After winning against Everton, Nottingham Forest returned to their home ground. Five days later, they would face their second-round opponent, Middlesbrough, at the City Ground stadium.
This was not a very strong opponent. The Forest team was in good form and did not take Middlesbrough seriously.
The current Middlesbrough manager was no longer McClaren, who had a bad relationship with Twain. He had gone to be the manager of the England national team. The feud between the two men did not show any signs of abating because of McClaren's departure. Twain had frequently attacked McClaren's work in his newspaper column. He was a man who was good at finding flaws in small details that others, including McClaren himself, did not pay much attention to. He would then exaggerate it and use it as "ironclad evidence" to attack McClaren.
Sometimes McClaren would beat around the bush to hit back at Twain through media outlets such as the BBC or The Sun when he was interviewed by reporters. However, the conflict between the two men did not intensify and was limited to a few small verbal arguments.
For example, Twain criticized McClaren for the poor results of the team. In order to purge his predecessor's power, he would rather let the team perform poorly in the UEFA European Championship qualifiers than recruit David Beckham to the team. It was a way of avenging a personal grudge. As for the personal feud between Beckham and McClaren, Twain did not say it. He did not need to say it. The media would naturally mobilize all the forces that could be mobilized to investigate and then create a storm. Even if there was nothing, it would be said that there was. Twain knew the principle of "loosening the reins only to grasp them better" better than the foreigners.
McClaren certainly would not be willing to be humiliated. He would not specially publish a column to hit back at Twain because if he did, he would feel that he was taking Twain too seriously, which would give Twain more pleasure. Therefore, he only pretended to accidentally mention it "occasionally" when he was interviewed by the media. "If Manager Twain is so interested in the position of England's manager, why not come and try it yourself?"
Twain would say in a very disdainful tone, "Do you know which two positions in this world will shorten your life? The British Prime Minister and the England football team's manager. I'm not going to be the manager who has no rest time or privacy for 24 hours. As for Mr. McClaren's dissatisfaction, I deeply understand, but not every gourmet is a chef. If I felt that a certain dish tasted terrible, what if the chef came out and asked me, "If you're so good, why don't you make a dish too?" If that's the case, I'll definitely flip the table on the spot and let him know what 'hospitality' is. "
Tony Twain's acerbic and glib tongue had long been known to everyone through the English media's propaganda. As the target of Twain's "insults," Mr. McClaren had long learned a valuable lesson from being bullied time and time again — when Twain stirred up trouble, he only needed to respond to his own position and views. This was not said for Twain to hear, but for the spectators to hear in their dreams, lest Twain confuse them. Then, when Twain wanted to continue to expand the flames of war, he must remain silent and pretend not to hear. At this moment, silence was golden.
The English media once joked about the relationship between Twain and McClaren. They did not look like enemies with a personal grudge, but a couple who quarreled every now and then. This kind of quarrel did no harm to the love between them. It was just a diversion in life. It was as if outsiders were watching a reality TV show. They were not interested in the love and romance. Instead, they liked to watch the daily quarrel because it was real and full of life wisdom. It could make people laugh out loud or smile.
Due to McClaren's transfer to the England national team, Middlesbrough's manager had become another person. This person was no stranger to Tang En — he was already familiar with him before he transmigrated — Gareth Southgate, the former England national team's main center back and one of the most influential figures in the English Premier League's first decade. He had participated in the 1996 and 2000 European Championships, as well as the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. If not for Twain's transmigration and the subsequent rise of the Forest team, he would have led Middlesbrough into the UEFA Europa League final a year ago in the 05-06 season, achieving the most glorious moment in the club's history. Unfortunately, the final glory of his personal career became a "future" that would never happen with Twain's arrival.
In 2004, he announced his retirement from the national team because he was not selected for England's UEFA European Championship squad. Last season, because the Middlesbrough manager, McClaren, was chosen as the England manager, the team's captain and McClaren's assistant, Southgate, took over as the Middlesbrough manager after some twists and turns.
It was said that he went through some twists and turns because Southgate did not have a coaching qualification certificate issued by the UEFA at the time. According to the rules, people without a qualification certificate could not coach the First Team. But England was somewhat different from continental Europe. The UEFA's rules were not very popular here. English football had its own rules of the game. Before that, Newcastle United's manager, Glenn Roeder, was also an "unlicensed" person. This precedent gave the Middlesbrough manager, Steve Gibson, confidence. He then consulted all the English Premier League club owners. After obtaining the approval of two-thirds of them, Southgate became the Middlesbrough manager. This was the so-called rules of the game in English football. They did not need to listen to the UEFA's arrangements. As long as their own people felt there was no problem, then there was no problem.
