Team Spirit

Chapter 104 (1.1 words, please subscribe) The First Golden Boy of All Time
Sky Sports: "Lu Kai did it too! Dartford's 5-4 super last-minute winner dethrones Liverpool once again!"

BBC: "Gerrard did it too! Carragher said after the match!"

The Times: "The real quintet beat the fake quintet! Liverpool's EFL Cup title defense ends!"

Liverpool Echo: "Anfield is weeping tonight!"

Manchester Evening News: "Lu Kai scores a super quadruple, seven goals and two assists to dominate the EFL Cup, Green Gunner is truly brave! Carragher's own goal is not as good as Gerrard's century slip, Red Center suffers two betrayals!"

Kent Post: "Of Liverpool's former trio, two are injured and out of commission; who says a water gun can't be the main striker!"

The Kent Post's accompanying newspaper featured a photo of Gerrard blinking to avoid Lu Kai's wave.

What a delicious shrimp and pork heart dish!
But for academic papers, you have to look to the domestic new media platform "Dongqiudi":
"Tonight, the rain is sparse and the wind is strong; Lu Kai scores four goals in a row."

"But let's ask the KOPs: they still claim the five-time champion in sleeper berths!"

"Do you know, do you know, it should be that the green leaves are lush and the red flowers are faded!"

The accompanying image shows a green cannon blasting a Liverbird to pieces.

This has deeply upset Liverpool fans in the country.

But this also made them an instant hit, and their popularity soared, making them second only to Sports Weekly and Football News in China.

Dartford made history by reaching the round of 16 in their first appearance in the EFL Cup, a truly remarkable achievement.

After the match, Lu Kai, in the spotlight, accepted interviews from reporters.

Reporter: "Lu Kai, you scored four goals. How does it feel?"

Lu Kai: "It feels like I scored four goals!"

Reporter: "Did you think you could beat Liverpool before the match?"

Lu Kai: "We set this as our goal, but when it actually happened, everyone was still pleasantly surprised."

Reporter: "Many Liverpool fans think you won because of luck. What do you think?"

Lu Kai: "Of course! If we can beat Liverpool purely on our strength, then perhaps everyone should call us the Green Devils!"

Lu Kai shot the reporter in the heart.

The first two questions were fine, but the third question revealed his identity.

Undoubtedly a sleeper car enthusiast.

I was very unwilling to accept the loss.

I can understand, but I won't indulge them.

Then another reporter asked: "Some fans call you, Gerrard, and Carragher the 'Green Gunners Trio' because the former provided the game-winning assist for you, and the latter scored his own goal with the assist from you. What do you think about that?"

Lu Kai laughed and said, "It's a pretty good combination, but unfortunately it can't become a reality because Dartford can't afford their salaries."

Reporter: "Before Gerrard slipped, no one thought you had a chance. But we saw you running towards the ball with unwavering determination. What kept you going?"

Lu Kai was satisfied with the answer to this question: "It's the belief in winning."

"With the development of productivity, many people are in a state where they are not starving but have little motivation to do anything."

"I was in a similar situation after being released by Arsenal's youth academy."

"Until I saw a quote in Dartford's team magazine that said when your life loses its meaning, when you can't find a purpose in moving forward."

"Please don't stop, please keep running."

"You may not know what lies ahead, but as long as you keep running, you will see the beautiful scenery one day."

"So when I sprinted toward Gerrard, I knew that as long as I kept running, the goal would eventually come!"

The reporter's eyes welled up with tears.

Lu Kai quickly added, "So please subscribe to our Dartford team magazine, which has now been renamed 'The Voice of the Green Gun'!"

Without a doubt, this is Dartford's new property.

Content is primarily overseen by Emily, an editor at The Sun. A deep collaboration has been established with the mainland Chinese new media platform Dongqiudi, showcasing the different perspectives of Eastern and Western fans on Dartford.

For example, if any domestic media outlet dared to say something like, "It was just a trash game that Liverpool didn't care about at all, what's there to brag about winning?"

Then Dongqiudi can copy the content of Green Gun Voice, such as "The Dartford match helped Liverpool find two amateur players, Gerrard and Carragher!" and "Lu Kai is far ahead in the EFL Cup top scorer list, and his performance is 50% higher than his peers!"

Let's see what else you have to say.

On the other hand, "The Voice of Green Guns" will also carry over the extremely high praise for Lu Kai, An Qi, and Dartford in China, thereby increasing Dartford's "Eastern market value".

Whether you have real value or not, when you're out in the world, you create your own value.

But as long as you're willing to put in the effort, the results are often not too bad.

Dartford's "My Love Diary in Assen Green" is the best example.

This semi-documentary, semi-reality show format has once again become a huge hit in this episode.

This video is undoubtedly a special feature on Dartford vs. Liverpool.

