champion godfather

Chapter 491 Volume [-] The Storm Is Absolutely Strong
Chapter 24 Absolute Strength
Appendix: The final list of Nottingham Forest in the 06-07 season (numbers in brackets are jersey numbers).

Goalkeepers: Van der Sar (1), Paul Gerrard (25), Igor Akinfeev (12, loaned to CSKA Moscow).

Defenders: Leighton Barnes (22), Gareth Bale (2), Pascal Chimbonda (3), Sun Jihai (21), Herald Piqué (24), Vicente Kompany (33), Pepe (6), Wes Morgan (5).

Midfielders: George Wood (13), Demetrio Albertini (4), Martin Petrov (8), Rafael van der Vaart (23), Chris Commons (20 , on loan to Watford), Ashley Young (18), Aaron Lennon (17), Frank Ribery (7), Mikel Arteta (14).

Forwards: Freddie Eastwood (11), Nicolas Bendtner (9), Ruud van Nistelrooy (10), Nicolas Anelka (39).

※ ※ ※

"Do you think it's amazing, guys." In the locker room before the first game of the season, Dunn asked his team, "Our first game last season was also here, with the same opponent."

When he said that, everyone remembered it.Yes, exactly the same.

Nottingham Forest played against Wigan Athletic in the first game of last season.Everyone still has an impression of this team because whether it was before or after the game, this team was called "Nottingham Forest No. [-]" by the media. His idol, Nottingham Forest is a role model for his team to learn from.

"It seems that you all remember it, so does anyone still remember the process of that match?" Dunn continued to ask.

Then everyone thought, apart from the newcomers Ruud van Nistelrooy, Van der Vaart and Petrov, everyone still remembers what that game was like.

"Boss, we had a bad first half," replied Albertini, standing up.Although George Wood wears the captain's armband more of the time, he is the Italian as the first captain of the team.

"Not bad." Tang En signaled Albertini to sit down. "I pissed you off at half-time and we won the second half. But I don't want it to happen again. I'm sure you don't want to see me like that? I'm a nice guy."

The players laughed.

"Back then we were still very young, and we were blown away by a few words of praise from our opponents. It's different now. We have all experienced many important games and seen big scenes!" Tang En looked at his face. The players, the players were also looking at him. From the eye contact, the players knew what Tang En was talking about - the European Champions Cup final. "We are different from a season ago. We have come through strong winds and waves. Don't stumble in front of this small ditch. Show your best form! We have a great goal for the new season, you all know it?"

"Yes, boss!"

"Champions Cup Winner! WOOOW!"

The players responded loudly, this goal can indeed make people excited.

"Very good. Now this is our first official game of the new season, so...give me a good start!"

※ ※ ※

"This coincidence is really wonderful for Nottingham Forest. Their opponents in the first round of last season appeared in the first round of this season. Wigan Athletic, who is not strong, can't threaten Forest's defense. The big stars of the Forest team showed their attacking strength in the frontcourt, and the poor Wigan team had to choose to stick to it."

"Twain is merciless towards his little brother...haha!"

It was almost a replica of everything last season, even the two people who commented on this game were old acquaintances of Twain - John Mortensen and Alan Hansen.

The only difference is - two people in the commentary booth easily teased the two teams in the game, and did not sneer at Nottingham Forest's poor performance like last year.

Because no matter from the game scene or the score, Nottingham Forest is gaining the upper hand.

The electronic scoreboard recorded the score of the game so far: Nottingham Forest 1: 0 Wigan Athletic.

"This is a more mature team." Mortensen commented on the current Forest team.

He was right. After that important defeat, the Forest team has indeed matured a lot.Just look at their performance against Wigan Athletic.

Without giving the opponent the slightest chance, taking advantage of the overwhelming advantage in home field and strength, they firmly controlled the rhythm of the game under their own feet.The team's overall tactics are no different from last season.At the beginning of the new season, Twain focused on stability, consolidating his results before considering changing tactics.In this game, the Forest team had a great time shuttling up and down the two wings. Ribery was on the left and Wigan's defense on the right was dizzy, and the wind was jittery.And Ashley Young, who came back from the internal suspension, also saved his image in the head coach's mind with crosses again and again.

Apart from major surgery on the striker, Ruud van Nistelrooy replaced Viduka, and Eastwood replaced Anelka, the rest of the team was no different from last season.

Van der Vaart, who was introduced for £450 million, entered the team squad, but did not start the game.The Forest team's midfield combination is still the unshakable George Wood and Arteta.Therefore, the team formation is still 442 parallel positions.

