Unforeseen Resistance VIII

On the other side of the dugout, Vlad was acting just like a robot. He stared at the field emotionless as he decipher the information unravelling before him. His eyebrow arched at an unnatural angle as he understood the changes his opposition has made. Though he was staring at the field, his eyes unfocused as he saw something within his mind: an imaginary tactic board as he pictures the 22 players on the field in his mind.

He nodded to himself. Realising what Le Harve was up to. He checked the match clock. It is the 58th minute of the game, with about another 40 minutes of the game yet to be played. It is early, far too early for a substitution but they are no reason for Vlad not to react. The caucasian manager couldn't just watch his players struggle on the field.

He turned to the bench, evaluating the options available to him before selecting the player. "Warm up. You're subbing in for Oyensui."

.

It was not until the 63rd minute when the fourth official raised the electronic board as he communicated to everyone concerned that Amiens have made their first substitution of the game. But Lanier and Kai have long noticed the player that Vlad has decided to bring on, as they watched him for a few minutes performing stretches and warmup on the sidelines.

Lanier looked at the player, scrolling through his brain's archived memories as he recollected information about the player. "Who's that kid? I think you mentioned him in your report. Yeah, Hugo?"

Hugo nodded his head as he cast a brief glance at that player. "He's a weird player. No apparent strength yet no apparent weaknesses in his game."

"Huh? So he's a jack of all trades? Where does he play?"

Hugo eyed the player with a cautious glance. "Anywhere but defence....."

.

As the player marched on the field every spectator had their eyes questioning their functionality as they witnessed who the player was changed for. Impossible... Vlad had chosen to sub off the striker Oyensui who scored their only goal in favour of Raoul Forestier.

But it wasn't long before the impact of the substitution was felt thoroughly by everyone on the field both tactically and mentally.

Marley could only watch bewilderedly as he witness Eze, the makeshift right wing-back, being completely shut down by Forestier who had no intention to watch the ball and only stared at the Cameroon player, intending to not let him have a single touch on the ball.

The Le Harve staff watched in moments of doubt, as making a substitution is not something they could revert to. They would rather be confident and understanding of what they were facing before playing their cards on the table.

The tactical coach expected that with a player being aggressive on their wing-back they should be easily finding their other man on the flanks. Lanier thought Séverin (playing as RW) should be found an open player as Amiens only have one player protecting the flank on either side. But to his surprise. He could only see the blistering quick Azad offering their team's No.10 no space on the ball. The same is evident on the other side of the pitch, with Chevalier and Arbelaez no room to dribble to cross the ball into the box.

It is clear Le Harve's once-found joy on the flanks has disappeared. Marley watched intently as he analyse Amien's sudden change... that they have adjusted their formation.

"A 5-4-1?" Lanier questioned as he noted his observations.

Marley nodded soon after. "God Damn. That cocky shit used Forestier as a defensive winger against Eze."

The 5-4-1 perfectly countered Le Harve's exploits down the wings. By having two wide players on both sides. Looking for those aggressive overlapping runs from the Eze and Roussel suddenly became more difficult as the sky and the navy blue club no longer have an overload on the flanks. More worryingly, their aggressive plays on the wings are beginning to be exploited by Amiens, with them winning the ball at the flanks before immediately kicking it long in hopes of finding their moving target Granger up top.

The two coaches ran through the lines in their heads as they considered what to do next. Marley and Lanier knew what is to come of it... but they didn't see how he could make changes to the setup to immediately respond.

"The ball is under the control of Simon... who passes it to Roussel.... and he kicks the ball upfield to Eze...." Sebastien commentated as he viewed the game unfold and the attack on the wings.

The Cameroonian dribbled the ball deep in Le Harve's half as he carried the ball up the pitch by the flanks. Yet not only a few feet he had travelled before Forestier positioned himself in front of Eze, shuttling him down the flanks as he pushed his to the white line that was out of bounds.

"Forestier challenges Eze.... and he tackles the ball out of play."

The substitute prepared himself as his opposition approached. and as the player took the bait to dribble down the flanks, he denied him the space before leaving his leg out across the player to flick the ball out of the field. A throw-in for Le Harve, but Forestier achieved what his manager had asked of him.

"The ball goes out of bounds as Eze prepares himself for the throw-in...."

