The second leg of the League One play-off semi-final between Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest had been going on for more than ten minutes, and the score on the field had not changed at all. Despite the Forest team's commendable fighting spirit, Sheffield United's manager, Neil Warnock, was clearly prepared for it. While Twain was studying other people's teams, they were also studying his team.
Malone Hailwood was the focus of attention from Sheffield United's defenders. Phil Jagielka, who was originally playing as a defensive midfielder, was deliberately placed in the center back position by manager Warnock for this game. There was only one purpose – to defend against the Silver Boot striker of the League One season.
Although Jagielka was only 20 years old, he had already played a full season of League One. He had also become the core of the team's midfield defense. The all-rounded Jagielka could play in any position on the rear defensive line. Twain recognized him. Although he rarely paid attention to the games of weaker teams when he watched the English Premier League, he still fought to watch every game of a strong team. In the last round of the English Premier League in 2006, Wenger's Arsenal had lost 0: 1 to Sheffield United in the English Premier League at the time. In the last 31 minutes of the game, the goalkeeper for the team was Phil Jagielka. That game was perhaps the longest game in which a non-goalkeeper had played as a substitute goalkeeper. Because of that, Twain remembered this somewhat awkward name.
Now, seeing him active in the center back line and blocking Hailwood's attacks again and again, Twain could only lament that he had encountered such a difficult opponent.
Another person who gave Twain a headache was Sheffield United's main midfielder, Michael Tonge. The Manchester United apprentice three years ago had now grown into the core of Sheffield United's midfield. All the offense revolved around him. He passed the ball, tackled the ball, organized the offense, and even personally delivered the fatal blow. He had made 44 appearances this season and scored six goals. But he was best at dribbling.
He and Jagielka were both members of the England under-21 national team.
The two of them were also the biggest contributors to Sheffield United's entry into the play-offs.
Of course, the most difficult person for Twain to deal with was not on the field, but the Sheffield United manager, Neil Warnock, who sat in the home team's technical area.
The fifty-four-year-old man was a native of Sheffield. He had a head of gray hair and a wealth of experience. The old manager was also a straightforward man. His coaching style was somewhat similar to Tang En's. He liked to stand on the sidelines and direct the game. Occasionally, he would return to the technical area. During the 90-minute game, his endless stream of profanity could even drown out the singing of the 30,000 fans in the stands at Baramore Lane.
Looking at the Sheffield Alliance's highly targeted tactics, Twain knew that he had met a formidable opponent. It was no accident that the team could lose to Sheffield United three times in a season. Even he himself had lost to this person twice.
Nottingham Forest's excellent performance in the second half of the season had a lot to do with their main striker, Malone Hailwood. Twain also saw that Hailwood was in good form, so he simply used him as the offensive core to arrange tactics. Hailwood's technique was exquisite and his physical condition was excellent. With him as the core, the opposing defenders often suffered, and they could not stop him from scoring frequently. Coupled with the extremely fast David Johnson, the pair became the most successful and incisive forward combination in League One at the end of the season. They scored a total of 46 goals. It must be known that Nottingham Forest only scored a total of 83 goals this season. Portsmouth was the most incisive offensive team this season. They scored 97 goals, while Nottingham Forest was ranked second.
But now, this most lethal forward combination had lost its direction in Sheffield United's defense and completely lost its power.
However, the opponent was formidable. After half a season of actual combat training, Twain was no longer someone to be trifled with. He had always thought of himself as a "natural manager." If he were to switch to other jobs, he would certainly be miserable. But as a manager, he was very talented. Who said that only footballers needed talent?
As mentioned before, the core of Sheffield United's team was their midfielder, Michael Tonche. Almost 60% of the offense was launched by him. Twain did not send out the veterans, Ian Jess and Gareth Williams, who had been in the starting lineup for most of the season. Instead, he used a younger midfield combination.
The four midfielders stood parallel to each other. From left to right, they were Andy Reid, Ricky Smeka, Eugen Bopp, and Brian Cash. In the middle, Twain did not set up an attacking midfielder. Instead, he set up two defensive midfielders to guard the middle area of the field. His intention could not be more obvious — to use Eugen Bopp and Ricky Smeka's defensive ability to restrict the activities of Sheffield's midfield. In particular, they had to block the midfield core, Michael Tonche, and not let him have any play.
