Chapter 137: A decisive battle involving too many things

Sunderland vs Preston! The competition between the Premier League relegation team last season and the Premier League upgrade team last season!

Last season, the difference between these two teams was still two levels, but now they are competing for the last place to advance to the Premier League at Wembley Stadium!

Preston defeated Charlton four-to-one in two rounds to advance to the final, and Sunderland's performance was not bad. They defeated Sheffield United in two rounds by three-to-one. The difference is that Preston won the final victory in the second round at home, while Sunderland defeated his opponent 1-0 away in the first round, and then won another 2-to-1 victory at home, and obtained a pass to Wembley Stadium without any blood!

On one side is the biggest dark horse in the League One this season, Preston, who eliminated Manchester United in the League Cup, and on the other side is Sunderland, the only one among the three Premier League relegation teams who did not get a direct promotion seat. Preston wants to be bad to the end, while Sunderland wants to maintain the honor of the former Premier League team. There will definitely be a battle between the two!

Preston has one of the best right-hand combinations in the English League One. The pair contributed two direct assists and one goal in the last game, and unexpectedly dominated that game. They also have a trident with a combined goal of nearly 60. Tiger has scored twenty-five league goals in the league, while Gott and Nogan have scored more than fifteen goals, making them the most powerful trident in the League One. Sunderland has more stars. Two central defenders Melville and Paul are both Premier League-level central defenders. Michael Gray and Wardle on both wings are also in the Premier League.

They are also extremely outstanding wing players. More importantly, they have a forward line that is not inferior to Premier League teams. Irish center Quinn is the leading header expert in the entire England court, and the new England striker Kevin Phillips has shown his terrifying scoring ability. His total number of goals at Watford in the first three seasons was only 24, and he scored 29 goals this season, making him the player with the most goals in the English League One this season. The forty-three goals he and Quinn scored together are also the most firepower striker combination in the All-English League!

From the composition of Sunderland's personnel, we can see that they have outstanding strength in all three lines. In the league, Preston played against them in both games, and was tied by the opponent one-to-one at home, and relied on Tiger's last-minute goal to tie the opponent 2-2. Sunderland's offense is quite outstanding, but the defense is not stable enough and the oppressive style of play make their performance not stable enough. This opponent is much harder than Charlton.

Their head coach Pet Reed performed neither humble nor arrogantly in an interview: "Preston's offense is excellent, but our offense is also quite excellent. Offense is the greatest guarantee for our current results. Even in the Premier League, we use fierce attacks to gain the power to survive. So no matter what the situation is, we will use offense to prove our ability and value! I really want to see whether Preston's frontcourt Trident's offensive firepower is stronger or our overall offense can score more goals!"

Moyes' response was also very tough: "I have a lot of experience in defending the long pass and rushing of the two wings, but I doubt whether Sunderland has the ability to defend our ground attack!"

Before this game, the Premier League had come to an end. Wenger, who coached a Premier League season for the first time, led Arsenal to complete an epic reversal in the league. They were once nine points behind Manchester United in the league, but the frontal competition in the second round of the league became a turning point. At Old Trafford, a wonderful goal by Dutch flyer Orvemas helped Arsenal defeat Manchester United 1-0 away. After winning this battle of Kings Mountain, Arsenal won all the way. They had already played three games less and firmly grasped this opportunity. In addition, Manchester United was tied by Newcastle and Liverpool respectively. Arsenal gained a seven-point advantage with two rounds left in the league. Although they lost the last two rounds of the league, they still won the league championship with one point. Manchester United's dream of three consecutive championships was ruthlessly shattered again.

With the Premier League over and the England national team not yet announced the final list, the final of the English League One play-off has attracted the attention of fans across England!

The words of Reed and Moyes gave this game another meaning!

That is the battle between England's traditional two-wing flying tactics and the emerging former waist-centered tactics to organize offensives!

The two wings fly together and pass the ball is of course the most iconic traditional tactic of English football. However, in the European Cup two years ago, Venables, whose character and coaching ability were inversely proportional to England's sexiest offensive football. In the past, Gasco, England played a mercury-like offensive offensive football because of the core of the lumbar team. The Netherlands, which swept all the attacks and defends four to one in the group stage, was its peak work. Although he eventually lost to the more tenacious German in the penalty shootout, the playing style of the English national team left a very beautiful impression in the minds of many English fans.

Therefore, such ground offensive football teams have also begun to appear in Premier League teams. Arsenal, who won the championship this season, is one. Although he still has the shadow of his predecessor Graham, Wenger has successfully made this team attack more ground instead of letting the ball fly around in the air. The final championship is also considered to be a huge victory for continental European football on the British Isles.

For example, after Barnes grew old, players like Redknapp McManaman, who gradually began to lead Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle, who have always played gorgeous offensive football, and Chelsea led by Gullit, who claimed to play "sexy football"... They have all shown some different things in the Premier League, which has also made the Premier League more diverse.

With such a special meaning, this League One playoff final held at Wembley Stadium on May 20 will undoubtedly receive more attention!

"Tomorrow is the final of the playoffs. How are you preparing?" Kelly's sweet voice came from the other end of the phone, making people drink mellow wine.

"How else can I prepare? Now I feel like I can do anything on the court." Tiger replied with a smile.

"The weather forecast means it will rain...will this affect your performance?"

