Chapter 27: Tang En’s Manifesto Of Victory Part 1
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The day always gets dark earlier in the winter in the U.K. The sky has already turned dark at only 5 p.m. The street lamps light up one by one, but pared to them, the neon lights shining from the bars start to light up even earlier. They hang in glass windows as if floating, giving rise to an illusory feeling similar to what drunks experience through their eyes.
Burns' Forest Bar was located on the corner at the intersection of two streets. These two streets were known for all kinds of bars and pubs. Burns' Bar had the best business and was the most well-known one among the rest, not just because of its location, but also because it was the place where all the fans of Team Forest gathered.
Just from the name Forest Bar, it was obvious that the football fans there were fans of Team Forest. The main color of the bar wasn't red, but crimson. There was a huge Team Forest logo painted outside that could be seen from a distance away. The football fans of Team Forest would always gather at the bar to have some drinks, chat, and maybe intensely debate before or after a match. Also, during a match, those football fans that did not have a ticket would watch their beloved team playing on the TV at the bar. This is when the bar was most crowded.
Tang En had been waiting for Walker at the Bar. He had decided to have his dinner there. When there were not many customers, he would just sit at the corner and talk quietly with Burns. Burns congratulated Tang En on the performance at the second half of the English FA Cup and felt sorry for the two draws. In between their conversation, Burns had to serve the football fans who had just e in, and some of them recognized Tang En and greeted him politely. These limeys were not bad before they got too drunk.
Walker came in after he had finished his dinner. Unlike Tang En, who was single and could just eat where and whenever he wanted, Walker had families responsibilities to take care of.
"The homebody is ing," Tang En said to Burns as Walker was about to walk in.
Burns smiled, weled Walker and brought him to the table. Then he went to get him a beer at the bar counter himself.
"Anything important, Tony?" Walker took off his coat and hung it at the back of the chair.
"Nothing special. I'm just bored and want someone to talk to," Tang En lit a cigarette for himself. He did not offer one to Walker, as he was a professional player and did not smoke.
"Well, I think Mr. Tony Twain is not the type to find a man to chat with when he is feeling bored," Walker laughed and took the beer from Burns. "Thanks, Kenny."
"That's right… I will probably find a women."
The three men exchanged glances and started laughing together.
"Back to serious matters, I do have something to talk to you about, and I also want to hear some advice from Kenny." Tang En only spoke after Walker had taken his first sip. "Before I tell you my thoughts, I need to ask you a few questions, Des."
"Please, go ahead."
"As a football fan or an ordinary audience, what kind of match would you prefer to watch, Des? Don't think. Just shout out the answer immediately."
"Hmm…" Walker was stumped for a second, but then he answered, "I think it would probably be one with many star players and a balanced performance between the battling teams?"
"So it's like the two teams have to keep attacking one another?" Tang En asked back.
Walker nodded his head. "You could say it like that. Both parties play in a more aggressive manner, and there are many impressive goals."
Tang En showed a sly smile. "You are so cruel!"
"Huh?"
"Des, what you said would really make the defenders' and goalkeeper's life harder!" Burns was laughing at the side.
Walker understood that teams battling is undoubtedly exciting to watch, but it did make it extremely difficult for the defenders. "But you asked me to answer from the perspective of an audience, and I did."
"All right, now as a player yourself, what kind of match would you like to play? Don't even hesitate and tell me your first thought."
"Obviously would be a match where our team could win easily." This time Walker gave the reply immediately after Tang En asked.
"So what you mean is just for winning the match and ignoring the process?" Tang En asked.
"Hmm, it's not that I don't care about the process and only want to win, but what you said make sense. As long as winning the match could be considered as the goal. Back when I was still playing, sometimes I just wished I wouldn't have to sweat for the whole 90 minutes, and sometimes I was willing to give every last drop for victory."
Upon hearing Walker's reply, Tang En snapped his finger. "Okay, last question for you. Des, if you're the main manager of a team, which kind of match would you prefer?"
This question seemed to be hard for Walker to answer, and he opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something and then said nothing. Tang En looked interested in Walker's conflicted face as if there was a fight going on inside him. After a while, Walker shook his head. "I'm not sure, since I've only managed for half a season."
Burns knocked on the table. "Please, Tony, just tell us what you think."
Tang En said, "The last three matches gave me a lot to think about. We got one loss and two draws from the three matches, but we've had all the advantages. If skill is the determinant for the final result, we should have gotten three wins, instead of not winning a single match."
Walker kind of knew what Tang En was going to say, and he made a cough. "Tony, we should have won the first match. The reason for losing was due to the referee. The referee is the one who wanted us to be out of the English FA Cup at the third round."
"Okay fine, besides the first match. Kenny, you saw the other two league matches, right? We were totally at the advantage. We should be winning. But what's the result?" Tang En leaned back, unfolded his arms, shrugged his shoulder and coughed out the smoke from the cigarette. "Ca…" He was about to say the "useless possession theory" that was taught by Capella when he was coaching the Real Madrid Club and was criticised by the Spanish media over and over again. And then he realized that he was fours before that. At this time, Capella was still in Rome playing the most aggressive kind of offensive football. If he told them then that Capella was going to promote the "useless possession percentage theory
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