The video begins with Lu Kai and Gerrard's "duel of the century".

Eva Green's moving narration says, "He ran as fast as he could, just to catch up with the person on whom so much hope had been placed!"

Arsenal have once again been mercilessly criticized!
Of course, some other players also appeared in this episode.

You won't believe it until you see it; they're all the outcasts of the Avengers.

At the end of this episode, Lu Kai teases Morgan: "Hey Morgan, I heard Liverpool have their eyes on you! You'll probably be playing at Anfield next season!"

Morgan was surprised, delighted, and fearful all at the same time: "How could that be? It's all just nonsense from netizens. Liverpool wouldn't want a player like me..."

Before Morgan could finish speaking, Lu Kai pulled up a clip of Liverpool manager Houllier being interviewed: "Any player named Leonard is bound to be pretty good."

“Morgan of Dartford played a crucial role in this game.”

"His impact is very strong."

"We will keep an eye on him."

Morgan was stunned: "WTF? Is this real? Really?"

"I...OMG...I..."

"yeah!!!"

Morgan's excitement was palpable.

He couldn't even stay at Wimbledon in League One, but now he suddenly has a chance to join Liverpool. This is definitely the most satisfying story ever!

Morgan had gone mad.

Finally, the camera returned to Lu Kai.

Eva Green asked him, "So what about you? If Liverpool wanted to, would you join them?"

Lu Kai laughed and said, "Who wouldn't want to join a top club?"

The camera dimmed.

Lu Kai's voice continued, "But I don't want to... because I am a wealthy family!"

A line of text appeared in the darkness:
Dartford Royal VCD, originating from London, England in 1888!

pure!
Code!
advanced!

This episode broke the previous broadcast record set when Lu Kai led England U17 to win the World Youth Championship.

And it has to be said that they've really made the Green Gun brand quite successful.

The last part, in particular, was full of the flavor of Qianshui Mountain, managing to make a one-yuan bucket of plain water look like several yuan's worth of plain water.

Anyone with even a slight understanding of football might think this is an Arsenal promotional video.

……

Dartford's elimination of Liverpool in the EFL Cup has been a hot topic for a week.

Their legends circulated throughout Europe.

A week later, even more explosive news broke.

In a recent interview, Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson made it clear that this season will be his last with the Red Devils.

After the season ends, he will bid farewell to football, return to his family, and spend time with his wife.

Otherwise, my wife would have to take a car to Dartford to watch the game.

This news is an earthquake for the entire European football world.

And in the vicinity of the earthquake, at the Dartford Pond training ground convenience store.

Lu Kai, Jiang Mengyun, Emily, and Eva all stared at Alfred.

"Do you want to explain?" Lu Kai pulled up the store's security camera footage.

Inside, Alfred and Ferguson's wife, Kathy, are drinking milk tea.

“Oh! So the one who came that day was Ferguson… I thought… Alfred, you…” Jiang Mengyun hesitated for a moment before continuing.

The silent rebuke was deafening.

Alfred quickly explained, "It's not what you think. She came after she knew I was here. We just had some milk tea."

"I deliberately chose our store because I was afraid of any rumors. There are surveillance cameras, so I can explain things clearly."

“We just exchanged phone numbers. We're from the same hometown, and our houses are next to each other; they need repairs…”

Anyway, they're all just trivial but important matters.

Besides, at this age, what could he possibly have?

Emily was skeptical: "So Ferguson's retirement really has nothing to do with you?"

Alfred was certain: "It's alright. Champions League, treble, three consecutive Premier League titles, perhaps he has no more challenges left."

"You're more likely to blame Wenger for this. What if he had done something even slightly better?"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Alright, alright, stop gossiping, everyone get back to work." Alfred left first, showing his principles as a sheep.

A short while later, Viktor arrived and gave his routine report: "Lu, these are the recent match statistics."

On October 10th, Dartford lost 1-2 to Oxford United.

Playing against Liverpool was too taxing.

On October 16th, they won a resounding 3-1 victory over Bury at home.

On October 19th, the away game ended in a 1-1 draw against Notts County.

On October 30th, they won 4-2 at home against Wycombe Wanderers.

The team has risen to eighth in the standings, just one step away from the promotion zone.

Their condition has clearly improved.

Victor glanced out the window and whispered, "Lu, there's something I don't understand. Why haven't you been rotating Morgan lately? Instead..."

Since the match against Liverpool, there have been rumors that Liverpool are interested in Morgan.

Liverpool's scouts have further corroborated this view in their recent home games.

Morgan is really going to marry into a wealthy family.

To be honest, he used to be one of the four wings, and he was the substitute wing.

If Viktor is the owner of Green Gun, he will definitely keep Morgan hidden away in the near future.

