Chapter 70: The Footsteps Of English Premier League Part 1
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Sheffield United had changed their lineup during halftime. They removed their core offensive player, Michael Tonge, and switched in a striker, 21-year-old Steve Kabba. Tang En had limited knowledge on this player and only knew some statistical information regarding him. Such as his recent transfer over to Sheffield United this season from Grimsby Town. He had been fielded 25 times and scored seven goals. It was a result that could not be considered good nor bad. From the statistics, Tang En was completely unable to tell anything else about him, such as his specialty techniques or habits.
After watching for five minutes, Tang En could only tell that he was extremely fast. However, apart from that, there was nothing else special about him.
Tang En began to consider seriously how he should react to Warnock.
The core of Nottingham Forest's tactics was to restrain the opponent's midfield offense centered around Tonge. Now that Tonge was swapped out, what should he do? Sheffield United was currently playing a 5-3-2 formation, and so Nottingham Forest's two defensive midfielders were currently being wasted. This caused Nottingham Forest to not have any means of retaliation, and they could only get beaten up.
Tang En felt that in order to strengthen their offense, he should swap out either Scimeca or Bopp, and switch Jess in. Jess's passes and place kick were extremely threatening. However, Tang En could not make up his mind, as he did not know whether that was the change which Warnock wanted to see.
Tang En's handshake with Warnock in the passageway had made him extremely unsettled. He always felt that there was a hidden agenda behind each and every word spoken by the old man.
Should he make the necessary changes?
Tang En stared at the field and remained silent.
Another five minutes passed, and it seemed like Kabba did not pose much of a threat, and the defensive line led by Dawson was able to cope with much ease. Tang En decided to make the changes…
It was at this moment, the mild situation on the field was met with sudden, drastic changes!
Kabba, who had been fielded in the second half, made use of his speed to forcibly break past Forest's left back, Davy Oyen. After that, he made an action which seemed like he was passing or shooting, creating chaos in front of the Nottingham Forest goalpost.
That's when Tang En saw their striker, Paul Peschisolido, raise both of his arms high up in the air while he jumped around in joy.
The ball went in?
Tang En opened his eyes wide, hoping to confirm. However, it was apparent that the fan's eyes were much sharper than his, as a loud cheering noise erupted from the viewing platform.
"Goal! Sheffield United chases back with a goal! The greatest contributor for this goal was the newly switched in Steve Kabba! Let us look at the replay. The person who scored the goal was Peschisolido! Forest's goalkeeper, Darren Ward, managed to block the first shot, but it happened to rebound into Peschisolido's feet. Going with the flow, he kicked the ball in… open goal! What a lucky guy!" Although Motson wished to see Lawrenson shave off his beard after the match, he was still extremely on point when it came to commentating the match.
"Darn it!" Tang En yelled. Now that the lead had been reduced from two goals to one, the situation was very precarious. He had to immediately make changes, but the adjustment this time would not be to strengthen the defense. Tang En's principle was that he would try to think of ways to increase the advantage when his team was leading by one goal, and would only think about defense after having a lead of at least two goals.
Tang En called to Eoin Jess, who was doing his warm-ups. He stood beside the manager's seat and listened to Tang En brief him, while he took off his vest.
"Jess." Tang En looked at this veteran player, who was older than the original Tang En by seven years. He had come over to Nottingham Forest from Bradford City by means of free transfer. As Nottingham Forest was in the midst of a financial crisis, it could not offer him a good contract. He had come over because of Paul Hart, but he did not expect that after half a season, Hart would resign on his own accord. However, he continued to play his best for the team, and his place kick was a scoring means that had completely gained Tang En's trust. "Do you still remember that FA Cup match against West Ham United?"
Jess nodded his head.
Tang En continued, "Do you still remember the match with Wimbledon? The words I said to you when I switched you out?"
Jess nodded his head once again. "I remember, Boss. You said that we definitely could win and wanted to make a wager with me."
"That's right. Today, let's make another bet. I bet that we will definitely win this match."
The Scottish man shook his head. "There's no need to make a bet, Boss. I believe you, and I won't let you down. What do you want me to do?"
Tang En smiled. "You will go and replace Bopp and free Reid from his spot. Organize offenses and pass the balls over to Harewood and Johnson. If there is a place kick in the front field, it's all yours regardless of which side it is!"
Jess blinked his eyes and said, "Just like that match with West Ham United?"
"That's right, the same!"
Patting Jess's back, Tang En switched him in.