Compared to the generosity of the club owners, the English Managers' Association's reaction was a little stronger — they were almost unanimously opposed. Because they were worried that this practice of breaking the rules would set a very bad precedent. There was Glenn Roeder before, and now there was Gareth Southgate. Who knew what other Tom, Dick, and Harry would ask for an unlicensed position in the future? If that was the case, what power and prestige would the manager have to speak of? In England, many fans were almost football experts. Perhaps they also felt that they could become a famous Premier League manager?
Twain was a different voice in the opposition. He publicly supported Southgate to become the Middlesbrough manager. There was a feeling of "fellow sufferers empathizing with each other." He thought of himself as an "unlicensed person." Four years ago, he was a complete rookie, but four years later, he became the manager of a European champion team. Therefore, he did not think that a coaching qualification certificate was something necessary. As long as one was talented and smart enough, one could become a qualified and excellent manager through practice. As for the authority of a manager … Twain scoffed at such nonsense. The authority of a manager was not based on a qualification certificate, but on the results of the team he led. If you could not win, even if the UEFA forged a gold certificate for you, there was no prestige to speak of in front of the players and fans.
Based on this idea, Twain firmly and publicly expressed his support for Southgate. After Southgate finally became the official manager of Middlesbrough, Twain also sent a text message to congratulate him. This made the two men, who had never met before, have a friendship. At some point in the future, this friendship would play its due role.
Twain was no longer the unknown pawn that no one knew at the Managers' Association's cocktail party. Because of the brilliant results he had achieved, he also had a say in the association. But perhaps because his first impression of the association was really bad, he never regarded himself as a member of the association. He could not be bothered to do something as boring as maintaining the authority of the manager and the status of the Managers' Association. Are they worried that anyone can become a manager? I can't wait for it! If there was no chaos, how could there be a good show to watch?
Twain publicly expressed his support, and a few people in the association came out to congratulate Southgate, so the matter was left unsettled.
It was also because of this relationship that the atmosphere of gunpowder between the Forest team and Middlesbrough during the McClaren era disappeared.
The atmosphere of the game was normal, no different from any ordinary league game.
The Forest team used the home advantage to beat Middlesbrough by only one goal.
Southgate worked hard, but in Twain's view, he was still a little inexperienced. He used to be an excellent player and perhaps an excellent assistant manager, but the things that a manager and an assistant manager needed to consider were different. The height and angle of view of the problem were also different, which determined why there was a distinction between a manager and an assistant manager. In Twain's eyes, Southgate's ability to train the players, especially the defenders, was great, but his grasp of the team's overall tactics and his ability to adapt to the situation in the game was much worse.
After Southgate, who used to be a defender, became the Middlesbrough manager, he paid close attention to the defense. Real Madrid's abandoned player, Woodgate, was rejuvenated under him, and the quality of Middlesbrough's defense was greatly improved. They came to the City Ground stadium with the idea of holding on to one point. In the game, their iron-like defense did cause a lot of trouble for the Forest team's offense.
Arshavin, who had an active performance in the first game, continued to be in the starting lineup for this game, but he was drowned in England's tall defenders and could not feel anything at all. Twain replaced him with Eastwood in the second half, and the Forest team's offense picked up.
Southgate almost got his wish to leave the City Ground stadium with a point, but he was not as cunning as Tony Twain.
Before the last fifteen minutes, the score was still 0: 0. In the 75th minute, Twain replaced the young Bendtner with the more experienced van Nistelrooy. It was his second substitution. Then he asked van der Vaart and Wood to move the center midfielders' position forward to enhance the long shots. In the last ten minutes, he brought on Rafinha to replace Chimbonda and let Beckham lean toward the middle to leave enough space for Rafinha to break through. He used the full back as a side midfielder.
In Twain's quick adjustments one after another, Southgate's reaction was too slow and could not keep up with the rhythm. In the 84th minute, Middlesbrough's city gate finally fell.
Rafinha's breakthrough caused chaos in Middlesbrough's defense on the left flank, and then the football was diverted to the flank, where van der Vaart directly raised his leg to shoot. The force was so great that the Australian goalkeeper, Schwarzer, dove for the ball and let it go. He had been lying in ambush in the penalty area. The experienced "King of the Penalty Box" van Nistelrooy grabbed the point to make up the shot and easily pushed the football into the empty goal.