As a result, Lu Kai actually started Morgan every game, giving him plenty of opportunities.

This is practically sending people away.

Lu Kai smiled slightly at this and said, "Do you think we can keep Morgan after Liverpool makes an offer?"

Victor was taken aback: "Then we definitely can't keep it..."

Lu Kai nodded: "That's it. Since we can't keep him, why make things so ugly?"

“We have professional contracts with Morgan Stanley, and they've been in place for quite some time.”

"If handled properly, a win-win-win situation is not difficult to achieve."

"But the premise is that we are willing to let Morgan go, Liverpool are willing to pay, and Morgan is willing to cooperate with us."

A few minutes later, Morgan knocked on the door.

Lu Kai called him over.

"Um, Captain Lu." Morgan's relationship with the whole team is a bit awkward right now.

On the one hand, everyone admires him and wishes him well.

On the other hand, everyone will also feel frustrated, wondering why Liverpool didn't take a liking to them.
After all, Morgan is not the only outstanding player in the team.

The team's four wings each have their own strengths and weaknesses, but their overall skill levels are roughly the same.

Especially Morgan's close friend Markov from Wimbledon, the two have had several arguments during training recently.

The relationship is very tense.

Their relationships were far more strained than those of others.

It really proves that saying... gangster brothers can share hardship, but not happiness.

The main issue is a low level of understanding.

Those who haven't taken off can't overcome their own jealousy and tendency to compare themselves to others.

Those who have taken off don't understand the feelings of those who haven't taken off yet.

The more powerful a person becomes, the more they need to be bound by and restrained by rules and regulations.

Demonstrating your coolness, courage, and growth isn't about targeting taxi drivers who are weaker than you. It's about doing things you find difficult in front of people who are far stronger than you.

Got it, He?

"Your recent performance has disappointed me greatly," Lu Kai criticized Morgan without reservation. "I'm now wondering whether you even want to go to Liverpool."

Morgan was stunned, unsure how to respond.

Lu Kai shook his head: "I know you want to go. What I mean is, given your current performance, it's understandable that Liverpool hasn't made a move yet."

"Here, take a look at your recent data."

"This is previous data; you can make a comparison."

"Have you noticed that you've been passing the ball to your teammates much less often, especially Markov... a lot of the conflicts he's had with you lately have indeed been about specific issues."

Morgan's face grew greener as he looked at the data.

Because the decline is indeed significant.

"Captain Lu, I'm sorry, I..." Morgan felt ashamed.

Because these data reflect his true state of mind.

He got cocky!
It's unique!

However, his contributions on the field did not increase as he switched to a "superstar playing style".

It's actually worse.

Lu Kai gestured for Morgan to sit down first: "It's like this, Alfred and Emily are paying close attention to the situation with Liverpool."

"Let me state my club's position first."

"The club absolutely supports your move to Liverpool. It's a great thing, a historic event for Dartford."

"We will do everything in our power to make it happen!"

Morgan's eyes reddened: "Lu, I really... I was wrong. I thought you and the team would try to keep me, like reducing my playing time or preventing my teammates from passing me the ball..."

Lu Kai laughed and said, "I understand. Many small teams do the same thing when they encounter this kind of situation."

“But we are different. You’ve been at Dartford for so long, you should know that we may be a small team in terms of level and size.”

"But in terms of mindset and thinking, we are absolutely strong."

Morgan nodded.

Lu Kai: "So regarding your transfer, I hope you trust me and trust the club."

"This is the information we have gathered so far, and it is all related to your transfer."

"Robbie Fowler will likely leave in the winter transfer window and join Leeds United."

"Liverpool's attacking line will only consist of Heskey and Owen."

"But they are in talks with PSG to loan Anelka."

"In addition, according to exclusive sources, they will also try to bring in a Czech striker."

"The competition is actually very fierce."

"Even if you put up some great performances and stats right now, it'll be hard to compete with these famous players. But you have an advantage they don't have, which is that you can play on the wing."

"Liverpool's left and right wingers are either too old or not effective."

"But to secure those two positions, you need to create opportunities for Owen. Don't forget, Owen is Liverpool's undisputed king right now! His comfort level is crucial!"

Morgan understood after Lu Kai said that.

Given his current solo-style kicking, Irving might have to come and assist him.

But is that possible?
It's paradoxical, really.

Liverpool signed Morgan because Owen was injured and Fowler was about to leave, meaning Morgan was intended to be Owen's backup.

Liverpool's focus was on Morgan's performance as a striker when he played for Liverpool.

But in reality, if Morgan wants to establish himself at Liverpool, the position he can really fight for is the winger position.

At the same time, having multiple locations is also necessary to further increase Morgan's selling price, well... Morgan's competitiveness.

Liverpool would spend at most two or three hundred thousand pounds on a fifth striker, because it's too easy to get a mediocre player.

