690 Before the Kickoff Whistle (1/2)
The final game of the sixth round of the 2008-2009 English Premier League season kicked off at 3 P.M. local time.
By lunchtime, the fans from all over the country consecutively flocked to the City Ground stadium on the banks of the Trent River.
The people who came early did not need to worry there would be nothing to do when they came. On the day of the match outside the stadium was simply like a huge football theme park. There were all kinds of people eating, drinking, playing soccer together by the river, peddling small merchandise, sightseeing... There was no worry about keeping entertained here.
The City Ground stadium on the day of a home game was as bustling as the ”Cattle Market” more than a hundred years ago. Although the ”Cattle Market” was still around, only the kind of bustling created by people flocking from all over the country here more than a hundred years ago was comparable to the football fans feverishly following the team.
Manchester City's fans were among the first to arrive and were mostly in groups, wearing light blue jerseys and carrying light blue Manchester City flags. They waved pale blue scarves and looked impressive gathered together.
But compared to these visitors, the hosts appeared slightly less consolidated. Because the true hardcore fan base had not appeared yet. They were the main force which created clamor in the stadium stands.
Although the two teams had been somewhat hostile to each other in recent times, that did not stop most fans from chatting together. Of course, they each supported their own teams. The Manchester City fans excitedly declared that Manchester City would win the game by two goals, while the Nottingham Forest fans shook their heads to deny the claim and that Nottingham Forest would win by two goals.
Then the two groups got together for drinks and continued to chat about their own teams.
After two o'clock, there were more and more media on the pitch, and the fans who had gathered there became the focus of their attention before the teams showed up. The reporters who had not started work watched the lively scene, while the others were busy interviewing the fans and preparing the first-hand source material.
At 2.15 P.M., Fat John, Skinny Bill and the others carried a bundled white banner and appeared outside the stadium, suddenly attracting the attention of many people. Everyone was a Forest fan, and the teams of fans in this city knew each other well. Moreover, when John and Bill previously followed Michael to mix in a football hooligan firm, they had a reputation. At this time, there would naturally be a lot of old qualified fans who came forward to say hello and those who sat a little farther also raised their glasses in greeting.
The roll of white cloth they carried caught everyone's attention.
”Hey, fat man. What's this that you're struggling to carry?” A middle-aged man came up to say hello.
”Good stuff.” John grinned with his neck askew from carrying the thing.
The banner was very long. He and Bill had dangled it in a space on the ground when they showed it in the bar last night. Now that it was completely pulled open, rolled up, and then folded in the middle before it was tied up with a rope, it was even a little hard for four strong men to carry on their shoulders.
”Don't be so secretive. Just say it, what's in there?”
”You'll know it during the game. It gives the fun away if I say it now. And…..” John pointed to the reporters and television press that lingered around nearby. ”We're going to give Manchester City a big surprise!”
The men stopped following and just watched John's party enter the stadium from the admission gate. Carrying such a big item, they were asked to open it for inspection. John stepped forward to ask the other side to come over, and then opened a corner, mysteriously letting the other side have a look.
The man was seen laughing happily and waving his hand to let them through.
So, it looked like there would be scene to watch at the stands in a while...
※※※
At half past two, right on time, the buses of the two teams drove into the dedicated parking area outside the City Ground stadium. They were warmly welcomed as they passed the fans.
Ashley Young had a year's experience and had no special feelings about returning to Nottingham Forest's home round for games. Bendtner was different. At first, he took those fans outside in red jerseys as his supporters. As soon as he raised his hand and wanted to wave his hellow, he saw a few fans putting their lips together to hiss at him. Then he realized that blue was now his color.
What would the fans, who once cheered excitedly for his goals, use to greet him now?
Bendtner was not frustrated by the attitude of those fans. Instead, he looked forward to the upcoming game. Even if the entire stadium booed him continuously, he was going to prove with real actions what a serious mistake Tony Twain had made when he did not value him!
In the words of Julius Caesar, that was----
I came, I saw, I conquered, I left, and you regretted!
Well... Did Caesar say the last phrase? It did not matter. The important thing is that I conquer you.
Ashley Young saw Bendtner deep in his contemplation and nudged him to say, ”Penny for your thoughts? Are you worried about what they're going to do to you?” He pointed to the window outside. ”Don't be afraid, it's just booing. It was the same when I first came here. When I thought about it later, it was the same everywhere... When we played for the Forest team, were we booed less by the fans of the other teams?”
Bendtner shook his head and said, ”No, I'm not worried about them booing me.”
”Then you are..”
”I'm envisaging my performance in the game later.”
”You're such a weirdo!”
”The boss... didn't Twain always have a phrase hanging on his lips? The enemy's hisses and abuse are the best compliment and recognition for you. I think I understand the meaning of his words now.” Bendtner pointed to the people clad in red jerseys outside and said, ”They're all my enemies.”
Ashley Young gaped. When he first came to the City Ground stadium as part of a visiting team, he was so alarmed by the hissing that he basically could not play at his usual level and was brought off early. He really could not adapt to the sudden shift in the role. He did not expect Bendtner to have completed this role swap long ago, and behaved as if he had played for Manchester City for twenty years as a loyal veteran... He wanted to click his tongue in wonder.
Ah, there are truly all kinds of people in this big old world...
※※※
The Manchester City bus arrived first. When they had all entered the locker room, Nottingham Forest's bus came speedily as if it had been planned.
In the parking lot, Twain was the first to jump out of the bus. With a stern expression, he faced the crowds of cheers and the microphones held by the reporters who thronged around.
”I don't have anything to say. It's just a regular league game.”
Someone among the reporters booed him in a low voice. Only a fool would believe the man's words.
The players who then got off the bus did not plan to be interviewed by the reporters. They dashed into the dedicated passageway with their heads down.
The surrounding Forest fans gathered around to loudly chant slogans such as ”Nottingham Forest will win.” The atmosphere was so explosive that it did not seem like a ”normal league” at all.
After all the players had gone, Twain waved to the waiting reporters and said, ”See you after the game, everyone. If I'm in a good mood, I can answer any questions you may have.”
※※※
Fat John and the others already stood in their own stands and were getting ready for the game which was about to start. The bundled-up banner was thrown at their feet and left unattended for the time being.
The players on both sides were warming up on the pitch. Sporadic boos could already be heard, and the target was certainly Bendtner, who wore a vest with the Manchester City emblem.
He behaved as if he did not care and just did his own warm-up.
After four years of being under Twain and his rich experience of competing against other teams had told him that in the face of those people who hiss at him, he would lose if he really fly into a rage.
Consequently, he was calm at heart at this moment.
When could he break out and fully vent the anger? When he scored in person during the game, he would have taught the people who booed him a lesson.
You're all going to... pay the price!