Chapter 16: The Routine
A week blurred past. Leeds United. At St Mary's. Another test, another team that would try to stop him. Leo trained with the same intensity, the system tracking every session.
[Training Performance: 9.4, 9.6, 9.5, 9.7, 9.6.]
[User Rating: 96 (OVR).]
The night before the match, he used his two skill tokens.
[Skills Upgraded:]
> Composure (Level 2 -> Level 3): +20% pressure reduction in big moments.
> Long Shots (Level 3 -> Level 4): +18% accuracy outside box.
[User Rating: 96 -> 97 (OVR).]
Ninety-seven. He was entering territory reserved for all-time greats. Ballon d'Or level. Undeniable.
---
Saturday, 15th December 2001. St Mary's Stadium.
The ground was full. The home crowd had grown louder with each passing week. They believed now. Their team could beat anyone. Their boy could do anything.
Leo sat in the changing room, pulling on his boots. The system populated the Leeds lineup.
Leeds United (4-4-2):
Nigel Martyn (GK) - 85
Danny Mills (RB) - 82
Rio Ferdinand (CB) - 88
Jonathan Woodgate (CB) - 85
Ian Harte (LB) - 84
Lee Bowyer (RM) - 86
David Batty (CM) - 83
Olivier Dacourt (CM) - 86
Harry Kewell (LM) - 89
Robbie Keane (ST) - 88
Mark Viduka (ST) - 87
A strong side. Ferdinand, the most expensive defender in English history. Kewell, the Australian wizard. Keane and Viduka, a lethal partnership. This Leeds team had reached the Champions League semi-finals the previous season. They were no pushovers.
Southampton's lineup appeared.
Southampton (4-4-2):
Paul Jones (GK) - 71
Jason Dodd (RB) - 73
Claus Lundekvam (CB) - 74
Dean Richards (CB) - 76
Wayne Bridge (LB) - 76
Leo Carter (RM) - 97
Anders Svensson (CM) - 75
Matthew Oakley (CM) - 74
Chris Marsden (LM) - 72
James Beattie (ST) - 77
Kevin Davies (ST) - 74
Leo looked at his own 97. Ferdinand was 88. Kewell was 89. He was in a different stratosphere now.
Gray stood at the front. "Leeds are physical. Ferdinand and Woodgate will try to bully you. But they're slow on the turn. Carter, you run at Harte every chance you get. He can't handle pace. Make him regret every step."
Leo nodded.
[Stuart Gray: Tactical Instruction Received. Target Ian Harte relentlessly.]
The teams walked out. The tunnel was narrow, the walls red, the light blinding. Leo stepped onto the pitch and the home noise wrapped around him. The Northam Stand was bouncing.
"He's one of our own, he's one of our own, Leo Carter, he's one of our own!"
The announcer's voice boomed.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to St Mary's Stadium for this Barclaycard Premiership fixture between Southampton and Leeds United!"
The whistle blew.
---
Leeds started physically. Batty and Dacourt snapped into tackles. Bowyer and Kewell pressed high. Ferdinand and Woodgate looked to dominate Beattie and Davies.
Leo touched the ball early. A pass from Oakley. He turned and ran at Harte.
[Acceleration (Level 4) Activated. +20% Speed.]
He left the Irishman for dead. Cross into the box. Beattie rose, header saved by Martyn.
The home crowd roared.
"Carter! He's destroyed him! Every time!"
In the ninth minute, Leeds had their first chance. Kewell cut inside, curled a shot toward the far corner. Jones tipped it over. The away end applauded.
Leo tracked back, helping Dodd deal with Kewell. The Australian was tricky, quick feet, always dangerous. The system fed Leo information.
[Harry Kewell: Cutting Inside. Shooting Threat: High. Show him outside.]
He did. Kewell tried to cut in, Leo blocked the path, and the ball ran out for a goal kick.
[Defensive Action: Block. Match Rating: 6.5.]
---
In the sixteenth minute, Southampton struck.
Svensson won the ball in midfield and played it wide to Leo. Harte was caught upfield, leaving space behind him.
[Space Identified. Harte Out of Position.]
[Acceleration (Level 4) Activated.]
Leo pushed the ball past the recovering Harte and ran. The left-back lunged, missed, and Leo was in the channel. He looked up. Beattie was making a run to the near post. Davies was holding back.
[Crossing Opportunity: 73%. Recommended: Low driven cross.]
He hit it. Hard and low, skidding across the grass. The ball flashed through the six-yard box. Beattie lunged, got a toe to it, and the ball flew toward the near post. Martyn got a hand to it but couldn't keep it out.
The net bulged.
The home crowd erupted.
"Beattie! Beattie! He scores when he wants!"
[Assist Registered. Match Rating: 6.5 -> 7.4.]
Southampton 1, Leeds United 0.