But a winger who is a rotation player or even a starter, plus a substitute striker, is much more valuable; once you buy him, you'll always be able to use him.

"As for you and Markov... if you really become a big star, you'll have a lot of friends in the future."

"But you only have a few true friends when you're young."

"It's up to you."

After saying that, Lu Kai took out a packaged Arsenal jersey from the drawer.

“Markover really likes Arsenal’s Ian Wright, this is his autographed jersey, you decide. The decision is yours.” Lu Kai shoved the item into Morgan’s hands.

After all, it would have to be deducted from Morgan's salary.

This is the real thing.

Worth a fortune.

It's not so easy to find someone to take over... or a sucker... a buyer.

……

The next day, the whole team was surprised to find that Markov and Morgan had made up!
Moreover, Morgan's playing style has changed.

It has returned to normal, and the lone dragon is no longer the only one.

November 6th, English Third Division, Round 17.

Dartford will play away against Torquay United.

This is a tough battle.

On the one hand, Torquay United is currently ranked twelfth, in the same mid-table position as Dartford.

On the other hand, Torquay United and Dartford have a history of conflict.

Their family's "important asset," "outstanding youth academy" Mike Williams, was poached by Lu Kai.

Premier League club Southampton wants a player, and Torquay United couldn't keep him, which is understandable.

The crucial point is that Williams didn't go to Southampton in the end.

This is crazy!

Therefore, Torquay United declared before the match that they would not allow Dartford to leave their stadium unscathed!

Lu Kai consulted with Williams to see if he wanted to play. If he wanted to avoid the game, someone else could be arranged to start.

Williams said he could overcome it.

Therefore, Dartford's starting lineup for this match is:
Morgan, Holt
Shory, Brad, Markov
Lu Kai, Amorin
Davis, Williams, Duff

An Qi
-

Barton has accumulated too many yellow cards in the league, resulting in a suspension.

Kevin is not feeling well.

Young Curtis Davis has been performing well in training recently, so he has been given a starting opportunity.

It's not hard to see from this lineup configuration that they're supporting Morgan.

Holt is the team's forward who loves to create chances.

Shore's passes were so smooth, it goes without saying.

Markov, a dribbling maniac, draws fire, giving Morgan more opportunities to make runs into dangerous positions on his side.

In addition, Lu Kai himself received all the rewards from the Liverpool match to the present before the game:

[Backer - Iron 2]

[Arm Exercises - Iron 3]

[One-Touch Pass - Iron 3]

[Hardcore - Bronze 4]

【Precision Lob Shot - Bronze 5】

[Special Feature: Enhancing the effectiveness of backfield pressing drills]

[Unknown Player - Iron Level: Your off-the-ball movement has received a slight improvement. You are more adept at spotting the opponent's blind spots.]

[Ding! Gerrard's long-range shot gave you an epiphany; the powerful shot has been upgraded to a tiger-style shot!]

[Tiger Shot - Gold: Your long-range shooting ability is greatly improved. Your long-range shooting accuracy and power are greatly improved. Your shooting motion is less likely to be intercepted by the opponent. When the ball hits the edge of the net, there is a very small chance that it will tear the net.]

There are two new skills.

[The invisible person on the court] looks rather shady.

This skill is actually quite advanced.

Some players are always overlooked on the field, which often leads them to emerge victorious at crucial moments.

This is definitely not just a matter of the defenders ignoring the issue.

It's not simply that these players don't run as much.

No matter how little you run, you are still my enemy, and I can't help but pay attention to you.

The reason you don't notice them is because these players can block your vision and hide in your blind spot.

If you try to observe him specifically, your normal observation will be affected, and it's difficult to have both.

Another point is that these players are also very good at imitating the habits of opposing players.

Therefore, those who are defending them may misidentify them in their peripheral vision.

Don't be surprised by the differences in the colors of the two teams' jerseys or their ethnicities.

When you are fully focused, the markers you notice are likely not these, but rather some more ambiguous behavioral information.

The "Tiger Shot" is a super-enhanced version of a long-range shot.

Thanks to Gerrard for the rocket.

The most amazing thing about this skill is the phrase "the shooting motion is not easily disrupted by the opponent".

Only long-range shots that maintain the integrity of the movement can produce high-quality shots.

The "tiger-style shot" is both an exaggerated description and a realistic depiction.

When a player shoots, he raises his hands and his whole body expands, like an eagle taking flight or a tiger descending a mountain.

Minimize the impact of players behind and to the sides on the shooting player.

As for the special effect of tearing the net, the conditions are very demanding, and it has no practical effect.

Its only purpose is probably to show off!
That said, for football players, especially young players, this might be the best keyword.

Being handsome is all that matters!

beep!