Feeling the concern in Kelly's words, Tiger felt that his mood had improved: "No problem... The drainage system of Wembley Stadium is said to be very good, and I have played football on the rainy ground again and again, so it will not have much impact on my performance. But you, remember to bring a raincoat when you go to watch the game tomorrow, so don't get wet and catch a cold."

"Hehe, that's for sure. I still want to watch you win... By the way, you are in London now and you can't come out to accompany me, but it doesn't matter. After the game is over tomorrow, we will come out to celebrate together!"

"That's fine." Tiger laughed: "After the game tomorrow, we will have a grand celebration at the Langham Hotel in London. At that time, I want to take you with me, okay?"

"No problem, after the game is over tomorrow, I will wait for your call." Kelly's voice suddenly became cheerful.

After chatting for a few more words, when Kelly was about to hang up the phone, he suddenly said: "It would be great if you played football in London..."

After saying this insane sentence, Kelly hung up the phone.

After watching the newly bought mobile phone in his hand for a long time, Tiger slowly put down his phone.

Since that night, Tiger didn't know what relationship he and Kelly were. The two were very far apart. London was in the south of the UK and Preston was in the northwest of the UK, which was far apart. However, after that, Tiger often chatted with Kelly on the phone. The two often met in London in the next few games. After meeting, they also seemed very intimate, but they did not confirm their relationship. Now, what Kelly meant is to make sure?

After confirming it, there seems to be nothing wrong with Kelly, she is beautiful and generous, and she can take it out even if she takes it out. Although she is a model, she is quite self-disciplined. Otherwise, she wouldn't have to find someone to accompany her to a party in the modeling circle at that time... Even if her parents think it's not suitable to find a girlfriend in the entertainment industry, they are not talking about marriage now...

"Forget it, let's wait tomorrow." Tiger shook his head and threw this undeserved emotion out of his mind. Tomorrow's game is very important, and it can even be said to be related to whether the success of this season is. For Tiger himself, it is more related to whether the tasks of this season can be completed and whether his life can be saved - even if he transfers to a Premier League team after the end of the season, it will be no problem, but Tiger still hopes to lead Preston to upgrade. This way, it is obviously more difficult to become a Premier League player than to transfer to a Premier League team if he fails to advance, and he should receive more rewards.

Sunderland is a difficult opponent, but Tiger doesn't want to have any fear.

Win this game! Then take Kelly to the team's celebration party - this is decided...

Tiger thought shamelessly.

Before the end of each season, Wembley will be a stage for a feast about football. The FA Cup final and the English League One play-off final are enough to attract countless attention. After this game, there will be a FA Cup final, against both sides, the new Premier League champion Arsenal and the veteran strong team Newcastle. That game will also be the final match of the England stadium this season.

If the lawn is not in good condition, it will obviously be more beneficial to Sunderland, who flew both wings. Gray and Wardle are both excellent wingers, and Quinn's heading ability is also outstanding. With the cross from both wings and the cover of Quinn, Phillips' scoring ability can be better demonstrated. On the contrary, no one has the bottom of whether the slippery lawn will affect Tiger's technical performance.

During the warm-up, Tiger observed the lawn in detail. He found that Wembley's drainage system was really good. There was no water accumulation on the lawn, but it would definitely have an impact after raining for so long. When the lawn was trampled on by countless nail shoes, it might become mud.

Thinking of this, Tiger breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, after receiving a call from Kelly yesterday, she specially selected a mud pond-like lawn in the main god space for more than two hours of training, which should be helpful.

No matter what, you must win this game! You must defeat this opponent and become a Premier League player with dignity!

Just as the Preston players were about to finish their warm-up, a commotion suddenly came from the stands.

Although this game has attracted countless attention, not many big shots actually attended. After all, this is just a playoff final in the League One, which is much worse than the importance of the FA Cup final.

However, at this time, the commotion in the stands only means one thing - that is, there is a big shot that makes the fans turmoil - and it is not a big shot in politics. Obviously, members of the royal family will not come to watch this game, and only those who come may be big shots in the football industry!

Many Preston players stretched their necks and watched the stands, and soon they got the answer.

"Tiger, who did you think you are watching the game?" Barrett ran to Tiger, who was still training, and said mysteriously.

"I don't know." Tiger shook his head simply and said without interest.

But Barrett knew that the name was said, Tiger would be interested: "Tell you, he is the head coach of the national team, Mr. Glenn Hoddle!"

Sure enough, after the name was reported, Tiger, who had been very calm, changed color and then raised his head!

The head coach of the national team came to see this game, and it was on the eve of the upcoming formation of the national team. There was only one possibility, that was, to inspect the players!

"The best in our team is the captain, you, Riddle and Tagat. Riddle is a Scot, and Tagat is a Northern Irelander. Of course, it is not the scope of his investigation. Captain, he is very powerful, but there are more good strikers in the national team, Hiller, Sheringham, and the two young men from Liverpool, there will be no position for him. Of course, I hope he is here to inspect me, but it is impossible to think with his knees. Then there is only one possibility. He is here to inspect you!"

"Since that's the case, I have to perform well." Tiger thought so in his heart. Although there are many English players in the two teams, it is only these people worthy of inspection. Preston is himself. Sunderland is nothing more than the forward Phillips with outstanding performance. Quinn is an Irish. Melville, a younger among the two central defenders, is a Welsh. Paul is already thirty-one and will not be the subject of inspection. The two full-backs Riverdel is already thirty-six years old, and only the left forward Grey is worth inspection.

I, Gray, Phillips, and Hoddle came, just to investigate these three people.
Chapter completed!