Although Tang En had told Sun Jihai over the phone that the team was going to use a rotation system, the first choice for right back was still Chimbonda when the new season really started. Buying Sun Jihai was to increase the thickness of the team's lineup, so that Tang En would not be stretched thin in terms of the lineup.
The reinforcement work on the rear defensive line was not over. Sun Jihai and Chimbonda rotated as the right back. The center backs also had Piqué, Matthew Upson, Pepe, Wes Morgan, Clint Hilton and others to choose from, while the left-back position was always Leighton Baines.
It was not easy to find a left back in the transfer market, and there were even fewer good left backs.
The good mood brought about by Sun Jihai's arrival only lasted for a day. Tang En had to worry about the left-back rotation.
Dunn knew what Tang En was worried about. During dinner, he recommended someone to Tang En. "You only set your sights on the transfer market. Why don't you look down?"
"Look down?" Tang En did not understand.
"The youth team." Dunn got up and walked to the television.
"You want to show me the video again?" Twain finally discovered Dunn's greatest hobby — he did not like to go shopping, he did not like to pick up girls, he did not like to drink, and he only liked to watch football videos.
"Videos are good stuff. They can give you the most intuitive impression of a player's growth." Dunn walked to the cabinet behind the television, where several rows of videotapes and discs were neatly stacked. He slid his finger across the screen, selected one, and took it out, then put it into the DVD player.
Dunn treated these videotapes and discs as if they were his own sons. Not only did he arrange them into categories and give them a unified serial number, but he also gave each one a title. At the beginning of the playback, the name of the player in the video, the time of the shooting, the location of the shooting, the age of the player at the time, the team he belonged to, and the position he played.
What appeared on the TV screen was this detailed title:
Gareth Bale, 16, Nottingham Forest youth team, left midfielder, left back, 230405, photographed at Wilford North training base.
So it was him! When Tang En saw the name, he remembered that Gareth Bale could indeed play as a left back, but … Is he too young? He's not even seventeen yet. "
Dunn did not answer Tang En's question. Instead, he retreated to the side to let Tang En watch the video.
It was a youth team match between Nottingham Forest and Sunderland. Gareth Bell played as a left back, but he did not just defend. He assisted forward many times, and the entire left flank was his zone. He broke through again and again, and his passes posed a great threat to the opponent. In the end, the Forest team was awarded a direct free kick in the front field.
Gareth Bell stood in front of the ball.
Seeing this, Tang En forgot to eat. He held the knife and fork in his hand, but his eyes were completely focused on the television screen.
He had been looking forward to this scene for a long, long time. He had been looking forward to seeing this scene ever since he brought Bale to the Forest team.
Bale stood in front of the ball and his teammates consciously made way for him. It was obvious that he had established his authority in the youth team's place kicks.
After the referee's whistle, Bale ran up and swung his leg to shoot!
The football beautifully bypassed the Sunderland human wall, and then accurately drilled into the top corner of the goal!
Seeing the football enter the goal, Tang En could not help but whistle.
"Beautiful!"
This kid really had a talent for free kicks.
In the next few youth team matches, Bale's performance was very stable. Whether it was in defense or offense, he displayed a maturity that did not match his age.
"This is a video from more than two months ago. It's even better now. He's the most dazzling player in the youth team. If you don't sign him, I can't guarantee that he'll continue to stay in Wilford. "
Tang En slapped his forehead hard. He had been so busy recently that he was dizzy. How could he forget about this?
Gareth Bell had just turned 16. Now, he could sign a professional contract with any team. If the Forest team did not sign him and other teams came looking for him, then the other teams would not have to fork out a single cent to take away the Welsh left-sided genius. Then, the Forest team would have been a sucker that had been groomed for a few years for nothing.
"Sign! Sign it tomorrow morning! I want him. From tomorrow onwards, he'll be transferred to the First Team. I don't need to find anyone else for the left back and left midfielder positions. "Tang En was so excited that he threw away his knife and fork and rubbed his hands together.
It was finally time to harvest the seeds he had planted two years ago. Gareth Bell, I have high hopes for you!
※ ※ ※
The next day, Tang En and Dunn went directly to the youth team training base together. It had been a long time since he had been to the youth team. The matters of the First Team already made him vexed. He really could not take care of the youth team.
