Appendix: Nottingham Forest's final roster for the 06-07 season (Numbers in brackets are jersey numbers).
Goalkeepers: Edwin van der Sar (1), Paul Gerrard (25), Igor Akinfeev (12, on loan to CSKA Moscow).
Defenders: Leighton Baines (22), Gareth Bale (2), Pascal Chimbonda (3), Sun Jihai (21), Gerard Piqué (24), Vincent Kompany (33), Pepe (6), Wes Morgan (5).
Midfielders: George Wood (13), Demetrio Albertini (4), Martin Petrov (8), Rafael van der Vaart (23), Kris Commons (20, on loan to Watford), Ashley Young (18), Aaron Lennon (17), Franck Ribéry (7), Mikel Arteta (14).
Forwards: Freddy Eastwood (11), Nicklas Bendtner (9), Ruud van Nistelrooy (10), Nicolas Anelka (39).
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"Don't you think it's amazing, guys?" Tang En asked his team in the locker room before the first game of the season. "Our first game last season was also here, against the same opponents."
As soon as he said that, everyone remembered it. That's right, it was exactly the same.
In the first game of last season, Nottingham Forest's home game against Wigan Athletic. Everyone still had an impression of this team because, be it before or after the game, this team was called "the second Nottingham Forest" by the media. The opposing manager also called Tang En his idol during the interview, and Nottingham Forest was a role model for his team to learn from.
"It looks like you all remember it. Does anyone else remember the process of that game?" Tang En continued to ask.
So, everyone thought again. Other than the newly joined van Nistelrooy, van der Vaart, and Petrov, everyone still remembered what that game was like.
"Boss, we played badly in the first half," Albertini stood up and answered. Although George Wood spent more time on the field wearing the captain's armband, the team's number one captain was still him, an Italian.
"Not bad." Tang En motioned for Albertini to sit down. "I was furious at you at half-time, and then we won in the second half. But I don't want a repeat performance. I'm sure you don't want to see me like that, do you? I'm actually a very kind person. "
The players laughed.
"At that time, we were still very young, and we became complacent after a few words of praise from our opponents. It's different now. We've all experienced many important matches and seen many big scenes! " Tang En looked at his players, and the players also looked at him. From the exchange of glances, the players knew what Tang En was talking about: the UEFA Champions League final. "We're not the same as we were a season ago. We've weathered through all kinds of storms. Don't trip over this kind of small ditch. Bring out your best condition! We have a great goal for the new season. You all know that, right? "
"Got it, boss!"
"The Champions League champion! WOOOW！”
The players responded loudly one after another. This goal could really make people's blood boil.
"Very good. This is our first official match of the new season, so … give me a good start! "
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"This coincidence is wonderful for Nottingham Forest. Their opponent in the first round of last season's match has appeared in the first round of this season. The weak Wigan Athletic is unable to threaten the Forest team's defense. The Forest team's big name stars can display their offensive strength in the front field, and the poor Wigan Athletic can only choose to defend to the death. "
"Tang En doesn't show any mercy to his little brother at all … Haha!"
It was almost a copy of everything from last season. Even the two commentators for this match were old acquaintances of Tang En's — John Motson and Alan Hansen.
The only difference was that the two men in the commentator's box casually poked fun at the two teams in the match. They did not mock and ridicule Nottingham Forest's poor performance like last year.
Because whether it was the match scene or the score, Nottingham Forest had the upper hand.
The electronic scoreboard recorded the score of the match so far: Nottingham Forest 1: 0 Wigan Athletic.
"This is a more mature team." This was Motson's evaluation of the current Forest team.
He was right. After experiencing that important defeat, the Forest team had indeed matured a lot. It could be seen from their performance against Wigan Athletic.
They did not give their opponent the slightest chance. Using their home field advantage and overwhelming strength, they firmly controlled the pace of the match. The team's overall tactics were no different from last season. At the beginning of the new season, Tang En prioritized stability. He would first consolidate the results before considering changing tactics. In this match, the Forest team's two flanks happily shuttled up and down. Ribéry on the left made Wigan Athletic's defense on the right side dizzy and jittery at the slightest sound. Ashley Young, who had returned from his internal ban, also used his passes again and again to save his image in the manager's heart.
Other than the front line undergoing major surgery, with van Nistelrooy replacing Viduka and Eastwood replacing Anelka, the rest of the team was no different from last season.
Van der Vaart, who had been brought in for 4.5 million pounds, entered the team's roster, but he did not play in the starting lineup. The Forest team's midfield combination was still the unshakable George Wood and Arteta. Therefore, the team's formation was still a 4-4-2 formation.