Even though he practiced the new tactics repeatedly during the summer training camp, Tang En was still worried. After all, the new tactics were hasty, and they were not as safe as the old tactics that the team had practiced for two years.At the beginning of the new season, he chose stability. In the final analysis, it was utilitarianism at work.

The team's performance has been outstanding year after year: in the first season of the Premier League, it won the fourth place in the league and the quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup.In the second season, they ranked second in the league, and even won the runner-up in the Champions Cup... How far can they go this season to be satisfactory?Every season in the future, the Forest team will have to bear more expectations. The rocket-like rise of the Forest team makes everyone feel that the good results of this miracle team are taken for granted. Otherwise, "World Football" magazine would not comment on Nottingham Forest. "Strong team" instead of "dark horse".

While Tang En was proud of himself, the pressure on his shoulders became heavier and heavier... Of course, this is part of the price that must be paid for success.As the most prosperous head coach at present, he must have this awareness.

※ ※ ※

The man who scored a goal for the Forest team was Franck Ribery, who has become a world-renowned star with his outstanding performances in the World Cup and European Champions Cup.Wigan Athletic implemented a special mark on him, but still failed to see him.With a corner kick, Ribery volleyed into Nottingham Forest's first goal of the new season.

The city stadium fell into madness. Although everyone was familiar with Tony Twain's team bringing them victories game after game, every goal could still ignite the passion here.

After the goal, Ribery ran towards the corner flag, followed by Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was closest to him. The newcomer was waving his arms to signal his teammates to come up and celebrate together.

Twain once told Tang and Chris Lark that he was not worried about Ruud van Nistelrooy's integration into the team at all.Now it's proven.

Twain is of course aware of this. Ruud van Nistelrooy is a very professional player. Changing the environment means a new start for him. He needs to adapt to everything in the new team. He knows how to integrate faster and better. Going to this team-it is a good way to take the initiative to show favor in normal times.

He wasn't a crank like Anelka, he wasn't likable.

Ruud van Nistelrooy integrated into the team very smoothly, so Van der Vaart will not be difficult.Including Edwin van der Sar who came the first time in the team, there are three Dutchmen. Twain doesn't mind people from the same country hugging together. The old players can help the new players get familiar with the team. It's a benign thing to deal with cycle.

As for the intrigue between gangs in various countries... Tang En is not worried.The days are long, and when they have time, they all know who the most indispensable person in this team is.

※ ※ ※

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 result of the game.Tony Twain's team is reassuring. The will and quality of this team will not easily cause accidents like "black 5 minutes".

During the 15-minute intermission, Twain praised the team's performance without hesitation. Everyone praised them by name, and what he said was not empty words, but the praise that came from everyone's heart. .

Nobody hates compliments.Tang En also did not hesitate to praise, which is also a means of management.It was after Chris Rack mentioned Bell that he was reminded.A compliment is an easy thing for the person who said it, but it may be a very important reward for the person who heard it.

Of course, he will not be stingy with cursing violently.

On this point, Tang En discovered very well...

During the intermission, Tang En didn't say much about tactics other than praising everyone in the team.All coaches know that when their team performed well in the first half and dominated the top half, there is often no need to do anything during the halftime break. It is the best choice for the team to continue playing as it did in the first half.This is the same reason why there is absolutely no reason to change tactics and staffing rashly when a lineup wins consecutively.

So at the end of the intermission, Tang En just slapped his hands and said to the players who were about to enter the field: "Play as you want!"

※ ※ ※

The Forest team implemented this sentence in the second half, and the set in the first half continued to be used in the second half.

Wigan Athletic is certainly not reconciled to losing in this game.After all, they are no longer the newly promoted team that just got promoted to the Super League a season ago, and their biggest dream was to successfully relegate. The excellent results of last season gave them more expectations this season-qualification for the UEFA Cup next season.

Since it is called "Nottingham Forest No. [-]", how could Jewell, the head coach of Wigan Athletic, not study the team in front of him?

He thought he knew Twain's team and Twain very well, and he was fully confident of making a comeback in the second half - losing only one goal in the first half was completely in Jewel's plan.

Tang En is a young man who has achieved great ambitions, and it is the time when he is proud of his spring breeze.In the first half, he showed weakness and made him underestimate the enemy. In the second half, it was a good time for Wigan Athletic to counterattack aggressively.He still remembers the performance of the Forest team in the first game of last season.

If Tang En hadn't woken up his players by scolding his players during the halftime break, Wigan Athletic might have gone home with three points.

But now, there will be no intermission for you to scold, Coach Twain...Jewel thought so proudly.

