Setting Boundries

Sheikh Zayed Stadium wasn't a bad spot as stadiums go. Seats around 50k safely, could support many different sports functions and had a neat retractable roof. It wasn't the monster stadium you find in other locations but I don't have any complaints. Today is a perfect day for practice too. A light breeze, 75 degrees, and not a cloud in the sky. Winter weather in the UAE is almost always perfect. Still to warm for the suit jacket I chose to wear, so I decided to take it off. As I was setting it down on the bench the satisfiying sound of leather on leather as shoe struck ball stopped and I looked up.

The Sheik was crossing the pitch between the players who were standing aside repectfully to let him pass. As always the man exuded confidence and strength. His pristine white dishdasha and red checkered keffiyeh billowed behind him as he walked towards me with an easy grace. Its true, I'm jealous. With a charming smile and a handshake he greets me.

"What do you think of my team now that you have had a chance to see them play?" The Sheik asked me.

I paused for a moment, not sure how The Sheik would handle my raw thoughts and looking for words to soften the edges.

"There is a lot of good talent on this team Your Majesty. But very young talent and precious little to balance them out." I said diplomatically.

"Are you trying to tell me that you cannot win with this team?" The expression on his face did not change and his tone was neutral, but the look in his eyes told me all I needed to know about what he thought of that.

"Winning in our division will be difficult and I expect we will struggle for points most of the season. Though I do expect to bring home victories despite the fact that most of the teams we will be facing are both more skilled and more experianced. But no that was not what I was trying to say Your Majesty. I was asking you for money to try and purchase a few more experienced players to teach my youngsters how to kick the ball around. There was precious little money in the team accounts."

He gave me a sidelong glance that I couldn't quite read.

"You will have to make do with what you have and the 1.2 million I will give you each week. League restrictions, you understand." He waved his hand airly.

"League restrictions an influential man like yourself could not get waived?"

"League restrictions that an influential man like myself will not seek to circumvent on principle." Its hard to get angry at a man while at the same time he is earning your respect.

"Then I am going to sell Chalmers and Fraser. I will need the profits from those sales to keep the rest of the team in shape." I said quickly.

He paused for a moment and gave me another look.

"May I make a suggestion?" He said in a tone that said it wasn't a suggestion.

"As long as that is all it is Your Majesty." I tried to keep the tone of my voice respectful because so far the man had earned that much from me, but I was NOT going to be a figurehead coach.

"It is only a suggestion... this time." We locked eyes and stared hard, each testing the other's will. Without letting my eyes go he continued to speak.

"Sell Chalmers if you must, but keep Fraser. I believe that he has a great deal of potential having watched him play last season."

"I have already put both of them up on the market Your Majesty. If no one bites on Fraser I will keep him and see what can be made of him."

"I see. Very well then. But next time see me before making changes to the roster. I am... attached to my players."

"As you wish Your Majesty."

Turning back to the players and their practice I breath an internal sigh of relief. That went better than I expected it to.