Chapter 14: 14
Ravier had a lot of changes. These changes happened from within, which can be considered quite significant. Outsiders can't really see that kind of change. They must be very close to Ravier if they can really see him. For example, De Jong, with whom Ravier has a good relationship, doesn't know why he has changed so much.
But this change is a good thing for him, which De Jong has observed very carefully. It is that Ravier is truly qualified to compete with Lebont for the main position.
It's just that in the current situation, unless Lebont is injured, it's absolutely impossible for Ravier to make the starting roster.
Although there is no change in the starting line, it has been quite a while since Ravier overtook Stekelenburg in the selection of the second goalkeeper. Although training is not a game, the performance of Ravier in training is indeed better than Stekelenburg.
Then Ravier had been on the starting list for the match against Utrecht. It was a very boring match. Due to his strength, even if they can't score a goal for now, it is the same for the opposing team. They could hardly threaten their goal too.
However, this situation also tests Ravier's focus and response. The absence of threats is a sign that something may happened. If it last for a long time it will cause people to relax their vigilance. If the opponent strikes suddenly at this time, they risk conceding a goal.
In fact, Utrecht did something like that. In the 33rd minute, they suddenly launched an attack, a long shot outside the penalty area. Luckily, Ravier was focused and reacted fast enough to block the ball.
In the 83th minute of the second half, Utrecht quickly counterattacked after stealing the ball. It was Ravier's exceptional performance that finally resolved this wave of attack and helped Ajax win this round.
All that matters to Ravier now, is the opportunity to play. The team's head coach sees his progress well. In this game, Ravier had a sense of presence in front of Koeman, especially after the two saves he made. There is still the last round of the match before the winter break.
The winter break is relatively long, so this round of the Championship provides some insight as to whether Ajax can have a happy winter break. Since PSV Eindhoven is only a few points behind.
For Europeans and Americans, Christmas is the biggest holiday of the year, but for Ravier, Christmas is an ordinary day and Ravier himself is not used to celebrating Christmas.
Want to have a merry Christmas and a restful winter break, the last round of the championship is not to be missed. After his elimination from the Champions League, Koeman's face was not at its best because the media didn't let him go at all. And some people even asked him the reason he didn't let Ravier play, that maybe the situation will be better. Ravier did think like that too; but he will never say it out loud. So with all this, the players therefore trembled on the field in training during this period, for fear of spraying him.
After the referee's whistle, the match officially started. It was a match between FC Twente 1965 and Ajax. As this is the last game before the winter break, neither team wanted to open Christmas with a loss. And so it was that within ten minutes the two teams launched a fierce attack.
A good cross from Van Der Vaart and a header from Ibrahim helped Ajax take the lead in the game. This goal was the only goal of the whole first half. But even though there is only one goal, the first half of the game is very exciting because both teams played very openly.
In the eighty-eighth minute, FC Twente striker collided with Lebont. As a result, both were injured. Although it was not a serious injury, Lebont was able to recover unlike the other player. So, they had to make another change. Despite this beautiful show Ajax still lost their match 2-1. The voices of dissention of the media after the game become even louder.
Ajax 40.
PSV Eindhoven 37.
Alkmaar 32.
Feyenoord 28.
This was how the results of the first part of the championship presented themselves. After this match which ended in failure, the players dispersed. They have taken time off and can finally take advantage of these days to rest. During these days Ravier did not leave his home often. He spends most of his time with Stanley and training. It was not an intensive training, but just to stay in shape. Sometime he will think about the beautiful girl he meet. But after that day he never saw her again. He also took the time to take a look at his stats because it's been a long time he do that.
Name: Ravier Aleandro Carter
Age: 16 years old
Height: 1m75
Weight: 84kg
Reflex: 70
Speed: 70
Judgment: 80
Vision: 3%
Level: Pro level 1
Club: AFC Ajax
Position: Goalkeeper
Experience: 4000/5000
Dots: 50
Ravier decided to put all his points in vision. And it only increased by 2%.
Name: Ravier Aleandro Carter
Age: 16 years old
Height: 1m75
Weight: 84kg
Reflex: 70
Speed: 70
Judgment: 80
Vision: 5%
Level: Pro level 1
Club: AFC Ajax
Position: Goalkeeper
Experience: 4000/5000
Dots: 0
Ravier did not increase his status. He has put all the points he has won during the matches he has play in "vision". This cheat is really powerful. He considers it his secret weapon. So he didn't hesitate at all to make it evolve. Now all he has to do is practice and see how the 5% differs from the 3%.
