Chapter 68: Manager Vs. Manager Part 1
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
During the English League One playoffs semifinals, the second match between Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest had been going on for more than 10 minutes, and there were no changes to the score. Although Nottingham Forest displayed commendable fighting spirit, Sheffield United's manager, Neil Warnock, had obviously made preparations in advance. While Tang En was analyzing his team, he was also analyzing Tang En's.
Marlon Harewood had received the tender 'care' of the defenders from Sheffield United. Manager Warnock had intentionally moved Phil Jagielka, who had originally played defensive center, to the position of center back for this match. There was only one reason for this—to shut down the Silver Shoe striker of League One.
Despite being only 20 years old, Jagielka had already participated in an entire season of League One matches. In addition, he had also become one of the core players of the team's midfield defense. The well-rounded Jagielka was able to play any position on the back defensive line. Although Tang En had rarely paid much attention to the weaker teams' matches when he watched the Premier League, he had, back in China, tried to watch most of the matches of the stronger teams. In the last round of 2006's English Premier League, Arsenal led by Wenger had once lost 0:1 to then English Premier League Team, Sheffield United. In the last 31 minutes of the match, the person who defended the goalpost was none other than Phil Jagielka. That was probably the longest duration that a non-goalkeeper player had substituted in as the goalkeeper. As a result, Tang En also remembered this difficult-to-pronounce name.
Now that Tang En saw him actively running about as a center midfielder, blocking Harewood's offence time and again, what else could he say, besides curse his own luck for meeting such a tough opponent?
Another player that Tang En had a headache over was one of Sheffield United's core players, Michael Tonge. This person who was still a member of the Manchester United youth team three years ago, had already grown to become Sheffield United's core midfielder. All of the offense was centered around him. He passed the ball, slide-tackled, organized offenses, and even personally gave the fatal deciding blow. In this season, he had been 44 times, and scored six goals. However, his specialty was his dribbling.
Jagielka and he were both members of the England Under Twenty-One national team.
Both of them were also the greatest contributors to Sheffield United's ability to enter the playoffs.
Of course, the person who Tang En felt was hardest to deal with was not on the field. Instead, it was the person seated in the manager's seat, Sheffield United's manager, Neil Warnock.
The 54-year-old old man was a local of Sheffield City, with a head full of white hair and had an abundance of experience. Warnock was straightforward and honestly expressed his feelings. His coaching style was somewhat similar to Tang En's. He liked to direct the match from the sidelines and would occasionally return to the manager's seat. Throughout the 90-minute match, the vulgarities he shouted could be heard, despite the singing of the 30,000 football fans on the viewing platform of Bramall Lane Stadium.
Looking at Sheffield United's highly appropriate tactics, Tang En knew that he had met an extremely formidable opponent. It was no accident that the team had lost to Sheffield United three times alone in that season. Tang En had even lost to him twice.
A big part of the reason for Nottingham Forest's exceptional performance in the second half of the season was their core striker, Marlon Harewood. Tang En saw that Harewood's condition was quite good, and therefore decided to arrange it so that he was the core of the offense. Harewood's techniques were exquisite, and his stature was exceptional as well. With him at the core, enemy defenders would usually have a tough time and be unable to stop him from repeatedly scoring. After being paired with the extremely fast David Johnson, this duo had become the sharpest and most successful striker combination. They had scored a total of 46 goals, and it had to be noted that Nottingham Forest had only scored 83 goals for the entire season. Portsmouth was the season's sharpest offensive team, with a total of 97 goals, while Nottingham Forest came in second.
However, faced against Sheffield United's defenders, this extremely lethal striker combination had lost their direction, completely lost their power.
Although the enemy was impressive, Tang En, who had been battle-trained for half a season, was also no pushover. He had always thought of himself as a "natural manager." If he had done any other job, he would have made a terrible mess out of it. However, as a manager, he was very talented. Who said that only players needed to be talented?
As mentioned before, Sheffield United's entire team revolved around their core, the midfielder, Michael Tonge. He initiated almost 60 percent of the team's offenses. In this match, Tang En did not send out the veteran player combination, Eoin Jess and Gareth Williams, which had been used as the starting lineup for most of the matches this season. Instead, he chose to utilize the younger midfielder combination.
The four midfielders were positioned in a line. From left to right, were Andy Reid, Riccardo Scimeca, Eugen Bopp, and Brian Cash. Tang En did not have any offensive midfielder in the middle. Instead, he positioned two defensive midfielders to defend the middle region of the field. His intentions could not have been any clearer—to make use of Eugen Bopp and Riccardo Scimeca's defensive abilities to restrict Sheffield's activities in the midfield, especially to block their midfielder core, Michael Tonge, and not give him any openings.
