It was a winter morning in Nottingham. The sky brightened later, but the number of people on the streets had increased. Everyone was busy going to work, and the overseas students also had to go to school. This was a city that was both old and young. Everywhere was full of vitality, unlike old industrial cities like Manchester and Liverpool, which were lifeless.
Tang En yawned as he walked on the sidewalk. Young people ran past him in groups, a stark contrast to his lethargy.
Looking at the backs full of youthful energy, Tang En could only complain to himself about the terrible inertia left behind by his previous body. Just like that rigid schedule, he opened his eyes at 6: 30 sharp this morning, and then could not fall asleep no matter what. He knew that it was Tony's morning run, but he just did not want to go jogging so early in the morning. He had not done that kind of day ever since he met the standards for physical education in the college entrance examination.
He stared at the ceiling in a daze until 7 o'clock, then got up to make some food. Then, he stared blankly until 7: 40. Finally, he could not sit still anymore and decided to go to work.
The direct result of his lack of sleep was that he could not stop yawning. In addition to the drizzle in the winter morning, the temperature was very low. Wrapped in a black coat, he shrunk his neck like a drug addict.
After a 20-minute journey, Tang En was a little surprised when he stood at the main entrance of the training base. He looked at his watch and confirmed that it was 3: 30 past 8. "Why is it so quiet? Is the New Year holiday not over yet? " Tang En was a little puzzled. The entrance of the training base was truly deserted. When he arrived, he saw a few sparrows stopped in front of the main entrance. They only flew up when they heard his footsteps.
The guard, Ian McDonald, was even more surprised than him. "Tony, it's not time for training to start yet."
"Ah … Oh. What time does training start? "Tang En knew he was ignorant again. He could only push everything to the back of his head hitting the ground.
"9 in the morning." McDonald looked at Tang En sympathetically. Of course, he had every reason to do so.
However, Tang En did not like being seen as a mental patient. He glared at the other party. "Very well. Then I'll come to the training base early, right?"
"Uh, of course …" McDonald opened the main entrance.
Tang En strolled in. This was his first time at a professional team's training ground, so he was a little excited. However, a voice behind him ruined his good mood. "Tony, your office is in front. Turn left. It's the third room of the white bungalow. There's a huge floor-to-ceiling window …"
Tang En turned around and thanked the warm-hearted old guard. "Thanks a lot, Ian, but I know how to get there."
Yes, he knew. Tony Twain's memory still lingered in his mind. He was so familiar with this place that he did not feel unfamiliar at all.
※ ※ ※
He entered his office and turned on the fluorescent lights. The dim room was immediately filled with bright light. The sudden change from darkness to light made Tang En squint.
The first thing he saw was a huge dark-red boss table. There was a computer, a pen holder, a telephone, and a few books on the desk. Apart from that, there was nothing else. Behind the table was a large swivel chair, which should be his seat. It was just that the tables and chairs looked a little shabby, giving it a sense of history.
Tang En shrugged. English football was always like that, emphasizing their history.
He walked over and sat down on the chair. Then, he turned around and looked at the well-organized office and the empty training ground behind it. There was only one feeling: Awesome!
Wahaha! I didn't think there would be a day when I would become a professional team's manager! If those people who laugh at me in the teahouses and pubs all day knew that Tang En was sitting in the position of Nottingham Forest's manager, I really don't know what kind of expression they would have … Tang En rubbed his chin and laughed.
Tang En suddenly put away his smile and looked in the direction of the main entrance. He said in a very low voice, "Mr. Chairman, I promise to bring you a sparkling trophy at the end of the season. Yes, I promise … "
Then, he got up and turned to the training ground. He pinched his chin and frowned. "Ugh, I think that number 7 doesn't seem to be in form. Should we throw him to the reserve team?"
Immediately after, he suddenly raised his voice and waved his arms. "Idiot! Cut inside, don't just blindly go deep! Didn't you sleep in the afternoon? Cut inside and shoot. Pierce through the enemy's ribs … Pierce in fiercely! Mess up their defensive line, tear their carefully organized defense into pieces, and finish the battle unexpectedly quickly! Idiot! "
After shouting, he put down his arms, feeling dull and uninterested. Although he was a manager, he was actually a rookie. He did not even understand his own team. This was his first day of training. He was terrified and uneasy. He did not know how his own players would view him, the manager who had just made a fool of himself. Would they laugh at him? Would they look down on him? Would they despise him in their hearts?
