Chapter 100: Tang En And Edward Part 2
Chapter 100: Tang En And Edward Part 2
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Tang En looked down at her from above. Through the neckline of the light yellow shirt, he was able to see clearly the Mariana Trench that was inside. "It's alright. I think Edward must be busy with something. In addition, I also have my own things that I have to do. Goodbye, Ms. Barbara." Waving his hand, Tang En turned and left.
His original bad mood had been uplifted from the mere sight of seeing this "female robot's" other side. No, she was no robot at all.
Lucy tilted her head as she looked at Tang En's back, as if she was deep in her thoughts.
Kerslake, who was supervising the training field from the side, heard sounds of footsteps going past him. He felt that something was amiss, but he did not pay much heed to it. Kerslake only asked casually, "You're back so quickly, Tony? Or did you leave something behind? Or you suddenly dared not meet that Yankee?"
"Are you referring to me, Mr. Kerslake?"
"Wa!" Kerslake jumped up in fright. After recovering, he discovered that the person standing beside him was not Tony Twain, but the chairman of the football club and the person who he had just called a "Yankee," Edward Doughty.
The young chairman of Nottingham Forest was dressed very casually. He wore a yellow jacket over his green sweater, light-blue jeans, and white sports shoes. He was completely different compared to that father of his who, no matter the occasion, always wore a neat suit and combed his hair neatly before appearing in front of other people. Edward appeared to be extremely energetic, but completely unlike the chairman of a traditional English football club.
"Mr. Chairman. You... Why are you here?" Kerslake was so shocked that he was tongue-tied, as Doughty clearly overheard Kerslake calling him a Yankee.
"I heard that you defeated Arsenal two days ago, so I came over to congratulate you all. I can't do that?" Unlike his father, Edward did not look into the other party's eyes when he spoke. Instead, he tended to look around.
"Of course you can. But in actual fact, we only defeated the youth team of Arsenal. It's nothing much, actually."
Doughty coughed twice before saying, "No matter the case, you should be rewarded for winning. Congratulations, Mr. Kerslake, you did a great job." Edward extended his hand to shake the hand of the assistant manager of the youth team, David Kerslake.
"Thank you for your praise, Mr. Chairman. But the main bulk of the credit should go to Manager Twain."
Edward nodded his head and asked, "Where is Tony?"
"Hmm? You didn't see him on your way here?" Kerslake felt that it was strange. Edward was even more puzzled than him.
"Oh? I didn't see him. In that case, he went to the first team?"
"He went to find you, Mr. Chairman."
"Ah..." Edward scratched his head. He had come to find Twain, but Twain had gone to find him instead. The two of them even missed each other on their way. He casted a look of boredom to the field, but soon had his attention completely stolen by one of the players on the field.
The players were currently undergoing Rondo training on the field. The training usually had four or five people forming a small circle, whereby the people in the circle would continuously pass the ball to one another. The only requirement for them was that they could only touch the ball once every pass, and there would be another player inside the circle in charge of snatching the ball. The snatcher could use any and all means, except fouls, to touch the ball. This type of training that seemed like a mini game could raise the player's proficiency in ball passing, and at the same time improve their teamwork. The training was also conducted in a small area at a fast pace, which was extremely similar to real match situations.
Due to his exceptional performance during the Saturday's match, Kerslake arranged for Wood to be the ball snatcher as a form of reward. The person, whose pass got touched by Wood, would not get to join the circle and snatch the ball. Instead, he would be required to run one lap around the training field as punishment.
Edward was not knowledgeable about football, and naturally, could not understand the meaning and purpose of such training. However, this did not stop him from noticing George Wood, who was snatching the ball in the middle of the circle. In a short five minutes' time, he had already made all five of the people in the outer circle change once—all of them had been made to run one lap around the field. His speed was extremely fast, regardless of it being when he was turning around, when he was sprinting, or when he was kicking the ball. It was almost as if he was already in front of the receiving player when the ball had just been passed, causing the teammate who was caught off-guard to let Wood successfully intercept the ball.
"Very impressive. His speed is fast and his actions are forceful! Just like a hunting dog who is familiar with the smell of the football ball." Edward exclaimed.
Kerslake followed Edward's eyes and looked over at Wood. Kerslake smiled "Are you talking about him? Mr. Chairman, George Wood is a genius that Tony Twain found from the streets! A defense genius!"
While they were talking, another person left the circle for his punishment. This person was Ross Gardner, the player with the best passing techniques on the team. He did not proceed to run his punishment lap, but instead ran directly to Kerslake and complained, "Manager, this is too unfair. The circle is too small. Before we even receive the ball, it's intercepted by Wood."
"Then do you have any better suggestions, Ross?" Kerslake did not scold Gardner who took things on his own accord, but instead directed a question back at him.
"Expand the circle, Manager."
"Until how big?"
Gardner turned his head around and looked at the rest of the people who were extremely busy with Wood, before saying to Kerslake, "A 15-meter radius circle."
"Oh no, this wouldn't meet the objectives of training all of you," Kerslake said as he shook his head.
"But… Manager." Gardner appeared as if he had something on his mind, but did not dare to say.
"Is anything else the matter, Ross?"
"Manager… Aside from Wood, the rest of us unanimously feel that your objective is not to train our passing, but instead to train Wood's defense."
Kerslake could no longer hold it in and burst out in laughter upon realizing that these kids were rather smart. That's right, that was his idea. "Alright, alright, expand the circle to a radius of 15 meters. But you still have to run your lap, Ross." Kerslake said as he winked at the disappointed Gardner.
Gardner lowered his head dejectedly and proceeded to do his lap. Edward, who overhead their conversation by the side, became even more intrigued by George Wood. Hence, he continued to stand there and observe for another 10 minutes.
Although the distance of the players' passes increased after the circle was expanded, their success rate increased as well. Those who were passing the ball were happy, but it took an immense toll on Wood. He was running inside the circle back and forth with all of his energy and was finally unable to keep up with the speed at which the ball was being passed. However, he was not disheartened by it, and continued running back and forth after the ball.
Kerslake, who was by the side of the field, was shaking his head instead. This lad still only knew how to make use of his physical fitness to chase after the ball, but how could a person outrun a ball that was being passed around by so many people? Kerslake took a bow at Edward, who was standing beside him, and said, "Sorry, Mr. Chairman…" He pointed to the field.
Edward knew what he was trying to say, so he nodded his head and replied, "Go get busy. I have to go back as well."
"Goodbye, Mr. Chairman. Perhaps you might be able to meet Tony on your way back."
"Haha, I hope so too. Goodbye, Manager Kerslake."
Looking at Kerslake who was striding over to the field after blowing the whistle to signal the pausing of the training, Edward turned around and left the training field. When he was quite some distance away, he could still hear Kerslake's shouting.
"Position! Position! How many times have I told you, George Wood! Don't just chase after the ball blindly, you got to judge you and your opponents' positions, before deciding your next move!"
Edward raised his head and looked at the bright, clear sky. At the same time, he listened to the chirping of the birds and the manager's energetic shouting, while he breathed in the fresh air that was accompanied with the fragrance of soil. Edward suddenly had the impulse to scream at the top of his lungs—this is the club that would soon belong to me, Edward Doughty, alone!