Chapter 36: Head coach vs. Head coach (Part 1)

The second leg of the League One playoff semifinals between Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest has been in the second minute, and the score on the field has not changed at all.

Despite the appreciative fighting spirit of the Forests, Sheffield United head coach Neil`warnock was obviously prepared for a long time.

Tang En is studying other people's teams, and they are also studying his teams.

Malone Haierwood was given the focus of Sheffield United defenders. Philip Jagielka, who was originally playing in a defensive midfielder, was specially placed in the central defender by head coach Wolnock in this game, with only one purpose - to defend the silver boot scorer of the League One this season.

Although Jakinika is only twenty years old, he has already played in a complete League One. He has become the core of the team's midfield defense. He is versatile and can play anywhere on the defense line.

Tang En recognizes this person. Although he rarely pays attention to the games of weak teams when watching the Premier League, he still strives to watch every game of strong teams.

In the last round of Premier League matches in 2006, Arsenal, under Wenger, lost 0:1 to Sheffield United in the Premier League at that time. In the last 31 minutes of the game, the person who guarded the goal for the team was the Phil Jakilka in front of him.

That game may have been the game where the goalkeeper had been the longest-time goalkeeper. Tang En also remembered this somewhat difficult-to-mouthed name.

Now that I see him active on the central defender line here, blocking Haierwood's attack again and again, Tang En is not only lamenting that he has encountered such a difficult opponent, what else can he say?

Another person who gave Done a headache is Sheffield United's main midfielder Michael Tunge (michael`tonge), a Manchester United apprentice three years ago, has grown into Sheffield United's midfield core, and all attacks revolve around him, passing, tackle, organizing offense, and even completing a fatal blow himself.

This season, he played forty-four times and scored six goals. But what he is best at is dribbling.

He and Jakilka are both members of the England national team under the age of 21.

The two of them are also the biggest contributors to Sheffield United's ability to enter the playoffs.

Of course, the person who made Don En find it hardest to deal with is not on the court, but Sheffield United head coach Neil Wolnock, who was sitting on the home team's coaching bench.

The 54-year-old man is a native of Sheffield, full of hair and rich experience. This old coach is also a straightforward and elegant person. He has a somewhat similar coaching style to Tang En, and he likes to stand on the sidelines to direct the game.

He occasionally came back to the coach's seat, and during the ninety-minute game, his endless swearing words could even overshadow the singing of 30,000 fans in the Baramore Lane stands.

Looking at Sheffield United's highly targeted tactics, Tang En knew that he had met a powerful opponent. It was no surprise that the team was able to lose to Sheffield United three times in a season. Even he lost two battles under this man.

Nottingham Forest's outstanding performance in the second half of the season was largely related to their main shooter Malone and Haierwood. Don also saw that Haierwood was in good condition, so he simply arranged tactics as the core of the offensive. Haierwood's skill was delicate.

His physical condition is also excellent. With him as the core, the opponent's defender often suffers, but he cannot stop him from scoring frequently.

Coupled with another extremely fast David Johnson, the pair became the most successful and sharp forward combination of the League One this season after the end of the season, and they scored a total of 46 goals.

You should know that the entire Nottingham Forest team has only scored 83 goals this season. Portsmouth is the team with the sharpest attack this season. They have scored 97 goals, while Nottingham Forest ranked second.

But now this pair of the most lethal forward team has lost its direction in Sheffield United's defense line and has completely lost its power.

But the opponent is very powerful. Tang En, who has been tempered for half a season of actual combat, is no longer a vegetarian. He always thinks he is a "natural coach". If he changes career and does other jobs, he will definitely do a miserable job, but he has a high talent as a coach.

Who says that only players need talent?

As mentioned earlier, the core of Sheffield United's entire team is their midfielder Michael Tangqi, and he launches almost 60% of the offense.

In this game, Donn did not send veterans Ian Jace and Gareth Williams, a pair who started most of the season, but instead activated a younger midfield combination.

Four midfielders are in parallel, from left to right, Andy Reed, Rich Smeka, Eugen Pope, and Brian Cash. In the middle, Donn did not set up an attacking forward, but two defensive forwards guarded the middle area of ​​the court.

