<h4>Chapter 334: The New Season Part 1</h4>
<strong>Trantor: </strong>Nyoi-Bo Studio <strong>Editor: </strong>Nyoi-Bo Studio
Anelka’s performance in the press conference managed to satisfy Forest’s supporters. Not only did he appear resolute in ying his part to serve the team, but he also made a fuss about Forest’s once glorious results. He said that Nottingham Forest was a “great” club and a “great” team.
Fans were na?ve. If a new yer said that they loved the team and was able to mention a thing or two about the team’s past glories, the fans would be more than happy to ept them. So, even a yer like Anelka could receive the support of numerous Forest fans.
There was another important reason that exined how they could so quickly ept Anelka. As fans who had personally experienced their journey these past few years—of Nottingham Forest being a no-name to being renowned throughout Europe; of a team that was bogged down by a mire of relegations to a team that had gotten into the qualifiers of the UEFA Champions League; of a Forest that was the champion of the EFL Cup—they all had a kind of fanatic trust in following and supporting their manager, Tony Twain.
They were fond of Tony for more than hisck of standoffishness with the fans; when he saw them on the street, he would greet and chat with them like they were old friends. But what was more important were the results he produced when he led the team. Before him, perhaps only Brian Clough performed better.
While the fans liked the faithful old blokes who had been serving in Forest’s managerial team for decades, they liked, even more, a manager who could lead the team to victory and glory.
Forest’s fans believed that Manager Tony would have a way of dealing with Anelka, no matter how entric he was.
So, what method did Twain have?
“What method could I possibly have? I’m not the Encyclopedia Britannica, Superman with his underpants on the outside, or a particrly smart person who can solve any issue with a scratch of their brain…” On their way to the training grounds, Tang En was grousing to Dunn. “It is difficult to change a person’s character. It’s even more difficult to change a person who is stubborn and willful. And it’s above and beyond difficult to change someone who’s stubborn, willful, and has two agent brothers by his side feeding him lousy ideas!”
Dunn stayed quiet, allowing Tang En to vent his frustrations. When they got to Wilford Lane and the two had to go their separate ways, Tang En suddenly stopped short. He looked up at the thick shadow from the trees and muttered to himself, “But why do I have to change him? If he’s useful, use him. If not… We’ll see!”
Returning to the manager’s office, Tang En found David Kerke waiting there. It appeared as if he wanted to discuss something with him.
“Is anything the matter, David?”
Kerke looked like he was struggling to say something.
“This isn’t your style, David,” Tang En said, feeling odd. “You’ve always been very straightforward.”
“Uh… I’m a little worried about Anelka. Would he disrupt the mood of the team? You know, our team’s atmosphere has always been pretty good…”
Tang En startedughing. “Isn’t it a little toote to be worrying about that? Now that he’s a member of Forest, there’s no point worrying. If not… Should we put him in the reserve?”
Kerke’s head shook like a pellet drum. “No way. If we do that, we’ll beughing stocks. Who on earth would put a yer costing eight million pounds onto the reserve team?”
“So.” Tang En shrugged. “Whether we want him or not, Anelka is here. We need to treat him just like any other First Team yer.”
The reasoning was understood easily enough by Assistant Manager Kerke. “I know… Should we speak to Anelka privately?”
Tang En looked at him oddly. “What about?”
“Uh… To tell him to take note of the unity in the locker room…”
“Don’t joke, David.” Tang Enughed again. “Telling someone with an entric personality, ‘I think you have a bad temper, and you need to change.’ Do you think he’ll listen?”
Kerke shook his head. “I guess not…”
“So, we’re not going to do anything. Remember what I said earlier. Just treat him like any other yer. That’ll do. We’ll treat him just as we treat the others. If he thinks he’s a huge star who won in the Champions League before and wants to throw his weight around here… very good.” Tang En nodded firmly. “I’m not afraid of wasting An’s money.”
“I thought you and Anelka had discussed this… During the press conference yesterday, the both of you looked so cheerful,” Kerke said with a shake of his head.
“How is that possible? I only gave him a call after the signing of the contract to wee him to Forest Team. Nothing else was said. And what was said during yesterday’s press conference was entirely arranged by those two brothers of his.”
It dawned on Kerke. “Their arrangements for these sorts of matters are always impable looking from the outside.”
