The Ukrainian Rebrov had been very depressed for the past week. He came to training with a frown and returned to the hotel with a frown. After seeing the methods of the new manager, he no longer held any hope for his future in the team. After this game, he planned to let his agent find a place for him to settle down.
Manager Tony Twain found a number of people in the team to talk to alone, from Wes Morgan, who had just been transferred to the First Team, to Michael Dawson and Andy Reid who were about to leave the team.
He wondered if he had been abandoned by the manager.
Tomorrow was the game against Crystal Palace. The team went through a simple 40-minute tactical practice on set pieces before ending the training. Rebrov frowned again and left Wilford in disappointment.
Looking at his back as he walked to the parking lot with his head lowered, Tang En said to Walker beside him, "For tomorrow's game, let the Ukrainian be the starting striker."
"Of course. You've sent Taylor to the reserves team. We only have three players in the forward line. Westcarr's ability is limited, so we can only let Johansson and the Ukrainian start. "
Hearing Walker's words, Twain laughed dryly. He and Walker specifically went to watch the reserve team's game yesterday. Taylor was in the starting lineup and scored a goal. His form was quite good. However, he did not express any intention of recalling Taylor back to the First Team. He still had to continue training with the reserves team. His headers were indeed a very important way to score goals. Currently, the team's offense was weak and they lacked a striker. Walker did not quite understand Tang En's approach, but Tang En knew what he was doing.
Saturday night, outside Nottingham Forest's home ground. The team's continued slump in the previous period had also affected the stadium's attendance. In previous games, the average attendance at the City Ground was less than 20,000 people. Large areas of the stands were empty, and the players did not have the mood to play in such an environment.
However, it was different today. The City Ground had become a sea of red under the night sky.
A reporter from Nottingham's local television station outside the stadium captured the fans rushing from all directions, waiting to enter the stadium. They gathered into several long red snakes, moving their heads, waving their arms and singing fan songs. There were even fans shouting at the camera, "Tony! Tony! Tony! "
Even the small vendors selling various fan supplies and souvenirs outside the stadium had their business booming again.
The reporter stood in front of the camera with one hand holding the microphone and the other pressed against his ear, trying to make his voice drown out the fans' shouts behind him. "Do you see that? The City Ground stadium had awakened! I believe … I believe that our Forest team will also wake up from its slumber! "
A BBC reporter was on the other side of the long line of fans, reporting on the evening news: "Just a change of manager has aroused the enthusiasm of the fans! I believe the people of Nottingham will miss the scene they saw today! In the second half of last season, the Forest team's home games were almost like this! The failed Collymore has been forgotten overnight, and the fans have welcomed back the young manager, Tony Twain, who led the team to the play-offs last season … "
Just as he said that, a fat man suddenly jumped in between him and the camera, and then put his fat face in front of the camera. He first burped, then took a deep breath, widened his eyes and shouted, "Nottingham Forest will win! Long live Tony! Tonight … hiccup … treat me to a drink! "
Without waiting for the reporters to react, Fatty jumped out of the picture amidst the laughter of his companions. The quick-witted cameraman immediately pointed the camera at him and his companions, taking pictures of their backs.
A group of fans wearing Forest's red jerseys walked side by side, waving the scarves in their hands and loudly singing their self-composed songs.
"Oh, oh, oh! Generous Tony! Oh, oh, oh! He treated us to a drink, we love him! He gave us victory, we love him! Forest, Forest! Tony Twain! "
The reporter wiped the sweat off his forehead as he continued with his work. "Uh … it has been proven that Manager Tony Twain enjoys a very high reputation among the Forest fans …" He glanced at a group of drunk fans walking crookedly behind the cameraman and hurriedly ended the report. "This is a report from BBC reporter Larry Jackson from Nottingham's City Ground stadium! Welcome to the show! Goodbye! "
The tightly shut door could not block out the loud singing coming from the stands outside. Compared to the excited Forest fans, the people in the locker room were calmer … Of course, that was what it looked like on the surface.
The assistant manager, Des Walker, was announcing the starting list for the match. He started calling out the goalkeeper.
"Darren Wood, John Thompson, David Oyer, Michael Dawson, Wes Morgan, Branya Gunnarsson, Jacob Burns, Andy Reid, Gareth Williams, David Johnson, and …" Finally, the last person was called.
