In the Old Trafford stands, Lee George and his two assistants, Chris Kasper and Eddie Howe, were watching Manchester United's game against Portsmouth.
After the second round of the league match with Manchester City, they did not return to Leeds with the team, but chose to stay and watch a Manchester United game.
Since the resignation of Chelsea's Mourinho, Manchester United has been considered by Lee George to be Leeds United's biggest opponent in defending their title this season.
The defending champion has performed stably in the first two rounds of the league.
The reason for using "stable" instead of "excellent". It's because Leeds United first won 2-0 at home against Portsmouth, but encountered difficulties in yesterday's game.
De Jong and Mills, who moved to Manchester City, caused considerable trouble for Leeds United. The two of them are too familiar with Leeds United. In defense, Leeds United's threatening attacks were defused many times.
The defense combination of Richards, Corluka, Dunn, and Mills is paired with De Jong in the midfielder. Leeds United's offensive line failed many times. The other signings in the midfield and frontcourt also frequently used counterattacks to attack Leeds United's defense.
In the end, in the 72nd minute of the game, Leeds United won against Manchester City after a controversial penalty kick, which was scored by Smith.
"If I had known better, I wouldn't have sold both of them to Manchester City." During the break, George Lee said to Eddie Howe on the side.
Since Eddie Howe directed the game against Middlesbrough for George Lee last season, there has been a faint upward trend, and his status in the team's coaching staff has also risen sharply. Now if there are some tactical details, Li will take the initiative to discuss them with Eddie Howe.
Casper, on the other hand, went to the bathroom.
"As a strong championship team, it will definitely have an impact if two main players in their prime are gone at once, not to mention they are going to a team in the same league."
"Now it seems that if you want to gain a foothold in the Premier League, you need high investment. In the first round, Manchester City always took the initiative against West Ham United." George Lee talked about Manchester City's first round match.
"It seems that a new strong team is gradually being born. I wonder whether the sky in Manchester will be red or blue in the future?"
"At least it has been red in recent years." He is certain of this, because he knows that Manchester City's real rise will not come until after 2010.
At least in the past few years, there is no Manchester City in the "big 6" of the Premier League.
"Through the first half of the game, it seems that Manchester United's signings this year have no practical effect." Eddie Howe pointed out the problems of Manchester United's game today.
Although the score on the field is 1-0, the home team Manchester United is in the lead. However, although Manchester United, which was the main force in the game, took the initiative on the scene, it was always a little bit behind in the final finish.
Although the newly joined Tevez worked hard and kept running in the attack, he also spared no effort to press the frontcourt in the defense. But the effect is not very good, giving people a feeling of being outside the team.
As for the other two signings, Nani started today, but he gave the impression that he was just like Cristiano Ronaldo back then, just playing on the wing.
Hagen Reeves did not start today.
"Maybe it still needs to be adjusted. Rooney did not play today, so the connection between the midfielder and Tevez is still a bit lacking."
George Lee knows the horrors of Rooney, Tevez, and Ronaldinho.
It can be said that the current Manchester United is stronger than Leeds United in terms of paper strength.
At least in terms of lineup thickness, Manchester United's substitutes are all strong, unlike Leeds United where they are all young people.
Ferguson feels that he can't stay as head coach for a few more years. Now he is taking advantage of the time when he is still good to win as many championships as possible and retire with success.
But Lee George is different. He is still thinking about how to slowly build Leeds United into a strong team, and then into a wealthy team.
There have been too many short-lived championships in history, and many of them fell away after being divided up by other teams after winning the championship.
Only by constant progress, constant improvement, and constant investment can the team be built into a wealthy team.
The players sold by the team recently have given George Li a faint worry. Van Persie went to Real Madrid in pursuit of a higher challenge; De Jong and Mills went to Manchester City because of higher salaries.
It is not ruled out that other members of the team, such as Kuyt, Parker, Matteisen, Baynes, etc., will be targeted by other teams in the future. If these main players leave again, Leeds United will definitely have to find players to replace them immediately. One is through transfer, and the other is through self-cultivation. Both are indispensable.
He didn't want Leeds United, which he had finally built, to be like Leicester City in later generations. After winning the Premier League, other teams sold away the main players, and then failed to recover, and eventually could only be ranked at the bottom of the league.
"I have a question. I've always been curious and wanted to ask you." Eddie Howe asked.
"you say."
"You just said that Manchester United needs running-in. Why don't you need to run-in after you buy the players? Or is it because the running-in period is relatively short?" Eddie Howe finally asked what he had always wanted to ask.
After coming to Leeds United, he became familiar with George Li, and he admired him more and more.
In three seasons, it took only three seasons to turn a relegation team into a strong Premier League team. 1 League Championship, 2 Europa League Championships, 1 League Cup Championship, 1 Community Shield Championship, and 1 European Super Cup Championship.
Not only did he achieve outstanding results, but he also led the tactical innovation of the Premier League. The winger cuts inside, presses high in the frontcourt, and the goalkeeper in the backcourt plays the ball...
But what is most talked about is George Lee’s signing.
When I came to Leeds United, I realized that most of the players on the team were selected by him himself, and he never made mistakes.
Finally, Eddie Howe took this opportunity and asked him.
"Uh~, it's not as amazing as they say. I just chose some players that suit my tactical ideas, mainly relying on Chris's data analysis...right, Chris."
Just at this time, Casper came back from using the toilet with three bottles of drinks in his hand.
George Li quickly brought the topic to Casper. He couldn't tell Eddie Howe that he was someone who could predict football news in the next ten years.
Eddie Howe glanced at Casper and thought that data analysis is really so good. If I go out to work alone in the future, data analysis will definitely be an important part. Should I take the time to ask Casper for advice?
"What are you talking about?"
"Eddie said that he wants to know more about your data model. Please tell him about it when you have time."
"Yes, that's right." Seeing George Li taking such initiative, Eddie Howe wanted to learn data analysis when he went back.
Seeing that Eddie Howe really wanted to learn, George Li remembered how he took the initiative to direct the first team's games last season, and suddenly he had an inspiration.
"Eddie, otherwise I'll leave all the reserve team games to you this season. Anyway, you seem to like directing games."
"This..." Eddie Howe was stunned for a moment. He really wanted to direct the game, but he didn't want to give up the opportunity to learn from Li in the first-team coaching staff.
George Li saw his dilemma and drove behind again.
"It's okay. Anyway, when the reserve team plays, several young players from the first team will participate. You should come to our usual coaching staff meetings. After I arrange some tactics for the first team, you can bring them back to the reserve team. Practice and drill, so that they won’t be afraid that they will lack game practice and become familiar with tactical ideas after returning to the first team.”
After hearing what Li said, Eddie Howe suddenly became enlightened and felt that this was really a good opportunity.
"I'll assign another analyst to you. If you don't understand data analysis, you can go to him directly." Casper took a sip of the drink and followed Eddie Howe's suggestion.
"That's it. I hope that at the end of the season, we can come back with a reserve team championship trophy." George Li stood up and stretched. After sitting for half the game, his body was a little stiff.
^^^
In the second half of the game, Manchester United continued to take the initiative on the field, but did not expand the score advantage.
Instead, it was Portsmouth where Maluwari scored a goal through a long shot to equalize the score.
1 to 1.
Manchester United received two consecutive draws against weak teams after the start of the season.
But after the game, Lee George looked at the Manchester United players exiting the field and Ferguson on the sidelines. I feel that this year's Manchester United may be Leeds United's biggest competitor on the road to defending the title.
