8 In The Name Of Victory (1/2)
Chapter 8: In The Name Of Victory
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The locker room atmosphere at that very moment was so good that Walker could not bear to remind everyone that they had to play immediately. Since the team had slipped into League One, the team morale had been steadily declining, and many people even believed they should be in the lower level league and had no confidence for the future. David Platt did not change this despondent morale, Paul Hart also did not. Who would have thought that the originally glum and low-key substitute manager could turn things around?
Looking at the players' faces trembling with excitement and the fire in their eyes, Des Walker realized that Twain being struck in the back of his head was not necessarily a bad thing, at least God had given them a decent manager.
”Okay! We play now!” Tang En stood at the door and clapped, urging the players to get out there. The first to pass by his side was Jack Lester who had a poor performance in the first half. He was probably still upset by his first half performance and had intended to go out with his head hung low, but was caught off guard by a slap on his back.
”Raise your head, all of you lift your heads up!” His voice rang out again in the locker room. ”We haven't lost yet, why do you have your heads down? Don't let those East Londoners think we're scared of them!”
With a roar, all the players unconsciously raised their heads and walked out of the locker room with their chests puffed out.
Once the last player had left the locker room, Tang En turned to see Walker still standing behind him, his tense face showing a glimmer of smile.
Walker looked at the sweat on his forehead and also smiled. ”Tony, you really gave me a good show.”
Tang En grinned, ”Let's go, Des. Whatever the result is going to be, it still has to pass the trial of the match.”
When they returned into the technical area, both teams' players were already on the field, waiting for the kickoff. Tang En looked at the stands. What disappointed him was that the halftime had just passed, and the stands were already empty, he did not know whether they had not returned to their seats yet, or if they were too disappointed with the Forest team and did not want to watch. If you all left early, I bet you'll regret it!
And then behind him came the sounds of abuse like the first half. Tang En did not even turn his head, he did not wish to acknowledge them now. Not until after the start of the match, would he then look at them again. Walker seemed to want to argue with them and was pressed down by Tang En on the bench.
”Ignore them, just watch the ball. The match is going to start soon.”
The starting lineup of the match was arranged by Des Walker, basically it was the team's main force, no injuries or illnesses. This lineup was not considered weak in League One, but it did not play well in the last few matches and a lot had to do with their low spirits. With the rumored change of their manager, each player's future hanging in the balance, and the shadow of a financial crisis, how were the players expected to be the right frame of mind to play well, and how would the football managers be able to delve into tactics?
Tang En had just rekindled their fighting spirit and confidence buried in their hearts. Their opponent is a Premier League team? Well, it's more exhilarating to play such a team, and we can prove our ability even more by beating a Premier League team! Whether it was a player making noise for a transfer, or someone who planned to be in this low-level league, everyone is ignited with a fighting spirit at this very moment—to beat West Ham United for himself! No matter what our purpose or our past differences may be, our goal is the same this time, and that is to win this match, for victory!
Michael Dawson observed the West Ham United players behind the defensive line and found that his manager had incredible foresight. Their opponents were inattentive, their eyes were unfocused, and their stance was sloppy. They were completely unaware of what terrible beasts their opponents had become.
He knew that he would win this match today!
The referee blew the whistle and the second half began. In the press box, John Motson drank some water, cleared his throat, turned on the microphone, and began his commentary.
”This is the first match of the English FA Cup third round in the 02-03 season, with visiting team West Ham United leading 3:0 over the home team Nottingham Forest in the first half. What will we see in the second half of the match... Oh, foul!” He had not even finished saying his prepared lines before he had to change them midway.
The main referee had just blown the whistle to start play, and he had to whistle again. This time it was because a Forest team player had committed a foul. Andy Reid had pushed the West Ham United team captain Joe Cole during a tackle.
Tang En knew Joe Cole's particular style of play and future stardom. England's most intuitive player with the most gorgeous footwork in recent years would not reach the height of everyone's expectations. Besides his style of play was not in keeping with the English football tradition. His easily injured body was also an important reason that prevented him from advancing further.
Modern football had very high physical fitness requirements, It required a player with the combined skills of Maradona and Pelé. If a player had a glass-like body, it was basically equal to having no chance of any glory and achievement. Generally speaking, it was this way for Joe Cole. His footwork was outstanding, yet he was easily injured.
Wonderkid, let me teach you how to face brutal defense here. Tang En said in his heart. If you can pass this round, you will be the world's superstar, but if you fail... then you should resign to your fate!
