Chapter 178: The Red Forest Part 1
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
This was a truly hard-to-explain situation, as the fans were more confident of winning than the players on the field! They did not know what happened in the locker room. Despite the fact that the team was trailing behind, they still believed that the team would win.
Why was that?
It was probably because Twain's team had a series of outstanding performances, making the fans willing to believe that they could accomplish anything that was usually hard to do.
What will happen if the team let the fans down in this match?
No, we cannot lose, must not lose, and also, will not lose this game!
He turned and walked towards the locker room. He wanted to make up for the team's mistakes, before the start of the second half. He wanted to let them know how much these fans believed in them.
If we lose this game, how are we going to face the more than 20,000 Forest fans in the stands? Although they will still be in the stands, singing and clapping for us while braving the wind and rain, shouting "Come on, it's ok. We still have the play-offs" ... can we accept this trust and tolerance with a clear conscience?
But, when he marched back to the locker room, he almost got knocked down by the player who opened the door. Opening the door, the first person to come out from the inside was Ashley Young. When he saw Twain, he was a little surprised. But he quickly set his face and said very seriously to Twain, "Boss, rest assured! We're not going to let them go on a frenzy attack on us in the second half! You know... none of us wants to lose, either! We all want to go to the Premier League!"
"Yes, Boss! If you're still angry, watch our performance in the second half!" More and more players rushed out, speaking all at once.
"We're not going to lose to those West Bromwich Albion sons of bitches!"
Twain had not reacted yet, when Walker's voice rang out from inside, "Why are you still dawdling? Time to get on the field!"
These people hurriedly left the confused Twain, and ran towards the field. Twain looked at Walker, who quickly walked out from the room, then asked in puzzlement, "What's going on, Des?"
Walker smiled and said, "I told them you were very, very angry and very, very disappointed in them. I told them that almost everyone's transfer was personally decided by you. But, at the crucial moment, they had failed your expectations, instead ... and I scolded them as cowards who could not bear the pressure and burden of responsibility, so then their eyes all turned red!"
Looking at the man who was about to leave the team, Twain felt for the first time in the game that he was not his subordinate, but rather, was an excellent, dedicated assistant manager, his priceless and invaluable right-hand man.
"Thank you, Des."
"Why are you thanking me? This is my last game as an assistant manager in the Forest team. I don't want to leave with any regrets for myself." Walker shrugged, and then he looked back at the empty locker room, saying, "It's me who should say thank you, Tony. In the first half of the season, I repeatedly asked myself, 'Is there no chance to see the Forest team return to the top league again?' That period was a mess, and I couldn't convince myself to continue to stay. So, now, I thank you."
Twain patted him on the shoulder, then said, "Let's go, Des. We still have forty-five minutes left."
"Ok."
※※※
After the second half of the game restarted, it was still raining, and the ground was still wet and muddy. However, the mental state of the Forest players was completely different. Having overcome their psychological obstacles, they moved with ease, gradually unleashing their true strength.
And the leading West Bromwich Albion had evidently slackened at the City Ground. After fifteen minutes of the halftime interval, they entered the game state a lot later than the Forest team. From their frequent mistakes made during the Forest team's intense pressure, and their interception suffered after the start of the game, it was evident that they could not adapt to the sudden accelerated tempo of the Nottingham Forest team.
There were no talented or star players in West Bromwich Albion lineup. Thus, they depended on the team's overall combat skills. And Twain's Forest team had many talented young players.
The state of mind of these young players was unstable, and their psychological quality was not up to mark yet. These were their shortcomings. But, they also had their strengths, among which included that they were easily motivated, likely to break through their state of mind, and dares to reveal their personal abilities. And, sometimes their outstanding personal abilities could often change the course of the game, even determining the final outcome.
Ashley Young was the absolute main force of Nottingham Forest's right midfield in the second half of the season. With his swift-as-the-wind speed on the right wing and excellent personal skills, plus his fearless heart, he was a player greatly trusted by Twain. Although West Bromwich Albion specially arranged a close-marking tactic to deal with him, and they had successfully marked him in the first half, he was like a different player in the second half, when compared to the first half.
When a West Bromwich Albion player faced off with him one-on-one, he was not able to defend against him. That was, unless they had two or even three players at the same time, then they might be able to cut off the ball at his feet. He was quick as lightning on the right wing, threatening to breach his opponents' defense line repeatedly.