“But, of course. Those two are the best at putting on a show. Transferring six times in six years; even if they didn’t know how to, they would have learned it by now,” Tang En remarked, sarcasm dripping off his words.
Resuming his normal tone as he turned to speak to Kerke, he said, “Anyway, David, just remember this. No matter what, don’t treat Anelka in any special way. You don’t have to worry about anything. After joining a new team, I believe he will behave himself for a while…”
Tang En was unaware of what had happened in Turkey. But, ording to what he had heard from An, the transfer this time was not nned by the two greedy agents. In fact, it was Anelka who had initiated it. However, Fenerbah?e S.K. was unwilling to let the forward who had only yed for half a season and cost seven million pounds go. So he privately contacted Nottingham Forest, who was desperately looking for a forward.
Perhaps the lofty French forward could not withstand the differences he felt after abruptly leaving the heart of the ser scene for such a remote ce; perhaps he was greatly disappointed by the atmosphere in the Turkish Leagues; perhaps he felt that he had not yet fallen to the point of ying there; or perhaps he even hoped to earn more money through his return to the center stage of ser… Regardless, he hoped to gain something.
That was good; Tang En did not need anyone who had no desire for glory, victory, or money. He was not afraid of someone who was hard to tame, he was afraid of someone without the will.
No matter how Anelka was as a person or what nasty ploys the two brothers behind him were cooking up, so long as he was useful to the team, Tang En would use him.
But, if you want to pull any tricks… I’m sorry to say, the eight million did note from my pocket. I would not feel any pain at all if I let this money go to waste.
“Let’s go, David. I think they should have arrived.”
It was Anelka’s first time participating in Forest’s training. As per the custom, Tang En would be introducing the new yer to his teammates. Even if the yer joining was a big, internationally-renowned star like Beckham, he still had to go with the procedure and make an introduction.
“Nics Anelka.”
Tang En motioned to the French forward standing beside him, saying, “Even though there are many rumors out there, I hope everyone will use their own eyes to see if he’s really a jerk.”
The crowdughed lightly.
“From today onward, he’s a member of Forest.” Tang En gave Anelka’s back a pat.
“Go on. They’re all great to mingle with.”
Anelka smiled somewhat bashfully, walked towards the team, and stood to the side.
Tang En waited for the attention on Anelka to fade before pping his hands, indicating that he wanted to say something else. “Alright, everyone. A new season has started again. Champions, victory, and a trove of prize money… That all awaits us. There’s nothing more exciting! After the rest you’ve had, I’m sure everyone’s feet have begun to itch, hoping to have a match with some team to scratch them, right?”
The Forest yers who had followed Tang En through thest season, and those from the season before thest, all let out knowingughter.
“You’re right, Boss!”
Tang En waved a hand. “Of course, the opponents in your warm-up matches can’t rouse your spirits at all; and not mine either. I’d like to have real fights, real opponents!” He balled his hands into fists. “It’s meaningless to win apetition thates without a prize. If we want to win, we’ve got to win the Premier League, win the Champions League! Win the toughestpetition and beat the most difficult opponents! Last season, we made those who looked down on us pay a painful price. Think about Chelsea, Manchester United, Everton, and Liverpool. Think about all those who we have beaten. And then think again about the faces of those who took us lightly at the end of the season. How do you guys feel?”
“It feels awesome!”
“Oh yeah!”
“Good. Let’s continue that this season!”
Tang En had barely finished his sentence when whistles,ughter, and pping spilled over one another. He did not stop them from going wild but instead stood by with an indulgent smile as he watched them.
※※※
After bringing in Anelka, Tang En seriously re-examined the members of the team and discovered that there was no further need for them to procure more yers despite having gained the qualifications for the Champions League. His ns to build up the team culminated from when he had first taken over until this moment. Every yer was slowly bought over ording to how he wanted it. Forest did not need to crazily wipe out the entire transfer market, buying seven or eight yers at a go while letting go of the ones they had like they did some summers ago.
Nottingham Forest no longer needed such a huge change of blood on the team. The team now had a reasonable age variation and adequate allocation of yers; there were no wastefully hoarded yers.
In other words, the Forest Team no longer needed to continue their search on the transfer market. The formation of Tang En’s football team had essentially been confirmed.