Chapter 138: The Winter Transfer Part 1
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Even though they were lagging behind, Sunderland was unwilling to accept defeat on their home ground. They mounted a large-scale counterattack in the final ten minutes of the game, hoping to even out the score. Tang En called off Rebrov, who was clearly exhausted, and brought on the Australian midfielder, Jacob Burns. This substitution was not intended to defend the midfield, but rather to launch a targeted offense on the midfield to replace an all-out attack on the opponent's entire field. Instead, after their lead, Tang En changed from being passively pressured by the home team, as they had in the first seventy-seven minutes, to using offense such that Sunderland dared not press on them too heavily. Jacob Burns' passing coordination was better than Rebrov's, and with him on the field, the Forest team had more control in the midfield.
As time passed, Sunderland was getting more and more impatient, and the empty spaces in their backfield were fast becoming as barren as moon craters. Tang En knew that, as soon as they scored another goal, he would win.
Very soon, his wish was fulfilled.
Taking advantage of their opponents' desperate counterattack, the Forest team successfully intercepted the ball just in front of the penalty area and quickly counterattacked. Burns send out a clever pass in the midfield, and Eastwood came up from the wing. After receiving the ball, he faced the opposing goalkeeper one-on-one. Then, in a calm, collected manner, he shot the football into the lower right corner.
At this point, the time shown on the big screen was fixed at ninety minutes. The Stadium of Light was extremely still, and completely silent.
Tang En turned to Walker with a smile. "Des, we've won again."
Walker pumped his fists at the field and said, "Yes! I can't wait to see what the media are going to say tomorrow!"
"Freddy Eastwood! He's the star of this match!" Motson was shouting excitedly in the press box. It was truly amazing to see such an ordinary, mediocre player become triumphant and successful with one's own eyes.
This goal completely destroyed Sunderland's confidence to counterattack. They were defeated by an amateur player who was playing professionally for the first time and had once broken a leg.
The final score for the match was 2:0. Thanks to the outstanding performance of Eastwood, Nottingham Forest defeated the fourth-ranked Sunderland, and gained the valuable three points.
That night, when the last match was over, the league's newest rankings were released.
Because they lost to Nottingham Forest, Sunderland only managed to accumulate forty-four points. But "The Black Cats" fans were worried that the gap between themselves and the teams behind them was getting narrower. As Preston North End had won a match, their points increased from forty to forty-three and their ranking also rose to the fifth in the league.
Because both teams which were ranked sixth and seventh in the league had matches, the score difference between the teams ranked from fourth to seventh in the league was only one point. Three teams had forty-three points and one team had forty-four points.
Such close scores were the kinds of results that Tang En liked to see the most, in addition to his team winning.
Due to their game victory, Nottingham Forest's score changed from thirty-one to thirty-four, and their ranking rose from eighteenth place to fifteenth. They were only one point behind Walsall, who was ranked fourteenth. In ascending order, the teams above the Forest team had thirty-five, thirty-six, thirty-seven, and thirty-eight points.
Of course, the Forest team's own position was far from secure. After all, below their thirty-four points, there were three other teams with thirty-three points and another team with thirty-two.
With such a close rankings, tremendous change could come out of only a single round of matches.
Seven days later, in the 28th round of the League Championship on their home ground, Tang En's team would be playing Reading F.C., who was ranked tenth with thirty-nine points—another team in the "must win" category.
Five days later, on January 22nd, Nottingham Forest would play on their home ground again. This time, it would be a fierce battle – it was the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final, and they were playing against the Premier League team Bolton Wanderers, who had just narrowly won a 4:3 victory over Blackburn Rovers in the previous round of Premier League.
Then, on January 28th, the Forest team would play an away match in the Reebok Stadium. This was the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final game.
The competition schedule was not considered intense; it was essentially one game per week. But these three games were going to be tough battles. Tang En had no intention of his team continuing to play in League One next season. At the same time, he had personally promised that they would be in the UEFA Cup.
Such questions plagued him for two consecutive days—did they have to give up a match in the League Championship, let their rivals overtake them again, and then go all out for the EFL Cup, where they had the highest chance?
Because the EFL Cup's latest schedule was out, the League Championship's schedule was also adjusted accordingly. Despite originally being scheduled for January 31st, the 29th round of the League Championship, where Nottingham Forest was playing in an away match against the Cardiff City team, was postponed to April 7th.
