Chapter 29: The game is rough

Mr. Steve Kopel has been looking forward to such a day since the team was promoted to the Super League.

Two years later, he can finally fight Tang En again.

In the summer of 2004, Donn's Nottingham Forest broke out from the cruel First Division (now the English Championship), returned to the long-lost Premier League, and since then embarked on a broad road.

Tony Donn and Nottingham Forest became famous all over the world.

And at this time, what is Kopel doing? He is still lying on firewood and tasting gall, transforming the team, and aiming to advance to the Super League.

Two seasons have passed, Kopel has transformed Reading into a tougher and tougher team, and such a team is more adaptable to fighting in the English Championship. The teams are united and strive to advance to the Super League.

Finally, in the summer of 2006, the dream came true, and Reading entered the Premier League!

Reading players are all tall and big, and Kopel has taken this advantage to the extreme. His team treats every game as if they are a war.

Maybe Kopel won't admit it, but his transformation was indeed influenced by Tony Donn.

While Tang En was afraid that the Reading style was too rough now, did he ever think that this might be caused by him? The impact he had brought to the world after his time travel, as he became active, it was like silk threads, more and more, and then entangled with each other, becoming more and more deeply rooted.

Tang found that Tang En had been frowning slightly since he boarded the bus in the hotel.

"What's your concern?" he asked.

Tang En looked at his partner. He did have his own worries, but he couldn't tell anyone about such worries. "I'm considering a game with Arsenal." Tang En forced a smile.

"Look at the opponent in front of you first, Reading is difficult to deal with."

This happened to talk about Tang En's thoughts, and he was stunned for a moment.

"I think you're a little underestimating the enemy, Tony?"

The team's starting roster has not been announced to the public. But the coaches already know. In this game, Tang En rotated in several positions.

Main goalkeeper Van der Sar was substituted, Paul Gillard won the starter, Ribery was substituted, and Petrov came on. Bentner replaced Van Nystruey, and Anelka also started, with no chance to play.

"Rotation is normal for the current Forest team." Tang En shrugged.

"But why did you, who never rotate the main goalkeeper, start this time with Paul?"

This kid's eyes were so vicious. Tang En sighed in his heart. But he said on his lips: "Didn't you complain that the substitute goalkeeper has too few opportunities to play, it is difficult to maintain his condition, and his level cannot be improved? Now the opportunity is here."

This answer was completely unscathed. Tang couldn't find any questions, but he was still a little strange in his heart. He stopped talking.

"Don't worry, Don." Tang En comforted, "Kopel and I played against each other many times in the First Division, and I know him and his team. This game..."

The scene of Cech and Kudicini's unconsciousness suddenly flashed through Don't mind, and his words paused.

“…There won’t be any problem.”

"I'm glad we can return to this stadium. Facing this opponent. In the English Championship, we played against them many times, but never won. The situation is different now, this is our opportunity."

In front of his players, Kopel never hides his "unique interest" in Nottingham Forest. So everyone on the team knows how much the head coach looks forward to the arrival of this game.

"Nottingham Forest is now a strong team. That guy Don said before the season that their goal is to win the Champions League this season. They have a big goal and are no longer willing to roll in the mud with a team like us.

So, in this game we want them to relive their old dreams! Fulham has set a good example. But I don’t think they are doing it thoroughly enough. This game…with our usual style!”

He didn't say the following words, but everyone knows what it means. Reading doesn't care about technical statistics such as fouls. As long as he can kick the opponent so hard that he can't find the north, he can pay any price. Victory is the only rule in this world.

At the same time, Don Eun was in the locker room, reminding the players to pay attention to the opponent's rough fouls and telling them that there is no need to fight for some balls. Don't take risks.

His words caused a burst of laughter in the locker room.

"Boss, have you gone for surgery?" Ribery asked with a smile.

"Ah?" Tang En didn't understand what he meant.

"You always scold us women, why do I think you are even more sissy today?"

As soon as Ribery finished speaking, everyone laughed.

This joke usually takes over, Tang En smiled. Today, Tang En can’t laugh no matter what.

He stared at Ribery for a while, and he kept smiling.

But he didn't say anything to Ribery, he just lowered his head and continued to analyze the Reading team's tactics for everyone.

The relaxed atmosphere in the locker room suddenly became a little awkward.

Tang looked at Tang En quietly beside him.

In the end, Tang En did not remind everyone to pay attention to the other party's rough fouls and small moves. He seemed to have accepted Ribery's opinion.

The game time is approaching. Tang En also ended the pre-match arrangement. Then he did not give any inspiring speeches. He just waved his hand and let everyone go out.

Substitute goalkeeper Paul Gerrard seemed very excited about starting. He didn't forget to reach out and pat the top of the door frame when he went out.

Tang En looked at him behind his back, but didn't know what to do. He hoped that all his worries would be false alarms and the result of his random thoughts.