Tang En was like a fresh graduate waiting for the leader's interview. This concerned whether or not he could successfully find a job. This was an important matter of life!
He sat down again and leaned against the back of the chair, looking at the training ground in a daze. He did not know how long he could stay in this position. Maybe a week, maybe two? Or stay until the end of the season? That would be a very good ending. Could a rookie manager with no experience and no knowledge succeed when faced with such a huge challenge?
A series of knocks on the door startled Tang En. He turned around, not knowing who would come looking for him at this time. He tidied up his appearance and put on what he thought was the most suitable expression. He then cleared his throat and said, "Come in."
The door was pushed open, and more than ten people rushed in. The originally spacious office immediately became crowded.
"You guys are …" Tang En was confused, not understanding what was going on.
The young man who had pulled Tang En to the side of the field that day to persuade him to come back and direct the game stood up and said, "Tony, Chairman Doughty thinks it's necessary to reintroduce your colleagues to you."
Tang En thought of the situation yesterday at the main entrance of the training base. The old man had lightly patted his shoulder and said to him, "I won't give you any pressure, Tony." The old man had thought it through, but this situation … Wasn't it a little too formal?
"Uh, I thank Mr. Chairman for his kindness. But in reality, I don't need it … "Tang En observed the crowd's reaction as he said this. He noticed that some people revealed mocking expressions. Although it was fleeting, he still caught it. "You guys go back to work. Training is about to start." He pointed at his watch.
The crowd hesitated for a moment before dispersing. But the young man was left behind.
Seeing the last person walk out of the office, Tang En closed the door and said to the young man, "Des, I know you're doing this for my own good. But you're making things difficult for me by doing this. "
Des Walker was a little puzzled. "Why?"
"I'm the coach of the team, the manager. In front of them, as well as the players, I have to retain my authority and dignity. To be honest, I hate it when people look at me as if I'm crazy. Sympathy, mockery … Both. If this goes on, how can I lead the team? The players won't listen to a manager who needs others to remind him of everything. "
Des Walker was not a fool. He understood Tang En's meaning. "Sorry, Tony, I didn't think that much …"
"I said I don't blame you. The only person I can trust now is you. They … "Tang En looked at the door." They're all waiting to see me make a fool of myself. You have to help me. "
Des Walker announced his retirement at the end of the previous season. Now, at the age of 37, he had become an assistant manager of the First Team. It was all because of the promotion and nurturing of Tony Twain's mentor, Paul Hart — it was Hart who suggested that he become an assistant manager after his retirement. Walker was a person who valued relationships. Hart, whom he was indebted to, had resigned, and Tang En, whom Hart respected the most, had become the manager. He hoped that Tang En could achieve success. That way, it would prove that Hart's foresight was not wrong. Moreover, helping Tang En was helping himself. He had just retired and had no reputation or experience in the coaching world. Following Tang En was a good way to accumulate experience. In this day and age, it was not easy to find a decent job after retirement.
Walker nodded. "No problem. What do you need help with?"
Tang En pointed at his own head. "This part of mine is still not working well. Sometimes, it'll suddenly short circuit. You'll be by my side to remind me in time, but you'll have to pay attention to the method."
Walker indicated that he understood. He then asked, "Then, about today's training plan …"
"You arrange it."
Hearing this answer, Walker was a little taken aback. However, he quickly reacted. "Then let's go according to the usual plan."
"Oh, oh, just like that." Tang En chuckled. "We'll work well together."
Walker shrugged. "I keep having the feeling that I'm lying to others."
"Ah, don't take that feeling to heart. Lying can sometimes be a good thing. For example, when you're lying to others for a good reason. That's not called 'lying.' That's called a 'white lie.' During training, I'll be watching from the sidelines. Unless it's especially necessary, I won't say anything. You'll do everything. Go and get ready. It's almost nine. They'll be here soon. "
Walker saw that Tang En had very accurately stated the time for the start of training. He believed that Tang En had really recovered a little. So, he nodded and left with a peace of mind.
