On the 20th of March, Nottingham Forest's Matchday 38 opponent was their arch-rival, Derby County.
But speaking of this opponent, many Nottingham Forest fans had mixed feelings of love and hate. In terms of club relations, Forest and Derby County were rival clubs, but the person who came out of the Derby County club was the most popular and respected person in Forest's history. That person was Brian Clough, the manager who created the most glorious chapter in Nottingham Forest's history.
Tang En knew very little about the history of the past. He could not understand why Derby County and Forest would become enemies. It was Walker who told him one of the reasons. "In 1898, Derby County entered the FA Cup final for the first time. Their opponent then was us, Forest. The score of that game was 3: 1. We won them and obtained the first FA Cup title in the club's history. And the people from Derby County went home crying. "
Tang En clicked his tongue. More than a hundred years had passed, and they still could not forget the old grudge. Indeed, it was a hundred years of accumulated resentment. He sighed. When would there be an end to revenge? They had to be tolerant and harmonious.
The 90-minute match was over. Tang En looked at the score on the scoreboard and listened to the ear-piercing boos from the stands at Pride Park. Tang En knew that the century-old grudge between Forest and Derby County had to continue. It was precisely because there were countless people like him who pursued victory that this situation could continue for a hundred years.
The score on the electronic scoreboard was 0: 3. According to the international rules, the home team was in front and the away team was behind.
Forest had obtained three goals and three points at Derby County's home ground, causing the 20th-ranked Derby County to drop one place and be only one place away from the relegation zone.
If Derby County were to be relegated this season, then Forest's performance in this match would definitely be a "great achievement."
But Tang En never cared about the life or death of his opponent. His team had won the match in an away game, a complete victory. This was the best thing that could happen.
Hailwood scored two goals, and the other goal was scored by Andy Reid. Hailwood's performance in the second half of the season was like a different person compared to the first half. He even had a chance to compete for the First Division's top scorer.
The only regret in this game was that the two main players in the rear defensive line would be absent for the next round. Michael Dawson was suspended for accumulating yellow cards, while his center back partner, Jon-Olav Hjelde, was injured in the final moments of the game. After the game, the team doctor, Fleming, diagnosed that he had sprained his ankle and might need to be sidelined for two weeks.
Twain did not take the situation to heart. It just so happened to give the substitutes a chance to go on the field to train, and he could also let the main players rest. Why not? In any case, Hajjeld's injuries weren't serious.
Edwards performed well against Wimbledon and is fully capable of being a starter. The 21-year-old Scottish defender, Chirs` Doig, was actually not too weak.
But the next day, the afternoon training had only started for 20 minutes when Tang En's rotation plan was declared a failure. Doig fell to the ground in agony after an intense physical confrontation. His hands were pressed against his knees.
Tang En turned his head to look at the team doctor and team leader, Gary Fleming, not far from him. He saw Fleming's eyebrows furrow together, and his heart suddenly tightened.
Fleming rushed up to check on Doig's injury, then ran to Tang En's side and whispered to him, "Cruciate ligament, at least two months."
"Damn it …" Tang En lowered his head and cursed. Two months basically meant that Doig had bid farewell to the season. The season would end in May, and today was already March 21st. "Gary, take him to the medical room and treat him well. Give him confidence. "
Fleming nodded and called for a stretcher to carry the pained Doig off the field.
Because of his injury, the training was terminated. Tang En signaled the team to continue training, and he had to make a trip to the youth training base. The First Team no longer had a usable center back, so he went to see how the kid performed after he switched to a new position in the youth team.
The youth training base was much quieter than the First Team's base. There were not many fans who usually came here to watch the players train. Most of them were the families of the young players. Only when the youth competition was held here would it be a little more popular. At that time, there would also be many scouts from other teams who came here to watch the games. The Forest team's youth training was famous throughout England, so it was normal for scouts to appear.
Tang En did not go around the fan viewing area outside the barbed wire fence. He directly took a shortcut — directly from the office area to the training ground.
Kerslake saw Tang En come again, and he greeted him with a smile. "Are you here to care about the lad you picked up from the streets again?"
Tang En shook his head. "Not this time. I'm in trouble, David. "
"Tell me about it. It's not easy to get our best manager in trouble. "
Tang En smiled helplessly. Since he won the best manager award, many people in the club now used it to tease him. "The First Team has five center backs. One is suspended for accumulating yellow cards, one is out for two weeks with an ankle injury, and one just injured his cruciate ligament in training and will be out for at least two months."
Kerslake's brows also furrowed. "That's really troublesome. There are still two left, enough to last one game. Where's Dawson? "
"He's the one with accumulating suspensions."
Kerslake whistled.
"Give me a recommendation. What do you have here that I can use?" Tang En's tone sounded like he was picking out items from a local market.
"Just nice. There's a lad who's not bad. I also think he should go to a higher-level competition to train. But … you have to pick yourself. "Kerslake winked at Tang En.
