In the end, Ethan chose not to use his two lucky draw opportunities to exchange for a largely useless white card redemption voucher.
Instead, he tried his luck in the lottery. The first draw yielded a white card: Designate a player and increase their heading ability by 2% during a match.
Seeing such an underwhelming reward, Ethan sighed. It was practically impossible to obtain a game-changing card through the lottery. Completing specific tasks was a far more reliable way to acquire high-level cards.
With no expectations, he used his second draw. He wasn't interested in redeeming any vouchers anyway—he might as well take the chance. Who knew? Maybe luck would smile on him, and he'd land a rare card.
But as it turned out, his luck wasn't much better this time.
The second card was another white card: Designate a player and increase their high-altitude passing accuracy by 3% during a match.
Sure enough, Luton's current playstyle didn't rely much on long, high crosses. When the full-backs advanced, the team's attacking patterns were more structured. The central striker usually positioned himself at key attacking zones, while Luton's two forwards were adept at attacking the near and far posts. Drinkwater, with his high work rate, often made late runs into the box. In the final third, the two wide midfielders supported from either side, ensuring they were in position to win second balls. This setup also provided an additional passing lane for the full-backs.
Still, a minor boost was better than nothing. At least now, all three of Ethan's card slots were filled.
His mood improved quickly. Luton wasn't feeling much pressure in League Two at the moment, but if he wanted to complete the "Save Luton" mission and secure the highest reward, he had to lead them to the League Two title. That was no easy task…
But one step at a time. Right now, Luton's points tally was still in the negative. Thinking too far ahead wasn't realistic.
Ethan got out of bed, freshened up, and made himself a simple breakfast.
Today, he decided to visit Luton's youth academy.
Even though the first team was on break, his job wasn't. In England, the role of a head coach wasn't just about managing the first team—it was more like being the club's general manager. Overseeing the youth development system was also part of his responsibilities.
Luton's youth academy wasn't located at the club's main training facility. Instead, it sat on the outskirts of the city, near the suburbs.
Rather than taking a taxi, Ethan decided to experience Luton's public transport system.
Luton was a relatively small city, which was common for most British towns. Outside of global metropolises like London, many cities in England were no larger than county-level cities in China. Some were even smaller.
Take Manchester, for example—a city famous in football circles. Its population was only a little over 400,000, a mere fraction of a typical Chinese city.
The iconic double-decker buses were a signature of England. Despite their size, the one Ethan boarded wasn't particularly crowded.
After a left turn onto Luton's main road and passing through a small park, he arrived at the youth academy.
Though called an academy, it wasn't a massive facility. A row of low-rise buildings housed the administrative offices. Since most of the academy's players came from Luton and the surrounding areas, there was no need for dormitories. Unlike major clubs, which had vast scouting networks and could recruit talent from around the world, a small club like Luton had limited resources for scouting and talent identification.
The academy had one full-sized 11-a-side pitch, along with two smaller fields that could be used for 7-a-side or 5-a-side matches.
Steve Powell, the club's youth academy director, greeted Ethan enthusiastically.
"You should visit more often, boss. We've got some talented lads here!" Steve said as he accompanied Ethan into the facility.
"We have over 90 players in the academy, covering U15 to U19 squads," he explained. On the main pitch, young players were split into groups, working on technical drills with their coaches. At the center of the facility, a match was in progress.
"That's our U18 intra-squad scrimmage," Steve quickly added when he noticed Ethan watching intently.
Although it was officially the U18 team, many of the players were only 16 or 17 years old. Since Luton had promoted several U18 and U19 players to the first team, there was now a shortage of players in the youth ranks.
Ethan observed from the touchline for a while. As expected, Luton played like a typical lower-league English side. Even at the youth level, the ball spent a lot of time in the air.
After a while, he lost interest. Many lower-league English teams still relied on outdated tactics—long balls, relentless pressing, and aerial duels. This approach was falling behind modern football trends.
No wonder England's vast and complex league system was struggling to produce players capable of thriving at the top level.
As the top-ranked teams in the Premier League moved away from traditional English football by appointment, they began adopting tactical philosophies from the European continent. This shift aligned with broader international trends, bringing advanced football concepts into the Premier League. With increasing financial investment, particularly from foreign ownership, the league's tactical evolution has accelerated.
Under Arsène Wenger's leadership, Arsenal transformed into a truly international team. Wenger recruited a significant number of players from across Europe, reshaping Arsenal from a traditionally British-style side into a symbol of fluid, attacking football in the Premier League.
Chelsea, on the other hand, exemplified the impact of foreign investment. Roman Abramovich's takeover brought an influx of world-class talent, significantly altering the league's competitive landscape. The arrival of these European stars had a profound impact on English football, influencing tactics and squad-building approaches across the league.
Ethan placed great emphasis on youth development. While financial backing allowed clubs to acquire top players, a strong academy system was crucial for long-term success. The revival of Manchester United was built on the foundation of the Class of '92, while Barcelona's golden era was shaped by La Masia graduates like Lionel Messi.
Observing the outdated facilities and poor pitch conditions at the youth academy, Ethan was visibly displeased. Expanding and modernizing the academy would require significant financial investment—something newly stabilized Luton Town could not afford at the moment. However, he remained committed to improving the academy, starting with a shift in training methodology.
"We need to reassess the youth training curriculum. I'll review it first," Ethan said to Steve Powell, his assistant, while glancing toward the pitch.
The young players noticed the presence of the first-team head coach, which instantly heightened their motivation. The match on the academy field intensified as every player fought to impress Ethan, hoping for a chance to be promoted to the senior squad.
Just then, a commotion on the sidelines caught his attention.