Slab Head's Off-season

[ACynicalGamer]

After the excitement of the draft, it was fair to say the next couple of weeks of Slab Head's career were a little underwhelming. For the first time in his young footballing career, Slab had no football to play.

With his recently completed career in the academy now behind him, and opening weekend of his first season for Paris a few weeks away, Slab Head had assumed he would be in the depths of training camp at this time. But no, as the majority of major and minor squads up and down the league were away on international duty. This left Slab Head with no structured training whatsoever.

Well Slab Head didn't like this very much. Slab had always enjoyed structure, routine, he like knowing exactly what he was doing with his day from the moment he woke up. If this wasn't dictated to him, he had to meticulously plan it out for himself. Some people may find doing the same things day in day out boring, but not Slab Head. He found the consistency rewarding.

And so, despite no formally organized training, Slab Head's daily routine was as structured and regimented as you could possibly imagine. He was in the gym, he was prehabbing previous injury spots, he was studying game film and improving JG his fitness, anything he could possibly think to give himself, and therefore Paris, an advantage in the upcoming season.

[CROney3]

Hey Slab Head! Benecio Aguilera here, your new teammate! First of all, congratulations on being drafted in the top 3, that's quite the accomplishment! I was a 3rd rounder myself, but definitely used that as motivation to be near the top of my class. I'm sure you can still prove that you should have gone first overall.

Also, welcome to Sao Paolo and Paris! We're very happy to get you here and I'm happy to show you around! I know the World Cup is going on, but I saw your post and wanted to give you some training tips while you wait for the next season to kick (haha, get it!?) off. Make sure you bulk up, these players out here are mean, even if they're only 4 feet tall. Very surprising weight behind that short stature. Eat lots of carbs, get used to baguette's, and don't forget the pasta. Work on your physicals, first and foremost. There's a pitch open in each club's city, so don't be afraid to show up and use our equipment, training, and especially the food. Easily the part I'm looking forward to when getting called up is the food in Brazil. None of this knockoff Rodizio Grill bs.

Anyways, let me know when you want to train and I'll get my gloves and we can work on some 1-on-1's! Welcome to the league, champ!

[midknight]

From one top 3 draft pick to another, heyo! Coin Flip here and just wanting to see how you've been doing. We were amazing back in the academy, playing together for Sydney City, and though we couldn't win it all, we had some fun playing soccer. I'm glad you had a productive offseason, though I'm shocked you didn't end up on an international team. My team, Eastern Europe, was eliminated in the group stage of the tournament, left in a rough group with a range of players from rookies like me to people about to retire, like my good friend Arasov. Although we didn't get past the group stage, I had lots of fun and scored my first goal on a major stage (albeit it was a self goal in an actual match). Regardless, I got to learn quite a lot from all the experienced vets I hung out with, and I'll be sure to pass on some tips to you next time we hang out. I've also gotta learn your routines man, whenever you put me on a workout regiment in Sydney it kept me in perfect shape and I need those levels of conditioning. Regardless, can't wait till the next time we see each other!

[pampam]

Pam Prince checking in! Just wanted to take a moment to reflect on how things have been going since the draft. It’s been a whirlwind experience, to say the least. Going from academy life to the professional setup is a huge jump, and honestly, I’m still getting used to the rhythm of it all. You think you’re prepared for the change, but nothing quite compares to the real thing. Right now, things feel like they’re in a bit of a lull. With so many players off on international duty, the club environment has been a little quieter than expected. Training is still happening, of course, but it’s different when half the squad is missing. That said, I’ve always believed that the best players take advantage of any situation, and that’s exactly what I’m trying to do. No wasted days, no time off—just constant improvement.
For me, that means spending extra hours on the pitch refining my touch, putting in serious gym time to keep my fitness up, and breaking down match footage to see where I can improve. There’s no such thing as "too prepared" when it comes to stepping into a new season. Whether it’s positioning, stamina, or just getting a better feel for my teammates’ playstyles, I want to be ready to hit the ground running.