Chapter 581: Volume 5, Red, the Young People of Wilford
Tang En hadn't replied to him yet, and Tang En knew that waiting was not an option. Now the first-team coaching staff has not finished their vacation, and he can't do anything by himself.
He remembered the Forest Youth Team, and he hadn't been there for a long time. Although there will be reports on the youth team sent to his desk every once in a while, but reading the report data and going to the training ground to see real people is not the same concept.
If Allen and Evan's new stadium plan is implemented, then he really won't get much transfer money in the new season. If you want to compete for stars with other rich teams in the transfer market, without the backing of strong funds, you will appear to lack confidence. Tang En thought of the "Professor" Wenger who had tightened his belt to live in order to build the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal can supplement their squad with players from their strong academy system, why not Nottingham Forest? Nottingham Forest's youth training level is also among the best in England.
Maybe there won't be a second Bell and Wood, but it's always possible to have a few qualified rotation players, right?
With such thoughts in mind, Tang En went straight to the youth training base in the north of Wilford.
Unlike the first team, the youth team has already resumed training. In addition, football summer camps for schools are in full swing. Before he walked in, Tang En heard laughter and whistles coming from inside.
Wearing sunglasses, he quietly hid in the shade of a tree and observed quietly. He didn't want to go directly to see Ian Greenwood, the director of youth training. He decided to observe it by himself first, so as to have a bottom line in his heart.
There are many people around the five regular pitches of the youth training base, most of them are the parents of the children playing on the field, and some are scouts from other clubs.
Just like Southampton couldn't stop Twain from poaching Bell, Nottingham Forest couldn't stop scouts from other teams from coming here to poach corners.
The youth training base is very lively, you can't see such scenes during the season, because more children are scattered in training camps in various schools or other places. Those training camps are not big. There are only more than 50 children in each training camp, and eight coaches are in charge. These training camps do not belong to the regular youth army of the Forest team. Children who are usually interested in football can be accepted here. basic training. Then, for four days at the end of each month, Nottingham Forest will gather these children to Wilford for intensive training and competitions, select talented children from them, and sign apprenticeship contracts with them, so that they can officially enter the forest. Forest's gate.
It is summer now, and the children from each training camp, under the leadership of their respective coaches, return to Wilford to participate in the football summer camp. Play games together to test the results of a year of training. If he performed well, he might be spotted by professional scouts, or promoted to the regular Forest youth team, or...be seduced away by scouts from other teams.
The youngest of these children was six years old, and the oldest was eighteen years old. They competed in groups according to age. Although it was noisy, everything was in order. This is due to the role played by Nottingham Forest's decades-old management system.
Once Jenas, Michael Dawson and Andy Reid were the idols of these children, now their goals are George Wood and Gareth Bell who led the team to win the championship cup, and Wes. Morgan.
Twain looked at each age group, from one age group to another.
For the time being, he has not found a child who can make his eyes shine.
He was a little disappointed, and he didn't know whether it was because the youth training level of the Forest team was really inferior to that of Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea, or because he was used to watching world-class stars, and he didn't care about these immature children. Some look down upon?
After all, not everyone has the eye-catching talents of George Wood and Gareth Bale, and they can be easily found among a large group of people.
After turning around, Tang En decided to go to Ian Greenwood to see if he had any good candidates to recommend.
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Ian Greenwood is leading the daily training of Forest's U18 team, which is the closest thing to professional football. Some of them can be promoted to the forest team's first team if they are lucky. If they are unlucky, they can only go to other places to find a way out, or hang out in the reserve team.
Professional football is not as rosy as people think. They think that there are opportunities everywhere, and you can be a big star if you just kick a few feet.
In addition to possessing essential talents, success also requires more indispensable luck.
George Wood and Gareth Bell are the best products of the forest youth training system so far. Their success has attracted the attention of those big giants. It is not the first time that George Wood has been linked with transfer rumors. Gareth Bale has also been rumored to be wanted by Doga Club.
Their success has increased the pressure on Ian Greenwood.
