January 1, 2004, to others, was New Year's Day, the start of a new year. But to Tang En, it had another layer of meaning that excited him. The winter transfer window had finally opened, and he could experience for the first time the feeling of being a manager, running around waving a cheque and signing the players he liked.
Of course, to welcome some people, it was inevitable to send some people away.
That day, Michael Dawson and Andy Reid left for London. They had joined the English Premier League powerhouse Tottenham Hotspur for eight million pounds. To welcome them, there was a small-scale press conference.
And the 33-year-old Eoin Jess also told Tang En that although he was happy to see Tang En return to the Forest team, he hoped to leave the club after the end of the season and return to Aberdeen, where he had first debuted, to retire.
Tang En did not urge him to stay, because he and Jess were both clear. This season, Jess had fewer and fewer opportunities to play. Even if the team successfully promoted to the English Premier League, there would be no place for him. No matter how many goals and assists he had contributed to the team, it was useless. The current Forest team was not qualified to be a retirement home.
This was also the cruel side of professional football. The old men would naturally be replaced by younger people. With the constant injection of new blood, a team could always maintain its vitality.
The other person who was leaving the team was the striker, Carrick Westcarr. The 19-year-old did not have much playing time after entering the First Team. Furthermore, his ability was far from what Tang En wanted. It just so happened that two teams had made a purchase request for him. Although the money was not much, only 150,000 pounds, Tang En agreed to both. The remaining matter was for Westcarr to negotiate the contract with the two teams.
The return of the old scout, Stuart Moore, from Leeds did not give Tang En the results he wanted. Lennon's family was more loyal than he had imagined. Even if Moore had offered a signing fee of 100,000 pounds, it would not have shaken their conviction to stay in Leeds and sign a professional contract.
Tang En shrugged his shoulders and did not blame Moore. He had tried his best. But he knew that if nothing unexpected happened, Leeds United would definitely be relegated at the end of the season. Bankruptcy was also certain. When the time came, he would pay to buy Lennon. There was no reason why he could not buy him. As for Lennon himself, would he rather be in the First League or the English Premier League? This multiple-choice question was too easy.
The only pity was that it would take a lot more than a hundred thousand pounds to buy Lennon, a seventeen-year-old genius. In the 05-06 season, Tottenham Hotspur spent one million pounds to buy Lennon from Leeds United. Tang En felt that if they had bought him in the 04-05 season, it might not have been more than one million pounds, but it would not have been much less.
Rebuilding a team during the winter break was very dangerous, and Tang En could only make some minor adjustments. The main body of the team would remain unchanged, and they would fully explore their own potential, relying on them to play in the Premier League, before considering the rebuilding plan. In fact, to be fair, the people that Collymore had bought were still very strong. It was just that he had not trained them well, and had not put a team together to form a strong enough fighting power. A team as strong as Real Madrid could only end up in the awkward situation of empty-handed for three consecutive seasons, let alone Nottingham Forest.
As for the center back, Moore recommended a player to Tang En. After watching a few of his match recordings, Tang En decided to buy him.
Clint Hill was the epitome of quality and bargain in the CM era. Originally, he was supposed to be playing for Stoke City this season, and it would be more difficult to buy him. But because of Tang En's arrival, after the ripples of influence spread out in this world, it also changed the trajectory of Hill's career. Stoke City did not reach an agreement on the transfer fee with Hill's Oldham before the end of the transfer window, so Hill could only continue to stay in the Second Division team Oldham. At this time, Tang En took advantage of the situation.
Hill, who was not tall, was only 1.83 meters, but his physical fitness was excellent. His headers, tackles, and marking abilities were outstanding. The only problem was that his defensive awareness and positional sense were lacking. His strengths and weaknesses were written in detail in Moore's scouting report. But to Tang En, such a defender would have no problem being the main force in League One. If there was no problem with his condition in the Premier League, he could at least guarantee a position as the main substitute.
So, Tang En instructed the club to contact Oldham and raise the intention to buy Clint Hill. Although Hill was now the main center back in Oldham, Tang En knew that neither the club nor the player himself could refuse his request.
Moore did not return from Leeds empty-handed. Under the circumstances where he could not get Lennon and Tang En did not have any further requests. Based on his experience, he judged that the team lacked players in the wings. So, he brought back the training video of a young man from Leeds United for Tang En.
