champion godfather

Chapter 3 Tony Twain's Past

Because it is not officially open, the lights in the bar are not turned on.The roller blind outside the window was half-closed, and the light came in obliquely from there, bringing some light to the dark room. The dust in the room was billowing under the light, like the water vapor used for special effects on the stage.Such an environment is not suitable for reading books and newspapers. In fact, the two people in the middle of the bar do not need to read books or newspapers.One is inside the bar and one sits on a stool outside the bar.In front of them, there were two thick glasses filled with golden wine.

This quiet and dim environment is just right for chatting.

"Tony, you know? Your performance last night really opened my eyes and surprised me." Burns refilled his empty glass.

"Oh?" After downing five glasses of strong whiskey in a row, even an alcoholic like Tang En was slightly drunk.

"You've been here for seven years. I watched you come when you were young. I never saw you get into a fight with anyone. You have a good temper, although you are a bit withdrawn. But you always face others with a smile. Yesterday Those old guys are all drunk, if they were sober, they would definitely not do such an excessive thing when they saw you. But I didn't expect your reaction to be so strong... You are not as strong as a football coach. "

Tang En smiled wryly. He never thought that his former self was still a good person in the eyes of others. "Maybe what you said is right...but I don't remember much..." Tang En pretended to rub the back of his head with a painful expression. "I...forgot a lot of things." He found that he really had a talent for acting. "I don't remember how I trained the team, and I feel very strange to the Forest team. The game will be played the day after tomorrow, but I don't know how to lead them..."

Tang En buried his head between his arms in pain.He found that he had already entered the drama, not only the current scene, but also the forest team's acting head coach Tony Twain.

Seeing Tang En lying on the stage in pain, Burns also felt that the matter was more serious than he imagined. "So... you have forgotten all your abilities as a coach?"

"It can be said that..." Dunn lowered his head and said.

"That's too bad. Does that old guy Dougherty know about you?"

"I didn't tell him." Tang En shook his head.

Burns tapped his fingers on the bar counter, seemingly thinking about a countermeasure.

Tang En raised his head and looked at him: "Kenny, can you tell me about how I used to be a coach?"

Burns clapped his hands: "This is a good way, maybe you can recall some things through your previous self. Well, let me think about it, you came to the Forest team seven years ago..."

For a football fan, they are always used to measure time with football, and use football to carve a unique mark on this light ruler.In the future, when they recalled a certain year, they would not say what I was doing at that time, because maybe they didn't remember what they were doing at all.But they will clearly tell you what happened in world football in a certain year, what important events were held, which players turned out to be, which players left sadly, which players became famous, and they will also give you some interesting gossip.

The same is true for Tang En. In 2003, I was not yet 23 years old and had just graduated from college.Going back seven years from here, I was still a junior high school student in 1996.He doesn't remember what he did that year, but he still remembers that summer until now.Because the ninth European Cup was going on vigorously in the summer of 1996, and this time it was hosted by England.I secretly stayed up late to watch the game, bought sports newspapers with my pocket money the next day, and repeatedly read the reports and various news about yesterday’s game.

In the era when the Internet was not popular and live TV in China hadn’t started yet, he had very few channels for getting information, but it couldn’t stop him from falling in love with football from then on.He knew Gascoigne, despite his early fame.He also met Bierhoff, even though he was 28 and still called a "rookie".Zidane came into everyone's attention that year, and later he became the best player of the century in European football... He also met many, many people, and those people accompanied him for ten years, accompanying him from junior high school to high school , to college, to the society.Some of them retired, some are still fighting.The rookie of the year is getting old, the superstar of the year is far away from his sight, and the unknown people of the year have become the leading actresses of today.They carried Tang En's entire youthful time, they were like Tang En's friends, showing up on time every weekend to accompany him.

He didn't know how to describe that feeling.This person who is always unpleasant in front of people, smelly and hard, can cry because of the retirement of a star-of course, he will not let others see when he tears.

Therefore, seven years ago in 2003, he watched a major global football match for the first time, was attracted by the charm of football for the first time, and became a believer in it. This is also the only hobby that accompanies him.

On the other side of the world, a young man whose name is pronounced the same as his has ushered in a turning point in his life.Tony Twain, a young man from the small town of Eastwood, walked out of his hometown.He loves football as much as the other Tang En, but his personality has undergone a huge change after the family accident. He doesn't want to stay in the hometown that makes him sad, and decides to come out to make a fortune.

