[Football] Crown of Thorns

On the morning of July 7 local time, the Premier League Liverpool Club and their team arrived in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This was the first stop of their pre-season tour for the new season after eight years.

The warm-up match held at 16:[-] this afternoon was also the first international warm-up match after Rodgers entered the Liverpool team.

Counting the current first-team members, apart from a few England internationals, there are currently as many as 34 players in the team. It is not easy to make the 23-25 ​​squad for the next season among so many people.

"It's impossible for him to throw me on the bench anyway, of course I'm not worried."

Gama did not go to Toronto with the team in the first warm-up match. The reason was naturally that his body had not recovered, and he would not be able to play even if he went. Of course, Rodgers made this decision after agreeing with the physical examination report issued by the team doctor. .

For Gama, it would be better if he could rest for a few more days.

And the one who asked him this question was naturally Veloso, a bad friend who had just announced his transfer to the Premier League Chelsea Club.

Gama, who heard his friend's transfer to the Premier League, turned to his friend and said something like "It's a black and strong tractor and a big car, you are really promising and you are too good at choosing" or something like that.

"Xiko, you bastard!"

Veloso hopped his feet angrily.

In fact, they all know that at present, they have all chosen the team they should be suitable for. Otherwise, even with Gerrard's lobbying, it is impossible for Gama to accept Liverpool's offer so easily. There are clubs with high quotations and higher salaries, but what Gama needs is a stable development club that can take itself as the core of the midfield, not a club that can't figure out what tactics it wants to play and changes coaches every now and then. .

On the other hand, Veloso is different. He retreated his position and changed to a central defender. He needs more opportunities to play. He is used to defending black and hard cars with all members, but it is more suitable for a player like him.

"Put yourself up, man!"

"You too."

After mutual encouragement (which you are sure is encouragement), both are about to start their new journey.

…………

The game at the Rogers Center in Toronto was the first match of the Liverpool club's summer tour this year, and it was also the first appearance of the Red Army coach Rodgers.

The MLS team Toronto FC currently ranks last in the MLS East Division standings.

Judging from the starting list before the game, coach Rodgers did not bring Da Gama, the biggest signing of the new season, nor did he lead the England internationals who participated in the European Cup, but the new transfer team who followed the team to Toronto Italian striker Borini didn't even appear in the 18-man squad.

After the whole game, Rodgers sent different lineups in the first and second halves. The captain on the field was Carragher, Charlie Adam, Spilling and the returning Aquilani started in the midfield; Joe Cole, Skrtel , Lucas and Sheville, who have returned from serious injuries, are sitting on the bench.Only familiar players such as Enrique, Carragher, Adam, Spilling, Aquilani and Pacheco started in the first half.

As for the Toronto FC team, people are relatively familiar with only their captain, former German international Frings.

It's just that the final result of the game may not be very satisfactory to the Red Army. After 90 minutes of fierce fighting, Liverpool drew 1-1 with the American League team Toronto FC.

However, because Rogers pointed out in advance that the current goal is to test the players, the result of the game draw did not make people pay too much attention.

After the first match of the warm-up match, Liverpool and his team rushed to Boston, the United States. Here is the second match of their tour, and the opponent is the Roma Club from Serie A.

At 7:25 pm on July 18th, US Eastern Time, Liverpool's second pre-season warm-up match kicked off at Fenway Park in Boston.

Before this war, Gerrard and Gama, who arrived in the United States together with the team, did not enter the squad for the game.

Before the match, the players from both sides met. Totti, the Roman wolf king, took the initiative to come over and greet Gerrard, who looked like he would not participate in the match in casual clothes.

Jia Ma also naturally took Gerald's light (?) and greeted the Wolf King.

Jedd looked sideways: Just pretend you are!Do you know Totti?

Gama, who just killed the Italian in the final of the European Cup, played dead - of course I don't know him, but the wolf king quit the Italian national team after the 06 World Cup, how could I know him!

It was the wolf king who looked the young man up and down with great interest, "I heard that you have good skills?"

Jia Ma, who always pretended to be stupid, said, "Where, it's so-so!"

"Oh, the general technology actually killed those idiots, and I can laugh at Jiji and the others."

Totti said.

Jia Ma (┳_┳): So you are such a wolf king, I really misread you.

"Can I have a signed jersey?"

They were all laughed at anyway, so they had to get something to make it back.

Gama said so cheekily.

It was his reaction that made Totti pause, "You can only exchange jerseys after the game!"

"I'm not fit enough to play, Mr. Totti."

Jia Ma decided that today he was shameless.

"...I'll give it to you after the match!"

After all, Totti, who is also a wolf king, is speechless. He is a senior anyway, and it is really impossible to tear his face and refuse the pleadings of young players.

"Thank you then."

Gama smiled.

Watching the wolf king 'retreat', Gerald, who was also speechless, looked at Gama. I didn't speak, I just looked.

In fact, Gerrard was still a little trembling in his heart. Is there something wrong with the character of Gama, whom he lobbied to transfer over... But, forget it, no matter how you look at it, it can't be weirder than his striker!

Gerrard, who had a high EQ, kept his expression unchanged, "Go over there to watch the game!"

"Okay!"

Gama is in a good mood.

Before the game started, many fans in the stands cheered.

Gama noticed a player in a Roma shirt waving to the crowd in the stands.

"Who is he?"

Gama asked Gerald sideways.