---
Leeds were stunned. David O'Leary screamed from the touchline. Ferdinand shouted at Harte. The away fans fell silent.
The visitors pushed for an equaliser. Kewell curled a free-kick inches wide. Viduka forced a diving save from Jones. Keane had a goal disallowed for offside, a marginal call that had the Leeds fans screaming.
"Robbery! He was level!"
Leo dropped deep, helping defend. The system guided him into passing lanes, blocking angles. His Endless Engine kept him moving.
[Stamina: 84%. Endless Engine and Stamina Management Reducing Drain.]
In the twenty-eighth minute, Leeds equalised.
A corner from Harte on the left. The ball curled toward the near post. Ferdinand rose above Lundekvam and thundered a header past Jones. The net bulged.
The away end erupted.
"Rio! Rio! He's six foot two and he's one of our own!"
The announcer's voice was flat. "Goal for Leeds United. Scored by number five, Rio Ferdinand."
[Match Momentum: Leeds 55% - Southampton 45%.]
Southampton 1, Leeds United 1.
---
The game settled. Leeds probed, Southampton defended. Kewell was everywhere, his touch immaculate. Ferdinand and Woodgate snuffed out every Southampton attack.
In the thirty-seventh minute, Leo had his chance.
A long clearance from Richards. Beattie flicked it on. Leo was off, running into the space behind Harte.
[Acceleration (Level 4) Activated.]
[Driving Run (Level 4) Activated. Breaking Defensive Lines.]
He carried the ball forward, head up, Harte trailing in his wake. Woodgate came across to cover. Leo dropped a shoulder, cut inside, and left the defender stumbling.
[Charm Available: 5,550 Points. Use Charm on Jonathan Woodgate? Cost: 70 Points.]
He confirmed. Woodgate's recovery was a fraction slow. Leo was through.
One-on-one with Martyn. The goalkeeper came out, spreading himself. Leo didn't panic.
[Composure (Level 3) Activated. +20% Pressure Reduction.]
[Clinical Finisher (Level 5) Activated. World-class accuracy.]
He passed the ball into the far corner. Side-footed, low, precise. Martyn got a hand but couldn't keep it out.
The net bulged.
St Mary's exploded.
Leo ran toward the corner flag, sliding on his knees, arms outstretched. His teammates mobbed him.
"He's one of our own! He's one of our own! Leo Carter! He's one of our own!"
[Goal Scored. Match Rating: 7.4 -> 8.7.]
Southampton 2, Leeds United 1.
---
Half-time came. The players walked off to a standing ovation. The crowd was buzzing.
In the changing room, Gray was calm. "Good half. But they'll come at us now. Stay compact. Hit them on the break. Carter, you've got Harte on toast. Keep running at him."
Leo nodded. His legs felt good. The upgraded Composure was making everything feel slower, easier.
---
The second half began. Leeds came out flying. Kewell hit the post with a curling shot. Viduka forced a diving save from Jones. Bowyer fired over from distance.
The away fans were relentless.
"Come on, Leeds! Put them away!"
Leo tracked back, helping Dodd deal with Kewell. The Australian was desperate now, trying everything. The system fed Leo information.
[Harry Kewell: Dribbling Threat - High. Stay tight.]
He did. Kewell received the ball on the left, tried to cut inside, and Leo was there. A clean tackle. The ball rolled to Oakley.
[Defensive Action: Tackle. Match Rating: 8.7 -> 8.9.]
The home crowd roared.
"Great tackle, Carter! He does everything!"
---
In the sixty-first minute, Southampton broke.
A Leeds corner was cleared by Richards. The ball fell to Marsden on the edge of the box. He looked up and saw Leo already sprinting into the right channel.
[Counter-Attack Opportunity: 85%.]
[Vision (Level 3) Activated. Through Ball Opportunity Detected.]
Marsden played the pass. A long, curling ball over the top. Leo was off.
[Acceleration (Level 4) Activated.]
[Charm Available: 5,480 Points. Use Charm on Ian Harte? Cost: 60 Points.]
He confirmed. Harte's recovery was a fraction slow. Leo was through.
One-on-one with Martyn. The goalkeeper came out. Leo didn't panic.
[Composure (Level 3) Activated.]
[Clinical Finisher (Level 5) Activated.]
[Curled Finish (Level 5) Activated.]
He opened his body and curled the ball toward the far corner. A perfect arc, bending away from the goalkeeper. Martyn dove, but the ball was already past him. It kissed the inside of the post and nestled in the net.
The world stopped.
St Mary's erupted. A wall of noise, pure joy, thirty-two thousand people losing their minds.
Leo ran toward the corner flag, sliding on his knees, arms outstretched. His teammates buried him. Beattie was screaming. Bridge was laughing. Davies was crying.
