122: Chapter 122 England Coaching Staff's Topic Today: Yu Bai – Central or Left Wing?

England, London, St. George's Park National Football Centre.

At dusk, the coaching staff meeting room of The Three Lions was brightly lit. On the huge projection screen, the first half of the Europa League match between Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham Hotspur was playing.

Roy Hodgson sat in the center of the long table, hands folded on the table, looking focused. Beside him, several assistant coaches were intently watching the match, occasionally jotting things down in their notebooks.

On the screen, it happened to be a highlight reel of Yu Bai dribbling past several players in the first half before delivering a diagonal pass, followed by a stunning volley to complete his brace.

"Beautiful!"

A voice couldn't help but exclaim. It was Ray Lewington, a senior assistant coach for England, known for his extensive club coaching experience and keen insight into young players.

"Truly spectacular."

Sitting opposite him, Gareth Southgate—the England U21 national team manager and also a key member of Roy Hodgson's coaching staff—nodded, but immediately changed the subject:

"But Ray, what I'm more interested in is how he handles the ball in the attacking midfield position. Look at this..."

He pointed at the screen with a laser pointer, freezing the frame at the moment Yu Bai dropped deep to receive the ball, shook off Julian Weigl, and delivered a through ball before Gonzalo Castro and Sven Bender could close him down.

"The depth of his drop, his observation before receiving the ball, the simplicity and effectiveness of his turn, and the timing of that final pass—it's the playstyle of a top-tier playmaker. This is worth more tactically than him simply breaking through on the flank."

Lewington immediately shook his head, leaning forward, his tone carrying the passion of a debate:

"Gareth, I disagree. What you see is his performance when he has space in the middle. But what will we face in the future with England? It will be the knockout stages of major tournaments, where opponents often pack the middle, compressing space to the limit. Look at these clips of him on the flank..."

He operated the remote, rewinding to the segment where Yu Bai nutmegged Łukasz Piszczek on the left flank and cut inside to shoot with a change of pace.

"How much threat can this kind of one-on-one explosive ability create on the flank? How much defensive attention can it attract? How much space can it create for us in the middle? This is the 'spark' our national team currently lacks the most!"

Gareth Southgate did not back down, pointing to the formation diagram on the screen:

"But putting him on the flank is a waste of his playmaking talent! Look at his Vision, his Passing accuracy and creativity, especially this 'scalpel-like' through ball..."

The screen switched to a slow-motion replay of the pass where Yu Bai assisted Son Heung-min.

"Among our current midfielders, whether it's Jordan (Henderson), James (Milner), or Eric (Dier), who has this kind of pass that can instantly tear through a defense during high-speed confrontation? We need someone who can connect the attacking players in the No. 10 position, a true core! Putting him on the flank means he spends most of his time fighting alone, or waiting for passes—the efficiency is too low!"

"Fighting alone?"

Lewington raised his voice, "Modern football wingers are no longer just simple dribblers! Look at his movement in this Tottenham match; he frequently cuts inside, swaps positions with Son and Christian Eriksen, and effectively appears in the half-space or even the middle! What does this mean? It means he possesses the comprehensiveness of a modern top-tier winger! Putting him at left-winger, he can cut inside to shoot, cross from the byline, or move inside to organize—the tactical flexibility is extremely high! Pinning him to the attacking midfield position might actually limit his range of movement and creativity! Besides, don't forget we have Raheem (Sterling), Danny (Welbeck), or even Jesse (Lingard) who can play on the flank, but who can provide his kind of imagination and final pass in the middle?"

He paused, then added: "Moreover, we have Wayne (Rooney), and Wayne can also drop deep to organize."

"Wayne's form and position need to be re-evaluated."

Gareth Southgate was blunt, and his words made the meeting room quiet for a moment.

He continued: "I acknowledge Yu Bai's versatility. But precisely because he is versatile, we need to put him in the position where his influence can be maximized and where he can most decide the outcome of the match. The No. 10 position, the hub of the attack, the core of possession. Look at his calmness and choices when facing double-teams in the middle; this is a big heart, the temperament of a top star. We need to get the ball to his feet more often and let him decide the direction of the attack, rather than letting him wait for the ball on the flank or simply sprint. England needs a commander, not just a shock trooper."

Both sides held their ground, and the debate gradually heated up.

Lewington valued the direct attacking power, width, and explosive impact Yu Bai provided on the flank, believing this could solve England's long-standing lack of flank strength while offering greater tactical adaptability.

Gareth Southgate firmly believed that Yu Bai's natural playmaking talent and Vision should be utilized in the central core position, allowing him to control the tempo and supply ammunition, thereby completely revitalizing England's attacking system.

Roy Hodgson did not interject from beginning to end, just watching and listening intently.

His gaze from behind his glasses moved between the screen and his two capable assistants, his fingers tapping gently on the table unconsciously.

He knew both of their points had merit.

Lewington's considerations leaned more towards tactical balance and immediate combat effectiveness, while Gareth Southgate focused on long-term team building and core development.

This truly was a sweet problem. Once upon a time, England worried about the lack of true genius; now, they were arguing fiercely over how to use one.

A faint, almost imperceptible arc curled at the corner of Roy Hodgson's mouth.

He already had some inclinations in his heart, but he was not in a hurry to reach a conclusion.

He needed to see more, to see Yu Bai's performance under higher intensity and more targeted defense, and to see what kind of chemistry he could generate with potential teammates like Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, and Vardy.

"Alright, gentlemen."

Roy Hodgson finally spoke, his voice calm yet carrying unquestionable authority, interrupting the assistant coaches' debate.

"I am very happy to see you analyzing Yu Bai so devotedly. This precisely proves his value."

He paused, his gaze returning to the screen, where the second half of the match was about to begin.

"Let us finish watching the match first. Borussia Dortmund will not give up easily; let's see how Yu Bai, and our boys, react under pressure."

"Positions are not fixed; what matters is what he can bring to the team."