With the sound of a whistle, the Battle of Judah began.

Torquay has already raised the bar to this level.

In the second minute, Williams made a brilliant defensive play, knocking down a Torquay United striker while chasing back.

He then passed the ball to Davis.

Unfortunately, Davis was not prepared and made a mistake in controlling the ball, giving the opposing winger a shooting opportunity from the right side of the penalty area.

Fortunately, the opponent missed and the ball went wide of the goal.

Otherwise, Davis would have to take full responsibility for that goal conceded.

There was booing from the audience.

Torquay United had 3,500 fans at their home stadium, which was the stadium's maximum capacity. The boos weren't for Davis, but for Williams.

In addition, Torquay United's striker also tried to draw a foul.

But the referee didn't award a penalty.

Williams's play was very clean.

In the 19th minute, Lu Kai intercepted the ball in the backfield and made a long pass to Holt.

Holt passed the ball back to Brad.

Brad played a through ball to Morgan.

The latter took a long-range shot, but it was caught by the opposing goalkeeper.

The two sides traded blows, but the overall pace was slow.

In the 37th minute, Lu Kai, who hadn't touched the ball for a while, suddenly made a forward run and successfully intercepted it near the center line.

The "Sports Field Nobody" feature is really useful.

Lu Kai dribbled forward, and Morgan, Brad, and Holt launched a three-pronged attack, all in good positions.

Lu Kai waited until Morgan was in the best condition before passing the ball to him.

Morgan took a low shot inside the penalty area.

This time I have it!

One to zero!

Dartford leads.

In the 41st minute, Marko dribbled down the right flank and passed the ball back. Youngster Amorin, with a clear understanding of the situation, launched a long pass to the left.

Xiao Li contested for the ball with the opponent and was fouled and knocked down.

Green Gunners were awarded a free kick on the left side of the attacking third.

Lu Kai and Brad were both standing behind the football.

However, Torquay United believes that Brad should take the penalty.

Because Brad is a 50/50 player, he can cross with his left foot.

Lu Kai, however, has a disability in his foot and can only pass with his right foot.

On the left side of the field, a C-shaped pass can be made with the left foot, passing through multiple passing points.

This is the best way to take a tactical free kick.

Lu Kai's right foot formed an inverted C shape, with only one landing point.

The probability also tells us that we should choose...

boom!
Instead of feinting, Lu Kai fired a shot with his right foot.

【Long pass guidance】!
[Bainstein Curve]!
The football traced an enormous arc.

The Dartford players knew that Lu Kai would kick off.

But not everyone rushed out.

Because the other party can follow suit based on their reactions.

So only a few key players like Williams, Davis, and Holt managed to get away.

Naturally, there were very few opposing players following up.

This kick created a "lock" effect, heading straight for the tallest player, Williams.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Williams flicked his head, and the ball went into the net.

"GOAL! Two to zero! Dartford extends their lead!"

"The goal was scored by Torquay United academy player Williams!"

"He did not choose to celebrate."

"But the fans on the sidelines were hurling insults and profanities."

"In fact, it is difficult for us to judge who is right and who is wrong between Williams and Torquay United, as they both have their own positions."

"But it really shouldn't have turned into such an ugly mess."

boom!
Fans on the sidelines threw bottled water at Williams.

If the latter hadn't dodged, this blow would have hit him.

Small courts, with standing room, are close together, and this situation happens frequently.

Therefore, the FA stipulates that standing room is not allowed in the Premier League and League One unless a special application is made.

This is also to prevent a repeat of the Hillsborough tragedy.

In lower leagues like English League Two and English League Three, teams cannot completely give up their seats.

However, the relevant legislation is also underway.

These will all become some of the hardware standards that teams need to meet for future upgrades.

"Hey! Try throwing one again!"

The Dartford players immediately moved closer.

Lu Kai immediately pulled Williams away.

The Torquay United fans on the sidelines became even more excited, with some even rushing onto the pitch.

But with only two or three people, they didn't dare to make a move in front of the Dartford players.

If Patton weren't here today, none of these guys who came in would have gotten away!

With the joint efforts of stadium security and referees, the situation was brought under control.

The stadium security recorded the personal information of the person who threw the bottle.

Dartford will appeal after the game, and this fan will be banned from attending games at stadiums around the world for at least a year.

But this conflict saddened Williams.

You could say he celebrated, but he didn't.

The fans' behavior saddened him.

In the 45th minute, both sides were locked in a fierce battle.

Torquay United wanted to pull one back so they could have a better chance in the second half.

Williams cleared the ball with a header once again.

Xiao Li received the ball and passed it to Lu Kai, who launched a counterattack, passing the ball to Brad during the advance.

Brad continued his advance and found an opportunity to send a through ball.

Morgan received the ball on the left side, but was marked one-on-one by the opposing defender.

