Football Card System

"The lights at Stamford Bridge are so much brighter than those at Worth Stadium," sighed a fan in Luton's away section.

Hearing this, the fans nearby glanced at their team owner, David Morton, who awkwardly pretended not to hear. After all, upgrading the stadium lights wasn't exactly a priority.

The fans' focus on the lights reflected the slow pace of the game so far. Chelsea had maintained possession for three minutes straight, but they hadn't pushed the ball into Luton's penalty area. The game felt uneventful, with players merely passing the ball sideways and backward. No shots had been attempted yet, even after three minutes.

Chelsea clearly intended to dominate early and overwhelm this "arrogant" second-division team. However, every time the ball crossed midfield, Chelsea's players felt the immense defensive pressure from their opponents.

Lampard, starting in an advanced position, dropped back to the midfield circle to retrieve the ball. Earlier, Deco's attempts at orchestrating attacks through lateral passes had failed to find an opening. Lampard, a veteran and influential figure in Chelsea's squad, wasn't about to let the team's attack stagnate.

Although Scolari wanted to establish Deco as the team's core, even Deco knew better than to challenge a dressing-room leader like Lampard.

Lampard received the ball, turned, and surveyed his options. What he saw were Luton's orange jerseys everywhere. It seemed like his teammates were isolated, each surrounded by opposing players, making passing incredibly difficult. Luton had packed the defensive zone with players, effectively cutting off passing lanes.

Lampard considered a long pass, but Luton's players closed in on him quickly. He opted to pass back.

Ivanovic, receiving the ball in the backline, attempted a long pass. However, the ball traveled too far, and Luton's defensive formation shifted seamlessly to intercept and regain control.

"Their defensive organization and positional discipline are remarkable!" remarked Letkinson in the commentary booth.

On the sidelines, Scolari, dressed in a blue tracksuit, stroked the gray beard at the corner of his lips. His sharp eyes glanced briefly at Gao Bo, standing nearby.

This young coach isn't all talk, Scolari thought. Luton's defensive structure in these opening minutes clearly showed they were well-trained.

Unlike the typical "park the bus" defensive formation, Luton's players moved like a tightly-knit swarm, concentrating their numbers wherever the ball was. This suffocated Chelsea's attacks, making the players feel as though Luton always had a numerical advantage in key areas.

This was precisely why Chelsea had struggled to penetrate the defense.

"We need to move the ball faster!" Lampard shouted to his teammates.

He quickly realized the weakness in Luton's tactics: the defense could be broken with rapid passing.

However, executing such quick passes wasn't easy, even for a top-tier team like Chelsea. Under Scolari, Chelsea were still adapting to a more possession-oriented style, relying heavily on Deco as a central playmaker.

Gao Bo had drawn inspiration from Diego Simeone's future Atletico Madrid system, where players concentrated in localized areas to overwhelm the ball-carrier. This strategy made it hard for the opponent to progress the ball smoothly.

Yet, such a formation had its vulnerabilities. Teams like Barcelona, known for their continuous and rapid passing, could exploit this tactic.

In 2009, defensive systems like Gao Bo's were still novel, with most teams favoring traditional low-block defenses. These involved deep lines of defenders and midfielders blocking shots and crosses, essentially waiting for opponents to make a mistake.

Gao Bo, however, emphasized creating numerical superiority not just in the box but also in other areas of the field. This gave Luton the flexibility to defend and counterattack effectively. If Chelsea made a mistake, Luton could instantly launch a counterattack with players already in advanced positions.

On the sidelines, Gao Bo kept his eyes on Deco, the focal point of Chelsea's build-up play. When Lampard dropped back to take the ball, Gao Bo's lips curled slightly in recognition of the disruption this caused to Chelsea's rhythm.

It won't be enough... Gao Bo thought.

---

"This Luton team is truly unique," said Letkinson. "Their tactical approach under this Chinese coach is unlike anything we've seen in the lower leagues."

"It's a demanding style," Redknapp Jr. interjected. "I doubt Luton can sustain this level of intensity through the second half."

Redknapp's skepticism was not unfounded. Modern football had seen significant increases in player stamina and running distances. In Redknapp's era, a player running five or six kilometers in a game was considered hardworking. By 2018, players regularly covered over ten kilometers per match, driven by faster gameplay and tactical demands.

Gao Bo, however, wasn't concerned. Luton's training heavily emphasized fitness, and with a squad full of energetic players in their early twenties, the team had the stamina to execute this high-intensity strategy.

---

Chelsea began speeding up their passing.

Lampard and Deco, both skilled passers, exchanged several quick passes in midfield, managing to progress the ball to the edge of Luton's penalty area.

Lampard unleashed a powerful long-range shot, earning the game's first attempt on goal.

The Chelsea fans erupted in cheers, while Luton's supporters were momentarily startled.

Gao Bo, standing calmly on the sidelines, remained unfazed. He had anticipated this adjustment from Chelsea. Their quick passing was effective, but such precision and coordination weren't sustainable for the entire match.

Let's see how long they can keep this up... he thought, his confidence unwavering.