Eze gathered the ball on the sidelines before winding himself up to throw the ball. All the whilst aware of his teammates and coaches that were sitting right behind him in the dugout. There was an invisible force of pressure on him as he gritted his teeth and lunged the ball up the field in hopes of finding Séverin. But before the playmaker could receive the ball, Azad came out of nowhere to steal the ball

"OH but Azad dispossess Séverin to get the ball back..."

The Left-Back rejoiced on the ball, feeling the touch of the ball as he ran up the pitch. Azad eyed up the field, looking for the lanky Granger for the signal for the long ball. Yet smiled bitterly as he saw numerous defenders surrounding him. But he wasn't dismayed as he found another option only a few feet before himself.

"Azad runs with the ball.... and he passes to Forestier up the flank!"

Eze was rattled, he threw the ball up the pitch expecting Séverin to perform a one-two with himself to unlock the flanks. Yet he didn't foresee Azad being there to intercept the pass. But even worse, at this moment of slight negligence, Forestier took this opportunity to lose Eze and up the pitch to attack.

"IT'S A COUNTER! – WHAT WILL AMIENS DO HERE?!"

Forestier ran against the current as he chased the ball on the left wing. The ball bounced upon the snowy field as he cast his vision on the ball. He wasn't the fastest player, but by the advantage of being fresh off the bench, the Frenchman was full of confidence to race to the ball first before anyone could get it.

As he approached ever closer, another figure came rushing before him as he ruthlessly slide in for the ball. Forestier was taken aback, Roussel was tenacious as he gave no hesitance in his challenge. But all was too late as Forestier was just a few seconds before the defenders to get the first touch on the ball.

"FORESTIER FIRST TO THE BALL! ROUSSEL MISSED HIS TACKLE..."

The substitute attempted a soft touch on the ball to redirect it away from the challenger. But unexpectedly, due to his insufficient warm-up and touches on the ball, he had miscontrolled his first touch as it bounced away from him.

Forestier had a moment of panic as he realised the ball would be cleared away, wasting this brilliant chance of counter. But before he could show his disappointment, the poor touch wasn't punished as his team's light bearer appeared before him... right where the ball bounced off his foot.

"OH, AND WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PASS FROM FORESTIER TO FIND GRANGER!!!"

The giant striker reacted quickly, closing the gap with the ball as he drove forward. Although the conditions were cold, the anticipation was extreme. He wasn't fast, nor was he good with his feet, but if there was one thing he was proud of, it is his determination and ability to anticipate. Granger chased the ball from Forestier, but he could feel Simon lurking like a predator to tackle him at the earliest opportunity.

Simon had already witnessed the physical strength of the striker, and he squirms to be ruthless in his challenge as he is certain his opposition wouldn't be injured... or so he believed.

"AND GRANGER GETS TO THE BALL!! HE RUNS INTO THE BOX!!!––"

The striker gritted his teeth, he didn't know what to do as he anticipated the ball to be taken away from him. With the ball nowhere in sight, Simon attacked with reckless abandon as he pulled out his arms to tackle the Frenchman. Screw it, better try than not.

Granger raised his left foot as he took a heavy step forward. As his foot touched the ground, his leg twisted in a looping, elastic manner, and Simon could do nothing but watch as he teetered from the impact.

Clear of the defender, Granger raised his left foot, muscle bulging as he stared at the keeper with determination.

"GRANGER SHOOTS!!!"

Faira was on his tiptoes as he once was again tested at the goalpost. Though the angle of the shot was limited as Simon had done brilliantly to force him to one side. The keeper watched as the striker lined up the angle to send his challenge and attempt to break the deadlock.

All unfolded before his eyes as the striker hit what he could only describe as a powerful shot. Almost straight as a knife, no curling, no off-centre... nothing. The ball was a rocket, but Faira moved instinctively his legs to the ball as he slammed it away with a such effortless grace as if it were a feather.

"OH, WHAT A SAVE FROM FAIRA TO DENY GRANGER GETTING ON THE SCORE SHEET. WHAT A LETHAL COUNTERATTACK BY AMIENS!"

Yet as the keeper watch the ball roll on the side netting, there was a sweat rolling down his forehead as recollected the speed of the shot. He was lucky there was only a small angle for Granger to shoot. If the striker was against an open net..... the keeper didn't proceed down this idea as he was certain he wouldn't be able to save those shots.