song of the saints

Chapter 16 The dream shines into reality
On August 8, the third round of the Premier League played two games first. Manchester City and Chelsea, who also played away games, had different results.Sun Jihai, who ushered in the first start, did not help Manchester City win the away game, and they lost 24-0 to Birmingham.In another game, Chelsea easily won Crystal Palace 1-2 away, temporarily ranking first in the standings.

Bolton Club, founded in 1874.One of the seven founders of the English Football League.Apart from winning the FA Cup four times in Bolton's history, there is no other prominent history.Chen Zhun knows their head coach Allardyce, a typical British coach who advocates long passes and muscularism.

At 8:25 on August 19th, St. Mary's Stadium.The game between Southampton and Bolton has already started.There are a few small surprises in Southampton's starting lineup today. Their lineup today is goalkeeper Niemi. Today's defense Chen Zhun rotated two full-backs and replaced them with younger Van Damme and Baird.The central defenders are still Kerr Svensson and Lund Kwan.The midfield is still the familiar quartet of David Prutton, Anders Svensson, John Delap and Fabrice Fernandez.The striker was replaced by the partner of Crouch and Pajas.The mobility and impact of this lineup are stronger.

Chen Zhun looked at Bolton's starting lineup. He only knew a few people, and the goalkeeper was Finn Jussi Jaskelenin.He and Southampton's goalkeeper Niemi are also the main force and substitute in the national team.The most famous player in Bolton's team is undoubtedly their captain, the Nigerian bird Jejay Okocha.Okocha is the mainstay of Bolton. The success of relegation last season was thanks to Okocha's performance.Chen Zhun also saw a familiar figure on the bench, Real Madrid legend Fernando Hierro.He inquired with Reid, and it turned out that Hierro had joined Bolton on a free transfer last month.Chen Zhun looked at the 36-year-old Hierro sitting there, his eyes were full of his figure in Real Madrid, the years passed, the hero was waning, and there would be a day when he would retire.At this time, Chen Zhun was thinking about Hierro. He remembered that Hierro did not go to Real Madrid immediately after retiring, but went to the Spanish Football Association to become the sports director.Chen Zhun hopes to take this opportunity to recruit Hierro to Southampton as a defensive coach.

After the start of the game, the two teams were evenly matched and offensive to each other.Under the leadership of captain Okocha, Bolton also created some long-range shots, while Southampton insisted on quick counterattacks while defending, but Pajas fell into the offside trap designed by Bolton again and again.Chen Zhun had already prepared for this situation, and he still encouraged Pajas to continue to do so on the sidelines. If one of the ten offside attempts failed, then this chance would be a fatal blow.The continuous off-the-ball movement of the three Southampton frontcourts made Bolton's players exhausted, and the frontcourt offense could only rely on Okocha to organize.Chen Zhun's defensive tactic against Okocha is zone defense, blocking his forward direction and blocking his passing direction, so that he can only dribble the ball to the end by himself, and then is cut off.This completely cut off the fulcrum of Bolton's offensive organization in the frontcourt.This targeted defense converted to Southampton's advantage on the field.

In the 25th minute of the game, the Southampton team stole the lost Okocha again in their own half, and Southampton immediately launched a counterattack after the steal.Swensen passed to Fernandes on the right, and Fernandes dribbled the ball into the center. His speed across the St. Mary's Stadium turf was like lightning, and Bolton's midfielder was left behind by him. He seemed unstoppable.Fernandez didn't take credit for it, and when he saw two players coming towards him, his light through ball passed between them.One-handed! ! !Pajas! ! !Pajas also inherited Fernandez's speed, and Pajas galloped on his own grassland like a wild horse.It only has blue sky and white clouds in its eyes.The fans at the scene held their breath, expecting the goal to happen.Pajas faced the goalkeeper Jass Kleinen, the experienced Jass Kleinen blocked Pajas' shot angle, Pajas shot! !Pajas' shot is blocked by Jask Kleinin! !still have a chance! !The ball fell under Pajas' right foot again, and Pajas swung his right foot and shot again! !The ball rolled into the goal from the crotch of Jasz Kleinin! !Lucky goal!Perfect hit!
The DJ at the scene also mobilized the atmosphere in the venue in real time, and the DJ shouted Marian Pajas!St Mary's fans respond to GOAL!The scene is passionate and inspiring.

Three-legged pass to complete the counterattack.For a few seconds, Bolton's players couldn't react in time, and Bolton coach Allardyce was shocked.Chen Zhun perfectly integrated the counterattack tactics of the later Real Madrid into the Southampton team.Chen Zhun also allowed the Premier League to witness Southampton's lightning-fast counterattack for the first time.

In the following games, the Southampton team, who played at home, became more and more courageous.In stoppage time in the first half, Crouch also broke his fast. He received a cross from Pluton from the left and scored a header.At the beginning of the second half, Bolton scored a long shot from Okocha. This goal once gave Bolton's players a glimmer of hope.But the steady and steady Southampton team started their familiar defensive counterattack tactics and kept the score until the end of the game.Southampton beat Bolton 2-1 at home.

Chen Zhun himself did not expect to be able to lead the Southampton team to such a good result.He also knows that now is not the time to be proud, the war has just begun, and they will go to Stamford Bridge to challenge the mighty Chelsea in the third round of the Premier League three days later.That's going to be a tough game.

The chairman's office, Rupert Lowe and news director Jan Sen also just watched the game.

Rupert Lowe said excitedly to Jansen: "See, this is the real coach of Southampton. What do you think, man?"

Yang Sen echoed: "It is true that he has given Southampton a new look. Chairman, what do you mean?"

"Yes, David is the real head coach, no, there is also a manager." Rupert Lowe seemed a little too excited.He also thought of Southampton's poor signings in the past few years, and fired the unlucky technical director of the team in a fit of anger. He decided to make David Winston the real owner of the Staplewood training base.

Yang Sen tentatively asked, "Chairman, is there still a press conference?"

Rupert Rowe shook his head and said, "Don't open it, don't affect the morale of the team." This is well said. Rupert Rowe was actually afraid of hitting himself in the face. He didn't put David in the first place. - Winston was regarded as the savior, but the development of the current situation is far beyond the control of Rupert Lowe. Now David Winston is appointed as the official head coach to bring this matter to the past, and then hold a press conference. Do you want to slap your face live?

After the game, Chen Zhun, who was still on the team bus, suddenly received a call from chairman Rupert Lowe.Chairman Rupert Lowe suddenly called to inform the board of directors that he had decided to officially appoint him as the official head coach of Southampton, the contract remained unchanged, and told Chen Zhun that he had the power of general manager.When Chen Zhun heard the news, he didn't expect it to come so quickly. He had thought about it day and night, but now that it's here, he doesn't feel any joy.Chen Zhun hung up the phone, looking at the charming moonlight outside the car window, thoughtful.

(End of this chapter)