Seeing Walker gently close the office door, Tang En finally let out a long sigh of relief. Lying was indeed not good. It would be better if it was exposed by others. He was worried that one day, he would give it up. That would be embarrassing.
Everyone's impression of Tony Tang En was that old-fashioned person from the Middle Ages. He did not wish to change himself just to suit other people's impression. He, Tang En, was a country bumpkin with a bad temper, a stubborn character, and no upbringing. He hoped that through his own hard work, he could tell them that this was the real Tang En. As for the Tony Tang En of the past … well, let him disappear with that collision at the sidelines. I don't have the leisure to care about where he went. I won't feel guilty about it either. You have to know that I've also lost a lot of things! This damned God!
His gaze drifted outside and realized that the rain had actually stopped. The previously empty training ground already had turf maintenance personnel checking on the condition of the turf today.
A new day of training had begun.
The players were training according to their usual schedule on the training ground. However, their thoughts were all on the head coach, Tony Tang, who was at the sidelines. There would always be people who kept glancing over during training.
It was not only the players who were acting strangely. Even the coaches who were busy at the sidelines could not suppress their curiosity.
Anyone who saw their head coach, Tang En's current appearance would find it strange and take a few more glances.
Tang En wore a pair of sunglasses and was dressed in a black shirt, black pants, and black leather shoes. He was black from head to toe. Standing at the sidelines, his face was unsmiling and appeared especially gloomy. Set off by the hazy sky, everyone who passed by him seemed to be able to feel a gust of cold wind.
Even Walker did not expect Tang En to appear at the sidelines of the training ground in such a manner. In the past, Tang En was a coach who wore a capable sportswear with a whistle hanging around his neck. He wore sports shoes and ran laps with the players. Now, he looked more like the club chairman. Hoping for him to come down and demonstrate the moves was impossible.
In fact, this was the effect that Tang En hoped to achieve. He was worried that someone from the coaching staff would ask him to come down from the field and demonstrate the moves. He did not know how to do that at all. He had watched football for so many years, but he was terrible at playing football. He might as well dress up like this to clearly tell those with ulterior motives that he was not going to play today. In addition, wearing sunglasses also prevented others from seeing his eyes. Naturally, they would not know what he was thinking.
Walker took good care of him. During training, his voice was much louder than usual, and he tried his best to shout out the players' names. Compared to him, the other assistant manager, Ian Bowyer, was not as enthusiastic. He was one of the people who had a mocking expression in Tang En's office just now. According to Walker, Bowyer was a veteran of the team. He had played for the team for many years before retiring and becoming a coach. He was very experienced.
With Walker's explanation, Tang En immediately understood. It must be because Paul Hart was dismissed this time. That old man Bowyer must have thought that the club would make him the manager. He did not expect Paul Hart to recommend him, which made the old man jealous.
It was human nature, and Tang En expressed his understanding. But it did not mean that he had to admit defeat. Tang En had never admitted defeat in front of anyone.
Bowyer was unhappy, but he was unhappy too.
If someone had asked him to step down two days ago, he would have been happy to be freed. But now, the situation was different. Since he had come here and become the acting manager of a team, he had to do something and leave something behind. This was both a challenge and an opportunity. In any case, he had often fantasized about what arrangements he would make as a manager in the past. He had also played many football manager games.
Now, he stood by the side of the field. On the surface, he looked like a wooden stake, but in reality, he was trying hard to match the names Walker shouted to the players on the field.
The black man with a ponytail and hairstyle that resembled Rijkaard was the striker, David Johnson, who had injured him by the side of the field that day. Looking at his performance on the training field … he was quite fast and had a good burst of power. At present, he could only get such a direct impression. The specifics would require more in-depth observation through the competition.
The small player who had just kicked a beautiful pass was Andy Reid. He was an outstanding young player that Tang En had groomed and had just been promoted to the First Team with him before the New Year. Tang En took a few more glances at the kid. From his memory, he remembered that this person had later appeared in Tottenham Hotspur. He did not expect him to have transferred from Forest. From this transfer, his ability could be seen. Would a player without ability be noticed by a veteran English Premier League team?