The two managers' tactical arrangements were very targeted. The result was that no one had a better chance in the first 15 minutes of the game. Most of the time, they were repeatedly fighting near the midfield. Bopp and Smeka's defense made things very difficult for Tonche and Michael Brown, who were completely unable to organize an effective attack.
"I admit that Manager Twain's arrangement of two youngsters who rarely appear in the starting lineup in the league tournament is unexpected and effective. But the price of doing so is sacrificing Forest's own offense. The two forwards are completely locked down by the opposing team's five defenders, and there is no one in the midfield who can organize the offense. If they continue to play like this … To be honest, I don't understand. " This was Mark Lawrenson's evaluation of Forest's 15 minutes so far. He shook his head and cooperated with Motson's commentary. "Sheffield United's manager, Warnock, has arranged for a 541 formation for this game, with three center backs. He has chosen to play it safe. Of course, he has a reason to do so. After all, he has won a beautiful three points in the away game. In the worst case scenario, he can win as long as it is a draw, no matter what the score is. But Manager Twain can't think that way. At this time, he should not be defending, but attacking. Now … he must be out of his mind! "
"Mark, I don't understand either." Motson did not agree with his partner's view. "But I think Manager Twain must have his reasons for arranging it like this. I've commentated on most of the games for half a season, and he's the kind of manager who can make my eyes light up …"
Hansen laughed. "That's used to describe players, John."
"There's no rule that says it can't be used to describe a manager. Many of Twain's performances have surprised me. I hope I can also see that scene in this game. "
Motson had just finished speaking when Nottingham Forest's young player on the right, Brian Cash, made a beautiful breakthrough from the side, forcing Sheffield United's left back, Steve Yates, to foul him. Nottingham Forest obtained a free kick from the right side of the front field.
Seeing this scene, Twain stood up from the manager's seat and walked to the sidelines. Then he just stood there, not doing anything, not shouting anything. But the Forest players on the field all knew what this meant. The set piece tactics they had painstakingly practiced for a week were finally going to be put to use here!
Michael Dawson ran into the opponent's penalty area, and Haggard also left the backfield. Forest's entire rear defensive line pressed forward, with the two defensive midfielders, Smeka and Pope, at the back.
All the players who could head the ball were in front of Sheffield United's goal.
Twain's intentions could not be more obvious. He was not afraid that Warnock would see through it. Even if he could see it now, he would not be able to make effective adjustments in time. The old man would never think that he would give up on conventional offensive methods in an away game and seek to use set pieces to settle the battle.
If you can't think of it, I'll catch you off guard!
He glanced at Warnock, who was standing on the sidelines, waving his hands and roaring, and a pleased smile appeared on his face.
Old man, do you want your linebackers to keep an eye on Dawson and Haggard, the two big guys? Very good, I couldn't ask for more!
Because Ian Jess was not on the field, the free kicks were handed over to Reid. He carefully positioned the ball and then looked at the penalty area. Sure enough, as the manager had expected, Sheffield United's defenders focused their attention on Dawson, Haggard, and Hailwood. No one paid attention to the short David Johnson. He was really too short, and he was almost impossible to find in the penalty area filled with long players. It took a lot of effort to find his teammate's shadow in the gaps of the crowd.
Michael Dawson, who was 1.91 meters tall, Haggard, who was 1.88 meters tall, and Hailwood, who was 1.86 meters tall, were the best cover.
Reid drove the ball into the penalty area, but he surprised everyone, including the Sheffield United players. He did not send a high ball over the heads of the Dawsons. Instead, he sent a half high ball, flat and fast!
Under everyone's shocked gazes, David Johnson suddenly rushed out from the crowd and rushed forward! In the instant that his running route coincided with the trajectory of the ball, he swung his head and headed the ball towards the near corner of the goal!
Sheffield United's goalkeeper, Paddy Kenny, had no time to react to the sudden attack at such a close distance. The ball brushed against the goalpost and flew into the goal!
Standing on the sidelines, Twain raised his arms high in celebration of the goal. He did not forget to look next door. But Warnock did not appear too upset. He just turned and walked back to the technical area. This performance made Twain a little disappointed. His meticulously planned attack did not cause any emotional fluctuations in the opponent.
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