Football Card System

Luton hired a Chinese coach as the head coach, and he quickly brought in four new players. While Luton's transfer operations seemed efficient, when the media revealed the backgrounds of these four players, the fans could only feel disappointed.

Among these four, the only player worth looking forward to was Drinkwater from Manchester United's U18 team. He was also the only one Luton paid a fee to acquire. To secure Drinkwater, Luton needed to pay Manchester United £100,000 annually as a loan fee, plus cover his wages.

Since he came from a prestigious club like Manchester United, even though he was only 18, fans had some hope—after all, he was a Manchester United player! Manchester United's academy has a strong reputation across England.

However, the remaining three players left Luton fans disheartened.

Charlie Austin, a player from the ninth division.

Jamie Vardy, another amateur league player.

N'Golo Kanté, a Frenchman who stood only 169 cm tall. Fans wondered, "Where on earth did Luton find someone like him?"

By this point, Luton's fans were already full of despair. The team was starting the season with a 30-point deduction, and now their management seemed utterly unambitious. Hiring a Chinese coach and a bunch of amateur players, with the exception of one semi-developed talent on loan from Manchester United, seemed like a clear signal that the club was resigned to dropping out of the professional league system.

In the eyes of Luton fans, this was not just self-deprecation; it was outright surrender.

"Luton fans may need to prepare themselves for several years of struggling in the amateur leagues," wrote The Hat Seller, Luton's best-selling local newspaper, in a pessimistic tone.

Amidst this wave of worry and ridicule from the media, the team began to assemble and prepare for the new season.

Captain Kevin Keane was the first player to return. In the head coach's office, he met the new coach, Gao Bo.

Kevin Keane frowned at the sight of the coach, who was younger than himself. His hesitation wasn't because Gao Bo was Chinese; rather, it stemmed from concern about Gao Bo's inexperience.

Gao Bo looked at the robust midfielder in front of him and calmly assessed him.

Kevin Keane was a strong, versatile player who could play on either side or in central midfield. While he wasn't outstanding in any particular attribute, he was a solid Championship-level player—a level far above the English League Two.

"Kevin, I'm Gao Bo, the team's head coach." Gao Bo extended his hand with a smile. To succeed in managing a team, he needed to establish a good rapport with the locker room, starting with its leader.

Kevin, who had been with Luton for many years, wasn't the type to be openly rebellious. While he had his doubts about Gao Bo's abilities, he still shook his hand out of politeness.

"Let's work well together," Gao Bo said with a smile.

Kevin remained skeptical but chose not to openly challenge the new coach.

Meanwhile, on the training ground, players were gathering and chatting about their new manager.

The previous coach had left before the end of last season, and the appointment of a new manager was naturally a hot topic among the players. They were curious, especially after hearing about him from local newspapers.

A Chinese coach, who had led Chelsea's U18 team to an FA Youth Cup victory, had come to Luton to take charge of their troubled squad.

The remaining players knew how dire the team's situation was. However, for many of them, this presented an opportunity—most of the starting lineup had been sold, creating chances for youth players to step up.

This didn't include 27-year-old striker Sam Parker. Just recovering from an injury, he had gained some weight but was still in high spirits.

"Hey, did you hear? Bristol Rovers reached out to me today! You know, the League One team!" Sam boasted loudly, his arm draped over another player. His voice was loud enough for everyone on the training ground to hear.

Some players looked on enviously. Sam Parker had experience playing in the Championship, making him an attractive option for League One teams.

"By the way, did you hear the new coach is Chinese? Haha, Chinese! Do they even know what a football looks like?" Sam joked derisively.

His words darkened the mood among his teammates. Having a Chinese coach wasn't something that boosted morale—most players had never even seen a Chinese coach leading a professional team in England.

"Enough, Sam! If you don't want to stay, you can leave anytime!" snapped George Parker, the team's main defender.

Despite sharing the same surname, George and Sam were unrelated. George was a product of Luton's academy and often wore the captain's armband when Kevin Keane was unavailable.

"Haha, look at you, defending the Chinese coach already!" Sam sneered.

Just then, Kevin Keane walked onto the training ground, accompanied by several young players. Sam immediately fell silent. While he didn't fear George, he knew better than to mess with Kevin Keane, who had both the strength and authority to command respect.

Truthfully, Sam had exaggerated his story. There was no real interest from Bristol Rovers. After recovering from a major injury, his form was questionable, and no League One team was seriously considering him. Sam, however, believed he was indispensable to Luton's attack and used this ploy to try to negotiate a higher salary.

Kevin Keane began introducing the newcomers.

"This is Kanté, a defensive midfielder from France. He's 17 years old," Kevin announced.

Kanté gave a shy smile, revealing a mouthful of bright white teeth.

A 17-year-old Frenchman with a slight frame—many players doubted whether he could hold his own in the physical battles of English League Two.

By contrast, the rugged-looking Vardy didn't draw such skepticism. Even if no one knew how skilled he was, his muscular build and fierce demeanor suggested he was someone not to be underestimated.

Most attention, however, was focused on Drinkwater, the Manchester United loanee. Everyone believed that within two or three years, he would secure a spot in the Championship or even the Premier League. After all, he had been a key player in Manchester United's U18 team.

The least noticeable among the newcomers was Charlie Austin, who barely attracted any attention at all.