Since Reid was mentioned, there was another person that could not be ignored. Tang En turned his gaze to the backfield. Among the group of people who were practicing heading the ball, there was a tall man who immediately attracted Tang En's gaze. He was very spirited with short blond hair and a face that still had the innocence of a child. He had delicate features and gave off the air of a great general. Even the coaching staff's defensive training was arranged with him as the core. This was the center back, Michael Dawson, who was known as Nottingham's future hope. Together with Andy Reid, he had followed their mentor from the youth team to the First Team. The game the day before was his maiden match in League One. Unfortunately, the team had suffered a crushing defeat and his performance was not very good. However, this did not affect his mood. His face was still brimming with an optimistic smile.
Dawson had been promoted to Nottingham's First Team with Reid. Two years later, he had also left Nottingham with Reid and transferred to Tottenham Hotspur. Tang En watched a few of his later games at Tottenham Hotspur. The kid had performed well and cooperated well with Ledley King in the rear defensive line. At such a young age, he dared to command the entire rear defensive line. He had also always been the main back of the England youth team. Later, he even had the possibility of entering the national team. However, that was all in 2007. Today, Dawson was just a young and inexperienced lad. He was full of hope and longing for the future.
At the thought that this person was actually cultivated by him, Tang En felt a sense of accomplishment. He did not care which "Tang En" had contributed to it. Now, it all belonged to him.
He carefully observed the team's training. Not only did he have to remember these players' names and appearances, as well as their respective technical characteristics, but he also had to remember the team's training methods and style. He could not ask too many questions. Otherwise, it would expose the fact that he was actually a rookie. Worse still, he might be treated as an amnesia patient and sent to the hospital.
According to the results of his observation, Nottingham Forest's ability could not be said to be weak. Many of the players had very outstanding characteristics. Such a team had the ability to rush to the Premier League in England's second division. However, halfway through the league, Nottingham Forest was ranked tenth, in the middle. For a team that had hopes of competing for the First Division title before the season, this result was naturally considered bad. What was worse was the club's financial situation. After selling Jenas to Newcastle, most of the transfer fee was used to pay off debts. The transfer fee left for the manager at the time, Paul Hart, was very little. Hart himself no longer had the confidence to lead this team to achieve the chairman's goal. In the first half of the season, the team had ten wins, eight draws, and nine losses in the 27 rounds of the league tournament.
Although he had not seen Paul Hart lead a team in a match, Tang En believed in the man's ability. A manager who could bring out so many outstanding players should not be suspected. Even if some people were sold, such as a star player like Jenas, the team's ability should not have dropped to such an extent. The ability of the team's players was not a problem. So what exactly was the problem with this current result?
Tang En noticed that the players were still looking at him. Although Walker was the manager who led their training, everyone's attention seemed to be on him, an outsider. He saw something that could not be more familiar from those eyes. He did not like the feeling of being looked at like a monster.
So, his voice suddenly rang out on the training ground.
"Hey! Are you guys visiting a zoo?! Where are your eyes looking at? Focus on your training! What are you looking at me for! "
This time, he really became an animal in the zoo. Everyone's gazes were directed at the angry manager. Anyone would be shocked if the manager, whom they had initially thought was a wooden stake, suddenly started yelling. But what surprised them even more was that the reserved Tony Twain, who never yelled loudly and always spoke in an orderly manner, could actually say such strong words.
Perhaps, their manager, Tony Twain, was very different from before.
As tomorrow was a match day, the intensity of the training was not high. They only had two training sessions a day. This kind of intense training was only carried out in the middle of the week, and it had to be when there were not two matches in a week. After the morning's training ended, Walker let the players go home. Like the players, the staff left one after another after the training ended. Des Walker followed Tang En back to his office.
Without waiting for Tang En's signal, Walker sat down on a chair the moment he entered and casually asked, "What are your thoughts after seeing the morning's training?" He realized that this Tang En seemed to be easier to get along with than the Tang En of the past. He was no longer silent, and could laugh and yell. It was a good feeling.
Of course, Tang En could not truthfully voice out the many doubts in his heart. Because his identity was not that of an outsider watching the team's training for the first time and knowing nothing about Forest Team. Instead, he was a manager who had truly come from within the team. He should know everything here like the back of his hand. Even if he had suffered a blow to the head, he should not have forgotten so completely. "Other than not being able to concentrate, it's not bad."