This switch of players immediately bore fruit. Jess's appearance on the field revitalized Nottingham Forest's midfield, and his passes brought quite a bit of trouble to Sheffield United's backline defense. In addition, he was specialized in place kicks, causing Sheffield United's defenders to be extra careful whenever they tried to defend.
However, this kind of carefulness was unable to last for long. The defensive style of English football was something that everyone knew about. How was it possible to not have any body contact or fouls?
Eoin Jess managed to create a chance for a place kick in front of the penalty area, and he was the one who was going to carry it out. As Tang En watched Jess place the ball on the arc of the penalty area, he put both of his hands to his mouth and prayed.
Tang En did not believe in God, but this did not prevent him from calling for help when he needed it.
Sheffield United had just scored a goal, and their morale was at it's peak. If they continued to let such a situation develop without any interference, then the situation would spiral out of Tang En's control. They had to kill off the opponent's counterattack when it was still in its infant stages, and it was also extremely important to suppress their arrogance. Suppress it with what? Goals!
Didn't you just reduce the deficit to one goal? Very well then, I'll just have to widen the gap once again.
Therefore Jess, you better not let me down.
On the television screen, Eoin Jess lowered his head as he looked at the ball, quietly waiting for the head referee to blow the whistle. The audiences could not see his expression, but this did not prevent the fans in Forest Bar from rooting for him.
"Score it, you can do it!"
"Blast their human wall to smithereens!"
"Even if you don't score, at least take a few of them down!"
Burns raised his head and looked at the television. Although he did not say anything, in his heart, he, too, hoped to see what the people shouted.
As a former professional football player, Burns knew how delicate Tang En's current situation was. One goal could break the original balance, and another goal could return the original balance.
"Eoin Jess, Nottingham Forest's place kicking expert, Twain's most trusted player for place kicking. He has been fielded 32 times and scored three goals—all from direct free kicks." John Motson's voice could be heard from the speakers of the television. The rowdiness within the bar gradually disappeared, as everyone stared intently at the television screen.
At the split second before Jess kicked the ball, the bar, which was filled with people, became extremely quiet. Almost everyone had the same posture—heads raised toward the television, with big mugs of beer resting still in their hands.
The display on the screen had been switched from a close-up to a far shot, signaling that the penalty kick was about to begin. For a split second, not a single sound could be heard inside the bar, even breathing sounds.
Amidst the silence, Motson's voice reached everyone's ears distinctly.
"Jess, he is about to raise his leg..."
Clank! It was the sound of the ball hitting the pillar of the goalpost.
"What a pity... Oh! GOOOOOOAL—! Rebounded into the net! What a beautiful free kick! Jess did not disappoint!"
"He never disappoints! Forest! Forest!" The people in the bar clinked the mugs in their hands at that moment and shouted, "Cheers!"
Burns slammed his tightly clenched right fist onto the bar counter.
"3:1! Nine minutes after Sheffield United scores, Nottingham Forest once again deals a heavy blow to Sheffield United! They regain their two-goal lead, and the situation favors them greatly! Mark, let me ask you once again: do you like electric or manual razors? Haha!" Motson laughed loudly. Back at the BBC headquarters building, Lineker, who was watching the match through the monitors, laughed, as well. There were people beside him who clapped for him, celebrating the fact that he had finally "calculated" and gotten rid of Lawrenson's big beard.
Lawrenson sighed helplessly. Sheffield United is too much of a let-down. Looks like I'm unable to keep this beard.
Tang En cheered from the side of the field with both of his hands raised in the air, but he was quickly hugged by the extremely excited Walker.
"Tony! I can see the English Premier League waving to us!"
"I can see it, too! I can even hear its footsteps as it walks toward us!" Tang En excitedly pounded Walker's back. "Listen to its booming sound!"
"What a powerful-sounding footstep!" Walker began coughing from Tang En's pounding.
Sending Walker back to the manager's seat, Tang En deliberately glanced at the opposite manager's seat. He discovered that Neil Warnock remained standing by the side of the field with his armed folded, without any expression. His team was once again down by two goals. Was he not anxious? Was he not angry? Was he not agitated?
This manager was one that was extremely direct with his feelings and often liked to scold nonstop. In the two times that Tang En had faced him, he had not rested his mouth for a single moment throughout the full 90 minutes. Yet why was it that he had changed so much in this match?
What exactly was this old man plotting?!
Tang En began to frown again, and the good mood from before was momentarily reduced to nothing.