WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Season 2, Episode 2 of Ted Lasso, "Lavender," now available on Apple TV+.
Just two episodes into Season 2 of Ted Lasso, Coach Ted (Jason Sudeikis) is already experiencing a myriad of issues he never had when he took up the job with AFC Richmond. The club's not winning, but it isn't losing either, so he's trying to figure out how to shake this new curse. However, he's got backroom issues to tend to as he wants to ensure he has the right staff to take the team forward. Now, following a shocking return, a unique headache arises as he gets a football manager's perfect dream, which ironically turns out to be the ultimate nightmare at the same time.
This happens when Jamie Tartt comes back after Man City dumped him. Ted, his staff and players were against it due to Jamie's ego and the friction he caused while on loan to Richmond in Season 1, but Ted ultimately decided to give him a second chance.
Ted believes in Jamie's talent and has faith that he can do well. However, the narcissism problem aside, Ted is now stuck with two of the Championship's best strikers with Dani Rojas already taking the baton when Jamie departed. The Mexican teen has been a revelation up front, to the point that they didn't actually miss Jamie.
This leaves Ted with the headache of who'll be his starting striker, as he usually plays with one forward in his formation. It might mean he'll rejig to accommodate Jamie in the system, which will test his staff's strategies. Nate's a master tactician but this is going to be new territory. And it does seem like a determined Jamie will be pushing hard for selection in his second chance. The prospect of him starting would also motivate an injury-prone Dani even more, so it's a welcomed dilemma.
It riffs off of real-world drama that managers have, with Barcelona, for example, having this problem in Spain last season trying to accommodate both Argentine legend, Leo Messi, and France's World Cup winner, Antoine Griezmann. Many European giants have experienced this, which may even lead to former skipper, Roy Kent, addressing how to balance both in his new job with Sky Sports' punditry.
A lot's going to come down to training, and admittedly, with the players sour towards Jamie, Dani might get service more to look better. Thus, Jamie's going to work twice as hard, but it means he could surpass the potential that Ted sees. Either way, it's a win-win because it'll test the resolve and resilience of these natural-born goal scorers.
Sure, Ted will have his own trials trying to keep them happy, as well as keeping team morale up, but once he can harness their talents as they evolve, he'll have the key to promotion to the Premier League.
Starring Jason Sudeikis as the titular coach, Season 2 of Ted Lasso is under way on Apple TV+. The first two episodes are streaming now, with subsequent episodes available every Friday.