Rebrov sat in his chair with his head down, not harboring any expectations. Then, he heard Walker say, "… Sergei Rebrov. It's these eleven people! "
He raised his head abruptly. He actually made it into the starting lineup again?! But on second thought, he understood. The top striker, Gareth Taylor, had been demoted to the reserve team. Now that the team's forward line was lacking, it was only natural that he could make it into the starting lineup.
After the starting list was announced, the locker room was filled with the sounds of discussion. Walker slapped the tactical board hard, indicating to the players that the manager had something to say.
When the locker room quietened down again, Twain said loudly, "Crystal Palace is third from the bottom, and we are fourth from the bottom! What does this match mean? I don't want you to think, 'Ah, things aren't that bad yet.' I want you to know, 'F * ck, things are this bad!' Twenty-two rounds of matches, and we've only won four matches, but lost 13! This result is too horrible to look at! Before this match, we've lost six matches in a row. I don't care what you think, but I've lost enough, and I don't want to lose anymore! Those of you who don't mind continuing to lose, raise your hands! "He waved his arms, but no one obediently raised their hands.
"Very good! Looks like you don't want to lose anymore. " Twain nodded and lowered his arms. Then, he glanced at Rebrov, who had his head lowered. "I'm a new manager. I don't care how you've performed before, and I don't care if that manager promised you anything …"
Rebrov tilted his head. He was listening intently.
"I only look at all of your performances from today onwards. If you perform well, you'll be in the starting lineup! If you don't perform well, you'll be a substitute! It's that simple. If you want to compete, then tighten up the springs on your butts! "Tang En made a twisting gesture, and everyone immediately felt their backs tighten.
Evan Doughty was wearing a suit and tie. He was more formal than his work attire as he sat in the box, ready to watch the match. His financial advisor, Allan Adams, had already flown back to America to deal with the acquisition of Forest's shares. There was nothing for him to do for the time being. Evan also needed someone to take care of his business in America.
In fact, Evan hated going to the box to watch the match, because all British stadiums had a rule: Anyone who entered the box to watch the match had to wear a tie. This was a dead rule. Even the President of America had to abide by it.
Evan did not like wearing a tie. This was related to his experience as a child. He hated anything that was tied around his neck …
But he was now the chairman of the club. He had to be there for the home match. Not to mention when the team's results were not good and morale was low.
He could only try to tie his tie looser. That would make him feel better.
The middle-aged man sitting next to him was the chairman of Forest's opponent, Crystal Palace. He was a mobile phone dealer, Simon Jordan.
Unlike Evan, his tie was tied tightly around his neck. He wore a well-ironed suit with not a single hair out of place.
When they had exchanged handshakes, President Jordan had taken exception to Evan's dress and had spoken haughtily. Even though his team's ranking was lower than Forest's, it did not stop the man from saying in an interview before the match that his team would definitely beat Forest and take the opportunity to go ashore. He also tactfully mocked Evan Doughty, saying that an American who did not understand football should not meddle in English football.
Faced with these words, Evan's reaction was to dismiss them with a laugh. But who knew the fire in his heart …
Damn it, Tony! We must win this match! We absolutely, absolutely cannot lose to this bastard who sells mobile phones!
When Crystal Palace's manager, Steve Kember, saw that the Forest striker standing in the center circle to kick off was the incompetent Ukrainian, Rebrov, he laughed and then said to his assistant manager, Terry Bullivant, "Terry, we don't have to worry about the defense for today's match."
The league had been going on for almost half a season, and Forest's poor performance told all the League One team managers a fact. That was, the "English Premier Striker," Sergei Rebrov, who was once placed high hopes on by everyone, was a completely substandard product!
As long as he was on the field, Forest's opponents could rest assured and boldly press up to attack, because this 29-year-old striker could no longer find the position of the goal on the field.
The process of the match also proved this point. Rebrov, who was on the front line, faced with the close marking of England's tall defender, could not find the feeling to shoot at all.
Tang En shook his head in the technical area. "The Ukrainian has completely lost confidence … He doesn't even dare to shoot at the goal."
Walker nodded in agreement.
Many professional players had experienced the experience of losing confidence because of consecutive poor performances, leading to the experience of failure. Sergei Rebrov was walking on that road to darkness at this moment. If no one came to pull him up, then he would continue to sink.
Although it's none of my business if you continue to sink … the result of this match will be affected. What I need is victory, and you, Rebrov, are the key!
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