The above two people were discovered and trained by Tony Twain in the position of youth director. Bell may have some relationship with Greenwood, and the more dazzling George Wood is completely Twain's direct descendant.
With these two people in front, people have very high expectations for the Forest youth team, looking forward to a blowout in the youth team and a continuous output of outstanding players. But it's actually not that easy...
Everyone hopes that "Busby's Children" and "Ferguson's Class of 92" will appear in their own hands, but such a large-scale concentration of talents in one age group requires too many comprehensive factors.
There are a few good seedlings in the U18 that Greenwood is leading now. If it were the Forest team four years ago, they would be directly promoted to the first team and can be the main force, but now...
To be honest, the training level of the forest youth team can't keep up with the development speed of the forest first team.
Twain's request for the club to increase investment in the youth training base was definitely not a one-time move, and he was well aware of the contradictions between them. It is impossible to let the first team slow down and wait for the youth team to catch up. The only way is to move forward and raise the level of the youth team to a very high level. It’s like the Chelsea where Abramovich stayed, spending money to build the most modern youth training camp, buying the best equipment, paying high salaries to dig around for the best youth team coaches, and then using the money to hire the best youth In the football world, they used money to dig outstanding young talents from all over the world. These things were put together, and Chelsea's level of information jumped into the top four, keeping pace with the old youth training teams such as Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool.
Ian Greenwood doesn't know that the club doesn't intend to increase investment in the youth team immediately. If he knew, how would he feel?
Some players from afar saw the head coach of the first team, Tony Twain, walking into the training ground. They were very happy to greet this legendary coach who had stepped out of the youth team.
The sound alarmed Greenwood. He turned his head and saw Tang En. He threw the whistle to his assistant and walked up quickly.
"Tony, you're a rare visitor," he joked.
When Tang En was the director of this training base, he was Tang En's coach. After Twain left, Twain's assistant coach, Chris Lark, was promoted to the head of the youth team, and he became Chris Lark's assistant coach. Later, Tang became the supervisor here by virtue of his excellent professional knowledge and teaching level, and he became Tang's assistant. In the end, Tang only stayed here for a short season before being dropped into the first team by Tang En and directly became his assistant coach. And the daughter-in-law who has survived for many years has become a mother-in-law, and Ian Greenwood can finally become the director of youth training.
"Let me take a look at the results of your work." As an old superior, Tang En did not speak so politely.
"I thought the first team only bought people from outside." Since it was an old relationship, Greenwood was not so polite when he spoke.
Tang En smiled with a crooked mouth: "How can there be such a good thing? You may not come if you are rich, and it may not be necessary for you if they are willing to come."
Greenwood looked at Tang En's face, and suddenly thought of a possibility. He tentatively asked, "Hey, Tony. Could it be that you have no money and want to come to me to find bargains?"
"Hey!" Tang En glared at him, "Look at what you are talking about? What are you talking about? They are cheap goods! They are the future hope of our team!" Tang En pointed at those young people who trained harder and more seriously Said solemnly. "However... money is really tight recently."
Greenwood laughed.
"It's so lively outside, you didn't find anything good?" He pointed to the distance. The U18 training is at the northernmost and innermost part of the base, which is much quieter than outside.
Tang En shook his head: "There are too many people, and I didn't notice it for a while. But aren't your people there too, what interesting things didn't they tell?"
"It will take a few days to find out."
"Hmm...Okay, let's go straight to the point. Is there anything you can recommend to the first team?" Tang En asked.
"It's like this..." Greenwood glanced at Tang En, with an arc hanging from the corner of his mouth, "You have to find it yourself, Tony."
Here we go again!
Paul Hart's traditional small game has become a repertoire among the coaches of the Forest team.
Tang En glared at Greenwood, and then stood on the sidelines to observe carefully.
His sight was first attracted by a tall man. It's not that this tall guy is so good at kicking, people are always used to put the first glance on those people with outstanding figure, no matter male or female... For example, this young man, he is really too tall, you can't even see him Do not believe.
He whistled and said to Greenwood next to him, "This kid must be six feet three?"
Greenwood knew who he was referring to, and he shook his head. "No, six feet seven."