This was actually something Paul Hart often made his assistant managers do when he was still in the youth team. He made them watch the team's training and then share their observations. He used this method to train Tang En, Kerslake and the others' observation skills and understanding of the training sessions. This kind of game-like training laid a solid foundation for Tang En to later coach the youth team alone, as well as being promoted to the First Team. Because everyone else was dismissive of this method, they felt that the ones who should be trained were the players, not the coaches. Only Tang En, who was quiet and unsociable at that time, completed Hart's request meticulously. This was also one of the reasons why Hart valued Tang En so much. Hart believed that "seriousness" was the foundation of all success. This was his life's creed. But there were very few people who could do this. Tony Twain, who did not fit in with the group, had done it.
Today, Tang En no longer remembered these things. Many of his memories from the past had disappeared with that collision. He did not know Kerslake's reason for doing so. He treated it as a game between old friends, and he made the right bet.
The two managers standing by the side of the field gave the young lads training on the field a great motivation. After that match, Tony Twain did not transfer anyone from the youth team to the team. However, this did not affect the confidence and vision of the young players in the slightest. All they could do was show their best side on the pitch and attract the attention of the First Team manager.
After watching for about ten minutes, Tang En turned his head and said something that amused Kerslake.
"Why don't I see George Wood?"
"You're here for him, Tony."
Amidst Kerslake's laughter, Tang En scratched his head in embarrassment. He had just said it without thinking.
"I'm letting him train alone on the second field. Starting from the most basic and simple exercises, the simplest … so simple that it can't get any simpler. "
"How's he doing?"
"I can't tell at the moment. But you're right, Tony. He's more suited for those positions that require physical strength and body collisions. His body is so good that it makes people jealous. What did he eat when he was young? "
Tang En thought of the Wood family's situation and shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe his mother couldn't even squeeze out a drop of milk at that time …" The lad's body was so strong because his mother, Sophia, had poured everything … the best and most nutritious food, all her love, hope, and even the essence of her life into the body of this illegitimate child.
"Alright, let's get back to the main topic … You've led me off topic, David. I've found the person I want. " Tang En did not point to the training field, but his gaze remained on one person. A dark-skinned bald man. In the ten minutes or so of training, he had displayed almost all the skills needed to be an outstanding center back. "No. 6, I'll take it. Let him report to the First Team with me now. "
Kerslake laughed. "Tony, you're truly the person Hart values the most. That's right, the one I want to recommend to you is him. Wes `Morgan, a great nineteen-year-old kid. He's the captain of the youth team, taking over from Jermaine Jenas and Michael Dawson. "After introducing the player, Kerslake bellowed from the side of the field," Wes! Come here! "
Then everyone watched enviously as the captain ran over to the two managers.
"The rest of you, continue training!" Kerslake bellowed again, and the lads all quieted down. They knew that Manager Tang En had already achieved his goal for coming here.
Morgan ran excitedly to the two managers. "Sir, what's the matter?" In fact, he already knew what was waiting for him.
Tang En looked up at him. His face looked more mature than his actual age, as if he was even older than Dawson. "How tall are you, lad?"
"Six feet two inches, sir." Morgan's voice was a little muffled, as if he had not recovered from a cold. The voice really matched his appearance.
Tang En nodded. He was about 1.88 meters. He continued to ask, "How much do you weigh?"
"198 pounds, sir."
About 90 kilograms. That figure … was practically a heavy tank. Tang En was very satisfied. This was the kind of player he wanted. Just by looking at his appearance, he could create psychological pressure on his opponents.
"Okay, Wes. I'm not a person who likes to talk nonsense. From today onwards, you'll train with the First Team. If you perform well, you'll get a First Team contract, just like Michael Dawson and Andy Reid. Do you understand? "
Morgan nodded. "Understood, sir."
He did not say much. He did not get carried away by the excitement of being promoted to the First Team. Tang En liked this kind of steady personality. It was one of the most important qualities for a defensive player.
"Very good. Follow me … Uh, you go to the locker room to get your things first. Do you have anything there?"
"Just a few clothes, sir."
"Go get them. I'll give you three minutes."
Just as Tang En finished speaking, Morgan turned and ran away.
Only then did Kerslake speak. "What do you think of him, Tony?"
"He's better than I thought before coming here. His strength, jumping, explosiveness, and aerial control are all outstanding. But the First Team is different from the Youth Team. You know … I'm here to find a firefighter. I think after these few matches, he'll still be a substitute. Dawson and Hajard's partnership is already very good. I can't break them up. "
Kerslake nodded in understanding. "If he doesn't have many opportunities to play when you were there, lend him to me to play in the Youth Team League."
"No problem."
As the two spoke, Morgan had already run over with his clothes. "I'm ready, sir."
"Let's go."
After saying goodbye to Kerslake, Morgan followed Tang En's footsteps. The two of them walked out of the training ground one after the other.
The other players watched the lucky Morgan and Tang En leave. However, Kerslake's roar immediately rang out. "All of you, train! Instead of being envious of others, you might as well train well! "
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