Tang En considered this good news, because he could make up for the League Championship after doing his best for the EFL Cup. Even if his points temporarily lagged behind the other teams, it was it was only because he was one game short. It was as if he had postponed the victory and three points to the future, it would no different as long as he obtained them when the time came.
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Tang En, who returned victorious from Sunderland with three points, heard good news from the transfer market. The Forest team had bought Clint Hill, the main center back for the League Two team Oldham Athletic, for three hundred thousand pounds. But Tang En still could not set his mind at ease about the defensive line. After the departure of Dawson, the team really only had one center back: Wes Morgan. His current partner, Chris Doig, was not purely a center back. Relying on Morgan and the newly-joined Hill for the center back positions clearly would not be enough. Tang En might be able to put up with this for other positions, but he would not be careless when it came to their defense.
This time he focused on Chelsea.
With the entry of their Russian boss and the injection of money into Chelsea, the club would inevitably develop the temperment of the newly rich. Ranieri was also not an assertive, individualistic manager. Chelsea had bought nine new players that summer on a spending spree. There was the veteran Marcel Desailly in charge of the center back position, the young player John Terry, who was maturing with time, and William Gallas, who could play any position on the defensive line. Even Glen Johnson had been put in the center back position by Ranieri and had played a few matches. And then there was Geremi and Mario Melchiot, who were able to play in matches due to their jack-of-all-trades abilities. With Claudio Ranieri, often called the tinkerman, at the helm, a player had to be ready to play any position.
Because it was such a competitive environment, the 18 year old German player, Robert Huth, only played on the club's reserve team. Tang En wanted to purchase him directly, and it was possible that it could be settled for more than two million pounds. But Chelsea held Huth in high regard, and thought he would be the center back in the future and would partner with Terry to become the main force of the club. They would not let him go. So, Tang En had to relent and request the second option—a loan.
Ranieri thought it was a good idea to put Huth out on loan for training. The rich and imposing Chelsea did not require the Forest team to pay his salary like Leeds would have done. And this time, Tang En could get the future main center back substitute of the Germany national football team without spending a single penny.
After the consecutive acquisitions of Clint Hill and Robert Huth, the center back vacancy left by Michael Dawson was finally filled.
Tang En's request to Evan was that the tasks to supplement the team must be completed before the EFL Cup semi-final began; that way, he could have a complete team to create a complete strategy, and the entire team could work together to achieve it.
And so the Forest team accelerated its work in the transfer market. After acquiring Clint Hill, Moore brought some good news to Twain. Kris Commons' skills were completely in line with the Forest team's requirements, and he was happy to join the team. Although he had been cultivated as a player in Stoke City, his favorite team was Nottingham Forest. He was willing, and the Forest team had expressed more than enough sincerity in its offer. The deal was eventually sealed at a price of three hundred thousand pounds. For a young player who had only played in the First Team, the Forest team's offer was quite generous.
The team paid three hundred thousand pounds for Commons but, in turn, became rather stingy with the loan of Stephen McPhail. Leeds insisted that the Forest team pay 90% of his weekly salary. Whether it was Tang En, Evan, or the cheapest among them, Allan Adams, not everyone agreed to their terms.
At this time, the benefits of the team purchasing Commons first became clear. Tang En began to spread information to the press claiming that he was satisfied with Commons joining the team. "Although Reid left the team," he would say, "we have Commons. And the fans can look forward to Commons' performance just as much as they did Eastwood's." Now that the team had won a few matches in succession, Tang En also lifted the media ban. With the easing of tension with the media, Commons' performance in the training field would spread through the media easily.
At five and a half feet, Commons had a fairly typical height for the football field. Even though speed was not his specialty, his outstanding skill made up for his physical deficiencies. Whether it was his passing or his shooting, he had proven that the Forest team's offer of three hundred thousand pounds was well-worth the money.
Allen, who was in charge of the players' transfer negotiations, talked to Leeds at the negotiating table. "Do you see?" he said. "Our newly-signed left midfielder is also excellent, so we aren't as desperate for your player. The Forest will only be responsible for 50% of McPhail's salary. This is our last offer. If your club doesn't agree, that'll be it. Either way, we've got Kris Commons."
Leeds, who was mired in a financial crisis, could not stand its ground. They agreed to lower the weekly wage standard to 60%, hoping the Forest team would understand their difficulties. Allan knew to quit while he was ahead and agreed to a 6,000-pound weekly salary. He brought back Stephen McPhail just as Twain wanted. And McPhail, who could not play in matches at Leeds, was happy to be on loan to the Forest team, if only to stay in shape.