In fact, the media had made such a big fuss about an unknown player mainly because Tang En had announced a "gag order" after the incident with Millwall. No players or staff were allowed to be interviewed by the media. At the same time, the team's training had changed from open to closed. Not to mention the reporters, even the fans could not get their favorite players' autographs on the sidelines of the training ground.
The fans could understand. For the sake of the team's results. But the media was different. If you did not allow them to interview, it was equivalent to not giving them a chance to create news and not letting them make money. The competition in the English media was very fierce. The reporters who ran at the front could not write a report and would likely lose their jobs. So the media hoped that the various clubs could cooperate.
But Tang En did not understand. He just thought the team needed a quiet atmosphere to adjust their mentality and prepare for the upcoming series of important games. So he simply announced the team's closed-door training. He did not expect to offend the media who originally liked him. Even his new signing, Freddy Eastwood, was out of luck. Even his personal habits became an excuse to question his ability.
Tang En had seen the articles in the media. For a new player, facing such doubts was almost equivalent to a disaster. Because he hadn't done anything yet, and he had already been completely rejected. Those with weaker mental fortitude might directly be drowned in the media's saliva.
But Tang En was not anxious because he found that Eastwood did not show any signs of being affected during his usual training. Either the Romani never read sports newspapers, or he was very confident in himself. Tang En was more inclined to the latter based on his understanding of the Romani over the past few days.
For this reason, he put the Romani in the squad list for the team's trip to the Stadium of Light. If the time was right, he would consider letting Eastwood play. There was no better way to refute the ignorant media with practical actions.
※ ※ ※
January 6th, the morning before the game. A rare ray of sunshine appeared in the sky of Nottingham, which brought Tang En, who had arrived early to the training base to wait for the players, into a good mood.
For the away game, the team had to gather in the morning and then collectively take a bus to Sunderland. In the afternoon, they would arrive at the Stadium of Light for training to adapt to the venue and prepare for the league tournament the next day.
At the door, Tang En saw the familiar blue trailer. It was parked quietly inside the gate. Tang En looked along the small path outside the training grounds and saw a man and a horse walking unsteadily towards him in the distance. The crisp sound of the horse's hooves broke the tranquility of the morning at the training base.
"Good morning, Freddy." Tang En raised his hand in greeting when the other party came closer.
"Good morning, sir." Freddy dismounted and held the reins in his hand. He seemed to be in a good mood.
"Are you used to living here?"
"It's not bad. It's very quiet here, and no one will disturb us. Both Therim and I love living here. "
Twain nodded. "That's good. If you have any difficulties in life, just bring it up to the club. Everything can be solved … Uh, except for building a stable on the open space."
Eastwood smiled. He patted the black horse's neck and combed its shiny mane. "It's doing fine in the pet shop. Thermim and I searched many places before we found one that was willing to take it in. The other homes don't have such a big space."
"Well, if you say you're a Forest player, I think they'll be more willing."
"Yes, sir. I said that, or else the owner of the pet shop wouldn't be willing. "
Tang En chuckled. "Freddy, when you score a goal in the game, I think the owner will be rushing to sign another pet feeding contract with you."
The topic of conversation naturally changed from the trivial matters of life to the game.
"Have you seen what the media said about you?" Tang En asked.
Eastwood nodded. "I've seen them all. There's nothing new. It's all the same." He shrugged again and said a little disdainfully, "There's no evidence to show that I'm not good at football. Will I be playing in this game, sir? "
Tang En shook his head and said honestly, "I don't know. It depends on the situation of the game. If we can't break the deadlock after too long, I might consider bringing you on. I only brought you as a striker. If I need to make adjustments to the forward line, you're the only one who can be changed. "
Seeing that Eastwood did not say anything, he just kept stroking his beloved colt. Tang En asked, "Can you tell me, why do you like to warm up on horseback before a game?"
"I don't know why either … I've always liked horses. Maybe riding a horse for a walk can calm my heart and make me less nervous. In reality, it's the same. I've never been nervous about the upcoming game. "Eastwood gave his answer. Tang En believed that this was the secret to why he could keep scoring goals — a calm heart.
He did not care if there were reporters paying attention to him, nor did he care about the doubts from the media. He did not care how much money he could earn every week. He did not care if his life in the RV was shabby. He did not care how people looked at him. Whether it was anticipation or disappointment, he never thought about these things that had nothing to do with him.
Countless people cared about how much they gained at every moment. In the end, they lost even more. Eastwood, the simple Romani, only wanted to play football. So, he got his first professional contract.
Thinking of this, Tang En said to him, "Freddy, you already know about the rumors about me in the team, right?" Tang En was referring to the rumors about the "Forest manager having the ability to predict." It was ultimately spread from Burns' bar.
"Are you referring to the rumors about the wizard, sir?"
"Looks like you already know. That's right! I have the ability to predict! "
"More accurate than us Romani?" Eastwood asked with a smile.
"Of course! Freddy, you'll score a lot of goals in the future. You'll get trophies and medals that you can't even wrap your hands around. Then, you'll earn a lot of money, "Tang En said mysteriously. "When the time comes, you can buy a piece of land and build a small manor for yourself. Build a stable and you can ride a horse to your heart's content every day!"
Eastwood laughed heartily. "Thank you for your suggestion, sir. I'll seriously consider it. If I really earn that much money …"
"No, no, it's not a suggestion. It's a prophecy. A prophecy. You'll succeed. I never misjudge people! "With that, Tang En looked at his watch. It was almost time. "Go back and have breakfast. It's almost time for the team to gather."
Eastwood bid farewell to Tang En and mounted his horse. With a squeeze of his legs, he rode off with a whinny.