Ten minutes after the start of the second half, Wigan Athletic made a sudden effort and threatened the Forest team's hinterland with three consecutive attacks.

Tang glanced at Jewel who walked from the coach's bench to the sidelines, and reminded, "Tony..."

Tang En smiled and waved his hand: "I know. The feeling of being 'so-and-so second' is not good~~ You see, no one is really willing to be someone else's substitute. Jewel thought he had studied me and the Forest team thoroughly, Just let him think so."

"Are there any changes to be made?" Chris Lark asked.

Tang En stared at the field for a while before replying, "No need."

Chris Rack was surprised by this answer. He thought Dunn was about to adjust his tactics. "But the opponents have seen through our tactics, and they have strengthened the defense on the side..." He pointed to the field and said.

Tang En smiled: "You are right, they have seen through our tactics. But... so what?"

This rhetorical question left Chris Rack speechless.

"Do you know how to deal with it after seeing it through? If you know how to deal with it, you will be able to deal with it?" Tang En smiled happier. In Tang's eyes, there was even a feeling that a prank had succeeded...

"David." Tang En decided to teach his assistant a good lesson, "It is not possible to get through in this world just by using these small tricks. You also know that there is a gap between them and us in strength, but you know that they are different from us. How big is the gap in strength between us? Sometimes, an absolute advantage in strength can make all conspiracies and tricks ineffective. Between them and us..." He pointed confidently at the darkening sky, "It is from the earth distance to Mars."

Chris Lark opened his mouth wide, somewhat unable to accept this formulation.

"Nothing needs to change, the line-up, the tactics, the same. We'll let Wigan Athletic see why they can only be 'Nottingham Forest second' instead of Nottingham Forest. You know, living in fantasy It’s dangerous to think you’re right.”

After saying this, Dunn stood up, walked from the coach's bench to the sidelines, and blew his whistle.After the players all turned their eyes to him, he made a push forward gesture.It's telling the team to keep pressing, keep attacking and score more goals.

Just now, Wigan Athletic hit the forest team's hinterland with three consecutive attacks, which has already aroused the displeasure of the forest team's proud players. They don't need the head coach to remind them, they will press up and beat their opponents to the ground.

In the next game, Jewel could only be surprised, watching his team being ravaged by the opponent.

Tang En was right. Jewel had indeed seen through the tactics of the Forest team, studied them thoroughly, and came up with many ways to curb the side attack that the Forest team was most proud of.But he didn't consider that his team's overall and individual combat capabilities are far from the Forest team's. The tactics are opposite, and what's the use if the people who execute the tactics are not strong enough?

"... Arteta... great pass! Eastwood didn't take credit for it, he gave it to... Ruud van Nistelrooy!! His first league goal for Nottingham Forest !"

"Van der Vaart's first touch on the pitch, he tries a shot from distance - it bounces off the Wigan Athletic defender's leg...Ashley Young, cross! Antonio Valencia...Own goal! Poor Valencia, it's his first league game for Wigan..."

"The front line formed by Husky and Kamala couldn't pose any threat to the defense led by George Wood. Wood rushed up to participate in the attack...He took a long shot! Oh, what a pity, the shot was high !"

After the team took a 3-0 lead, Tang En, who was standing on the sidelines, turned around and shrugged at the two assistant coaches before walking back.

"The game is over," he told his two assistants on 76 minutes.

On the other side, Jewel's face was as ugly as a pig's liver.But what can he do?This tactic is completely ineffective against the Forest team. The strength gap between the two sides is too great... It is even bigger than it was a year ago.It's not that Wigan Athletic has become weaker. His team has added some personnel this summer. There is only one reasonable explanation, that is - Nottingham Forest has become stronger, and the speed of this strengthening is far from Beyond my expectations and imagination.

"...Nottingham Forest has fully demonstrated the strength of a strong team, poor Wigan Athletic, it seems that they can only continue to be 'second'! This game has no suspense, Nottingham Forest controls every aspect of the pitch. Corner, as long as they think, they can score more goals! Tony Twain is smiling so happily, this is indeed a perfect start to the new season!"

In the praise of Mortes, the referee blew the whistle to end the game.

Tony Twain walked towards the loser Jewell and held his hand: "Welcome back to Earth, Mr. Jewell. There are 37 rounds left in the league, please keep going!"

Jewel smiled helplessly: "Please continue to work hard, Mr. Tang En."

This is correct, there are still 37 rounds in the league, and the new season has just begun, and they all need to continue to work hard.

But no matter what, Jewel's team reaped a defeat, while Tang En got a good start that boosted morale and symbolized a good omen.

(End of this chapter)