But his teammates have better positions.

Morgan's inverted triangle approach.

Lu Kai rushed to the top of the penalty arc while being pulled by the defender, spread his arms to block the opponent, and his shooting motion was completely flawless.

He unleashed a powerful shot right at the ball!
boom!
The football roared into the goal, stirring up waves.

“GOAL!!!”

After scoring, Lu Kai rushed to the corner flag and roared at the Torquay United fans!

Does that mean, are you satisfied now?
It's really strange.

Williams did not celebrate after scoring, and people in the stadium were cursing at him.

Lu Kai celebrated after scoring, with a somewhat provocative tone, but the fans in the stadium weren't particularly excited.

The boos were only sporadic.

Many others were speechless at Lu Kai's shot.

"Absolutely domineering!"

"Lu Kai was venting his frustration on behalf of his teammates."

"Torque League's morale has been completely crushed!"

"Three-nil at halftime! Green Gunners could even go to the locker room to pop some champagne!"

The second half saw little change in the game's outcome.

In the 62nd minute, Lu Kai launched another attack, intercepting the ball and making a low long pass to launch a counterattack.

Morgan dribbled into the opponent's penalty area and then passed the ball.

Markov, who flew in from the right, fired a shot into the net from the right side of the penalty area.

The two close friends celebrated their reconciliation with great enthusiasm.

Highlighting a brotherly football style!
In the 67th minute, Lu Kai, Markofer, Holt and other players were substituted off one after another.

Ashley Young played as an attacking midfielder.

Brad dropped back to midfield.

Akinfenwa replaced Holt, and is also a target man who primarily creates opportunities for the ball.

Madeira replaced Markofo.

However, the team failed to score again.

Instead, Torquay United capitalized on Ashley Young's mistake, breaking through Amorim's defense and scoring a goal.

The "Second Prince" duo clearly lack experience and are not quite up to the task of fulfilling their roles.

But in the end, the team still won 4-1.

Morgan scored one goal and provided two assists, earning him the Man of the Match award.

Meanwhile, Liverpool scouts in the stands nodded frequently, clearly very satisfied with Morgan's performance.

……

The FA Cup kicks off on November 13th.

Dartford are competing on three fronts!

At this time last year, they had already played four rounds of qualifying matches.

But that's the good thing about professional leagues; there's less preamble and you jump straight into the main competition.

Moreover, their opponents had fought their way up from lower levels with great difficulty.

In the first round of the FA Cup, Dartford will host Forest Green Wanderers, a semi-professional team in the fifth tier.

Last season, this would have been a formidable opponent for Dartford, a force two levels above them.

But now... sorry, Green Gun is the real boss.

Six to one!

The riverside stadium was buzzing with excitement the entire time.

They fought their way here through six rounds, and we just beat them back with six goals.

Too cruel!

The media expressed disbelief at this.

Because this was supposed to be a fierce battle.

Does Dartford's ability automatically improve as his level rises?
Is it really this easy to play against fifth-tier teams now?
In fact, given Dartford's current mid-to-upper-tier ranking in the English Third Division, there's no reason why they shouldn't be able to beat fifth-tier teams.

Many fifth-tier teams are relegated back to the third division in the same season after being promoted.

Of those who remained, only one or two out of ten were truly exceptional.

This kind of power barrier is not easy to break through.

But Dartford did indeed break through.

However, Lu Kai only managed one assist in this match.

It truly meets the standards for the defensive midfield position.

Brad was the Man of the Game.

Two goals and two assists, a dominant performance throughout the game, he practically destroyed the opponent's backcourt.

It has a bit of a "Green Gun Gascoigne" feel to it.

It is said that Premier League-level clubs have already taken notice of him.

West Ham United have also re-established contact with Brad and are interested in taking him back.

But Brad is unlikely to go to West Ham United.

Otherwise, it would be too lacking in spirit.

Don't believe those gold diggers who say they'll change; it's impossible... They'll treat you casually the first time, and they'll only treat you more casually the second time.

On November 17th, Dartford lost 1-2 to Swansea City away from home.

The latter is currently ranked first in the English Second Division!

On November 20th, Dartford defeated Lincoln City 3-0 at home.

With a superior goal difference, they officially moved into seventh place in the English Third Division.

Since there are four promotion spots in the English Second Division, the top three teams play directly, while teams ranked fourth through seventh compete in two playoffs for the last spot.

So... Dartford are in the promotion zone!

For a time, English fans once again turned their attention to the relatively minor English Third Division league.

People are also talking about how, before the season started, Lu Kai persuaded Dartford fans to buy lottery tickets for the team's promotion.

Everyone noticed that these odds seemed a bit alarming!
Yes... 5,000 to 1!
Basically, one lottery ticket can earn you two or three months' salary.