Behind Tang En, the red Forest team bus had already stopped at the entrance of the club's base.
※ ※ ※
Sunderland, Stadium of Light. A large screen was sandwiched between the two packed stands. It clearly displayed the participating teams, the match time, and the current score:
Sunderland vs Nottingham Forest, 77 minutes, 0: 0.
The stadium was a hubbub of voices. Even though the home team had been unable to break the deadlock, the Sunderland fans were still singing and cheering for the team. Tang En had seen such scenes many times in the City Ground Stadium. He had long since stopped lamenting about the "high quality of English fans."
At that moment, Freddy Eastwood, wearing the number 23 jersey, was standing on the sidelines, waiting for the time of the dead ball.
He would replace the defensive midfielder, Eugen Bopp, with Gareth Taylor as the two arrows. Tang En planned to deal a fatal blow.
Freddy Eastwood, who was only 20 years old, had experienced the ups and downs of his life in this year. Born in the West Ham United youth camp, his future was ruined because of a fracture. Unemployed at home, he could only help his father sell second-hand cars. It seemed like that would be it for the rest of his life. He had a few children with his wife, and then lived in a caravan, living a traditional Gypsy life. But he still returned to the field, but only in amateur matches without stands or televised. He wanted to prove that he could still play football, even though his dream of becoming a professional player looked like it was getting further and further away from him.
Until one day more than a month ago, a man came to him and asked, "Freddy, do you still want to play professional football?" The fire of his dream was reignited in his heart.
This man was the only person who believed that he could still play professional football, so he joined the team coached by this man. Now, he was representing the team in his first match, even though the match was less than 15 minutes away.
Just a minute ago, that man had called him over and told him to take off his warm-up vest and get ready to go on the field. Without any superfluous words, he only told himself, "In essence, there is no difference between a professional game and an amateur game. So shoot more when you receive the ball, whether you're outside the penalty area or inside the goal area."
He chewed on his gum, his face relaxed. The boos and singing from the Sunderland fans in the stands did not scare him. The fourth team in League One also did not scare him. Because, in essence, there was no difference between an amateur game and a professional game. They were both played on the same size field. The goal would not be bigger just because it was an amateur game, and the football would not be heavier just because it was a ball used in a professional game.
"Nottingham Forest has made an adjustment. They have just brought in a striker, Freddy Eastwood, from the amateur league, to replace the defensive midfielder, Eugen Bopp." John Motson explained the substitution in a procedural manner. He did not see any difference. "Manager Twain wants to strengthen the offense. He doesn't want to return to Nottingham empty-handed. But there is nothing worth looking forward to with this substitution. A striker who has broken his leg and only plays in the amateur league. Although I don't think Manager Twain is some kind of philanthropist, this young man really can't make people have too much hope, "he said, shaking his head.
Finally, the Forest team got an out of bounds ball in the front field. The fourth official once again raised the sign indicating a substitution.
Bopp panted heavily as he ran down. After high-fiving Eastwood, he returned to the substitutes' bench.
In the live broadcast, a male voice was announcing the away team's substitution. There was a burst of boos from the home team's stands. Not every away team player would enjoy such "treatment." Clearly, the 0: 0 score not only made the Sunderland players anxious on the field, but it also made the "Black Cats" fans in the stands very unhappy.
"Go back to your country caravan, gipsy!"
"We'll break your leg again!"
"Amateur league kid, this is not a place you should be!!"
Eastwood did not hear anything. He ran to the sidelines, ready to receive his teammates' tosses.
The Forest team's players deliberately delayed the game time, which caused the Sunderland fans to be unhappy. The boos in the Stadium of Light rose to another level. Freddy Eastwood received the ball from his teammates amidst the deafening boos that were enough to cause a heart attack.
He received the ball calmly and turned around. No one came up to defend him. Indeed, who would care about this amateur player who had broken his leg for the first time? He dribbled the ball in the middle, and still no one came up to intercept him.
Tang En's words rang in his ears again. "… Shoot more after you receive the ball, whether it's outside the penalty area or inside the goal area."
So, he knocked the football forward slightly, supported his body with his left foot, leaned back slightly, and swung the right leg that had once been broken … His body was like a taut bow. After he let go, a huge burst of energy suddenly erupted!
A long shot!
The football flew towards the goal like a cannonball. The Sunderland goalkeeper leaped high, but only pounced on the wind brought by the football as it swept past. Behind him, the net was violently lifted!
"EASTWOOOOOD!!" Motson suddenly shouted. "A genius strike! What a beautiful goal! A long shot of thirty meters! "
The huge boos in the Stadium of Light disappeared without a trace in an instant. Everyone was scared silly by the shot! The mouths that had been spewing profanities were wide open, forgetting how to close them.
After the goal, Eastwood excitedly rushed to the sidelines. He knelt on both knees and glided on the turf. Behind him, the Forest players were pouncing towards him!
On the sidelines, seeing Eastwood being pinned down by his teammates, Walker excitedly shouted in Tang En's ear. "Tony! You're right! He gave all of us a big surprise! He gave everyone in Sunderland a big surprise! "
Tang En was not as excited as Walker. He just stood in front of the technical area and applauded. Because he had long known that Eastwood could do it, that he could score goals, and that he could score more goals.
The television was replaying Eastwood's long shot from thirty meters away. Motson's excited voice continued. "This is his first shot after seven seconds on the field! A goal in seven seconds! No one knew him seven seconds ago. Now, please allow me to reintroduce him to everyone. Ladies and gentlemen! This is Freddy Eastwood!! "
(To be continued, if you want to know what happened next, please log on to WWW. CMFU. com. More chapters. Support the author. Support the original reading!)
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