The tactics arranged by the two managers were well directed. As a result, even after 15 minutes into the match, neither side was able to get into a good scoring position, and they spent most of the time snatching for possession of the ball in the midfield. Bopp and Scimeca's defense completely shut down any effective offensive advances attempted by Tonge and Michael Brown.
Motson commented, "I admit that Manager Twain's decision to arrange two rarely fielded young men during the season to be part of today's starting lineup was extremely unexpected, and extremely effective as well. However, the price to pay is Nottingham Forest's offense, as the two strikers have been completely shut down by the opponent's five defenders. In addition, there is no one in the center who can organize offenses. If it carries on like this... Truth to be told, I don't understand."
Shaking his head in agreement, Mark Lawrenson proceeded to share his take on Nottingham Forest's performance in the first 15 minutes. "The formation arranged by Sheffield United's manager, Warnock, for this match is 5-4-1, with three midfielders. He chose to use the most reliable and safe tactic. Of course, he has his reasons for doing so. After all, he has already claimed a beautiful three points from his away match. As long as he gets a tie for this match, it will be considered a victory regardless the score. But Manager Twain cannot think in the same manner. At this time, he should not be defending, but be on the offense instead. From the current looks of it… he must be out of his mind!"
"Mark, I'm also confused," Motson agreed with his partner, yet added, "but I feel that Manager Twain must have his reasons for such an arrangement. I've commentated most of the matches for half the season, and he's the kind of manager that can make my eyes light up."
Lawrenson laughed. "These words are meant for describing players, John."
"There are no rules stating that they can't be used to describe managers. Twain's performance has surprised me time and again. I hope that this match is able to surprise me once again."
Right when Motson finished speaking, Nottingham Forest's right wing back, Brian Cash, managed to break past the sides, forcing Sheffield United's left back, Steve Yates, to commit a foul against him, giving Nottingham Forest a free kick from the opposing half's right wing.
Seeing this, Tang En stood up from the manager's seat and walked to the side of the field. He merely stood there, not doing nor shouting anything. However, the Forest players on the field all knew what it meant. The set piece play which they had been training for the past week was finally going to be put into play!
Michael Dawson ran into the opponent's penalty area, and Harewood also left the backfield. The entire back defensive line of Nottingham Forest rushed up, and the players farthest back were the two midfielders who were guarding the midfield, Scimeca and Bopp.
All the players who could perform headers were all in front of Sheffield United's goalpost.
Tang En's intentions could not get any more obvious. He was not afraid of Warnock seeing through his plan, because even if he had seen through it, he was unable to make any effective adjustments in time. Never in his wildest dreams could that old man have thought that Tang En had completely given up on orthodox offensive methods, and instead decided to use a set piece play to settle the battle.
Since you can't anticipate it, then I'll catch you off guard with it!
Tang En shot a glance at Warnock, who was frantically waving his hands and shouting, and gave a smirk.
Old man, are you thinking of letting your defenders mark Dawson and Hjelde, these two tall guys? Very well, I couldn't have asked for it any other way!
As Eoin Jess was not on the field, the free kick was handed over to Reid. He carefully placed the ball and looked at the penalty area. As anticipated by the manager, Sheffield United's defenders had focused all their attention on Dawson, Hjelede, and Harewood. Nobody paid any attention to the relatively short David Johnson. He was really too short, which made him difficult to be seen in the penalty area, amidst all the tall people. After spending quite some effort, Reid finally managed to spot his teammate's shadow in the small gaps between the players.
The players, 1.9-meter Michael Dawson, 1.88-meter Hjelde, and1.86-meter Harewood were the best covers.
Reid kicked the ball into the penalty area, but he gave a shock to all of the Sheffield United players. He did not give a high ball toward Dawson and the rest's heads, but instead gave a chest-high ball, flat and fast!
Amidst everyone's shocked looks, David Johnson suddenly emerged from the crowd, running toward the front! At the moment when the ball came into contact with David Johnson, he headed the ball toward the corner of the goalpost!
Sheffield United's goalkeeper, Paddy Kenny, was completely unable to respond at all to such a sudden shot. The ball hit the bar of the goalpost and flew in!
Tang En, who was standing at the side of the field, raised both of his hands high to celebrate the goal. He did not forget to look opposite him. However, Warnock did not appear too saddened, and he merely returned back to the manager's seat. Tang En was slightly disappointed—the offense, which he had planned out meticulously, had actually not incited any form of emotions from the opponent.