152 Backfired Part 1 (1/2)

Chapter 152: Backfired Part 1

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The second half of the match had just begun, and it was as Tang En had said: the Bolton Wanderers launched a fierce offense against the Forest team's goal and seemed poised to take the lead again. If Tang En had allowed his team to counterattack the Bolton Wanderers now, there would have to be something wrong with his head.

As a football fan, Tang En had enjoyed watching both sides attack each other with each team alternatively scoring goals one after another. But since he had become a manager, that interest was snuffed out. The only true way to win a football match was defense. A game was like a pyramid; the offense was the most dazzling and eye-catching peak, and the defense was the base and the foundation. If there was no solid foundation, then offense would only a castle floating in the sky. A beautiful offense must be built on a solid defensive foundation. That was the truth of football.

Without Gunnarsson, Rebrov was asked to defend as well. But the most pressure was on George Wood.

Kevin Nolan and Jay-Jay Okocha battered Wood's defensive zone one after another, and Rebrov's ability to help with defense was limited. A game like this was a good opportunity to toughen him up. Tang En stood on the sidelines with his arms crossed and did nothing as he watched Wood, who had his hands full. He believed in Wood. The kid's defensive talent would not disappoint him.

In the future that Tang En had envisioned for Wood, what kind of defensive midfielder would George Wood be in his prime? He might not become the sort of midfielder who was good at attacking and defending like Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira, and he also might not be the type of midfielder with outstanding scoring ability like Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. But he could still be the best defensive midfielder in the world. By then, even if Tang En arranged for three attacking midfielders out of the four midfielders, plus two fullbacks to assist, George Wood would still have the ability to firmly hold the Forest defensive zone in a deadlock, as if it were heavily chained... No, it would be a wall, an incomparably tall and sturdy city wall.

But he couldn't know how far away that future was.

Currently, Wood was still very inexperienced; he could not fully cover the defensive zone, and maintaining his stability was still an issue. This championship season still had a long way to go, and his professional career was also very long. How could he be expected to repeat that breathtaking performance from the previous match in every game? It was impossible. Better to take it slow.

In the midst of his busyness, Wood made a mistake and failed to see the agile Okocha. The Nigerian nimbly swung past Wood, and appeared in front of the penalty area!

A loud hiss rang out from the stands. The Forest fans hoped to put psychological pressure on the Nigerian.

”Damn it!” Walker cursed beside Twain. He felt that Twain should not have taken Gunnarsson off at the start of the second half. At the very least, he should have waited for the opponent's wave of attacks to be over before the substitution... But what was the use of saying that now?

”Okocha broke through George Wood! If the Nigerian is allowed into the penalty area, Nottingham Forest will be in danger!” Gray finished speaking when Okocha fell just outside the penalty area.

The referee's whistle sounded, and it was a foul.

This time, the man who had saved the Forest team was not George Wood, but Freddy Eastwood, who had returned to defend the front of the penalty area. He had pushed Okocha over from the side. He was given a yellow card, but he had helped the Forest team resolve a major crisis. The yellow card was worth it.

Walker let out a long-held breath. Tang En looked back at him and laughed. ”What are you so nervous about, Des? We're not going to lose. Don't you believe me? Our future is bright.”

Eastwood accepted the yellow card, then ran back to the front to wait for the chance to counterattack. Wood turned to look at him; he had helped him.

In contrast to Tang En's ease, Mr. Allardyce was furious about the foul, not only because Eastwood had toppled Okocha and prevented the Bolton Wanderers from a good offense, but also because the referee had only given him a yellow card. He thought that a red card would not have been an overreaction.

Naturally, a manager would always want the penalty to give the advantage to his team.

※※※

Eastwood's foul was a watershed moment in the circumstances of the game. Bolton Wanderers' offense gradually weakened, while the Forest team, like a compressed spring, rebounded strongly as soon as the Bolton Wanderers loosened their grip.

Tang En stood on the sidelines and seemed almost relaxed as the Forest team's offense increased. There were three consecutive shots at the goal within five minutes! He was not anxious, but Mr. Allardyce, in the next technical area, became impatient. He walked up and down between the sidelines and the technical area with a dark, almost frightening expression on his face.

Mr. Allardyce, Tang En thought. Do you have any more moves left? If not, then I won't hold back now... Tang En turned back to the technical area and looked towards Walker. Walker knew that he was going to ask him for the time. Twain had a watch, but he never looked at it. The game time was displayed on the big screen, but he never looked at it either.

”Ten minutes have passed.” Walker answered.

Tang En nodded and went back to the sidelines. He shouted Rebrov's name and asked him to move his position forward slightly.

The Forest team, like a compressed barbed spring, was going to fight back.