What can the taciturn Tony do?He seems to be able to bring a gust of wind wherever he goes, and he is not liked by people.What's more, he knows nothing, except his passion for football.Finally God gave him a chance.

In the summer of 1996, England melted into the football boom. This once blocked country finally passed the most difficult and dark time, and went back to the world, attracting the attention of the world.The same is true of Nottingham, located in central England. After experiencing the pain of being relegated from the English Premier League in the 92-93 season, the Forest team returned to the Premier League the following year, and then they had a fantastic season. Excitingly won the third place in the league and qualified for the UEFA Cup. After 94 years, the Forest team returned to the European arena.

The Forest team, which is still revisiting the glory of the European arena in the past, is facing the problems that all small and medium-sized clubs will encounter.Under the lure of money from the big clubs, they sold the team's head star Stan`Collymore (Stan`Collymore) to the giants Liverpool for 850 million pounds, and at the same time introduced the new international footballer Antoni from the Italian Torino team. Andre Sirenzi, but the deal cost the club £180m.The tall Italian scored [-] goals in one season for the Turin team and became an international player.But I didn't expect him to become the biggest joke of the Forest team this season.

It was at this time that Tony Twain came to the Forest team. The club had made new personnel arrangements for their youth academy and needed to recruit some staff.Tony, who loves football, just walked into the gate of the Forest team's training base.His first job was as a stadium cleaner.But Tony knows where his real job is. He usually pays attention to the work of the coaches. He listens carefully to what they talk to the players and how to do it, and then starts to think and learn by himself.He was only 27 years old this year.

All the efforts of the Forest team this summer came to naught. Eleven years later, they could not keep up with the rhythm of the European arena. Although they broke into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup, they were humiliated by the powerful Bayern Munich with a total score of 11:7 and eliminated.At the same time, because of fighting on two fronts, their results in the domestic league were not satisfactory. After the end of the season, they only ranked ninth.

The disappointed board fired Frank Clark, who had led the team back to the Premier League. The team captain and 34-year-old left back Stuart`Pearce became the team's acting coach.It was also in this year that Tony met the most important person in his life, Paul Hart.The forest team dug him from the Leeds United youth team and became the head coach of the forest youth team.He was the one who reappeared several times in Tang En's dreams.

Paul Hart is a well-known youth team coach. When he was working at the Leeds club, he cultivated a group of treasures for the team: Jonathan`Woodgate, Alan`Smith, Paul`Robinson, Harry`Kewell... just look at the names that are star-studded right now, it's the work of Coach Paul Hart.

Hart's arrival changed the trajectory of Tony's life.Hart, who was new to the team, lacked a trustworthy assistant. At this time, he fell in love with the studious and motivated Tony Twain, so he proposed to the club to give Twain a new contract. From then on, Tony became Hart's assistant coach. One of the team's four assistant coaches.He is also embarking on the journey of coaching.

Hart attaches great importance to Tony, who is conscientious and studious, never chattering nonsense, and takes him with him no matter what the occasion. Tony has learned a lot from this successful youth team coach.

The forest team's youth training level has always been at the forefront in England, and the arrival of Paul Hart has brought the forest team's youth training level to a higher level.He brought out an excellent youth army for the Forest team, and the best in this team was a young man named Jermaine`Jenas.

The team performed well in the first half of the season, and Pierce showed his talents as a coach.But the team's board of directors made a stupid mistake again. Instead of fixing Pierce, they invited Bassett to co-coach with him.The division of power led to damage to the team's combat effectiveness, and the team finally inevitably fell into the first division this season.

After the relegation, the Forest team was taken over by the current club chairman Nigel Daugherty. He chose to believe in Bassett, and Bassett lived up to expectations. A year after the relegation, the Forest team was successfully upgraded again.But the dream only lasted for one year. In the 1999-2000 season, the Forest team was relegated again and Bassett was dismissed.Dougherty found David Pratt as the team's head coach.However, the team has never recovered since then, and has never been able to return to the Premier League. Instead, it has consumed its former pride and vigor in the first division year after year.

In the summer of 2001, the Football Association of England appointed Pratt as the head coach of the England youth team. Pratt gave up his position as the head coach of the Forest team to Paul Hart.And Paul Hart left his position as the head coach of the youth team to Tony Twain - it was Hart who recommended it to Dougherty, and he believed that Tony Twain had the talent to become a successful coach.

