Alright, so I figured that I'd upload this chapter as kind of a bonus chapter for anybody who wants to read it. It is very focused on the football aspect of the story, so if you're here for other parts of the story, this chapter is not essential to the plot. Let me know what you think!
-StormDragonSlayer
MAGNOLIA ENQUIRER
Hello, all you college soccer fans! With the season around the corner, all eyes are on this year's squad for Magnolia University under first year coach Roy Mustang, and with the starting eleven announced for the first game against Oak Town College, we're going to take a positional breakdown for you!
GOALKEEPER: Laxus Dreyar, Junior.
This kid is the real deal. With teams from Europe raving about him, Laxus will look to build on last season's fifteen clean sheets. With a mind for the game that is second to none and the reaction speed of Gianluigi Buffon, the six-foot three junior is lightning fast in between the sticks, and this team will need every ounce of talent if they are going to make a run at a national championship.
LEFT BACK: Andrew Ban, Senior
With a nickname like "the thief," it's no surprise that Ban is one of the nation's best wing backs. With the pace to keep up with most wingers, as well as an excellent slide tackle, Andrew Ban is one of the nation's best interceptors, routinely halting attacks before they can really threaten the Dragons' goal. Look for him to get forward a lot more in Mustang's 4-3-3 formation.
LEFT CENTRE-BACK: Gajeel Redfox, Freshman
An interesting decision, especially considering that there are more experienced options like Droy Campbell on the bench. However, Redfox brings pace and a mean streak from his high school days that Campbell, despite being an adept defender, just doesn't have. Redfox will make for an interesting choice, and if he pans out, the six-foot-one defender could very well live up to his high school nickname of the Iron Dragon.
RIGHT CENTRE-BACK: Soul Evans, Sophomore
Evans was a diamond in the rough during Gildarts Clive's rocky campaign in charge last year. Played next to Campbell, he averaged four tackles and five interceptions as a freshman, and can only get better as he matures. If he does, he could be a star in Mustang's system.
RIGHT BACK: Ichigo Kurosaki, Senior
Kurosaki is a mixed bag. He has decent pace, and is a genius of the passing game, but he has a tendency to be hard-headed and selfish, attempting to get forward too often and losing possession as much as he wins it. If he can get his head in the right place, as he was in the derby match last year against Sabertooth, he is a monster, flying around the field, making tackles and springing attacks at will. If not, he tries to be Dani Alves without the pace and experience. Only time can tell whether his last season in Magnolia will be a swan song or a nightmare.
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER: Alphonse Elric, Freshman
Another sign of youth over experience, Alphonse Elric is a pass first midfielder, leaving the fancy flicks and tricks to other players, while he quietly distributes solid passes and stops opponent's counters with solid pace. In a perfect game, Elric's name isn't mentioned as he puts in a quietly solid performance, and we hope that his name only pops up for interviews, because that will mean that the rookie is playing on top of his game.
RIGHT ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Naruto Uzumaki, Senior
The captain, the greatest player to ever don the blue and white of Magnolia University, the school's all-time leading scorer, there are a lot of things that can be said about Uzumaki. But the most important is consistently good. No matter if the Dragons make the tournament or finish bottom of the conference, Uzumaki will get at least ten goals and assists, and will likely be one of the players in contention for the Golden Ball when all is said and done. IF the entire team were built from Uzumakis, the national title would already be on its way here.
LEFT ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Eric Noctem, Freshman
A freak of nature. That's one way to describe this kid. How often do six-foot-five players come along that are two-footed, can dribble like Pogba, pass like Pirlo, and shoot like van Persie? Okay, maybe we're exaggerating. But seriously. If this kid matures effectively, and doesn't let the pressure of being the school's only full ride freshman get to him, he could be a superstar. Luckily, his midfield partner is a guy like Uzumaki. Listen to the senior, kid, and you'll go far.
LEFT WINGER: Edward Elric, Sophomore
He has a lot of potential. That's the good thing. Unfortunately, he also has a lot of temper packed into his small frame. Elric is a technically gifted winger, capable of beating several players of the dribble, but he is often booked for silly fouls (see last year's 4-2 loss to Bosco) and getting into altercations with opposing players. In short, a very gifted player with an attitude. We'll have to wait and see if Mustang can change that.
STRIKER: Natsu Dragneel, Freshman
Another interesting choice, but the alternatives would be starting a winger up top, as Dragneel is the only true striker on the roster for the Dragons. He was promising at Magnolia Central High, a four year starter and the school's leading goal-scorer with forty-three goals. Hopefully, he can carry over his prep form to the twenty-five game Earthland College Soccer Association season. He's reasonably tall, strong, has decent pace, and is willing to fight for every ball. So, he should work out fine.
RIGHT WINGER: Gray Fullbuster, Freshman
The exact opposite of Elric, Gray Fullbuster has earned the nickname of, "The Iceman," from his teammates, for his cool head and absolutely nasty dribbling skills. He likes to score goals, scoring thirteen in his final year in high school from a wide position, so look for him to play off of Dragneel and score some.
This year could be a boom or bust year. If the players all gel, the amount of talent on this team means that they could put two or three goals past any team in the nation. But if things begin to go wrong, it could go very wrong, and this young team could very easily miss out on the tournament. However, the writers here at the Magnolia Enquirer are predicting at least a quarterfinals appearance for the Blue and White, and possibly farther. Stay tuned, fans, no matter what happens, this season will be entertaining.