When the youth team players saw the First Team manager and the assistant manager of the youth team appear on the sidelines at the same time, they all got excited and were full of vigor in training. Tang En knew what these kids were thinking, but he was destined to disappoint them. He had only come today for one person.
As the Forest team's reputation in the English Premier League grew, and as Tony Twain's eye for people became more and more accurate, there were also more and more people surrounding the Forest team's youth training base. Along the way, Tang En saw quite a number of guys who looked like scouts loitering around the training ground.
The scene of him going to Southampton to poach Bale was replayed in Wilford today. Only this time, the one being poached might be himself. Tang En began to consider discussing with the municipal government to block off the two ends of Wilford Alley, which ran through the training bases in the north and south of Wilford, to prevent outsiders from entering or leaving.
I can poach your people, but you can't poach mine!
Tang En believed that most of the people crowding outside the youth team's training ground were there for Bale. Gareth Bell was only 16 years old, but he already had a good reputation among the youth players. Because of his outstanding performance in the youth team competition, he had attracted the interest of many teams. Now, the scouts of these teams were waiting for the right opportunity to take him away from the Forest team.
But now, Tang En would not give them this opportunity.
Ian Greenwood, the youth team manager and the head of the youth department, stood beside Tang En with Dunn. Their focused gazes were fixed on only one person.
Gareth Bell was training hard. His face was brimming with a confident smile. He was already a completely different person from when Tang En first met him.
Once a person became confident, it was not just their mental outlook that changed.
"Actually, there are still many problems with Bell playing as a left back." Greenwood knew what Tang En meant. The First Team currently lacked a good left back, and there was no progress in the transfer market. Naturally, they had to poach from their own youth team. The purpose of the youth team's existence was to nurture outstanding players for the First Team and inject fresh blood. Even though he was happy that the First Team manager had his eyes on a player from his youth team, some things still had to be said. "His body is still a little thin, and his defensive ability is not his strong point. For example, he has almost never won a fight for headers. He likes to attack too much and is unable to return in time to defend when he plugs in to assist. He relies too much on the center-back to make up for the defense. In addition, because his body is slightly thin and weak, tackling is also his weak point. "
After listing so many shortcomings in one breath, Greenwood was worried that Tang En would not want him. So, he intended to make up for Bell's strengths, but was stopped by Tang En with a wave of his hand. "Judging from his age, I think he's already very outstanding. As for those shortcomings, he's not a main force in the First Team. He'll slowly learn and grow. In addition, although I'm looking for a left back, if his ability and characteristics are indeed more suitable for other positions, I won't rule out the possibility of letting him play as a left midfielder in the future. "
Greenwood nodded at the side. "I think he's actually more suitable as a left midfielder. He has a strong desire to participate in the offense." He then waved for Bell to come over. "Bell!"
Gareth Bell ran to the three coaches standing on the sidelines under the envious eyes of his other teammates.
"From today onwards, you don't have to come here to train." Greenwood pointed to Tang En next to him. "You go with him, Bell."
Tang En stood behind Greenwood and winked at Bell.
Bell smiled happily. "Yes, sir!"
The handover of the players was completed in such a simple manner. Greenwood gave Bell a few simple instructions, nothing more than "keep working hard" and the like.
Next, Dunn and Greenwood continued their work in the youth team, while Bell carried a backpack full of jerseys and other personal belongings and followed Tang En to the First Team's South training base.
Tang En deliberately did not take the internal passageway. Instead, he took Bell around the outside and walked around all three training grounds, just like when he took Wes Morgan to the First Team. Although it was much livelier outside the youth training ground now, there was no Michael and his son. There was only a group of scouts whose eyes followed Bell and Tang En.
"A lot of people are disappointed with your departure, Bell." Tang En pouted at the group of scouts by the roadside.
Bell laughed. "I've been waiting for you, sir. During this time, a lot of people came to my dad, and some people came to my house, hoping that I would go to their team. But Dad refused all of them. He said that the Forest team gave me a chance, and I had to repay the Forest team. "
Tang En looked at the child in front of him, who still had a childish face, and felt a little guilty. He had neglected his duty. He had forgotten that there was such an outstanding seedling in his youth team. If Dunn had not reminded him yesterday, he would have almost missed out on Bell.
He reached out and touched Bell's messy hair. "Do well, Gareth. Don't let your dad down. "
"Yes!" Bell nodded vigorously.
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