"Nottingham Forest and Reading, Tony Donn and Steve Kopel, we've always met." The commentator introduced the situation of both sides to the audience, "There will be many highlights in this game... there will definitely be!"

Tang En sat in the coach's seat and quietly waited for the game to begin.

This is not very consistent with his habits, and he rarely has such quiet times.

Five minutes into the game, Tang En jumped out of his seat. He finally became active again.

Nottingham Forest scored a goal.

Just as the media analyzed before the game, Don't use the rotation system in this game in a big way is not completely underestimating the enemy, but nottingham Forest and Reading are far from each other. Before facing his old opponent Arsenal, arranging rotation is also the best way to avoid players' exhaustion and injury.

"Nicolas Anelka!" The goalkeeper's name was called out loud during the live broadcast. This name has not been heard for a while for the Forests' home fans. After the new season, Anelka sat on the bench.

Not to mention scoring goals, there is no playing time.

Unexpectedly, I started for the first time and scored a goal for the team in five minutes.

Don Eun jumped up and applauded, sat down again, not as excited as before. But at this time he was not worried about the rough Reading, but just didn't want Anelka to be too proud.

"Anelka." The assistant coach next to him shook his head and sighed, "What a pity for this strength..."

Donn snorted, Chris Lak said nothing. He turned his eyes back onto the court. Anelka was still celebrating the goal, and he was a little overly excited. It seemed that he could score in front of Donn, which made him feel relieved.

The situation is different, Anelka. No matter how good you perform in front of me now, don’t think about any chance.

After the Forest team scored, Kopel's face changed instantly. He had a lot of hope for this game, but he was hit by a blow five minutes into the game.

Before the game, I told them that everyone should see the opponent, and if it is time to make a foul, you should be fouled. You're welcome.

But look at how he lost the ball just now? After Anelka forced his breakthrough with speed, none of his own fouls! He just watched him break into the penalty area and then scored!

These bastard boys!

He stood up from his seat.

"Songke!" He shouted loudly at the name of the team's central defender. In fact, these words were shouted to all Reading players, "Look at what you are doing? Why did the opponent score so easily? Forgot what I told you before the game? Do you still want to win!"

After Koper yelled like this, Reading woke up in a dream. Nottingham Forest players soon found that it was not so easy for them to get the ball. Almost as soon as their feet touched the ball, the opponent rushed up fiercely. He used both hands and feet to break the ball.

What made the Forest players even more dissatisfied was that the referee Riley on duty ignored Reading's approach, and some of them pushed the Forest players from behind, thus intercepting the ball and successfully stealing them were acquiesced by the referee.

This made the Forest players particularly angry. The booed the referee Riley many times in the stands.

Tang En sat on the coach's seat, and it seemed normal for him to play like this. After all, kicking and kicking the head are completely different concepts.

However, he clearly had a sneer on his face, and this smile was given to the referee Riley on duty.

"UoF has no slander for us, are we covered in our own sanity?" he murmured to himself.

The next game officially entered the "hand-to-hand combat stage". Reading's goal was aroused by the accusation of the ball. Nottingham Forest was angered by their rough fouls, and both sides were a little too big.

You push me. I push you, it’s normal physical contact in this game.

Riley's weakness caused Reading to move more and more. At this time, the Forest players remembered that they had warned them to be careful of their rude fouls. Then they thought that the next round of the league would be the highlight of Arsenal, and no one wanted to lose this opportunity to show up in important games.

Suddenly, the Forest team fought a little.

Reading took advantage of the situation to attack the heart of the Forest team, hoping to equalize the score before the end of the first half.

If Sidwell had a good memory, he wouldn't have taken the ball to force a breakthrough in the middle. But it doesn't matter, his memory will soon be better.

Reading's midfielder, Steve Sidwell, a member of the English Under-21 national team, decided to go to the middle after receiving a pass from his companion. After all, this is the route that can most threaten the opponent's goal and is also the most direct.

The most direct thing is the most effective!

Sidwell planned to break through the middle lane. It seemed that he had forgotten someone. This attitude made that person a little unhappy.

Steve Sidwell confirmed that he had broken through the front middle lane without Forest players, but just after he knocked the football out, a red figure suddenly flashed out and quickly turned around and cut in!

When the red figure turned his back to him, he finally saw clearly—13, wood.

Sidwell, who had just accelerated, couldn't stop the car and hit him head-on. He felt that Wood didn't even shake. He separated him from the football.

At this moment, Sidwell's memory suddenly improved. He remembered that in the game with the Forest two years ago, this kid suffered a great loss. But at that time, this kid was still wearing No. 33...

Wood, George Wood. How did I forget the hottest defensive midfielder in England?

Sidwell couldn't even regret it, and the ball was lost.

"George Wood! Beautiful position! When facing George Wood, he broke through the middle? Sidwell was really confused..."

There was finally no booing at the referee in the stands, and the home team fans gave all the enthusiastic applause to their captain.
To be continued...