"The Forest team has put the path of their main offense on their right wing, Ashley Young, who has become the Forest team's most dynamic player in the second half! It looks like West Bromwich Albion's defense line cannot hold on any longer. Although the field is slippery, Ashley Young had at least three chances to successfully break through to the penalty area ..."
Motson spoke the truth. The West Bromwich Albion manager, Gary Megson, could no longer sit still. He decided to reassign a defender from the middle to help Neil Clement defend against that active Ashley Young.
Seeing this change, Twain finally had a smile on his face. This was a set of tactics that they had repeatedly rehearsed before the game. Ashley Young's efforts made their opponents think that the Forest team had focused its main offense on the right wing.
However, in fact, the hardworking Ashley Young was just faking the attack, nothing more. The Forest team's real killer move was a large-scale diversion tactic. When the opponent's defensive force was gradually attracted to the left, they would suddenly do a long pass in order to shift the football from the opponent's defensive line, from the left wing to the right wing, and then launch a quick attack that directly threatened the opponent's goal.
In order to do this, the team had to practice their long passes every day. Ashley Young and Kris Commons had to pass the ball back and forth from both wings of the field. They must be able to pass the ball while running, and the margin of error could not exceed four meters. Furthermore, they must try their bests to stop the ball from their teammate, with just three moves, and then dribble the ball to break through.
This tactic basically had not been played yet, because the Forest players' mentality was not right in the first half. Now, they could finally put it to use!
Kris Commons, who seemed to have been at a standstill on the other side for a long time, had nothing to do. Seeing this, his opponents slowly relaxed their vigilance.
Both West Bromwich Albion's left back, Neil Clement, and defensive midfielder, Ronnie Wallwork, had come up to press on and defend against Ashley Young. Not far from them, there was also the center back, Paul Robinson, waiting in the wings. In this way, the defensive formation between these two to three players in the wings was like a small cage, sealing off Ashley Young.
The fact had also proven this point. Ashley Young was unable to fully show his foot techniques on the slippery ground. He was a little inattentive, and his ball was intercepted. But the Forest fans were not worried about losing this ball, because after half a season, they knew that there was a moving wall in the Forest team midfield!
"West Bromwich Albion successfully intercepted the ball! They want a swift attack ... George Wood!!" Every time he called this name, Motson's voice would suddenly raise an octave in excitement, "Beautiful! Beautiful slide tackle!"
Wallwork had almost just turned around, when he saw that the Forest team's Number 33 had already turned his body sideways to slide across to shovel the football out in front of him past the sideline. The idea of a fast attack was immediately squashed.
West Bromwich Albion immediately tossed out the out-of-bounds ball, however, their ball was cut off by Wood's forward defense. Following which, he did not let the football stop at his feet. He quickly passed it to Ashley Young ahead. It looked like the Forest team was still playing on this side. Megson was not worried, as his players were still piled on this side. The opponents would not have any space for any action and coordination.
But... when he least expected it, Ashley Young, who had acted alone since the beginning of the second half till now, unexpectedly took a big swing of his leg, kicking the ball to the other side of the field!
"What a gorgeous and precise transfer! Kris Commons receives the ball, and West Bromwich Albion is completely without players on this side!"
Massive cheers erupted from the City Ground stands, as the fans' waiting was finally rewarded. This was, indeed, a great opportunity! Upon seeing this scene, Twain stood up in the technical area, raised his clenched fist, and leaned out his body, fully prepared to rush out and celebrate.
When the West Bromwich Albion players turned around and realized that there were no defenders in front of Commons, they chose to pull back the penalty area defense and let another midfielder, Andy Johnson go after the dribbling Commons. They wanted to prevent Commons from passing the ball. After all, if he were to directly shoot at the goal, the angle was not wide enough, and the probability of scoring was not as high as passing the ball towards the goal.
This was a conventional defense. But, obviously, Commons did not intend to do as they had envisioned. Instead, he dribbled for two more steps, and discovered that the opponent did not immediately press on, but instead retreated. So, Commons decided to make a risky attempt. He adjusted the football under his foot. In the drizzle, amidst the cries of the Forest fans, he suddenly shot the ball towards the goal outside the penalty area!
The ball looked a little high, and the West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Russell Hoult dared not disregard it. He jumped high into the air, and stretched his hands out, but did not touch the football!
The football suddenly fell behind him, then brushed the goalpost beam, before it flew into the net!