Rise of a Football God

(Premier league:)

(Matchday 19 of 38:)

(Leicester City 1-1 Man City)

(Date: 29th December, 2024)

…

(Everton 1-2 Nottm Forest)

(Date: 29th December, 2024)

…

(Crystal Palace 2-0 Southampton)

(Date: 29th December, 2024)

…

(Tottenham 3-1 Wolves)

(Date: 29th December, 2024)

…

(Fulham 2-2 Bournemouth)

(Date: 29th December, 2024)

…

(West Ham 2-4 Liverpool)

(Date: 29th December, 2024)

…

(Ipswich Town 1-1 Chelsea)

(Date: 30th December, 2024)

…

(Aston Villa 2-1 Brighton)

(Date: 30th December, 2024)

…

(Man United 0-3 Newcastle)

(Date: 30th December, 2024)

…

(Brentford 0-0 Arsenal)

(Date: 1st, January, 2025)

…

(Updated premier league table standings:)

(1. Fulham GP: 19/ W:14/ D:4/ L:1/ Pts: 47)

(2. Liverpool GP: 18/ W:13/ D:2/ L:2/ Pts: 45)

(3. Chelsea GP: 19/ W:11/ D:6/ L:2/ Pts: 39)

(4. Arsenal GP: 19/ W:10/ D:7/ L:2/ Pts: 37)

(5. Nottm Forest GP: 19/ W:9/ D:6/ L:4/ Pts: 33)

(6. Brighton GP: 19/ W:8/ D:6/ L:5/ Pts: 30)

(7. Man City GP: 19/ W:8/ D:6/ L:5/ Pts: 30)

(8. Newcastle GP: 19/ W:8/ D:6/ L:5/ Pts: 30)

(9. Aston Villa GP: 19/ W:8/ D:5/ L:7/ Pts: 29)

(10. Bournemouth GP: 19/ W:8/ D:5/ L:6/ Pts: 29)

(11. Tottenham GP: 19/ W:8/ D:2/ L:9/ Pts: 26)

(12. Brentford GP: 19/ W:7/ D:4/ L:8/ Pts: 25)

(13. Man United GP: 19/ W:7/ D:4/ L:8/ Pts: 25)

(14. West Ham GP: 19/ W:6/ D:4/ L:9/ Pts: 22)

(15. Crystal Palace GP: 19/ W:4/ D:7/ L:8/ Pts: 19)

(16. Leicester GP: 19/ W:3/ D:7/ L:9/ Pts: 16)

(17. Everton GP: 18/ W:3/ D:5/ L:10/ Pts: 14)

(18. Ipswich Town GP: 19/ W:2/ D:7/ L:10/ Pts: 13)

(19. Wolves GP: 19/ W:1/ D:4/ L:14/ Pts: 7)

(20. Southampton GP: 19/ W:1/ D:1/ L:17/ Pts: 4)

…

(EFL Cup:)

(Quarter final:)

(Crystal Palace 2-0 Fulham)

(2nd January, 2025)

"Happy new year Max"

"The premier league finally passed its halfway point. In the drama generated by the results of this matchday, what are your thoughts about matchday 19 of the English premier league?

Hearing that question, the pundit of the popular sports show smiled wryly. "If I should use only a few words, I'd say the highlights of the Matchday are Man City's crisis, Fulham's crisis, and Liverpool's opportunity".

"Despite their win last time out in the premier league, the champions are back to bad habits again this season as they drew against Leicester in away ground".

"Man City is definitely in a crisis and if things are to change for the club, they have to look for alternatives in the January transfer window".

"They're still feeling the impact of losing Rodri".

"I've been saying it for a long time but with this, I hope people finally agrees with me that Rodri deserved the balon d'or. Just look at how Manchester City plays without him, they're like a predator who lost its spine".

"They still have all those world-class players, but without that spine to act as the support and keep them steady, they look so vulnerable".

"They're really down in confidence right now".

"Just look at how Leicester, a lowly Leicester ran them down today, it's crazy honestly. And last week, should I go back to that Aston Villa game?"

"It's a wonder that they actually managed to escape from that game with a point, Aston Villa were just better on every aspect of the game. The champions were dominated, outplayed, and outfought on every side".

"Morgan Rogers especially, their former academy player was a thorn on their side throughout. You just had to see him gliding through Manchester City so freely".

"With Rodri in that team, that would be impossible". This pundit shook his head.

"As for Fulham, they're definitely in a crisis!"

"That's 2 games without Sam translating to 2 straight losses!"

"I quantify that Bournemouth game as a loss too, because they were in such a good winning position before the collapse".

"The game against Bournemouth was more of a defensive collapse at the death, but the EFL Cup game against Crystal Palace is a clear sign of how spineless Fulham can be without the black mamba on the pitch".

The host chuckled. "Max, you're using the term spine a lot today".

"Because that's what it is!" Charles said, exasperated. "Without Sam today, they were more or less toothless to create anything of note in attack". He shook his head again.

"I just wonder if they can actually improve, or if it'll just continue like this, or if they'll even get worse?"

"Honestly, the projected 4 months of Sam's recovery is a lot of time".

Talking about Sam, this pundit's face became a bit dejected. "For such a young player, long term injuries are not what you'd hope on even your enemy".

"After recovering, most of them suffer from a dip in confidence and it affects their gameplay a lot".

"I know Sam will recover but still, I can't help this anxious feeling".

The show's host chuckled again. "Max, if I didn't know you before now, I'd believe you're actually a Fulham fan. Are you that big of a Sam believer?"

"Yes," Max laughed. "Call me Chief Priest Max, I'm the leader of the Sam supremacy church!"

Charles laughed. "So, Max, what is your prediction on how the premier league title momentum would go on from here?"

Max shook his head again. "I see Fulham dropping a lot in Sam's absence. Since Liverpool have a game in hand, hypothetically, we can say they're now level on points at the top of the premier league table".

"Besides, Chelsea and Arsenal are hot on their necks. Unless a miracle happens, in 4 months, I don't even see Fulham still in the top 4 spot, that's how dire of a crisis they're currently in".

"A brutal analysis like usual," the host chuckled. "The Max I know is back".

…

While the premier league footballing landscape reacted to the results of matchday 19 including Fulham being eliminated out of the EFL Cup, a certain dejected player was finally discharged from the hospital.

It took more than 5 days but Sam was finally discharged.

As his girlfriend drove him home, Sam could not help a big frown creeping up his face simply due to the notification that was currently hovering before his vision.

***

[Season Quest 3: EFL Cup]

[Mission 1: Win the EFL Cup with Fulham FC!]

[You have failed this system mission!]

***

'Dammit!'