"Michael Bradley (Michael Bradley), the US national team, Roma just signed him at the beginning of the month."

Gerrard easily reported the information of this player who was completely unfamiliar to Gama.

"Being able to transfer to Roma, it seems that his ability should be good."

Gama nodded.

Gerrard glanced at him, "He has played in the Bundesliga and the Premier League. He has played as an avant-garde but mainly as a midfielder. Technically speaking, he is good at defending and has a precise long-range shooting technique. By the way, he is only better than You are two years older."

Listening to Gerrard's detailed introduction, Gama said slowly and hesitantly, "But Steven, you just said that he just transferred to the Roma team at the beginning of the month."

It's only been a few days that you actually inquired so clearly about such a not-so-famous player who is separated from his team by a league?

Gerrard glanced at him, "Didn't I say he also played in the Premier League?"

"So, have you read and memorized the information of all the opponent players in your team?"

Gama felt a bit of a stomachache—he suddenly remembered that he had read in some information that Gerrard had good grades in school and a high IQ. It is said that, like Chelsea's Lampard, he used his IQ to crush others. The midfield brain! ! !

Jia Ma, who was roaring in his heart, felt a little regretful: I hate top students, and I hate players with high IQs even more, because that would make me look stupid!

"Not many, after all, there are only [-] clubs in the Premier League, and each first-team player is not too much."

Gerald answered easily with a tone that did not have so many people.

Gama: I don't want to talk to you leave me alone!

"Xiko, what's wrong with you?"

Gerald asked concerned.

"It's nothing, I just feel sorry for myself suddenly."

Gama bowed his head and sighed.

"Your body is not recovering well?"

Gerald looked more worried.

Jia Ma raised his head sadly, "I just suddenly realized that my IQ is not enough, and I feel a little lost."

Thinking that Gama was joking, Gerald laughed loudly, which made the forehead lines on his forehead deeper, but the man who looked handsome despite the wrinkles on his face smiled brightly, "You The core of the midfielder must have enough brains."

It sounds like you are praising me, but in my heart I feel very empty...

Gama complained even more, so he had to focus on the game in front of him.

"The Roma team seems to have changed coaches?"

"Yes, Rome's new coach is Mr. Zeman..."

Gerald once again showed his super brain and told Gama a lot about the other party's information.

Gama really wanted to cover his ears. When I was in the Bundesliga, it was enough for me to have a little chubby to supplement my knowledge every day. Because Mao came to the Premier League, there was a captain who wanted to explain materials and whispered beside his ear!

Gerrard, who didn't understand Gama's suffering at all, pointed to the players in his starting lineup and introduced Gama, "... Joe Cole and Aquilani were both loaned out last season. The club took both of them back...Carragher is a very good person, you can usually go to him if you have something to do, of course you can also go to me..."

The two sat behind the bench while watching the game while Gerrard told Gama about the situation of his teammates.

After Roma scored the first goal on the field, Gerrard looked at the situation on the field, "Bradley's feet are quite good, look at his goal just now..."

After listening to Gerald's explanation to Bala, Gama glanced at him, "Are you not in a hurry?"

Gerald smiled, "It's just a ball."

But 2 minutes later, Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones dropped the ball and allowed Roma's Florentz to score another goal.

Gama looked at Gerald again.

His No. [-] goalkeeper made such a low-level mistake, what do you, the captain, say?

Gerrard is still very calm, "It's normal for goalkeepers to make mistakes, so teammates have to work harder to score goals."

Gamamo stopped, thinking about Gerrard's efforts to lead the Red Army forward over the years, nothing else but this point, this man is a real man.

After another 3 minutes on the field, Liverpool finally scored a goal, and it was Charlie Adam who pulled the score back for Liverpool.

"It was a beautiful goal."

Gama nodded. Although he didn't know the player who scored just now, the goal he scored was really good.

"He has a good set piece technique."

Gerald only said this lightly.

Gama paused, "It seems that his position is the midfielder..."

In fact, Gama has already discovered that there are quite a few midfielders in the Red Army. It is said that Rodgers also thought about loaning Shaheen from Real Madrid, but Gerrard, who can play the midfield position in his own team, is the absolute core. Outside (his injury is a big problem), obviously there are many people, but they bid to buy people, I don't know what they think.

"He is good, but he has decided to transfer." Gerrard looked calm, "Last year he transferred from Blackpool Club for 900 million, but because of the number of appearances, he left. It will be officially announced in a few days that he will transfer to Stoke City for 1000 million."

He spoke very calmly, and he couldn't hear any special feeling at all, but Gama felt that Gerald like this was a bit scary.

So he changed the subject in a self-deprecating tone, "The transfer fee is so high, I feel like I'm a bit cheap!"

Since Premier League players are transferred in pounds sterling, it sounds like they are worth a lot.

Gerald smiled, "Your price-performance ratio is very high, so I am very grateful that you are willing to come."

Of course he knew that Gama rejected two clubs with higher bids to come to the Red Army, not because the Red Army was better than others, but because of his lobbying. He said a lot to Gama, but Gama was only interested in him. The spiritual connotation of working hard together, in other words, was moved by him, so he came.

But after being moved, whether this feeling can be maintained and let Gama enter the world of the Red Army is a future topic.

Gerald knew that he could say a lot, but the people he wanted to stay in the past all left in the end. He hoped to leave something for his family before he left. Now, with such a person by his side, he hopes I can do it myself.