Just as Theo was feeling anxious, Freddie Woodman finally asked, “It’s just that your long goal kicks, penalty saves, and free kicks are not the same as the data provided by your head coach before.” Theo felt a mix of relief and tension upon hearing this.
He could use skills in matches, but not in daily training, so he had to make up an excuse: “Coach, in normal tests, I might not get excited enough, but in matches, I have never conceded a goal from a penalty or a free kick.” Freddie Woodman expressed understanding; some goalkeepers are indeed like that.
Subsequently, he also acknowledged Theo’s data.
However, he also admitted that compared to Darren Randolph, he currently had no advantage and would have to compete for the position.
Theo didn’t really mind.
In the U18s, they didn’t have a dedicated goalkeeper coach; it was Reserve Team goalkeeper coach Lee Smelt who trained them in his spare time.
He hadn’t received systematic training since arriving at the youth academy.
From this test, it was clear that Freddie Woodman was an experienced coach with systematic and mature goalkeeper training methods.
He was extremely satisfied to be able to train under this coach.
Perhaps stats could be added directly, but the coach’s systematic training methods for goalkeepers were even more worth learning.
With his mindset adjusted, Theo began learning new goalkeeper knowledge.
At 7:30 PM, Theo returned to his bachelor dormitory.
After washing up, he lay directly on the bed and opened his data panel.
Name: Theo Age: 18 Height: 190cm Wingspan: 198cm Weight: 81kg Position: Goalkeeper (Locked) Team: Charlton Athletic (EFL League One) Attribute Points: 0 Points: 14 Overall Rating: 56 (EFL League One substitute or weak team starter) — — Physical (58) — — Strength: 57 (2) | Speed: 51 | Reaction: 60 Explosiveness: 52 (2) | Jumping: 58 (1) | Stamina: 64 (3) — — Goalkeeper Ability (55) — — Saves: 62 (1) | Positioning: 63 (1) | One-on-One: 61 (1) Rushing Out: 55 (1) | Aerial Ability: 57 (1) | Goal Line: 56 (1) Handling: 55 | Goal Kicks: 46 (1) | Throwing: 48 Penalty Saving: 48 (1) | Free Kick Saving: 50 (1) — — Associated Abilities (55) — — Balance: 56 | Anticipation: 56 | Composure: 54 After the midweek match, he didn’t convert the points directly into attribute points.
He needed to save more points for future use.
If not needed, he would focus on training to improve various attributes.
Over the past week or so, his attributes had been increasing by about 2 points daily.
However, Theo estimated that in another two weeks, it wouldn’t be that fast.
Once the values increased, improving them further wouldn’t be easy.
In the following days, Theo conducted specialized training with the First Team, correcting all his previous non-standard and unscientific training methods.
From the feedback on the panel, he could feel that the recent improvement had accelerated slightly; this was the power of professionalism.
On March 26, the First Team, Charlton Athletic, announced the starting lineup, and unsurprisingly, he was left out.
The starting goalkeeper was the previously regular substitute goalkeeper, Darren Randolph.
Theo was not surprised by this.
In daily training, the other player was superior to the current Theo in positioning, rushing out, and high balls.
However, due to his ability to save penalties and one-on-ones, and that long-distance lob in the previous two U18 matches, Theo was listed as the substitute goalkeeper.
The original third-choice substitute, veteran Willie Garet, failed to make the squad list because he was mediocre in all aspects.
On March 27, in the 38th round of the EFL League One, Charlton Athletic traveled to West Yorkshire to face Huddersfield at the John Smith’s Stadium.
The point difference between the two was only 6 points.
If Charlton Athletic lost the away game, they could potentially drop directly to 6th place.
As a potential direct competitor for promotion to the EFL Championship, this match could not be taken too seriously.
The match was full of tension from the start, with both sides playing aggressively.
The second half was more interesting.
It wasn’t until the 53rd minute that Huddersfield’s Jordan Rhodes headed the ball into the net.
Darren Randolph failed to save it, and Huddersfield scored.
Five minutes later, Kyel Reid scored with a “world-class” strike from outside the penalty area, equalizing for Charlton Athletic.
In the end, the two sides drew 1-1.
This was also Theo’s first away game; he watched the entire match from the substitutes’ bench.
The starting goalkeeper, Darren Randolph, didn’t perform particularly well or poorly.
After this draw, Charlton Athletic remained in 5th place in the league with 68 points.
Apart from Norwich City’s 82 points, which was a gap too large to chase, among the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place teams: Leeds United had 71 points, Millwall had 71 points, and Swindon Town had 70 points.
Failing to close the gap with the teams ahead left the whole team extremely disappointed.
The hope of returning to their original position was becoming smaller and smaller.
Moreover, Colchester United behind them had narrowed the point gap from 5 to 3.
Huddersfield ranked 7th with 62 points.
With 8 rounds left in the league, they could not afford to lose again.
After this match, the atmosphere of the whole team had become somewhat tense.
However, Theo did welcome a turning point.
Starting from Monday, he began participating in the First Team’s tactical group training, which gave him a sense of familiarity with the First Team players.
His performance in the group training was standard; he could handle the saves he should, but he still couldn’t save the difficult ones.
However, his tactical understanding during the match impressed the head coach.
At the coaches’ meeting, the strong recommendation of Theo by First Team goalkeeper coach Freddie Woodman and the U18 coaching team led First Team Coach Phil Parkinson to decide to use him in the next match against Milton Keynes Dons.
Now, the main goalkeeper was injured, and the previous substitute goalkeeper, Darren Randolph, had failed to perform at his training level, leaving the coaching staff extremely disappointed.
On the afternoon of April 2, 2010, the First Team announced the starting lineup for the trip to Milton Keynes Dons.
In the goalkeeper position, 18-year-old Theo was prominently listed.