Football Card System

Reporters covering League Two would have preferred if Gao Bo brought players like Vardy, Charlie Austin, or Kante to the press conference. These young stars had significant news value, and their lack of media experience made it easy for reporters to extract attention-grabbing headlines.

After a few standout performances, experienced journalists were already predicting bright futures for these players. If they continued this form, it was likely that Premier League clubs would take notice, particularly of 19-year-old Charlie Austin and 17-year-old Kante. Both players were young and full of potential, making them prime candidates for scouting.

Even Gao Bo himself had drawn considerable media interest. Regardless of whether Luton avoided relegation this season, their performances so far were a testament to Gao Bo's capabilities. His sharp eye for talent was evident—newcomers like Vardy and Austin had become key players, currently sitting first and second on the league's top scorer list.

But Gao Bo denied tabloids any opportunities. Instead of bringing these promising players, he consistently brought the calm and experienced team captain Kevin Keane to press conferences, much to the frustration of the reporters.

---

After the victory against Gillingham, Luton's points total stood at -24, leaving them still at the bottom of the league standings.

A week later, on August 23, in the third round of League Two, Luton hosted Notts County.

Despite lacking major honors, Notts County held a special place in football history as the world's oldest professional club, founded in 1862. This was a time when China was still under Qing Dynasty rule, the First Opium War had ended 20 years earlier, and the Taiping Rebellion was nearing its end.

Historically, Notts County had spent most of their time in the lower leagues, and their strength wasn't particularly intimidating.

Since the season's start, Luton had been riding a wave of momentum. In contrast, Notts County adopted a cautious approach, avoiding aggressive plays early on.

However, their defense eventually crumbled. In the 42nd minute, a cross from Solo Davis created chaos in Notts County's penalty area. Charlie Austin capitalized on the opportunity, scoring to give Luton the lead.

In the second half, a long-range strike from Drinkwater in the 87th minute sealed a 2-0 victory for Luton. This marked their third consecutive league win and their fourth straight victory across all competitions.

---

The Hat Seller newspaper wrote the next day:

"Since the start of the season, Luton has scored an incredible 18 goals—15 of them in the league—and they have yet to concede a single goal! Compared to other teams in League Two, Luton's goal tally is more than Shrewsbury and Rotherham combined. If not for the 30-point deduction, Luton would be at the top of the league!"

Indeed, five teams, including Luton, had achieved three consecutive league wins: Shrewsbury, Rotherham, Bradford, and Bury. Among them, Shrewsbury was leading the table with six goals scored and none conceded, resulting in a +6 goal difference. In contrast, Luton's goal difference was a staggering +15!

Without the point deduction, Luton would undoubtedly have topped the standings.

Despite their low position, Luton fans were overjoyed. Even Uncle Margis, the team's training base administrator, couldn't stop smiling. Many fans believed that if the team continued performing like this, relegation would no longer be a concern.

---

After the match, team owner David Morton texted Gao Bo:

"Gao Bo, you're the best coach I've ever seen! I think you're the next Mourinho!"

Gao Bo scoffed at the compliment. Words are cheap. A raise would be better.

As both head coach and de facto manager of the club, Gao Bo was responsible for nearly everything. Owner David Morton, an American by upbringing, took a hands-off approach, entrusting Gao Bo with complete authority over the club's operations.

Still, Gao Bo sighed at the imbalance. A head coach's salary for doing all this work—are all capitalists so stingy?

---

With the team's next game in the League Cup against Championship side Reading just three days away, Gao Bo decided against giving the team a day off. The tight schedule—three games in seven days—meant tough decisions. After the Reading match, Luton would face Exeter City in another league match, giving the team less than two days of rest.

Prioritizing the league, Gao Bo opted to field a substitute lineup against Reading. With 24 teams in League Two and a grueling 46-match season, he couldn't risk injuries to key players. While the League Cup was prestigious, Gao Bo viewed it as secondary compared to the FA Cup and the league.

The substitute lineup performed admirably, holding Reading to a 0-0 draw until the 91st minute. Unfortunately, a late corner kick led to a goal for Reading, ending Luton's League Cup journey.

Although disappointed, Gao Bo saw the silver lining. The substitutes had shown potential under his system, holding their own against a strong Championship side.

Gao Bo began considering using cup matches as opportunities for his substitutes. After all, it's impossible to rely on the same eleven players for an entire season. Rotation will be key to success, he thought.