Chapter 5 Let's switch positions

  However, this also shows that Gao Jun's physical coordination is very good, and his physical quality may not be as bad as the test data showed. His predictive ability is also an essential quality for excellent players. After noticing these details, Xu Genbao's evaluation of Gao Jun was raised another level, "If he develops well, at least he can reach the level of Qi Hong..."

  But Gao Jun's surprise was not over yet, 1 minute later, the 90-year-old team captain Wang Jiayu made a powerful long shot from the edge of the penalty area, and the 89-year-old goalkeeper Sun Yue dropped the ball. Like a ghost cat, Gao Jun suddenly appeared in the penalty area and lightly poked the ball with his foot, and the ball slowly rolled into the net...

  This ball fully demonstrates Gao Jun's excellent sense of smell in front of the goal. Xu Genbao saw that he still didn't know how to adjust his position on the field, and all these years of coaching would be in vain. However, after Gao Jun returned to his most familiar forward position, it was actually the 89 age group, who were three goals behind, that scored first. Zhang Linpeng, who had just arrived at the base not long ago, suddenly shot a cold arrow from 25 meters away from the goal, and the goalkeeper of the 90 age group reacted too slowly, could only watch as the ball went into the net...

  However, Gao Jun immediately returned with a vengeance. 5 minutes later, he received a beautiful through pass from captain Wang Jia-yu and successfully counter-attacked, scoring with a light and effortless shot that floated over the opponent's goalkeeper and into the net. The U90 team once again widened the score gap, leaving Zhang Linpeng, who was eager to win, red-faced with anger.

  The youth team's game was surprisingly exciting, thrilling the fans on the sidelines, but Xu Genbao and several old coaches at the base were professionals after all, seeing through it more thoroughly. "In fact, the overall strength is still better than the 89 age group, and they have created more scoring opportunities so far, but the 90 age group has grasped all four scoring opportunities, and the difference in efficiency determined the outcome of the game."

  Under Zhang Linpeng's loud encouragement, the 89 age group quickly regained their morale. Cao Yun Ding, who was in front of the waist, used his personal skills to continuously break through three players from the 90 age group and scored a goal, which led to applause from the sidelines. After scoring, he stretched out one finger towards Gao Jun in the distance, gesturing a challenge. Gao Jun naturally wouldn't lower himself to compete with such a young child, but he quickly widened the score for the 90 age group again. Under Cai Huikang's close defense, he successfully turned around and received a pass from his team's right route, shooting into the net with his left foot in the first time.

  Xu Guodong couldn't help but be moved again upon seeing this, "He and Cai Huikang's height and weight differ by so much, yet he can complete the shooting motion and accurately hit the target under his tight defense. This shows how outstanding his technique and physical balance are! Moreover, he used his left foot, which makes it even more difficult. It's not easy to find a shooter who can shoot with both feet! I underestimated this kid, he will definitely become China's greatest forward of all time!"

  As the game went on, Gao Jun became more and more familiar with his new body, and as he no longer needed to consciously control his movements like at the beginning of the game, some of his old kicking habits began to emerge. After receiving the ball again, facing two opposing defenders including Xiao Pangzi, Gao Jun did not choose to force a one-on-one, but instead unexpectedly pulled out an angle for a shot by dribbling horizontally, and then with a flick of his calf, the ball flew straight into the dead corner of the net...

  This way of getting rid of opponents, not to thoroughly defeat them, but only to gain shooting or passing angles, is not yet popular in today's football world. It wasn't until a small kid named Messi became famous that players from all over the world would imitate him. Therefore, coaches like Xu Genbao on the sidelines were somewhat surprised by this scene, but what they found even more surprising was that this kid scored six goals with six shots, which was really unthinkable. If three shots and three goals could be attributed to good luck, then six shots and six goals were enough to prove his strength. Even Xu, who rarely praised people, couldn't help but exclaim, "This kid will be a treasure of Chinese football, his future is boundless!"

  Because he had seen everything he wanted to see, Xu Genbao didn't want to see Gao Jun's confidence in the 89 age group completely destroyed, so he decisively stopped the match. However, he found that the atmosphere on the field seemed a bit off, and hurriedly walked up quickly, only to see Cao Yunjing angrily scolding Xiao Pangzi Cai Huikang, "You useless fat pig, if you hadn't been overtaken by others so many times, we wouldn't have lost!"

  Cai Huikang's temper was not as big as his body, after being scolded by Cao Yunding, he just shrunk to one side and cried, but didn't talk back. Zhang Linpeng with a kind heart saw the situation and came forward to comfort Cai Huikang, but then the culprit walked over and said to Cai Huikang, who had already recognized him, "Your body is really not flexible enough, you can't play as a center-back."

  "What did you just say?", Zhang Linpeng heard and immediately glared at Gao Jun, scolding him.

  Gao Jun thought to himself that he was still too young, and in order to avoid being seen as a freak, he didn't dare say too much. He simply explained a few sentences, so as not to ruin the promising career of this late-blooming right back with his performance today. "A full-back requires more agility, and he's even less suitable for that position. But he can try playing in a defensive midfielder role, which would allow him to utilize his physical strength and fierce tackling skills. The consequences of making mistakes wouldn't be as severe as when playing as a full-back. If we pair him with a defensive midfielder who has a large range of activity and is agile, then we can make the most of his strengths while avoiding his weaknesses."

  "That's right, this time you lost the ball mainly because my position arrangement was not very reasonable, and there were also loopholes in tactics." Xu Genbao came to the midst of the crowd and took responsibility.

  When Xugengbao frankly admitted his mistake, Gaojun couldn't help but have more respect for him. However, it was only later that he found out that during the initial period of the base's establishment, due to severe financial difficulties, most of Xu's efforts were spent on raising funds. The current positions and tactical arrangements of players in each age group were actually made by other coaches, with little relation to Coach Xu. At the time when Gaojun took over Dongfang team, the base had already been established for 11 years, and Xugengbao didn't like to complain about his hardships in front of his disciples, so Gaojun wasn't aware of this...

  With the talent and strength Gao Jun showed today, Chongming Football Base will naturally keep him no matter what. The full scholarship is not even a question. Considering he has no one to rely on now, Xu Genbao plans to use his connections to find a wealthy, socially prominent, and morally upright "godfather" or "god-grandfather" type of successful person to take care of Gao Jun, allowing him to grow better. In fact, there are several kids from poor families in the base who were able to stay and study football because Xu took this approach. Now that Gao Jun is here, he must have a guardian too.

  Ke Gaojun, although he was known for his good temper at the time, was actually an extremely proud person. He would not acknowledge a stranger as his father just for a little money, even if it was only a foster father. He stiffened his neck and replied, "I can help with work on the base to support my family's livelihood. If I really need a guardian, then it can only be you, Director Xu. One day as a teacher, a lifetime as a father."

  "Good kid, you have spirit." Xu Genbao first praised him, but when he heard the next sentence, he couldn't help but smile all over his face. However, although he was delighted in his heart, Xu Genbao quickly put on a serious face and said to Gao Jun, "Little Gao, you should know that I, Xu Genbao, as your guardian, will not give you any special treatment in the base. My requirements for you will be even stricter than before. If other kids make mistakes, I'll just scold them a few times, but if you make a mistake, I'll whip you."