Only then did Walker notice that Tang En did not have the notebook he usually carried with him. "You didn't remember anything? Where's that notebook of yours? "he asked, pointing to Tang En's hands.
Tang En pointed to his own head and answered, "I've remembered it here." He did not lie about this. Tang En had a good memory since he was young. As a result, even if he had never been liked by his teachers, his results were still pretty good.
Walker shook his head and laughed. "Looks like there's been a big change. I'm even starting to wonder if the person standing in front of me is Tony Twain."
Tang En felt that this was a chance for others to gradually accept him. However, he could not express it directly, and needed to be tactful. He pretended to be surprised and said, "Huh? There are some things that I can't explain clearly, but it just happened. Isn't that good? Then I'll just change back … "
"No, no." Walker hurriedly interrupted him. "This is good, this is good. It can't get any better. The current you is much easier to get along with than before. "
Tang En secretly laughed in his heart. This was the result he wanted. He needed someone to introduce the new him to others. There was no one more suitable than Des Walker, who had been with the team for more than ten years.
After sending Walker off, Tang En began to rummage through his office. Walker had mentioned the "notebook". He decided to find it and take a look. Perhaps it could help him.
In the third drawer of his office desk, he finally found the somewhat worn out notebook. It was only slightly smaller than a tactical board, but it was very thick. The edges of the black leather jacket had already been worn out, and the edges were yellowed and hairy. The gilded words "Notebook" on the cover were also mottled due to excessive wear and tear. It really was quite old.
Tang En carefully flipped open the thick notebook, afraid that some pages would fall out, or that this antique looking notebook would break from the middle.
"You really are a person from the Middle Ages." Tang En clicked his tongue slightly mockingly. It was now the age of computers and the internet. There were still people who used paper notebooks to record things. Wouldn't a laptop do? It was convenient and cool, and could even be used to pick up girls. Think about it. Go to a place like Starbucks, order a cup of coffee, sit alone by the window, open your laptop, ignore the noisy environment around you, your fingers jumping nimbly on the keyboard, and the coffee exuding a thick aroma …
Tang En shook his head, interrupting this ridiculous fantasy. He had never been to Starbucks before. A working man like him, struggling to make ends meet, did not have the financial ability, nor did he have the leisure to go to a coffee shop. If he wanted to go, he would go to a bar where he could watch football or one of the teahouses that blossomed everywhere in Chengdu.
Flipping open the cover, there was a neatly written sentence on the title page. Even though the ink had already faded, the sentence was still clear:
Football has nothing to do with life and death. Football is higher than life and death.
Seeing this sentence, the disdainful smile on Tang En's face slowly disappeared.
As a fan, he naturally knew what these words meant and the weight of these words. Only a fan could understand the meaning behind these words. Football was no longer just a sport or a street game, but a religion, a belief. It melted into the fans' lives, lives, and blood …
The fact that the former Tony would actually write these words on the title page showed how much he respected these words. It would not be too much to say that it was his football motto. He really did not think that the seemingly wooden and taciturn "ancient person from the Middle Ages" would actually like such a famous saying that was so intense and even irrational.
Perhaps the real him was not as gloomy as people thought him to be. Perhaps there was also an inextinguishable flame in the depths of his heart.
He roughly flipped through the notebook. Compared to the rigid and stubborn timetable on the refrigerator door at home, the contents of this notebook were a lot more messy. If there was no time marking, there was no way to know the sequence of the entries. Some were even directly written in the margins of the page. The handwriting was mostly messy and messy. It could be seen that some things must have been written down at any time. That was why there was no distinction between the places and the words were inserted.
The first entry was written on March 21, 1998. The last entry stopped on December 31, 2002. After flipping another page, the thick notebook came to an end. There were many things written on December 31, 2002. They were all information about his next opponent, Walsall, as well as his own countermeasures. He had calculated many possibilities and countermeasures, but he had not calculated that he would be possessed by another Tang En.
Tang En sighed. He did not intend to record anything else in this notebook. Firstly, it was because there was not enough space. Secondly, he did not want to destroy this person's hard work. He did not want to add another stroke to it. Twain felt the weight of the notebook as he held it in his hand.
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