Although they had repeatedly practiced the new tactics during the summer training, Tang En was still worried. The new things were, after all, rushed. It was not as stable as the old tactics that the team had practiced for two years. At the beginning of the new season, he chose stability. In the end, it was his utilitarian nature that caused mischief.
The team's performance was outstanding every year. In the first season of the English Premier League, they had obtained fourth place in the league tournament and the top eight of the UEFA Europa League. In the second season, they were second in the league tournament and runner-up in the UEFA Champions League. How far did they have to go this season to satisfy people? In the future, the Forest team would have to bear more expectations every season. The rocket-like rise of the Forest team made everyone feel that it was only natural for this miraculous team to obtain good results. Otherwise, the World Soccer magazine would not have evaluated Nottingham Forest as a "strong team" and not a "dark horse."
While Tang En was proud of his success, the pressure on his shoulders was getting heavier. Of course, this was part of the price he had to pay for success. As the most popular manager at the moment, he had to be aware of this.
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The player who scored the goal for the Forest team was Franck Ribéry. With his outstanding performances in the World Cup and UEFA Champions League, he had already become a world-renowned star player. Wigan Athletic had specifically marked him, but they were still unable to keep a close eye on him. With a corner kick, Ribéry volleyed Nottingham Forest's first goal of the new season.
The City Ground stadium descended into a frenzy. Although everyone was already familiar with the victories that Tony Twain's team had brought to them, every goal could still ignite the passion here.
After the goal, Ribéry ran toward the corner flag. Following closely behind him was van Nistelrooy, who was closest to him. The new addition to the team was waving his arms to signal his teammates to come up and celebrate together.
Tang En had once told Dunn and Kerslake that he was not at all worried about van Nistelrooy's integration into the team. Now, it was proven.
Of course, Tang En was aware of this. Van Nistelrooy was a very professional player. A change of environment meant a fresh start for him. He needed to adapt to everything in the new team. He knew how to integrate into the team faster and better. It was a good idea to take the initiative to express goodwill.
He was not like Anelka, who was eccentric and unlikable.
Van Nistelrooy's integration into the team was smooth, so it would not be difficult for van der Vaart, either. Including Edwin van der Sar, who had arrived the earliest, there were three Dutchmen in the team. Tang En did not mind people from the same country huddling together. The old players could help the new players familiarize themselves with the team. If it was handled well, it would be a virtuous cycle.
As for the scheming and scheming between the various countries … Tang En was not worried. The days were long. When there was time, he would let them all know who the team could not do without.
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At the end of the first half, the score was still 1: 0. Nottingham Forest had the upper hand, and the home fans were not worried about the outcome of the game. Tony Twain's team was reassuring. The team's willpower and quality would not easily have an accident like the "five minutes of darkness."
Fifteen minutes into the halftime break, Tang En was not stingy with his praise for the team's performance. Everyone was singled out for special praise, and what he said was not empty words. Instead, it was praise that truly touched everyone's hearts.
No one hated praise. Tang En was also not stingy with his praise. It was also a means of management. It was only when Kerslake mentioned Bale that he was reminded of it. A word of praise was a simple thing for the person who said it, but it might be a very important reward for the person who heard it.
Of course, he would not be stingy with a torrent of abuse.
On this point, Tang En was very creative with rewards and punishments.
During the halftime break, other than praising everyone in the team, Tang En did not say much about the tactical aspect. All coaches knew that when their team performed well in the first half and had the upper hand, there was often no need to do anything during the halftime break. It was best to let the team continue to play like they did in the first half. This was the same reason why a lineup would not rashly change the tactics and personnel allocation when they won consecutively.
So, when the halftime break was almost over, Tang En just clapped his hands and said to the players who were ready to go on the field, "Play as you should!"
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In the second half, the Forest team carried out this sentence and continued to use the same tactics in the first half.
Of course, Wigan Athletic was not willing to lose this game. After all, they were no longer the newly promoted team that had just been promoted to the Premier League a season ago. Their biggest dream was to successfully avoid relegation. Last season's outstanding results gave them even more hope this season — to qualify for the UEFA Europa League next season.
Since they were called "the second Nottingham Forest," how could Wigan Athletic's manager, Jewell, not study the team in front of him?
He thought he understood Tang En's team and Tang En very well. He had full confidence that they could turn the tables in the second half. Losing only one goal in the first half was completely in Jewell's plan.
Tang En was young and successful. He was at the height of his success. He showed weakness in the first half and made him underestimate the enemy. The second half was a good time for Wigan Athletic to counterattack. He still remembered the Forest team's performance in the first game last season.
If Tang En had not scolded his players awake during the halftime break, Wigan Athletic might have really gone home with three points.
