Victor Kane stepped onto the sidelines of Burton Albion's home stadium, the brisk afternoon air carrying the hum of anticipation. The preseason opener against Oxford United wasn't just a friendly—it was the first real test of Burton's tactical evolution.
The players jogged onto the pitch for warm-ups, some chatting casually, others locked into focus. Harper stretched his hamstrings, smirking as he shot a glance at Silva. "You ready for this?"
Silva rolled his shoulders. "I better be. Victor's been running us like lunatics all week."
Caldwell walked past them, tightening his bootlaces. "No complaints. Better to suffer now than during the season."
Victor observed from the dugout, arms crossed. He had spent the last week drilling this squad, refining tactics, and ensuring everyone understood their roles. Now, it was time to see whether the hard work translated into real game execution.
The Snake Tactics System hovered in his vision, displaying pre-match analysis and predictive data based on past Oxford performances.
Match Projection: Oxford United vs. Burton Albion
Opponent Pressing System: Aggressive vertical press
Predicted Success Rate of Drift + Coil Fusion: 47% (based on adaptation progress)
Victor narrowed his eyes. The simulation suggested Burton had improved significantly since last season, but there was still uncertainty. Football wasn't a perfect calculation—unlike simulations, players weren't predictable data points. The real challenge would come once Oxford adjusted to Burton's tactics on the field.
He flicked the interface closed. It was time.
The referee signaled the start.
Oxford wasted no time pressing Burton's midfield, forcing quick passes and closing off space aggressively. Victor watched as Harper and Silva attempted to execute their trained transitions, but Oxford's pressure disrupted the buildup.
Victor's internal projection had assumed a 74% success rate in maintaining midfield control. The reality? Burton struggled to string three passes together in the first ten minutes.
Victor clenched his jaw. The system didn't account for Oxford adapting immediately. Their positioning was sharper than expected, forcing Silva to drop deeper instead of pushing forward.
On the sidelines, Holly Pierce was typing rapidly, observing possession trends and engagement percentages. "Midfield recoveries are dropping below 60%," she murmured to herself.
Victor didn't need her data to see it happening in front of him.
Instead of waiting, he called out to Harper and Silva.
"Shift left! Compact the spacing!"
Silva reacted instantly, tightening his movement with Marco, allowing Burton to ease the pressure by redirecting possession onto the wings.
Oxford adjusted. The press weakened momentarily, allowing Harper to find space for a long ball over the top.
A chance!
Harper sent the pass forward—Burton's winger, Ellis, sprinted toward the ball—but Oxford's center-back read it too quickly, cutting it off before a shot could be taken.
Victor exhaled slowly. This was it—the difference between simulation and reality. In theory, Burton should have been able to disrupt Oxford's defensive line, but in practice? The opponent adapted instantly.
As the minutes passed, Victor knew he had to make live adjustments. He flicked through his mental projections, recalling the Pressure Convergence Buff strategy he had considered during training. It was meant to counter opponent presses—but engaging it too early could expose Burton to midfield turnovers.
He hesitated. Do I risk it now? Or wait?
Just as he considered the move, Silva managed a clean interception near the midfield line, feeding Harper for another attempt.
The winger cut inside—this time Oxford was caught slightly out of position.
Harper struck the ball.
The shot curved toward the top-left corner—
Oxford's keeper lunged and deflected it.
Close. Too close.
Victor clenched his fists. He wasn't frustrated—he was analyzing. Burton was improving. The tactics were working—but Oxford was still reacting too well.
Near the thirty-minute mark, Oxford adjusted their attacking shape, pressing Burton's defensive backline instead of midfield. This disrupted the flow of play yet again, forcing Caldwell and the defenders to play riskier passes.
Holly glanced up from her notes. "Their fullbacks are joining the high press now. Your formation will collapse if you don't reposition them faster."
Victor had already noticed it himself—but her confirmation gave him exact numbers to consider.
"Ryan!" Victor shouted to Caldwell. "Push the defensive line five meters higher! Break their pressure!"
Caldwell reacted immediately, dragging his unit forward, forcing Oxford's attack to adjust to Burton's new shape.
The press weakened just slightly—enough for Silva to play a quick pass forward, opening a channel for Harper again.
As halftime approached, the system flashed another update.
Live Formation Efficiency:
First Half Completion Rate: 49% (Up from initial 47%)
Opponent Tactical Response: Counter-Pressing Higher
Victor smirked.
It was working.
Burton was adapting dynamically, shifting between system projections and real-time decisions. The completion rate was increasing, meaning the players were naturally improving execution throughout the game.
But this was just the first half.
The real challenge? Finishing what they started.
The referee blew the whistle—halftime.
Victor exhaled.
Now, he had fifteen minutes to refine his tactical plan.