If some idiot, oh no... if some gambling god makes a huge bet, then...

Soon, major lottery companies launched a new service... lottery ticket buyback!
They buy back "Dartford Upgrade" lottery tickets at three times the original price paid by the buyers.

In other words, when you get a payout of three times the original amount.

Anyone who likes to bet on sports knows that this is already a great profit.

If you don't make money, then never mind what I said.

Anyway, you definitely won't get such a high return if you buy the most popular stocks.

So a small number of people actually quit.

Lu Kai didn't say anything about it.

A person's fate is predetermined by heaven, but opportunities are presented to you; it's up to you whether you believe in them or not.

With this, Dartford have completed 18 rounds of league play and are currently seventh in the league.

The player stats are all pretty good.

Lu Kai's position shifted to a deeper role, which affected his league statistics, resulting in only ten goals and ten assists.

It's nowhere near as good as last season.

After all, last season, Lu Kai needed to solidify his record with statistics.

But this season, having gradually gained recognition, he no longer needs this method.

Because... the golden body has been completed!
……

On November 24, Lu Kai flew to Turin, Italy, to attend the inaugural Golden Boy Award ceremony.

He was the only player present.

There aren't many media outlets either.

The ceremony is a youth-oriented version and certainly can't compare to awards like the Ballon d'Or or FIFA World Player of the Year.

But at least there is such a ritual.

That's right!

Lu Kai won the grand prize at the inaugural Golden Boy Awards, becoming the number one Golden Boy of the year!

His award citation reads: "Playing as a defensive midfielder, he scored ten goals and provided ten assists in seventeen league matches, which is truly remarkable."

"Competing on four fronts (including the FA Charity Shield), he already racked up an impressive 18 goals and 15 assists before the first half of the season was even over."

"If you question the quality of his statistics, Liverpool will give you the answer!"

"The Anfield Miracle Night, the Time When Lu Kai Achieved Godhood and Proved His Way!"

"Six individual titles in a single season, starting with the U17 World Cup, is unprecedented."

"At the club level, only a five-time champion can beat a five-time champion. And the only team that can beat Liverpool is Green Gunner! As the team's absolute core, he jumped three levels in one year and five levels in two years, and he's still in the promotion zone in his first professional league appearance!"

"Beyond football, he remains a shining star! The documentary 'My Love Diary in Assen Green,' starring him, continues to gain popularity and has become one of the most popular variety shows in England, France, Italy, and other countries."

"The aforementioned achievements are not unique to this year's Golden Boy Award. But if you add the age of sixteen, it becomes a decisive factor!"

"In conclusion, the Turin Sports Daily Golden Boy Award Committee announces that the winner of the 2001 Global Golden Boy Award is... Lu Kai!!!"

Seeing Lu Kai's smile on TV, at least several young talents smashed remote controls, TVs, computers... The specific items they smashed depended on their economic situation.

For example, Cristiano Ronaldo smashed the club's television while playing for Sporting Lisbon.

No one has seen it yet.

No compensation is required.

Iniesta smashed a remote control; the laptop he broke in the EuroCup final still hasn't been repaired, and he's missing a part called "money".

Van der Vaart smashed the large, luxurious television in the rented apartment.

He was also the angrier.

Because he came in second place.

Keep in mind, he plays in the Dutch Eredivisie!
He scored 14 goals in the first 16 rounds of this season!

Is it not as impressive as Lu Kai's combined 18 goals and 15 assists?

Is his selection for the Netherlands senior national team no better than Lu Kai's selection for the England youth team?

But Lu Kai led his team to victory against Liverpool.

Van der Vaart has recently suffered an injury and has been absent from the pitch.

The ebb and flow of fortune, along with successes both on and off the field, led to Van der Vaart's ultimate defeat.

The higher-level player lost to the lower-level player.

Eighteen-year-old lost to sixteen-year-old.

Van der Vaart was extremely dissatisfied.

But nothing can be done.

The third place winner of the Golden Boy award was another unexpected star, Kaká, who plays for São Paulo in the Brazilian Serie A.

He made 27 appearances for the team this year, scoring 17 goals, and at the age of 19, he won the Brazilian Serie A Player of the Year and South American Rookie of the Year awards in his first professional season.

A strong start followed by a rapid rise!

If he had more time, and if he were playing in a European league, perhaps even Lu Kai wouldn't be able to control him.

Kaka: You're rebelling against the Heavenly Gang, aren't you!

The fourth place winner of the Golden Boy award is also a super talent from the Netherlands, seventeen-year-old Arjen Robben!

He also plays in the Dutch Eredivisie. Although his stats are not as flashy as the top three, his performance on the field is outstanding. He has excellent ball control, dribbling skills, and incredible speed.

