334 The New Season Part 1 (1/2)

Anelka's performance in the press conference managed to satisfy Forest's supporters. Not only did he appear resolute in playing his part to serve the team, but he also made a fuss about Forest's once glorious results. He said that Nottingham Forest was a ”great” club and a ”great” team.

Fans were naïve. If a new player said that they loved the team and was able to mention a thing or two about the team's past glories, the fans would be more than happy to accept them. So, even a player like Anelka could receive the support of numerous Forest fans.

There was another important reason that explained how they could so quickly accept Anelka. As fans who had personally experienced their journey these past few years—of Nottingham Forest being a no-name to being renowned throughout Europe; of a team that was bogged down by a mire of relegations to a team that had gotten into the qualifiers of the UEFA Champions League; of a Forest that was the champion of the EFL Cup—they all had a kind of fanatic trust in following and supporting their manager, Tony Twain.

They were fond of Tony for more than his lack of standoffishness with the fans; when he saw them on the street, he would greet and chat with them like they were old friends. But what was more important were the results he produced when he led the team. Before him, perhaps only Brian Clough performed better.

While the fans liked the faithful old blokes who had been serving in Forest's managerial team for decades, they liked, even more, a manager who could lead the team to victory and glory.

Forest's fans believed that Manager Tony would have a way of dealing with Anelka, no matter how eccentric he was.

So, what method did Twain have?

”What method could I possibly have? I'm not the Encyclopedia Britannica, Superman with his underpants on the outside, or a particularly smart person who can solve any issue with a scratch of their brain…” On their way to the training grounds, Tang En was grousing to Dunn. ”It is difficult to change a person's character. It's even more difficult to change a person who is stubborn and willful. And it's above and beyond difficult to change someone who's stubborn, willful, and has two agent brothers by his side feeding him lousy ideas!”

Dunn stayed quiet, allowing Tang En to vent his frustrations. When they got to Wilford Lane and the two had to go their separate ways, Tang En suddenly stopped short. He looked up at the thick shadow from the trees and muttered to himself, ”But why do I have to change him? If he's useful, use him. If not… We'll see!”

Returning to the manager's office, Tang En found David Kerslake waiting there. It appeared as if he wanted to discuss something with him.

”Is anything the matter, David?”

Kerslake looked like he was struggling to say something.

”This isn't your style, David,” Tang En said, feeling odd. ”You've always been very straightforward.”

”Uh… I'm a little worried about Anelka. Would he disrupt the mood of the team? You know, our team's atmosphere has always been pretty good…”

Tang En started laughing. ”Isn't it a little too late to be worrying about that? Now that he's a member of Forest, there's no point worrying. If not… Should we put him in the reserve?”

Kerslake's head shook like a pellet drum. ”No way. If we do that, we'll become laughing stocks. Who on earth would put a player costing eight million pounds onto the reserve team?”

”So.” Tang En shrugged. ”Whether we want him or not, Anelka is here. We need to treat him just like any other First Team player.”

The reasoning was understood easily enough by Assistant Manager Kerslake. ”I know… Should we speak to Anelka privately?”

Tang En looked at him oddly. ”What about?”

”Uh… To tell him to take note of the unity in the locker room…”

”Don't joke, David.” Tang En laughed again. ”Telling someone with an eccentric personality, 'I think you have a bad temper, and you need to change.' Do you think he'll listen?”

Kerslake shook his head. ”I guess not…”

”So, we're not going to do anything. Remember what I said earlier. Just treat him like any other player. That'll do. We'll treat him just as we treat the others. If he thinks he's a huge star who won in the Champions League before and wants to throw his weight around here… very good.” Tang En nodded firmly. ”I'm not afraid of wasting Allan's money.”

”I thought you and Anelka had discussed this… During the press conference yesterday, the both of you looked so cheerful,” Kerslake said with a shake of his head.

”How is that possible? I only gave him a call after the signing of the contract to welcome him to Forest Team. Nothing else was said. And what was said during yesterday's press conference was entirely arranged by those two brothers of his.”

It dawned on Kerslake. ”Their arrangements for these sorts of matters are always impeccable looking from the outside.”

”But, of course. Those two are the best at putting on a show. Transferring six times in six years; even if they didn't know how to, they would have learned it by now,” Tang En remarked, sarcasm dripping off his words.