Tang En was taken aback by this number.
Six feet three inches is about 1.94 meters, and six feet seven inches is more than two meters.
He looked at the big man again, he was taller than everyone on the field, two meters shouldn't be an exaggeration.
"how old is he?"
"Seventeen."
"Hmm..." Tang En stopped talking and continued to observe.
The giant is on the pitch as a centre-back, he's doing header drills, his height gives him an advantage in the air. Generally speaking, players with such a height usually don't bounce very well, because their body structure determines that they don't jump too high. But the person in front of him bounced very well.
After finishing the header practice, he followed his teammates to run back and forth.
The speed is not slow.
Tang En was a little interested in this sky giant that wasn't slow and bounced well. "What's his name?" he asked.
"Aaron_Mitchell (Aaron_Mitchell). He is now the core of the team's defense. His physical fitness is very good, but his shortcomings are also obvious-he has poor tackling skills, and his header is not good for his height. good."
Tang En nodded. "Train for two years and see the results. If you can, let's go out on loan to exercise. His body is his talent, technology... Let's take it slowly."
The two let go of the big giant and went to search for the next target.
The assistant coach of the youth team saw the head coach of the first team coming, and he knew what Tang En was here for.
He changed the training plan on his own initiative without consulting the director of youth training, Ian Greenwood, and let the players on the field play in teams.
Since Twain became the director of youth training, one of the principles he has set for the forest team's youth training base is "everything is based on the actual game". Every team has its own characteristics and traditions. Now the tradition of the forest team is "results First, race first." Therefore, in the youth team, the training is also required for those young people according to the competition standards. If a young man's fancy juggling is very good and can win a lot of applause, Twain will also dismiss it. Because you will not be given the opportunity to play this on the field alone during the game, he requires that the training must be combined with the ball. In his opinion, training without the ball is worthless, that is, everyone must run with the ball in the running circle. From the youth team over the age of 17 to the adult team, this training principle is adhered to, with the ball, competition, and confrontation as the main focus.
Tang En is very happy with this temporary change, he can more intuitively understand the comprehensive ability of these players - technology, mental quality, physical quality, competitive state. Whether it is advantages or disadvantages, they will be fully exposed in the competition, and there is nowhere to escape.
After the game started, a person quickly attracted Tang En's attention, and his eyes followed this person all the time.
At a young age, he wore the No. 10 jersey of the Forest Youth Team.
He breaks through with the ball on the right side of the court, and no one can stop him. Sometimes he will switch to the center to shoot long shots, but obviously he prefers to play on the side, because there are too many defensive forces in the center, so he can’t It's a good breakthrough, but it's different on the wing.
He has great technique, likes to dribble, and is quick.
The defensive side often needs to use two or three people to pinch him. If it is one-on-one, he will pass by him mercilessly.
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"Hey, Adelaide! You are too cunning!" The defender who was defending No. 10 complained when he got close, "Although the head coach of the first team is on the sidelines, you don't have to be so unsympathetic, right?"
The No. 10 smiled: "James, if you can stop me, can't you impress the head coach even more?"
Hearing this, the other party froze for a moment, "You're right too... ah!"
Just when he was in a daze, No. 10 slipped past him like a loach, a beautiful goal pass!
"You cunning liar, Adriano!"
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"That No. 10, what's it called?" Tang En snarled at the No. 10 player on the field.
"Moke, Adriano_Moke (Adriano_Moke). He is the most skilled in this team. Although he looks a little immature now, he is improving very quickly."
Tang En nodded. This kid is indeed very skilled and courageous, knowing that he is watching from the side, so he is very active.
However, unfortunately... His accustomed position is the right midfielder. At present, the first team already has Ashley Young and Alan Lennon in this position. In July, there will be a Beckham. The crowd is overcrowded, and there may not be this kid's position in the next few years.
Tang En thought for a while, then asked again: "Can he play other positions?"
"The central midfielder is also okay, but...he himself prefers to play on the right side, and compared to his right foot skills, his left foot can be described as horrible. Out of the right midfielder and central midfielder, He couldn't adapt to any other position."