"He's one of our own! He's one of our own! Leo Carter! He's one of our own!"
The announcer's voice cracked.
"Goal for Southampton! Scored by number twenty-seven, Leo Carter! His second of the afternoon! The boy is unstoppable!"
[Goal Scored. Match Rating: 8.9 -> 9.6.]
Southampton 3, Leeds United 1.
---
The game was effectively over. Leeds pushed forward, but their heads had dropped. Southampton managed the game, kept possession, and waited for the final whistle.
Leo dropped deep, helping see out the win. The system guided him into passing lanes, blocking angles. His upgraded stamina kept him moving until the end.
[Stamina: 41%. Endless Engine and Stamina Management Reducing Drain.]
[Match Rating: 9.6.]
In the eighty-third minute, Leo almost scored a hat-trick.
A long ball from Bridge. Beattie flicked it on. Leo was off, running into the space behind Woodgate.
[Acceleration (Level 4) Activated.]
He was through. One-on-one with Martyn. He tried to chip the keeper, a delicate lob. The ball floated toward goal, but Martyn got a fingertip to it, deflecting it onto the crossbar. It bounced down and was cleared by Ferdinand.
The crowd groaned, then applauded.
"So close! What a goal that would have been!"
"Unlucky, Carter! Hat-trick next time!"
Leo smiled, shaking his head. Almost. But not quite.
[Shot on Target: Saved. Match Rating: 9.6 -> 9.7.]
---
The final whistle blew.
Southampton 3, Leeds United 1.
The players celebrated on the pitch. Another win. Another brace from Leo Carter.
The Leeds players trudged off. Ferdinand walked past Leo and stopped.
"Hell of a player, kid. You're going right to the top." He offered a hand. "Keep going."
Leo shook it. "Thank you."
Ferdinand nodded and walked away.
Kewell stopped next. "You're a nightmare to play against. Quick, strong, clinical. Everything you want in a forward." He shook Leo's hand. "Good luck."
The system pinged.
[Match Complete. Southampton 3 - 1 Leeds United.]
[Barclaycard Premiership: 3 Points.]
[Match Rating: 9.7 (Man of the Match).]
[Charm Points Earned: 300. Total: 5,720.]
[Skill Tokens Earned: 2. Total Available: 2.]
Then the absorption.
[Talent Absorption Available. Defeated Team: Leeds United.]
[Select Talent from the following pool:]
> Rio Ferdinand (CB): [Reading the Game (Level 4)] - Exceptional anticipation of opposition passes and movements.
> Harry Kewell (LM): [Trickster (Level 4)] - Exceptional dribbling and ability to beat defenders in one-on-one situations.
> Robbie Keane (ST): [Off the Shoulder (Level 4)] - Exceptional timing of runs in behind the defence.
> Ian Harte (LB): [Set Piece Specialist (Level 4)] - Exceptional accuracy on free-kicks and corners.
Leo stared at the list. Ferdinand's Reading the Game. Level 4. A direct upgrade to his Level 1 version. Kewell's Trickster. Keane's Off the Shoulder. Harte's Set Piece Specialist.
He selected Ferdinand's Reading the Game.
[Talent Upgraded: Reading the Game (Level 1 -> Level 4).]
[Effect: Exceptional anticipation of opposition passes and movements. Significantly improved defensive positioning.]
[Active Talents: Penalty Box Predator (Lv4), Reading the Game (Lv4), Clinical Finisher (Lv5), Vision (Lv3), Endless Engine (Lv3), Power Header (Lv4), Driving Run (Lv4), Curled Finish (Lv5), Magic Touch (Lv5).]
Nine talents. Three at Level 5. Three at Level 4. He was becoming a complete player.
[User Rating: 97 -> 98 (OVR).]
Ninety-eight. One point from perfection. He was now in the conversation for best player in the world. At seventeen.
---
The changing room was chaos. Music blasted. Players shouted. Gray stood in the corner, his face almost smiling.
When Leo walked in, the room went quiet. Beattie started clapping. The others joined in.
Gray walked over. "Carter. Another brace. Another masterclass. I've stopped being surprised. That's the highest compliment I can give you."
He held out his hand. Leo shook it.
"Thank you, gaffer."
Gray nodded. "Don't thank me. Just keep doing what you're doing. We've got Everton away next week. They'll try to kick you off the park. Be ready."
He walked away. The music started again.
Leo sat at his locker, the noise washing over him. Everton. Goodison Park. Another test. Another chance to prove he was the real deal.
The system flickered.
[Next Match: Premier League - Everton vs. Southampton. 22nd December 2001.]
[Venue: Goodison Park. Capacity: 40,000.]
[Everton Current League Position: 13th.]
Leo looked at the screen. Then he smiled. He had a week to prepare. A week to improve. A week to figure out how a 98-rated teenager was going to conquer Goodison Park.