Chapter 339: The Captain’s Armband Part 2
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Tang En made his way to Kerslake and the two started chatting in a low voice. The other mbers had also slipped into a relaxed mood quickly, finding those they were on good terms with to mingle. As the locker room livened up, everyone’s attention was diverted from the Captain’s Armband to other places.
Tang En glanced sideways at Wood. He did not look for anyone to chat with, and no one approached him. He was just staring blankly at the Captain’s Armband.
Kerslake noticed the sa thing. “Tony, is this too early?”
“It’ll happen sooner or later. There are benefits to having it happen earlier… I don’t think George is the sort of person who will crumble under pressure and responsibility. Otherwise…”
Tang En thought about Wood, who worked to feed his family while worrying about his mother’s illness. All that ti, they also had to stay in a dangerous environnt with a need to be constantly alert, having no peace at all.
“…He would have crumpled by now. By putting the Captain’s Armband on him, I hope he can beco even more mature and learn to consider things from a well-rounded perspective, giving him the ability to see the bigger picture.”
Kerslake nodded. He understood Tang En’s good intentions. There was no need for him to worry about Wood. It was soone else he was worrying over.
“You assigned Anelka to play as a reserve in this match. Was he... dissatisfied with anything?” he asked quietly.
Tang En retrieved his gaze from Wood, turning instead to Anelka who sat in another corner of the locker room.
“Right now… I can’t tell. He’s quite introverted; he wouldn’t easily express so of his emotions.”
“Didn’t you explain to him?”
“What about? I’ve already said. I’ll just treat him like any normal player. Isn’t it normal for the players to be either on the starting line-up or reserve line-up?”
Tang En still chose to treat Anelka coldly.
Kerslake laughed.
Tang En was well-aware of what he was doing. Whatever he said now would not be the least bit persuasive. His tone softened as he said, “I’ll find a chance and speak to him… but not now.”
As the final player to join the team as a new mber, Anelka seed rather misplaced in the lively locker room. He sat alone in a corner with his headphones on, listening to music.
※※※
Forest’s starting lineup for the match was not much different from the final segnt of the last season. Tang En did not use the newly-joined Anelka on the forward line. Instead, he partnered up Mark Viduka and Nicklas Bendtner. In the midfield, the position of left midfielder was firmly held by Franck Ribéry. anwhile, for the position of right midfielder, Forest chose to use Ashley Young, who had greater chemistry with the team, in this match. Aaron Lennon was put on the substitutes’ bench.
In the center of the midfield were George Wood and Mikel Arteta.
In the position of center back, the starters were two young champions – Brazilian midfielder Pepe and Spain’s National Youth Team player, Piqué.
In fact, the entire defensive line in Forest’s starting line-up was made of youths. The starter left back was Leighton Baines, 20 years old, and the right back was Chimbonda, who was 26.
Within this team Edwin van der Sar was one of the oldest, his experience becoming strikingly important on the youthful Forest Team.
Tang En instructed George Wood to mark Riquel. Riquel’s actions were slightly slower as he liked maintaining possession of the ball. That would be Wood’s opportunity. Whatever the thod—even fouling—he must not allow Riquel to be comfortable with the ball. He must give him neither the space nor the ti to.
Boxing out Riquel was equivalent to completely disabling Villarreal CF’s offense.
On Forest’s side of the offense, due to their deploynt of two center forwards, their main offensive direction would be from the two wings. In matches, Sorin was quite active; his favorite activity was to run back and forth on the wings, making use of his enthusiastic sprints to supplent the offense of his team. However, Tang En did not intend to especially manage the Argentine madman and his tendency to cut forward. Since Sorin was fond of advancing forward to assist, Tang En planned to go all out on the offense to suppress him. With both of their wings launching ferocious attacks, it would force Sorin backward, allowing him to stay only on the defense without daring to attack.
This was Forest’s ho ground. Tang En hoped that the team would be able to establish the grounds for their advancent in this match. He wanted to absorb the lesson he had received last season from the match against Sporting CP; for two-legged matches where they first played at ho and later away, he certainly could not allow the deciding mont to be left to the away match.
※※※
Not long after the beginning of the match, City Ground beca a cacophony of noise stemming from the audience.
From the start of the match, George Wood made his attitude clear: he was going straight for Riquel.
The away team Villarreal CF won the toss; they were to kick-off. As the core of Villarreal CF, Riquel very quickly received a pass. He was the person launching the attack. Like a wolf in search of food, George Wood rapidly closed in on him.
After half a season of experience, the George Wood of today was not the sa boy who had been easily toyed with by Riquel.
Foul.
George Wood had tripped Riquel.
Riquel lay on the ground and looked up at Wood. He recognized the kid. In the previous season, this boy was toyed with to the point of helplessness. It directly led to Forest’s loss in that match, while he himself was selected as the match’s best player.
How was it that when eting him again after half a season, he was actually donning the Captain’s Armband?
He was the captain of Forest?
“George Wood is wearing the Captain’s Armband for Nottingham Forest. This is sowhat surprising. With Albertini injured, the best candidate for captaincy should be Edwin van der Sar. Honestly, I don’t think much of Wood as a captain. He could be an amazing defensive midfielder—a genius at defense—but, such talent is separate from being a captain. I don’t understand why Tony Twain would make such a choice… Look at when they were tossing the coin earlier; his awkward performance is truly worrying!”
The comntator did not praise Wood’s defense this ti around. anwhile, Forest fans felt that the comntator was being too noisy, spouting nonsense that had nothing whatsoever to do with the match. What about Wood becoming the captain? He was a player grood by their Youth Team; their own people! As fans, they supported Tang En’s decision to make him the captain.
Nurous fans began to reminisce about the tis they had had, while Forest was still competing in League One, of John Motson comntating for them. Since Forest’s rise to the English Premier League, Motson’s voice had practically vanished from their ears. It was just too bad that England’s BBC channel had failed to attain the broadcasting rights for the English Premier League.
Although Martin Taylor and Andy Gray were extrely popular comntators, they remained objective towards the Forest Team. On the other hand, John Motson made his fondness for Forest obvious; it was sothing that truly won the favor of Forest fans.
After tripping Riquel, Wood ran back to the team.
Sorin ca forward to give his Argentine comrade a hand. “Are you alright?”
Riquel shook his head.
“Watch out. That lad… I’ve heard so things about him. Last season, he kicked the Brazilian from Sporting CP and caused a major injury.”
Riquel looked at Sorin, who nodded. “I’m not kidding. That Brazilian is still lying in the hospital. And for 18 months.”
Reviews
All reviews (0)