The Middlesbrough defenders thought van Nistelrooy was offside and did not even defend with their hands up. It turned out that they had misjudged. Van Nistelrooy was indeed behind the entire rear defensive line when he shot, but at the moment van der Vaart's long shot, he was parallel to the rear defensive line.
With this goal, the Forest team defeated Middlesbrough at home and won two consecutive victories in the new season.
After the game, Twain praised Southgate, believing that he had the talent to be a good manager. As for whether he really had it, he did not know. Anyone could say nice things. Anyway, there was no need to be responsible for flattery.
Although the real him had watched Southgate play football throughout his youth, he was now absolutely qualified to be Southgate's senior in the coaching world.
Southgate was also very tactful. Although he had lost the game, he still complimented Twain, who had strongly supported his coaching. He said that he was convinced of his loss and wished the Forest team a better result in the new season.
The Forest team had already won the Champions League last season. A better result? What would be considered a better result?
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Winning against Middlesbrough at home was only the second step in a series of victories for the Forest team.
Just two days later, on August 19th, the Forest team defeated West Ham United, who had intended to hold on at home, with another 1: 0 in London.
The game was very hard to play because Twain had not expected the other side to hold on as if they were at home and aim to get a point.
"F * ck! A point at home! No wonder West Ham United is dying every year. They have no ambition! "Other than venting his dissatisfaction verbally, Twain had no other choice.
His pre-match arrangements had all fallen through. He had thought that West Ham United would take advantage of the home advantage to fight for the midfield with him. He did not expect West Ham United to withdraw to within 30 meters of the zone in one go, with the stance of an iron bucket formation defending to the end. The Forest team's quick counterattack hit an iron plate. Apart from being bruised and bleeding, there was no gain.
They still relied on Twain's ability to improvise and command on the spot to solve the problem.
Fortunately, the current Forest team was no longer the one that only knew how to counterattack quickly. Once faced with the enemy, they would be at their wits' end. He brought on Beckham, who was better at set pieces and positional play. He brought on Gareth Bale, who was also good at free kicks. He used the last substitution on Bendtner, with the young Danish player replacing van Nistelrooy. For the next 25 minutes, the West Ham players saw the football flying in front of their goal.
Bale and Beckham frequently sent high balls in front of the goal from the left and right flanks. Then, relying on Bendtner's outstanding height and heading ability, they created chaos in front of the opponent's goal.
This move had a miraculous effect. Beckham's precise passes appeared at the back point. Bendtner leaped high after his sprint. He surpassed all the West Ham United defenders. All he had to do now was to throw the football in front of him towards the goal.
Just like a backward jump shot, Bendtner twisted his abdominal muscles in the air and leaned his body back slightly in order to exert force. In the air, he was still interfered with by the West Ham United defenders. He was tugged from below and almost lost his balance in the air. The angle of his back was too wide and he could not exert force. What was supposed to be a head-swinging rush became a "rub." The football was rubbed in an arc and leaped high before falling into that tiny gap. It was a lucky hit.
The football brushed against the crossbar and fell into the goal. West Ham United's goalkeeper, Robert Green, almost crashed into the goalpost in order to save the ball. In the end, he could not stop the football from entering the goal.
The goal that Forest scored in the last ten minutes helped them defeat West Ham United in an away game.
After the game, West Ham United's manager, Alan Curbishley, was unconvinced and said that losing at home was just a little bad luck. His tactics were flawless and limited Forest's offense. On the other hand, Tang En kindly reminded him that luck was also a part of strength.
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On August 25th, Nottingham Forest traveled north to Newcastle to challenge the city's only professional team. After a tough battle, Forest won their fourth consecutive game since the start of the new season with a score of 2: 1.
Among their competitors, the best result was Chelsea, with three wins and one draw in four games. They were ranked second with ten points. Manchester City, with a new manager, performed outstandingly, with three wins and one loss in four games. They were ranked third with nine points. Liverpool, with one game less, had two wins and one draw. They were ranked fourth with seven points. Next was Everton, with two wins, one draw and one loss, and Arsenal, with two wins and one draw, with seven points. Among the teams that had the ability to compete for the league title this season, Manchester United was currently the unluckiest. They had only achieved one win, two draws and one loss in four games, and were ranked tenth with five points.