And Jenas, whom Hart valued very much, also promoted to the first team with him, playing for the Forest team in League One.

Tony Twain was indeed of a certain level, although his later achievements in the youth team were based on the foundation left by Paul Hart.When he was the head coach of the youth team, several players started to emerge in the youth team, and they quickly became the focus of attention in the youth team.Such as left forward Andy Reid (Andy`Reid), and youth team captain center back Michael Dawson (Michael`Dawson).

Tony Twain hopes that he can become a successful youth team coach like Paul Hart. He likes the joy of discovering one or two treasures among a large group of children, and seeing the immature grass grow into towering giants under his hands. Shu's sense of accomplishment is no less than leading the team to win the European Champions Cup.

However, his peaceful life was changed three days ago.

Paul Hart is not a low-level coach. In the summer of 2001, the team appointed him as the head coach, hoping to be promoted to the Super League. For this reason, Dalgetty invested a lot of money and borrowed from the bank. for team building.From the media to the fans, they are full of confidence in the future of this team.In the words of the Nottingham Evening Post, "This is a Premier League team that shouldn't be in the First Division". fundamentally changed.

Previously, in order to fight against Sky TV, which broadcasts the Premier League, England's independent television digital station (ITV) bought the rights to broadcast all English leagues outside the Premier League at a high price.However, the attractiveness of the First Division League is not as good as that of the Super League. The TV station spent a lot of money but did not get the corresponding return. The financial burden of the company increased, and finally it was overwhelmed and declared bankruptcy.

A fire broke out at the gate of the city, which affected the fish in the pond.Countless owners and coaches of teams in the lower leagues found themselves out of pocket and in debt overnight.The star who had spent a lot of money to sign in became the team's biggest burden at this time.The Forest team invested the most at the beginning of the season, and naturally suffered the most in this economic crisis.After a failed season, in order to alleviate the economic crisis, they had to sell the high-paid players in the team.This includes Jermaine Jenas, who is known as the spokesperson of England's youth training level. He transferred to Newcastle for 500 million pounds, setting the most expensive value of a young player in the history of English football.

The transfer of Jenas was not out of his and his coach's wishes, but a forced behavior to alleviate the team's economic crisis.So even though teams like Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester United offered him prices, he finally chose to go to Newcastle, which had the highest price.Paul Hart was also devastated by the sale of his beloved, whose original ambitions were extinguished with Jenas' departure.

The capable players in the team have almost left, and those who stay are also panicked, wondering if they will be the next target to be sold.Those who are capable start to find a new home for themselves, not thinking about the competition at all.The results of such a team can be imagined. In the first half of the 02-03 season, the Forest team ranked in the middle. For a team that once had a glorious tradition and played in the Premier League a few years ago, such results did not satisfy the fans.

Finally, on the third day after Christmas, Paul Hart, who was under heavy pressure, took the initiative to resign from Chairman Nigel Daugherty. The two talked for a long time, and the chairman agreed to Hart's request to resign. As compensation for his voluntary resignation, Hart recommended Tony Twain as the head coach of the first team for the team and became his successor.

Dalgety is no stranger to Tony, and he has a good impression. After all, he has worked in this team for seven years, diligently and conscientiously.His coaching achievements in the youth team in the past two years are also obvious to all, so.On December 2002, 12, the Forest team officially announced that their youth team coach Tony Twain became the acting head coach of the first team until the end of the season.

The media and fans paid a lot of attention to Tony's first first-team match, but Twain unexpectedly made a huge joke on the sidelines. The score of 0:3 became an excuse for others to attack him.

"...Tony, it's okay to lose. Any coach will lose." When the topic talked about the game that ended yesterday, Burns comforted him. "You have been doing well in the youth team and have proved your ability to others."

Dunn also thought about what happened on the sidelines yesterday, and the people he met in this bar at night.He was ridiculed on TV, and he was ridiculed off TV. The fundamental reason was not that he was injured by his own players and left the field, but because he lost the game.As long as you lose the game, you will be scolded, laughed at, and looked down upon by others. Insignificant mistakes in other areas will be magnified, magnified, and magnified because of the loss of the game.