But now, there will be no more halftime breaks for you to scold, Coach Tang En … Jewell thought with a little pride in his heart.
Ten minutes after the start of the second half, Wigan Athletic suddenly exerted their strength. Three consecutive attacks threatened the Forest team's hinterland.
Dunn glanced at Jewell, who had walked from the technical area to the sidelines, and reminded him, "Tony …"
Tang En smiled and waved his hand. "I know. The feeling of being 'the second' is not a good one. You see, no one is willing to be someone else's substitute. Jewell thinks he's studied me and the Forest team thoroughly. Let him think so. "
"Do you want to make any changes?" Kerslake asked.
Tang En stared at the field for a while before replying, "No need."
Kerslake was surprised by this answer. He thought Tang En was going to adjust his tactics. "But the opponent has seen through our tactics. They've strengthened the defense on the flanks …" he said, pointing to the field.
Tang En smiled. "You're right. They've seen through our tactics. But … so what? "
This rhetorical question left Kerslake speechless.
"You know how to deal with it once you've seen through it? You'll definitely be able to deal with it once you know how to deal with it? "Tang En's smile grew wider. In Dunn's eyes, it even felt like his prank had succeeded.
"David." Tang En decided to give his assistant a good lesson. "In this world, you can't just rely on these little tricks to be unimpeded. You know there's a gap in strength between them and us, but do you know how big the gap is between them and us? Sometimes, an absolute advantage in strength can make all schemes and tricks ineffective. The distance between them and us … "He confidently pointed to the darkening sky." is the distance between Earth and Mars. "
Kerslake's mouth gaped open. He could not accept this reference.
"There's no need to change anything. This lineup, this set of tactics, nothing will change. We'll let Wigan Athletic see why they can only be 'the second Nottingham Forest,' and not Nottingham Forest. You know, it's very dangerous to live in a fantasy and think you're infallible. "
Having said that, Tang En stood up and walked from the technical area to the sidelines. Then, he whistled. After the players turned their eyes to him, he made a pushing gesture forward. This was to tell the team's formation to continue pressing forward, to continue attacking, and to score more goals.
Just now, Wigan Athletic's three consecutive attacks had hit the Forest team's hinterland, which had long aroused the displeasure of the Forest team's proud and arrogant players. Even without the manager's reminder, they also wanted to press forward and beat the opponent to a pulp.
For the rest of the game, Jewell could only look on in astonishment as he watched his team being trampled by the opponent.
Tang En was right. Jewell had indeed seen through the Forest team's tactics and studied them thoroughly. He had also thought of many ways to curb the Forest team's most prided flank offense. But he had never considered that his team was far from the Forest team, be it as a whole or in terms of individual combat ability. What was the use of not having enough strength when the tactics were right?
"… Arteta … Beautiful pass! Eastwood wasn't greedy for credit. He distributed the ball to … van Nistelrooy! He scored his first league goal for Nottingham Forest! "
"This is van der Vaart's first touch of the ball after coming on. He tried a long shot — it bounced off the leg of the Wigan Athletic defender … Ashley Young, cross! Antonio Valencia's own goal! Poor Valencia, this is his first league game for Wigan … "
"The frontline formed by Heskey and Kamala can't pose any threat to the defensive line led by George Wood at all. Wood actually rushed up to participate in the attack … He did a long shot! Oh, what a pity, he shot too high! "
After the team led the opponent by 3: 0, Tang En, who was standing on the sidelines, turned around and shrugged at the two assistant managers before walking back.
"The game is over," he said to his two assistants at the 76th minute.
On the other side, Jewell's expression was as ugly as a pig's liver. But what could he do? This tactic was completely ineffective against the Forest team. The difference in strength between the two sides was too great … It was even greater than a year ago. It was not that Wigan Athletic had become weaker. His team had added some players this summer. There was only one reasonable explanation, and that was — Nottingham Forest had become stronger, and the speed at which they became stronger was far beyond his expectations and imagination.
"… Nottingham Forest has fully demonstrated the strength of a strong team. Poor Wigan Athletic. Looks like they can only continue to be 'second!' There was no suspense in this game. Nottingham Forest controlled every corner of the field. As long as they wanted to, they could score more goals! Tony Twain is smiling so happily. This is indeed a perfect start to the new season! "
In the midst of Motes' praise, the referee blew the whistle to end the game.
Tony Twain took the initiative to walk up to the loser, Jewell, and shook his hand. "Welcome back to Earth, Mr. Jewell. There are still 37 rounds left in the league. Please continue to work hard! "
Jewell smiled a little helplessly. "Please continue to work hard, Mr. Twain."
He was right. There were still 37 rounds left in the league, and the new season had just begun. They all needed to continue to work hard.
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