That's the point - using Eugen Pope and Richie Smeka's defensive abilities to curb Sheffield's midfield activities, especially to jerk the midfield core Michael Tangchi, so he can't make any play.

The tactical arrangements of the two head coaches were very targeted. The result of this was that the game started for fifteen minutes and neither of them had a better chance. Most of the time they fought repeatedly near the midfield.

Pope and Smeka's defense made Tangchi and Michael Brown very uncomfortable and could not afford to organize an effective offense.

"I admit that Coach Done arranged two young men who rarely start in the league to make surprise first, and the effect was also very good. But the price was to sacrifice the Forest's own offense.

The two forwards were completely killed by the defensive formation of five defenders on the opponent. The midfielder was unable to organize the offensive locals, so they continued to fight like this... To be honest, I can't understand.

"Mark Laurenson commented on the Forests so far in this fifteen minutes. He shook his head and cooperated with Motson's commentary.

"Sheffield United's head coach Wolnock arranged the formation in this game with 541 and three central defenders, and he chose a tactic to be safe.

Of course he has reason to do this, after all, he scored a beautiful three-pointer away. The worst plan for this game is that he can win as long as he draws, no matter how much the score is.

But Coach Tang En can’t think so. At this time, he shouldn’t defend, but attack. Now that’s the case... he must be confused!"

“Mark, I can’t understand either.

"Motson did not agree with his partner's opinion, "But I think coach Done must have his ideas for this arrangement. I explained most of the games in half a season. He is the kind of coach who can make my eyes shine..."

Hansen laughed: "This is used to describe the player, John."

"There is no rule that cannot be used to describe the coach. Many of Tang En's performances surprised me. I hope this game can also let me see that scene."

Motterson just finished speaking, Forests' right young player Brian Cash made a beautiful wing break to force Sheffield United left-back Steve Yates to foul him, and Nottingham Forests won a free kick from the right frontcourt.

Seeing this scene, Tang En stood up from the coach's seat and walked to the sidelines. Then he just stood there, doing nothing and shouting nothing.

But the forest players on the court knew what this meant. They practiced the set piece tactics for a week and finally came in handy here!

Michael Dawson ran into the opponent's penalty area, Hagerd also left the backcourt, and the Forests pressed the entire backcourt, and the two defensive midfielders Smeka and Pope were dragged to the end.

Everyone who can head the ball is in front of Sheffield United's goal.

Tang En's intentions were obvious.

He was not afraid that Warnock would see it. Even if he could see it now, he could not make effective adjustments in time. This old man would never have thought that he would give up his regular offensive methods away from home and seek to use set pieces to solve the battle.

You can't imagine that I'll catch you off guard!

He glanced at Volnoke, who was standing on the sidelines, roaring with a smug smile on his face.

Old man, do you want your defenders to watch Dawson and Hagild? Very good, I can't ask for anything!

Because Ian Jace was not on the court, all the free kicks were handed over to Reed. He carefully set the ball and then looked at the penalty area.

As the head coach expected, the Sheffield United defenders focused on Dawson, Hagerd and Halewood. No one cared about the low-stature David Johnson. He was too short and could hardly be found in the penalty area with many people. It took a lot of effort to see the shadow of this teammate through the cracks.

Michael Dawson, who is 1.91 meters tall, Hagerd, who is 1.88 meters tall, and Haierwood, who is 1.86 meters tall, is the best cover.

Reed drove the ball into the penalty area, but he surprised everyone Sheffield United players. He did not drive a high ball to find Dawsons' heads, but a half-high ball, flat and fast!

In the astonished eyes of everyone, David Johnson suddenly rushed out of the crowd and rushed forward! At the moment when the running route and the ball's flight trajectory overlapped, he shook his head and pushed the ball towards the near corner of the goal!

Sheffield United goalkeeper Paddy`kenny suddenly attacked the goal in such a close situation, and there was no time to react, so the football flew into the goal against the post!

Standing on the sidelines, Don En raised his arms to celebrate the goal, and he did not forget to look at the next door. But Volnoke did not seem too frustrated, he just turned around and walked back to the coach's seat.
Chapter completed!