Such players are often defined as "talented" and have an advantage in various evaluations.

The fifth-ranked player is also from Brazil, and he is the most valuable player among the top five – Adriano Ribeiro.

In the first half of the year, he made thirteen appearances for Flamengo in the Brazilian Serie A, scoring four goals.

In the summer, he was bought by Inter Milan for a record-breaking €13.2 million, and scored a goal in his second appearance for Inter.

But that was all the goals they scored.

While his statistics may not match those of the aforementioned star players, his physical talent is undeniable, and his performance on the court is exceptional.

Two years of training might transform him into a legendary striker.

The above five people are the "one king and four queens" of this year's Golden Boy Award!
Coincidentally, Lu Kai, who came from the lower leagues of England, defeated two Dutch talents and two Brazilian talents.

For a moment, it was unclear whether the Netherlands had thwarted Brazil's efforts or whether Brazil had outmaneuvered the Netherlands.

Anyway, the old man benefited.

……

Gazzetta dello Sport: "Lu Kai may be excellent, but Adriano deserves the award!"

"It would be an injustice if Van der Vaart wasn't a Golden Boy, and it's a disgrace to history if the dud Lu Kai won the award!" (International Football)

International Sports Daily: "The invasion of Chinese capital into Europe is already very obvious! Lu Kai's award is a resurgence of communism!"

Globo Esporte: "Kaka is the best young footballer in South America this year, and the same goes for the rest of the world! Lu Kai's award is completely unreasonable!"

The Clarín: "We have every reason to suspect that Liverpool deliberately lost to Dartford to let Lu Kai win the award! England is creating a god! We Argentinians know this tactic all too well!"

The Times: "Turin Sports may withdraw the Golden Boy award from Lu Kai under pressure from sponsors?"

Suddenly, trouble arose everywhere.

It's not that people don't approve of Lu Kai, but Lu Kai has really been at the forefront of public perception this time.

While everyone thought he was terrible, he was actually already showing great skill.

When everyone thought he was showing off, he had already reached the top level of a rookie, or even the strongest level.

Half a step ahead is a genius, one step ahead is a madman.

Tuttosport has gone completely mad this time.

In fact, their assessment is absolutely correct.

At this time, Lu Kai gave an interview to Green Gun Voice, where he held tightly to the Golden Boy Award and said, "Actually, it doesn't matter to me whether I win the Golden Boy Award or not."

"I don't care about these things."

“I have never been recognized.”

"But I have never been affected by this lack of recognition."

"I have won every single championship. I have so many of my best players that my house is almost overflowing."

"I'm not showing off anything. I just want to tell everyone a truth: I'm very satisfied with my current situation, and I don't need external validation."

"But English football is different."

"In fact, in my opinion, this media frenzy against the Golden Boy Award is just a rehearsal for the media frenzy against Kyrie Irving at the end of the year."

"Can Owen win the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year? In my opinion, there is no doubt about it."

"But I am pessimistic about whether he will win the award in the end."

"Because there is a huge misunderstanding about England in the football world. The whole world underestimates English football, just like the whole world underestimates China's strength."

"So I won't give this Golden Boy award to anyone."

"It's not because I need it, but because Chinese players need it, and because English football needs it!"

"This trophy isn't recognition for me; it's a passport for them!"

Lu Kai pinpointed the key point.

The English media were terrified.

Because that is indeed the case.

Fleet Street quickly launched a counterattack, waging war against sports media around the world, with Lu Kai as a rehearsal, fighting for Irving!

They hailed Lu Kai as the new star of the British Empire.

Those who say Lu Kaide is unworthy of his position are challenging my status as the hegemon of Britain.

At least in Europe, Britain still manages to operate successfully.

Ultimately, Tuttosport announced that there were no issues with the Golden Boy award selection and that the award given to Lu Kai would not be revoked.

This can be seen as an affirmation of Lu Kai's abilities, giving England an explanation.

However, they later announced that the selection process would be suspended indefinitely because it was too costly in terms of financial and material resources.

The sponsors put immense pressure on them, saying that any of the four Dutch and Brazilian players could win an award, since Adidas and Nike had already signed them.

Lu Kai, however, did not sign with any major sports brands.

If you give him an award, won't our investment go down the drain?

Don't you understand who's the one keeping your newspaper running?
With this, Lu Kai became the only officially recognized Golden Boy in the world!

Unprecedented and unlikely to be repeated!
Some people believe this fully demonstrates how worthless Lu Kai's Golden Boy Award was, and that he ruined the entire award.

However, some people believe that this only proves Lu Kai's worth; though there are thousands of people against him, he will go!
He is truly the greatest golden boy in football history!
As for whether he is the least popular Golden Boy or the most popular Golden Boy.

Book lovers... or rather... future generations will judge.

(End of this chapter)