"Kenny, I know you're right...but I just...hate failure so much!" Dunn downed the wine in his glass in one gulp, and then put the glass back on the table.He looked drunk.

Burns didn't continue to pour wine for Tang En: "I also hate losing. No one in football likes to lose. But there are some things you have to go through. There is a big difference between the first team and the youth team. I think even if you get nothing this season , and no one will blame you or anything. I know you are unprepared, we still have next season..."

His words were interrupted by the sound of the door, the door of the bar was pushed open, and several heads poked in.

"Hey Kenny! Is your bar open yet?"

Burns looked down at his watch: "Oh, damn it, it's already eleven forty. I have to do business."

"Come in, guys!" He beckoned to the man at the door, then turned to turn on the lights.

The door opened, and seven or eight people walked in hugging each other.The bar, which was still deserted and dark just now, suddenly became lively, and the anger of the people even made the room brighter.They talked about various topics together, and then went to the bar to ask for a drink.

At this time, Tang En, who was curled up in a corner of the bar, was only seen.Someone recognized him quickly. "Yo yo! Look who is this? Uncle Tony Twain who was knocked over by his own people in the stadium yesterday! Yo yo! Now he is huddled in the forest bar and drunk like mud! Yo yo! Could it be that this is the forest team The secret to winning the next FA Cup match?!" A young man danced and danced, his movements and tone of voice seemed to be singing a black rap song.His appearance amused those around him.

Hearing the noise behind him, Tang En slowly turned around and squinted his eyes to look at this man. He didn't have any impression of this young man, but according to him, he should have been there last night.

"You little bastard who hasn't even grown hair yet..." Tang En struggled to stand up.Although his inner real age is only 26, but this body is 34 years old, so he can unceremoniously take advantage of the other party.

Seeing Tang En wanting to stand up, the visitor looked unkind.The people who were still laughing at the side suddenly became vigilant.They watched how Tang En quickly knocked down the tall Michael yesterday. Michael was taught by his wife when he returned home with blood stains. Now he doesn't even dare to come to the bar, so he can only coax his wife at home.Only the young man who had never seen Tang En's power took it seriously. He put on a boxer's posture, bouncing around, and kept yelling: "Come on, baby! Don't think I'm afraid of you!"

There was a sound of "boom!" It was not someone's nose being hit head-on, but the sound of a heavy beer glass hitting the table.

"Whose Irish stout?" Burns asked, putting his face between them.

The young man immediately withdrew his fist and went to get the drink: "Uh, mine..."

Burns shook the wine glass in front of his hand: "Don't make trouble in my place." Hearing this sentence, everyone calmed down.

Tang En didn't like this group of people at all, and seeing them filling the bar, he also felt that he should leave.

Burns personally sent him out of the bar, then grabbed him and said to him: "Tony. I think if you don't know how to train the team and how to direct them to the game...you can leave it to you Assistant. Until you think you're better off."

Tang En looked up at him: "Thank you, Kenny."

Burns smiled: "You're welcome. Besides, Michael and the others are not bad people. They are the most loyal Forest team fans. It's just that the team's performance in these years has been too bad, and they are too heartbroken. I hope you don't take it to heart. Come on, the day after tomorrow's game, you will see their cute side."

Tang En nodded but didn't say anything.

"Do it well. Happy New Year, Tony."

"You too, Happy New Year, Kenny..." Dunn waved to Burns, then turned around and turned the corner crookedly.

Burns looked at his back, shook his head slightly, then turned and walked back to the bar.

"I really don't understand, Kenny, why are you so nice to that idiot..." The fat man who laughed at Tang En's breastfeeding last night couldn't help complaining when he saw Burns walking back.

Burns thought of Tang En's expression when he lay on the table and said that he hated failure. It was indeed a "hate" from the heart without any concealment.He turned to look at the fat man and said, "John, if you talk nonsense again, I won't let you come here to drink."

"Wow, I don't dare anymore!"

The laughter of the men suddenly resounded in the bar.

Even though there was a wall, Tang En could still hear the loud laughter coming from the bar.At this time, he didn't walk crookedly, his waist was straight, and he didn't look like he was drunk at all.

He stood on the side of the road, waiting for the green light of the crosswalk to turn on, and at the same time, he recalled Burns' advice to himself just now in his mind.

"Have an assistant coach do it? That's a really good idea."

(End of this chapter)