During the period when the competition took a break, Ravier took the opportunity sometimes just to relax to walk the streets of Amsterdam. Accompanied by Stanley as a guide. There was a lot to see here. Occasionally he met his friend De Yong. In the club he has good relations with all the players. But He prefers to spend most of his time in training. It must be said that he made no effort either to fit in with the others.
A few weeks before returning for training, Ravier was at home doing some light exercise. Stanley was not at home. But suddenly the door open and Stanley was here.
- Ravier I got you a contract.
Ravier was a little surprised. As an agent Stanley didn't really do the job an agent should do. Because like the other agent, he didn't have their wide networks. So when he told Ravier this news, he was a little surprised.
- Come on, hurry up, we're going to be late.
A few minutes later, Ravier was sit in an office. The office was very simply decorated with the bare necessities and you could also find a very small feminine touch. A woman of at least 30 years old sat behind his desk and watched him. Her name was Yolanda.
- Ok Ravier. How far do you think your team can go in this season and what do you think of your team?.
Ravier would never have thought of having to answer such a question. He thought he was just there to talk business. Then, Ravier gives a brief summary of what has happened so far and his situation in the club as a substitute.
Yolanda was a little surprised at Ravier's honesty, many young people often lied or were hypocritical and did not want to speak ill of others to pretend to be cool, but Ravier spoke without problems.
- And you have the thought of going to play in another club after you finish that championship this year?
- Yes, but not now. All I'm interested in is winning the championship with the team and getting as much playing time as possible and even getting to be the team's starting goalkeeper.
Now Yolanda was more surprised because it seemed that Ravier had already thought about all this for some time, it was good to do business with someone determined.
- If you do not mind, I'd like to ask you some questions about your company as well. I'd like to know what kind of products do you work with?
- We are a company that manufactures and sell sports materials like clothes, uniforms, cleats, tennis shoes, racquets, golf clubs among other things.
Stanley therefore continues to talk with Yolanda about the contract. The sponsorship will be $ 5,000 a month, and then if Ravier achievements improve, the value also increases, he will also receive the products he need for free, what he need to do is to participate in the games using their products like sneakers and socks etc.
- And if he win the championship, let's do an advertisement with him using our products in some magazines and maybe even on television.
- Okay, I think he is good at doing the things you told him, take out the contract he will sign it.
Ravier sign the contract
- Then I'll take my leave now, we'll meet next time.
- It'll be a pleasure working with you.
- The pleasure will be all mine, I hope to be able to help promote your company as well.
Some times later, were sitting in a café, Stanley wanted to celebrate the fact that he got me my first contract.
- How did you do it?
When I asked him the question he looked arrogant as he told me.
- Simply because I'm the best.
Ravier said nothing; he now knew him well enough to know that this man couldn't keep anything to himself.
A few seconds later, he was already telling him everything.
He just saw the ad in a newspaper he was reading. The question is why he was reading advertisements in the newspaper? Well, he had decided it was time for him to find a job. Fortunately, this announcement was not posted too long so not many people see it. Or maybe they are not interested, maybe Yolanda didn't selected them. Anyway it was a chance for Ravier to make money.
After another week, the Ajax players have all returned to the club to report. The return of the players also means that the war of the second part of the season is about to reignite, and Ravier can only sit on the bench. Lebont was a little injured in the last match, but had time to recover after some weeks off.
January 2004
Another year has come.
Soon the league matches started again. Ajax was to face Roda JC and in this match FC Ajax was make a good come back with a score of 2-1. We can't know if it's because the players were coming back from vacation, but they didn't play at their usual level at all. And in this game Lebont got hurt again.
It seems to me that it is not too serious but he will be forced to miss a few games. Ajax had win but Lebont injured, the players weren't in their best shape at all and the manager wasn't too happy. But all this had nothing to do with Ravier.
What matters to him now is working hard for this rare opportunity. The current situation for the ajax keeper is that Ravier is clearly ranked well ahead of Stekelenburg. After the winter break, Ravier was sitting on the bench.
But that doesn't mean he'll definitely be able to start during Lebont's injury, despite being superior in every way in the competition against Stekelenburg. It depends on the attitude of the head coach
Now all he needs is practice in the game, and a truly exceptional player needs to grow in the game, especially the goalkeeper.
In the history of football, how many top goalkeepers have sat on the bench. Indeed, goalkeepers need time and experience to accumulate. They need more exercise in the game.
Lebont's injury also caught the attention of Ajax fans and the local media, and the media and fans alike debated the next goalkeeper.
If Ravier's current data is put into the game, he is certainly a top-notch goalkeeper, but some things can't really be represented by data only.
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