But obviously, not now—this is only the first time Ethan has seen his players in action.
During this period, he has meticulously reviewed player data multiple times. Now, he needs to combine his observations from training with his Smart Eye skill, which can only be used once a day, to identify players best suited to his tactics. His first priority is to establish the team's core structure.
In his previous life, Ethan was a devoted football fan, and he was particularly impressed by Leicester City's miraculous 2015-16 Premier League triumph.
Ranieri's squad, having narrowly avoided relegation the season before, stunned the footballing world by snatching the Premier League title from the grasp of the league's traditional powerhouses. Their success was a classic underdog story, built on tactical discipline and relentless energy.
A team might pull off an upset in a single match, but sustaining that level of performance across an entire season requires a well-drilled tactical system.
Now a professional coach, Ethan reflects on Leicester City's approach and distills a few key tactical principles: quick transitions, positional discipline, and defensive compactness. Their defensive strategy relied on crowding the penalty area, forcing opponents to attack from the wings, and limiting central shooting opportunities.
Leicester City's formation was a classic 4-4-2, with Ranieri demanding rigid defensive positioning that made them difficult to break down. Jamie Vardy led the line, with Shinji Okazaki playing just behind him, often dropping deeper to support midfield.
Their primary defensive goal was reducing space between lines, forcing opponents wide. This congestion inside the box made it nearly impossible for opponents to score from open play.
Once Leicester won the ball, they transitioned from defense to attack with lightning speed. Long balls were played directly to Vardy, initiating rapid counterattacks. Vardy and Okazaki would stretch the opposition's defense, creating space for midfield runners.
If counterattacks were unsuccessful, Leicester switched to a more structured positional attack, with their second line of players making vertical runs into the opponent's penalty area.
Defensively, they pressed aggressively after losing possession, preventing opponents from building attacks. Vardy was the first line of defense, closing down passing lanes, while N'Golo Kanté and Danny Drinkwater provided midfield support. If the press failed, Leicester quickly retreated into their defensive shape.
Now, Ethan aims to replicate Leicester's success with Luton Town by implementing a similar tactical approach.
Pre-Season Preparations
According to the plan, players would first spend a week regaining their match fitness—many had put on weight during the offseason. This would be followed by ten days of intensive physical training, as stamina and endurance form the foundation of any tactical system.
As training commenced, Ethan activated his Football Card System.
A holographic interface appeared before him, though no one else seemed to notice. He felt a brief moment of guilt but quickly focused on equipping a training boost card.
Card successfully equipped!
A blue glow surrounded the card as it slotted into place. A notification appeared:
Training effectiveness increased by 15%!
At first, Ethan saw no visible changes, but a week later, physical coach and team doctor Haruko reported an unexpected improvement.
"Boss, the players seem to be fully committed to training. In less than a week, almost all of them have shed their extra weight!" Mel Donald said excitedly.
Ethan rubbed his chin. It's not just their dedication—it's the card's effect. This system was proving to be more powerful than he had anticipated.
"In that case, let's move on to the next phase of training immediately," Ethan instructed.
Pre-season is the most crucial preparation stage for the entire campaign—there's no time to waste.
However, Mel Donald hesitated.
"Uh… there's one issue. One player's progress has been underwhelming."
"Who?" Ethan asked.
"Sam Parker..."
Donald sighed. To him, Parker was the team's most experienced striker at 27 years old, but his lack of competitiveness and poor training habits were concerning. He was inconsistent, missing sessions or showing low effort.
Ethan remembered Parker, but in his tactical vision, he was never meant to be a key player. With strikers like Jamie Vardy and Charlie Austin, there was no room for a fringe player with no real impact.
Sam Parker's laziness was evident—he didn't even seem fit to be a substitute.
"Then don't worry about him," Ethan said indifferently. "He can rejoin team training when he gets his weight back to a normal level. Until then, he'll continue training alone." As far as he was concerned, Parker was just a backup striker, not someone crucial to the squad.
Mel Donald hesitated. "But... Sam Parker was a top forward in League Two."
Ethan waved a hand dismissively, a confident smile on his face. "Mel, Vardy and Charlie Austin are far more than just League Two-level strikers."
Mel Donald still seemed unconvinced, but Ethan didn't elaborate. Instead, he asked with interest, "So if we put Sam Parker on the transfer market, would there be interest?"
Mel nodded. "For sure. He's played in League One before—plenty of League Two clubs would want a striker of his caliber."
"In that case, let's see if we can use him in a swap deal," Ethan said, leaning forward. "I need a tall center-back—someone strong in aerial duels and solid in one-on-one defending." The more he thought about it, the more certain he became.
Over the past few days, Ethan had carefully assessed Luton Town's squad. In attack and midfield, he had standout players in Jamie Vardy, Charlie Austin, Danny Drinkwater, and N'Golo Kanté. The team captain, Kevin Keane, was also a guaranteed starter in either wide midfield role, while center-back George Parker, who had experience in the Championship, was a reliable presence in defense.
That left several key gaps to fill: a full-back for both flanks, a midfield enforcer, and a dependable goalkeeper. Fortunately, Luton had decent options for full-backs—at least a few players capable of competing at the League Two level. The same went for the midfield.
As for goalkeepers, the team had two contenders: 19-year-old Dean Polly and 22-year-old Claude Rondo. Technically, they were similar, but Ethan favored Rondo, who showed greater dedication and work ethic in training.
What really concerned Ethan, though, was the defense. Luton lacked a commanding center-back who could dominate in aerial battles. Apart from George Parker, all the remaining center-backs were under 20, physically lightweight, and struggled against the league's more powerful target men. To shore up the backline, the team desperately needed a physically strong central defender who could provide solidity in duels and set-piece situations.
"Tell the scouting department to start looking," Ethan decided. "We can't afford to slow down training."
He still had £100,000 in transfer funds. If he included Sam Parker in a deal, he might just have enough to bring in the defender Luton needed.