The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 384: Unleashing the Lions

Some top-tier teams, despite boasting impressive attacking line-ups, fail to deliver captivating matches, and their goal count often leaves much to be desired. The root issue lies in unclear roles; if five attacking players are all eager to score while only one is focused on orchestrating the attack, it's no surprise that their offensive play lacks fluidity.

Regardless of a player's individual skills, a successful offensive strategy requires a playmaker, a connector, and a finisher. In a well-functioning team, players must understand their roles in various zones: the organizers organize, the supporters assist, and the finishers score. This is often what distinguishes elite teams with performances above expectations; in comparison to certain criticized clubs, where every attacking player wants to be the star scorer instead of fulfilling their tactical duties.

For Millwall's new attacking unit, the roles of Ronaldinho and Henry are paramount. If they can meet Aldrich's expectations, Millwall's offense could unleash a storm in European football!

In the past, Pirlo's deeper role as a playmaker caused tremendous headaches for opponents, but as teams grew more familiar with Millwall's tactics, they started to disrupt Pirlo's game. If he held onto the ball too long, the offense would encounter obstacles. Ronaldinho, who also likes to have the ball in the front line, could share some of that burden, providing Millwall with a dual threat in midfield and attack.

Henry's position as a center-forward involves him frequently swapping places with the wingers and combining with the attacking midfielder Nedved. This unpredictability will make Millwall's attacking points harder for opponents to defend against. In instances where the numbers are even or the opposition has one extra defender, as long as they can sync their runs and provide cover for each other, tearing through the opposition's defense will become a straightforward task, unless they face a top-tier defense or a particularly stubborn, compact setup.

Liverpool, after conceding a goal, launched a counterattack. However, Millwall's defensive line remained steadfast, achieving a remarkably high rate of success in defending. After 30 minutes in the first half, they allowed their rivals only one unmarked shooting opportunity.

In the 33rd minute of the first half, Ronaldinho maneuvered past a defender on the left flank and delivered the ball to a steaming Pirlo. Without pausing, Pirlo executed a precise long pass to Larsson, who was cutting in from the right.

According to past experience, Larsson would typically cut in himself, but Henry deliberately moved closer to support. Instead of breaking through, Larsson opted for a one-two with Henry, ripping right through Liverpool's defense. After reaching the byline, he laid the ball back to the edge of the penalty area, where Nedved arrived at top speed. This triangular exchange took place in nearly three seconds, so fast that a blink would make one miss it.

Nedved was tightly marked, with Liverpool players closing in on him from both sides. One defender disturbed his shooting angle from behind, while the other blocked any long-range attempts from the front.

However, unexpectedly, Nedved took the ball directly into the penalty area, broke through the opponent's defense diagonally, and sent the ball into the small penalty area.

It was a clear open-goal chance, but Henry was a beat too late. After combining with Larsson, he assumed Larsson would take the shot, so he slowed down to look for a rebound opportunity. When Larsson passed to Nedved, Henry thought Nedved would shoot from distance. But after breaking through, Nedved found a much better chance. Despite Larsson and Nedved wreaking havoc on Liverpool's defense, by the time of the final pass, Henry was still a moment behind; had he started running sooner, he would have easily tapped the ball into the net.

As the ball slipped by the goal and was cleared by a Liverpool defender, Henry shot an apologetic gesture towards Nedved, feeling a pang of guilt.

What a beautiful goal that would have been!

Nedved didn't notice Henry's gesture at all. As soon as Liverpool cleared the ball, he ran back without hesitation to help defend.

Aldrich noticed this near-miss in Millwall's attack and realized that Henry still thought like a winger, seeking opportunities after his support play but not positioning himself as the center forward. It didn't matter; Aldrich was patient, knowing that it would take time for Henry to adjust to the new tactics. After all, the new strategy imposed high demands on him; the transition of roles in different areas and scenarios required a shift in mindset. After making a play for Larsson, who charged into the box, Henry's thought process had stalled. If he had maintained his awareness, he would have been well-placed to connect with Nedved's brilliant final pass.

"Once, twice, three times! How many golden opportunities will Millwall squander? First, Henry missed the open goal, then Ronaldinho's exquisite pass to Larsson was wasted as he stumbled before shooting. Henry played in the cutting Ronaldinho, who launched a feeble shot! Millwall's attacking play today is impressive, but in this fast-paced match, their ability to capitalize on opportunities leaves much to be desired. And what's wrong with Liverpool? Although their defense has been criticized since the start of the season, today they look completely exposed!"