"Stephen McPhail." A 24-year-old Ireland international footballer who has scored one goal in seven appearances. He can play in both the left and center positions of the midfield. He is a very creative player, and his passing and crosses are excellent. I think if Taylor is the main striker, then he will definitely be useful. "Moore pointed to the Leeds player who was dribbling the ball to break through on the television screen.
Tang En nodded in agreement with Moore's view. This little man's individual skills were indeed excellent, even better than Reid, who had left the team. Although they did not get Lennon, if he was added in, the left midfield should not be a problem.
"But … his value must not be low, right?" This was the question that Tang En was most concerned about. The money given to him this season was eight million pounds, so he had to spend it sparingly.
Moore nodded, then shook his head. "4.4 million pounds. But I suggest you go on a loan. Leeds United and he himself also hope to get a chance to play through a loan. The only problem is that Leeds United wants us to bear 90% of his salary. "
Tang En frowned. Was Leeds United so poor that they could not even afford to pay a player's salary? "How much is that?"
"A weekly salary of nine thousand pounds."
Tang En turned his head to look at Moore, his eyes wide open. "Why don't we just let Leeds rob a bank? In the Forest team, only Rebrov's weekly salary is over ten thousand pounds, and he wants me to fork out nine thousand pounds a week for a short-term loan … Forget it, I don't want it. It's not like I don't have a candidate for the left midfield. "
Hearing Tang En say this, Moore was also very interested. He realized that this manager's understanding of many players did not seem to be weaker than his own in the football world. For example, Eastwood was discovered by Tang En. So, he asked, "Who do you have your eye on now?"
Tang En took out a note and pen that he always carried with him, wrote a name on it, and handed it to Moore. "Mr. Moore, help me go to Stoke City to check on this person's recent situation."
"Chris Commons?" Moore stared at the name, then nodded vigorously. "I know who he is. You have your eye on him? "
"Yes, last season, his team played against us. He was only brought on at the last moment, but caused a lot of trouble for my team. In that game, his team lost to us by six goals, but he is the only Stoke City player whose name I remember. " Tang En nodded. "Breakthroughs, crosses, long shots, powerful free kicks … He's a very good left midfielder. And I don't think the price will be too high, so we don't have to have that guy with a weekly salary of nine thousand pounds. "
On the television camera, McPhail beautifully played a one-on-one with two players on the side, then used a very imaginative method to kick the football between the two players, and accelerated to go around them. His opponents were still stunned on the spot, not knowing where the football had run to. Then, there was a beautiful cross, which assisted his teammate to score.
Seeing this scene, Tang En coughed a few times. "Uh, it's not a bad idea to loan him out. After all, I don't know if Commons can persist in playing in every game, and he's not injured or sick … Well, it looks like we need to have a good talk with Leeds United …"
Moore, who was beside him, had a slight smile on his face again.
At this time, the phone in Tang En's pocket rang. It was a call from the gate guard, Ian MacDonald.
"Tony, I have someone here who wants to see you. He says he's a new player from Nottingham Forest, but I think he's a liar …"
A fast and sharp voice came from the other side of the phone. "I'm not a liar! I'm a professional player! Do you want me to give you the original agreement? Damn it! Sabina, quickly help me find that agreement! "Then there was the sound of a baby crying.
Hearing this, Tang En laughed. He asked MacDonald, "Ian, did the 'liar' you mentioned drive a yellow station wagon here?"
"That's right, Tony. It's almost blocking the gate! I've never seen a 'professional player' who sets up his home in a station wagon … If he's not a liar, then what is he? And … "
"I've said it before, I'm not a liar! I have proof! "The sharp voice sounded again. Even Moore could hear this voice.
Tang En and Moore looked at each other tacitly and laughed out loud.
"Ian, you've done well. I'll be right there."
※ ※ ※
When Tang En and Moore rushed to the main gate of the training ground, Eastwood was still in a heated argument with Ian MacDonald. The dutiful old guard listened to Tang En's instructions and was determined not to let him, a Romani who did not look like a professional football player, into the training ground. As Eastwood's wife did not find the agreement, he could only wave his arms and vent his anger at MacDonald. His wife, Sabina, was at the side coaxing the baby. The baby was obviously frightened by his father's sharp argument. He cried non-stop in his mother's arms and struggled with all his might.
It was really lively!
(To be continued. If you want to know what happened next, please go to www. CMFU. com. There are more chapters. Support the author. Support the original reading!)
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