West Ham United was awarded a free kick. Andy Reid's foul still did not raise the alarm for them. No matter how they looked at it, it was only a common foul. The truth was, for a young famous star player like Joe Cole, being violated on the field was practically commonplace, nothing to it. Anyways they were three goals ahead.
The free kick went out and soon the ball went to a Forest player. Defoe carelessly stopped the ball with his foot and directly kicked it to his opponent. With regard to this lapse, neither Glenn Roeder the manager on the sideline nor the West Ham United players on the field took it to heart. They thought they had already won. Roeder also expressed his congratulations to the team ahead of time during halftime. After taking a look at the Forest player who took the ball, that childlike juvenile midfielder, Roeder turned his head back to the technical area, ready to discuss the 11 days of Premier League with his aides. They were going to play against Newcastle on home ground, and this was a tricky team. Newcastle was ranked fourth in the league, and they were the last.
When Tang En saw Dawson got the ball, he knew it was a chance. Because of this offense, most of the West Ham United players had not returned to their side, they were just leisurely walking on the field. They needed to be taught a lesson.
He got up from the technical area and walked down.
Motson in the press box saw the scene, ”Manager Tony Twain just got up and walked down. This is the first time he has appeared on the sideline in this match, is there anything worth looking forward to for the Forest team in the second half? But I still hope he will be careful of his own players and not be knocked down again! Ha ha!”
Dawson also noticed that Twain had appeared on the sideline. He glanced over and saw that Twain had drawn an arc in front of his chest with his right forefinger. A long pass?
In fact, he had already seen that the West Ham United formation was very messy. There were numerous loopholes in their defense. Jack Lester was the forward nearest to the front. But he was like a sleepwalker in the first half. Could he be trusted?
Dawson gritted his teeth and kicked the ball forward.
Tang En watched the football fly, shining brightly under the afternoon sun, straight behind the West Ham defense line.
The man who appeared there was—Jack Lester!
Tang En clenched his fists. ”Shoot! Son of a bitch!” he yelled. But Lester was still outside the penalty area... Tang En saw that the opposing goalkeeper, David James, was standing a bit forward, perhaps he did not expect the Forest team's offense would cross into their penalty area line so quickly.
Tang En saw it, did Lester see it?
This 26-year-old forward from Sheffield only had the football in his eyes. He saw the West Ham United Czech Republic defender, TomášŘepka, leap high, but he did not head the ball from Dawson. He missed!
The football flew toward Lester, he lifted his chest and propelled it beautifully. Amidst the cheering of the Forest fans, he seemed to hear a voice shouting, ”Shoot!”
He did not have time to look at the opposition goalkeeper's position, and he just kicked and shot, launching straight into the air within the penalty area!
The biggest beneficiary of West Ham's frantic attack in the first half was their goalkeeper James, who did not even break a sweat. It even allowed him to show off in the locker room. Now he realized he was the unluckiest man because of the first half…
Because when he tried to save the goal, he found himself unable to stretch out due to the lack of warm-up.
The football flew past his hand, and it went into the goal behind him!
”Jack Lester ... What a great goal!!” Motson jumped up from his seat. When Dawson passed the ball with his kick, he did not expect to see such a beautiful goal.
The City Ground was suddenly ignited by Lester's goal, and all the red-clad fans jumped from their seats. Waving their arms, this time it was really the Sherwood Forest, which was more spectacular than the 27,000 middle fingers!
After scoring the goal, Lester saw the football inside the goal, then jerked around and sprinted towards the technical area. He wanted to thank someone for this goal. That person was...Tony Twain who was waving his arms and shouting on the sideline! It was him who rekindled his fighting spirit and confidence. It was him who told him that he had to raise his head, straighten up and face up to everything. He was sure that the word 'shoot' was definitely shouted by Twain.
At that moment, the sound of abuse behind the technical area vanished. The players and the managers were only able to hear one sound, ”Forest! Forest! Nottingham Forest!!” The City Ground, which could accommodate up to 32,000 people, had finally regained its status as the Forest team's home ground.
Tang En grabbed hold of this chance to teach the Forest team players who had gathered around him to celebrate the goal, ”Take a look at this stand! This is our home ground! Do you see it? These are our fans! Play it well! Now back to the field to continue to teach those Londoners!”
After sending away the motivated players, he returned to the technical area, Des Walker stood up and high-fived him in celebration. ”Beautifully done, Tony!”