Tang En shook his head lightly. If it really doesn't work, sell it if you have cultivated it. On the one hand, it will make some money for the club, and on the other hand... so as not to delay this kid.
Afterwards, Twain and Greenwood watched for a long time on the sidelines. He observed some players, and then asked Greenwood about the specific situation of those players before making a judgment.
The final result is...he didn't find a player who could be directly dropped into the first team, but he saw some good seedlings in it. If they are cultivated well and with some luck, these people have the ability to become the future The rotation players in Forest's first team may also become the main force in other Premier League mid-range teams.
He felt that this was the reality. How could there be so many geniuses in the world who shocked the world for him to catch? I have no money and no power, so what can I use to compete with Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea for talented youngsters?
Due to the great reputation of Wenger's Arsenal youth training, many young talents would rather go to Arsenal to receive training from professors than to come to other teams. But how did they know that Arsenal's youth team has gathered talents from all over the world. If they are not particularly top-notch, where will it be their turn? Everyone wants to be the next Cesc Fabregas, is it that easy? When Theo Walcott joined Arsenal, he caused a sensation in England and even Europe. What about now? Fabregas is the core of Arsenal's midfield, and Walcott can only be a substitute. From Tang En's point of view, this kid has nothing but speed. He doesn't know how to play football with his brain at all. He only knows how to do it with his own speed.
He decided to look a little further, let scouts move around, and go to the youth teams of other clubs to dig out those talents who have not yet become famous, and there may be some unexpected gains.
Tang En came empty-handed and returned empty-handed. After watching the match, he chatted with the coaches of the youth team and left. The children of North Wilford were very disappointed that Qiu Yuan was not called to speak alone. Everyone knew that the head coach of the first team rarely came here once a year, and finally had a chance to perform in front of him, but in the end, no one won the bid.
This is so frustrating.
Twain clapped his hands and left. Greenwood was about to suffer from a headache. He was also responsible for soothing the wounded hearts of these children, allowing them to set goals again and continue to train hard.
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This group of children didn't know that Tang En still had a few promising players in his heart, but they were still too young...they couldn't quench their thirst.
In the afternoon, Dunn went to the reserve team for a tour, but this time he picked a substitute goalkeeper.
Paul Gerrard has retired and Edwin van der Sar is old, but his form is still there. If there is no accident, he can still play at a high level for a year. But who knows what the future holds? In case of injury, or a sudden downturn, Akinfeev will be on top. It is best to ensure that the first team of a team has three goalkeepers, so as not to have such an embarrassing situation where no one is guarding the goal.
Twain has encountered many times when he was playing games. He used to find it troublesome to find a substitute goalkeeper: those with high ability are unwilling to be a substitute, and the head coach who is low in ability doesn't like him. The result is always two goalkeepers playing games. If both the main goalkeeper and the substitute goalkeeper are injured, the result is that he has to use anyone as the goalkeeper... Fortunately, it is a game. If it is reality, he will be ashamed.
Last season, he had a headache where to buy a substitute goalkeeper. In the end, Tang made a solution, saying that Paul Gerrard was a good substitute. This good substitute suffered a skull fracture in a game against Reading in October and continued to miss the entire season.
Then the forest team has been using two goalkeepers to play all the remaining games, one is the main goalkeeper, and the other is the young goalkeeper he wants to return to the first team in the reserve team this time-only 20-year-old Dale_Roberts (Dale_Roberts) .
A year ago, he was still a young goalkeeper in the U19 youth team, but Paul Gerrard's injury gave him the opportunity to experience real professional football in the first team. Several appearances also made the coaching staff recognize his ability, so in the new season, he will replace the retired Paul Gerrard and become the team's third goalkeeper.
This is the first new player of the Forest team in the new season. Strictly speaking, he is not "new"... He was temporarily dropped into the first team last season, but now he is just back.
The forest team's signing work has not yet officially started, but Twain is already about to take action.
The list is basically confirmed, it's just a matter of contacting the other party's agent.
The new season is about to start, and the holidays of the players and coaches are coming to an end. The boring days that made him feel like doing nothing are finally coming to an end...