They had four wins and twelve points, and were at the top of the table. This was the best start to the English Premier League in the history of Nottingham Forest Football Club. It was also the first time that the team had topped the league table since Tony Twain became the Forest manager. Even though this was not the season's final ranking, the Forest people still celebrated — they got their manager, Tony Twain, drunk in the hotel they stayed that night.
As a result, the scene of their revelry was photographed by The Sun's paparazzi and published in the newspaper, which caused a lot of fierce criticism.
Among those who attacked the Forest team were ordinary fans, famous reporters, and football legends.
Some people thought that Forest was arrogant and belittling their opponents by celebrating like this after achieving such a result. "Manager Tony Twain is a little smug after just winning a Champions League title … It's understandable that he's a young manager. They always have to take more detours to get back on the right track. But I think it's still necessary to remind Manager Tony Twain … "
There were also people who criticized the Forest team's terrible discipline — the manager and the players drinking together! This was simply … Although it was not unusual for players to drink in English football, it was still worth paying attention to when it was exposed.
Kerslake patiently explained when he was blocked by the media and asked about the matter. Other than the coaches who drank alcohol, the players drank non-alcoholic and non-carbonated drinks such as fruit juice and soda. Why were all the players full of energy after the cocktail party? Because they did not drink at all.
Twain was not so easy to talk to. He answered the questions that the reporters were most concerned about in a bad tone:
"In my eyes, this is not a big deal. You are inexperienced, so I can understand if you want to hype it up." He spoke as if the media interviewing him were really inexperienced people. "These days, if the media doesn't make some noise, there won't be any readers. Everyone is making a living, and it's not easy." His words, coupled with his pretended understanding expression, made the media present not know whether to laugh or cry.
"But I want to make one thing clear. I have no intention of belittling my opponents. Because this is our internal celebration party. This celebration is only to celebrate the results we have achieved so far. I swear to God, we did not mention any of our opponents during our celebration, nor did we use any verbal insults against them. You have really pinned the label of 'belittling your opponents' on the wrong person. "
He did not mention any of his opponents? It was really hard to judge whether this was a clarification or a provocation.
"We never belittle any of our opponents, because it does not help us defeat them." These words were still somewhat reasonable, but with Twain's character, he was destined to turn the tables. Sure enough … "Some people say it's too early to celebrate? Actually, it's not early anymore. We are rehearsing for the upcoming UEFA Super Cup victory celebration. "
As soon as these words, which fully reflected Twain's style, came out, the Liverpool people suddenly seethed with anger.
The Liverpool Echo acted as the vanguard and attacked Tony Twain in the newspaper.
Twain responded shamelessly in his column, "If the Liverpool people think they can win the championship by relying on scolding in the media, I support them spitting in the media all day long."
His response further angered the Liverpool people. Even the Liverpool players came forward to be interviewed to express their dissatisfaction with Twain. They believed that a manager should put his mind on managing the players and setting an example, rather than fighting a war of words with his opponents all day long. This was clearly a mockery of the Forest team's crazy celebration party.
Twain also bluntly retorted, "I agree that a manager should put his mind on managing the players. So, obviously, Mr. Benítez has not done his job well." This time, he dragged in the opposing manager, the Spaniard Rafael Benítez, who had always kept a low profile. He ridiculed Benítez for not managing his own players, which made the Liverpool people even angrier.
Who still wanted to stay out of it? No one could do it. They were all stirred up by Twain.
The UEFA Super Cup had not yet begun, but the war of words between the two teams had already begun in full swing.
Twain cleverly used the media to hype up the reception and launched a full-scale psychological warfare against the other side unknowingly. In fact, Twain did not expect the reception to be hyped up by the media. However, an outstanding master of psychological warfare would use all the factors that could be used to provoke the opponent.
Twain firmly believed that his psychological tactics had worked. Whether the opponent was angry or disdainful, these people would not continue to maintain their previous emotions. Perhaps they would not notice it themselves, but these changes would faithfully be projected during the game.
In order to win, use all the factors that can be used and use all the methods that can be used. Quarreling with people in the media and becoming a scoundrel in the eyes of the Liverpool fans was nothing compared to a UEFA Super Cup.
Twain never cared about his reputation and image in the eyes of the opponent's supporters. Otherwise, he would be so vexed that he could not sleep every night. Because there were too many fans who hated his opponent — no one would like the enemy who defeated the team they supported, right?
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