
Low risk.
High potential.
Joshua didn't even need to negotiate.
Because he already knew—
How it would end.
But he didn't stop there.
Next stop—
Basingstoke.
A construction site.
Dust.
Noise.
Bricks.
And a young man—
Working.
Charlie Austin.
Nineteen years old.
By day a bricklayer.
By night a striker in amateur football.
Joshua stood out immediately.
Suit.
Shoes.
Presence.
Workers stared.
Charlie kept working.
Focused.
Until—
Someone shouted.
"Charlie! Coach looking for you!"
Inside a small shed—
They sat down.
Charlie.
His father.
And Joshua.
Suspicion filled the air.
A Jamaican coach?
Young?
From Luton?
Unbelievable.
But Joshua didn't argue.
"I've watched him."
He spoke calmly.
"He has potential."
He didn't say more.
Because—
He didn't need to.
Through the system—
Joshua had already seen everything.
Shooting: 76
Heading: 78
Off-ball Movement: 72
And more importantly—
Work Rate: 80
Willpower: 88
Bravery: 86
Joshua's eyes gleamed slightly.
A striker like this—
In League Two—
Was a weapon.
"Come to Luton."
Simple.
Charlie didn't hesitate.
"I'll go!"
But his father—
Still hesitated.
Joshua stood calmly.
"You can verify everything."
"Luton isn't far."
Silence.
Then—
A nod.
That same day—
They went.
And soon—
The contract was signed.
Four years.
A professional career—
Began.
From bricks—
To football.
Joshua moved again.
Sheffield.
Another unknown name.
Jamie Vardy.
Twenty-one.
Factory worker.
Part-time footballer.
Joshua found him easily.
And this time—
There was no hesitation.
"Professional football?"
"Yes."
"I'm in."
Just like that.
Because some dreams—
Don't need convincing.
"Jamie," Joshua said quietly.
"You'll create your own miracle."
Vardy just nodded.
"I'll work hard, coach."
Then—
France.
A small training ground in Paris.
Seventeen years old.
N'Golo Kanté.
Small.
Quiet.
But when Joshua activated his Eye of Insight—
The numbers appeared.
Steals: 82
Positioning: 76
Stamina: 80
Joshua's heartbeat—
Accelerated slightly.
A monster.
Still unfinished.
Still hidden.
But undeniable.
"England."
Joshua said.
"Come with me."
Kanté hesitated.
Then—
Nodded.
A four-year contract.
Signed.
And just like that—
Four future stars—
Gathered under one roof.
Back in Luton—
Joshua stood alone in the empty stadium.
Wind brushed across the pitch.
Thirty-point deduction.
A broken squad.
No expectations.
And yet—
His lips curved slightly.
"If not for the deduction…"
He looked at the field.
"…we could win the league."
Madness?
Or—
Vision?
Only time would tell.
(End of Chapter 8)
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