Chapter 51: Premier League Part 1
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The second day after their visit with Clough, Tang En's team won with a score of 4:0 against Norwich City at their home ground. The match went perfectly, both in the process and the result. Forest owned total control of the match from the start, and it was one of the few matches in which they had the advantage in both the player statistics and the scoring under Tang En's leadership. Even the scrupulous English media could not find any flaws with the Forest Team's playing.
During this match, what showed Tang En's good command was not his allocation of players, but his decision to field a center back that he had transferred from the youth team. The 19-year-old Wes Morgan scored his first goal of his football career. Though the goal came at the 82nd minute and did not make a big difference in the result, it was very meaningful for Morgan.
Morgan chose to celebrate with Twain after his goal and rushed from the opponent's goalmouth toward Twain and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you so much, Sir! Thank you!" he shouted in Twain's ears. Although he had never doubted his ability, Twain was the one who gave him the chance to prove it. Going from a youth player to a professional one, and then becoming a star player… How long would the road be, and how many managers would be needed along the way? The manager who brought him through the first stage was of paramount importance, and Morgan felt very lucky and glad to have met such a leader who had good insight and made good choices.
After Morgan calmed down, Tang En pushed him out and laughed, "Kid, have you practiced how to sign your name?"
Morgan opened his mouth wide, but it seemed that the only thing he could do was giggle.
"Go back and continue with the match, kid. And remember to call me boss next time."
Morgan nodded hard and went back to the match.
Walker, who saw all of this, turned and realized Bowyer was wiping his eyes.
"What happened to you?" he asked loudly as the cheering thundered around them.
"Nothing happened, Des. I am just…just thinking about a question from the start of this match."
"What question?"
"I am very glad that I played under our man Clough, and not just because I got two European Championships and one league championship. I have learned many things from our boss that have been useful throughout my life. What about you?" Bowyer asked.
Walker nodded, "Same for me. And I believe many that were under Clough feel the same way as you. Just like Pearce, O'Neal, and many more…"
"You're right. Now I feel it's the same for Wes Morgan and Michael Dawson. They're lucky to be playing under Twain."
Walker stared at Bowyer for a few seconds without a word. "Are you comparing Twain to our man?"
Bowyer shook his head. "No, not me. I just have a feeling that maybe after many years, the whole of England will compare him to Mr. Clough."
Walker turned to look at Twain after he heard what Bowyer had said. Under the loud jubilation at the City Ground Stadium, he encouraged every player around him and then sent them back to the field one by one. Despite Forest's four goals ahead of Norwich, he still reminded them loudly that the match was not over yet.
"Ian, from my understanding of Tony, I think he would not agree with your opinion."
"Why?"
"Because he's probably hoping people will compare others to him."
It was true that he did not want to be anyone's successor and did not want to follow anyone, even if that person was Brian Clough. This man chose to show his back, and let others catch up with him.
Clough must have also realized this, and so, though he found Tony Twain to be a lot like him at a young age, he had not said anything like, "You are going to be my successor," when he met Twain the day before.
Often, the noble and great men with high achievements like to search for their successors when they get older to sing their praises to the public and the media. Pelé was one, and Maradona was no exception, either. Walker believed that his boss would like to be able to say, "so-and-so is going to be my successor", "so-and-so is as handsome as me in my younger time", and "I like so-and-so's coaching style as it makes me think of my time" during interviews. Walker could guarantee that that "so-and-so" would never be Tony Twain.
Clough was special. So was Tony.
"…After five successive victories followed by a failure, it's been another three victories straight. Tony Twain used this performance to show that he is a real genius. Now Forest has stabilized their rankings in the top six. It looks like we will be able to cheer for our favorite team at the next season of the Premier League."
"…Nothing could stop Forest from standing out, as they were reborn at the second half of the season. Paul Hart's disciple has accomplished something that even he, himself, was unable to do—lead Forest to a place in the Premier League."
"Marlon Harewood just needs four more goals to be awarded the Golden Boot. This golden boot forward at the second half of the season mentioned that he wanted to thank his substitute manager, Twain, the most during his interview. It was Twain that ignited his eagerness for victory, and he believes that other players from the team feel the same."
"There are six more rounds until the end of the league and Nottingham Forest is ranked 6th, though they still have one more round to go. The other five competitors have felt that Forest just might catch up with their steps anytime. No one dares to make a mistake. The competing over the placing for the Premier League next season has raged on and has reached the heat of the battle. In the next seven league matches, Forest has four matches against the teams who are currently ranked in the top six and one more with 7th place Ipswich. Out of the seven teams, there are five tough ones. For Twain and his Forest Team, they have definitely not reached the end of this long battle yet. Before the season ends, anything could happen."
Yes, anything was possible.