136 This Is Eastwood! Part 1 (2/2)

Even Walker could not help but be impressed once again by Tang En's insight. He really did not know how Tang En had discovered a person like him; someone who had never taken part in any first team's matches, and had gone to play in the Amateur League after sustaining a leg injury and being abandoned by his previous team.

Of course, Tang could not tell him that he had seen footage of Eastwood playing three years later in 2007, and had previously used him in a version of Football Manager. Hence, he simply offered no explanation at all, and let his colleagues continue to look at him with veneration. This actually worked out in his favour, and was helpful for the continued fortification of his position and authority.

One should never show all the cards in their hands to others, even their best friends or colleagues. Especially as a manager, a job which required personal charisma, Tang En needed a mysteriousness which made others, like Brian Clough, unable to comprehend him at times. Peter Shilton, English National Football team goalkeeper and core player in Nottingham Forest's attaining of two consecutive UEFA Champions League championships, once said, ”Shankly, Ramsey and Ernst, all these managers are impressive. They have an aura and charm, but Clough also has the mysterious X genes.”

In the end, reality proved better than anything else that maintaining a suitable amount of mystery and a sense of unapproachability in front of other people was beneficial in improving one's reputation and credibility on a team.

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On the 3rd of January at City Ground Stadium, Nottingham Forest faced off against West Bromwich in the third round of the FA Cup. Before the match, Tang En made Eastwood don Nottingham Forest's jersey and appear in the middle of the football field to meet the fans. The fans' reactions towards the unfamiliar man were slightly cold, and whereas the fans' cheers shook City Ground Stadium, this time there was no welcoming scene.

The meet-and-greet session was very simple: Eastwood stood by the side of the field and waved at the fans while holding a Nottingham scarf in his hand and letting the reporters take a few pictures. It lasted for less than five minutes before Eastwood got off the field. After that, he took off his jersey and, dressed in his neat attire, watched the match from the lounge located by the stands. He did not even make it into the reserves for the match.

The match ended with Nottingham Forest losing to West Bromwich with a score of 1:2, and Nottingham Forest's disqualification from the FA Cup. The fans were slightly disappointed, but they still clapped for the team when the match ended. After all, the team had at least entered the semi-finals of the FA Cup, and they should not be too greedy.

Instead, Eastwood, who had made his debut before the match, soon became the center of the media's attention. The reason was simple. The media discovered that Eastwood had just broken his leg and had been playing for an amateur team, without any match experience with a professional team.

Although this transaction only cost the club a hundred thousand pounds, the media, which liked to make a mountain out of a molehill, still sensationalized the matter. Quite a few media outlets questioned Tang En's judgement and, at the same time, questioned Eastwood's abilities.

Although it was unclear how they managed to find out, there were even some in the media who reported about the dramatic scene that had unfolded when Eastwood had first arrived at Nottingham Forest. They exaggerated the events of that day, and tried their best to mock Eastwood. In the end, they finished with assertions like, ”Eastwood is a gypsy who lives inside of a large caravan and brought a horse to the training grounds to report on his first day as though he lived a primitive life. Someone who helps his father sell second-hand cars, broke his leg, and could only play for amateur teams…. This is Tony Twain's frontline lance? Nottingham Forest's hope? The world must have gone crazy!”

In reality, Bruce was also somewhat worried about this newcomer's abilities. However, out of trust for Tang En, he did not publish any articles that were unfavorable towards Eastwood. When he expressed his pessimism towards Eastwood's prospects, he was always very careful with his choice of words. But the rest of the media did not care as much. They were still unhappy with the fact that the war between Nottingham Forest and Millwall had not been started. With such a good opportunity in their hands, how could they let it go so easily?

”…I've seen a varnisher become a professional football player, I've seen a plumber become a professional football player, and I've even seen someone doing odd jobs at a restaurant become a professional football player. But I've never seen a vagrant whose entire family lives inside a caravan become a professional football player!”

”As we understand it, when Freddy Eastwood was playing for the Westham United youth team, he once received a serious foul from a Nottingham Forest player during a youth league match. Could it be that Mr. Tony Twain wants to make amends to him, and that's why he signed a player who completely hasn't proven his worth? Hey, Mr. Twain, are you planning on changing careers and becoming a philanthropist?”

”Freddy Eastwood almost entered Charlton FC. At that time, Eastwood hoped to be able to try out for the South London team's trials. But after the club found out that he had once broken his leg, they rejected him without hesitation.”

Of course, not all of the reports cast doubts on Eastwood. There was still someone who stood out and spoke for Tang En and Eastwood, even though it was only one person — Mr. Stimson, the manager of Grays Athletic, who Eastwood had previously played for. Mr. Stimson was furious at the media for mocking Eastwood, and he even felt that this player, whom he himself had convinced to return to the field, would definitely shock everyone with his performance.

”When he was on my team, he usually scored five to six goals in a single match!”

But who would pay any attention the comments of the manager of an amateur team? Indeed, his words were soon turned into a new excuse for the media to mock Eastwood.

”For a player who had received professional training from an official youth team, the ability to score five or six goals in amateur matches is nothing to brag about!”