"Martin, it's not that Liverpool is playing poorly; it's that they simply can't keep up with Millwall's pace. As commentators, we might have subconscious judgments about the players on the field based on their past performances, but today, can you predict the choices Millwall's attackers make when they get the ball? Liverpool has to worry about Nedved's long shots, track his dribbles, and watch for his through balls. The same goes for the rest of the team—Ronaldinho, Larsson, Henry—all of whom are incredibly skilled. If they rely solely on individual efforts, they won't pose much of a threat. One player can't handle two, and two won't lose out to one, but their combination play maximizes their individual abilities, making defending virtually impossible."

Jansen and Klinsmann whispered to each other from the coaching bench.

"Swapping Henry for Van Nistelrooy has made a world of difference."

"Maybe it's because Van Nistelrooy was stationary at the center forward position, while Henry possesses speed and a broad range of movement. His ability to break through and evade defenders allows for a lot of tactical variation, especially with the wingers and midfielders switching roles during the game."

"Was Aldrich's original intention in signing Henry not to capitalize on this?"

"I haven't discussed it, so I'm not entirely sure. We've always thought of Henry as a winger, rotating with Ronaldinho and Larsson."

During stoppage time in the first half, Liverpool launched a quick strike, appearing menacing and rapid. But just before entering the penalty area, Makélélé intercepted the ball with precision, instantly nullifying their attack.

Makélélé calmly passed to Zambrotta on the flank, who advanced toward the midfield and played a ball to Ronaldinho, who had created space with his movement.

Ronaldinho turned and drove forward, combining with Nedved and Henry in a 3-v-2 overlap. He breached the box and found himself with a half-chance; today, his shooting touch seemed off. Not wanting to squander any more opportunities, he set up Nedved instead, who controlled the ball and, without hesitation, slotted a pass to an onrushing Henry, who, faced with an advancing keeper, laid the ball back across the goal for Pirlo, arriving perfectly to slot the ball into an empty net.

"What a stunning goal! Millwall has found the back of Liverpool's net! This is definitely a candidate for goal of the season in terms of team play! Look at them, just look! They executed a counterattack from their own half without a single individual dribble, tearing apart Liverpool's defense through patient passing and movement—twice! Ronaldinho had the chance to finish after receiving a pass from Henry but chose to return it to Nedved. The Czech then aimed to assist Henry, who selflessly set up Pirlo, casually waltzing into the box completely unmarked. This is yet another classic team goal from Millwall! Is this what Hall was after? Is this the kind of attacking play he had in mind when he spent ￡10 million on Henry? Come on, Lions fans, who still yearns for Shevchenko and Trezeguet?"

Pirlo, perhaps due to the sheer simplicity of the goal, turned with an elegant smile after scoring, while Henry, Ronaldinho, Nedved, and Larsson, the four closest to him, walked over, exchanged smiles, and embraced each other by the shoulders, bowing their heads together.

Aldrich stood on the sidelines, hands on hips, nodding and smiling. Millwall's former "Diamond Attack" was known for its speed, fluid passing, and ability to capitalize on opportunities. Now, he was aiming to create a new generation of attackers even more fearsome than the one in the 1998 Champions League final. That last goal was indeed a result of their passing combination, but Liverpool clearly feared Millwall players' individual dribbling abilities. They hesitated to press too high when defending one-on-one, keeping their distance, wary of being cleanly outmaneuvered. With this balance of caution, Millwall's team play became even more threatening.

At halftime, Millwall led 2-0 away.

In the locker room, Aldrich made no tactical adjustments; with the team ahead, he preferred to continue refining their attacking cohesion rather than holding back.

What mattered most to him were those missed golden opportunities from the first half.

Liverpool cannot be regarded as a strong team, though they still think of themselves as one, playing without caution. This kind of opponent is perfect for Millwall's training.

Aldrich needs the new generation of attacking players to come together quickly, especially improving their ability to take chances. At this level, opponents won't grant many opportunities; when a good chance arises, it must be seized—opportunities missed are not easily replaced!

In the second half, Millwall continued to shine. This tactical framework posed challenges for the defense as well, striking a balance between attack and defense, providing the opposition with some opportunities. The variety in their attacking means, combined with a heightened threat from counterattacks compared to previous strategies, delivered even more excitement.

During the second half, Millwall created many chances, but several were squandered. Apart from Ronaldinho's assist on Larsson's header in the 70th minute, other good opportunities went begging, especially a near one-on-one following clever interplay between Nedved and Henry, who aimed for the angle but hit the post instead—a frustrating moment for him.

Ultimately, Millwall finished the match with a 3-0 victory against a struggling Liverpool side, once again conquering Anfield.

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