Chapter 140
Chapter 140
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: Start (3)
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Black-Haired Tactical Genius
Chapter 140 Start (3)
Ma Jeong-woo sat at the cozy purple-toned dining table, adopting a more demure posture than usual.
His eyes would crinkle slightly for some reason, then turn distant, laced with puzzlement and a hint of regret.
"Earl Grey. With just a touch of lemon to make it sweeter, heh heh."
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
Dinner had ended, and now they were enjoying a nightcap tea time—a staple of British culture.
In the home of the strategy planning team leader, Charlotte Emma, no less.
But Ma Jeong-woo's expression wasn't excited or bright.
It was just awkward, his every movement to grasp the cup feeling somehow stiff and jerky.
Yet his gaze remained fixed straight ahead.
'I thought it'd just be the two of us for dinner...'
That's why he'd scrubbed himself extra hard before coming.
But it had all been a solo delusion.
Sharing the space in this vintage-feeling home, illuminated by a yellow hanging lamp on the ceiling, was a white-haired old gentleman: Gold Emma.
Charlotte Emma's grandfather.
"So, you're the third generation...?"
When Ma Jeong-woo suddenly voiced his curiosity, Gold nodded with a warm smile.
"That's right. I'm the third-generation Wanderer. You must have heard from my lovely granddaughter, but I was one of the most passionate Wanderers out there."
No matter how much he racked his brain, Ma Jeong-woo had never heard a thing.
Until now, he'd assumed Emma lived alone.
'If she'd said she lived with her grandfather, I wouldn't have come.'
But he'd already stepped into the house grinning like an idiot, and now here he was, seated after some time.
During the simple dinner, Emma had been by his side, but now she'd stepped away briefly.
Gold had shooed her off, saying he wanted some time alone with him.
"Truth be told, even arranging this dinner with you was at this old man's request."
"Ah, I see."
"You're not disappointed, are you?"
"Uh, well."
"Judging by your face, I'm glad you're not."
"Ah..."
He'd been showing his disappointment since earlier, but the dim lighting must have hidden it well.
He and Gold had been chatting privately since dinner.
It was hardly an overstatement to call it one-sided.
Gold had launched into a long-winded tale about Bolton's past.
Ma Jeong-woo was exhausted, to put it mildly.
Undeterred, Gold kept unspooling stories like a soldier recounting war tales, even during tea time.
"My fondness for Koreans started with Lee."
"I remember the exact date: August 14, 2009! He left the K League and came to Bolton."
"At first, I wondered if that slight young man could survive the brutal EPL... but what nonsense that was. He was world-class—the exact player Bolton needed...!"
Ma Jeong-woo blinked repeatedly, nodding as if listening intently.
In the meantime, they'd gone through five cups of tea.
After a long while, Gold Emma, his throat parched, poured some water instead and took a sip before speaking.
"Using this opportunity... I have to admit, I wanted a close look at you, Chairman. That's the dream of every Wanderer. Bolton's star and all. Call it networking if you like, heh heh."
"Me? Ha ha."
Hearing that made him oddly embarrassed.
Even now, Gold's eyes sparkled like he was face-to-face with a celebrity.
That's when it happened.
"Thank you."
"...Pardon?"
Ma Jeong-woo's hand, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment, froze.
It was halting Korean.
Gold was now staring straight at him with a calm, settled expression.
Then, in fluent English, he continued.
"I was at the point where I feared I'd die of pent-up rage... but you, Chairman, cured me. You appeared like a comet."
"..."
"It brought back the League One days with Kevin Davies, Johan Elmander, and our Lee—the Bolton golden era. No, personally, it felt even better."
Gold added that he was dying.
Cancer, starting in the gallbladder, had spread to his colon. His days were numbered.
"But I'm content. I've lived long enough, and the only regret was our damned Bolton. Now even that's turned to joy."
Ma Jeong-woo had no idea.
Yet Gold spoke of it casually.
"And you, Chairman, have given your all for our Bolton. I could see it... even from afar, I felt it. Your genuine love for Bolton... fighting for us Wanderers."
"..."
Ma Jeong-woo couldn't muster a reply.
Instead, an inexplicable pang of guilt welled up.
Hadn't he been waffling endlessly about selling the club?
Even recently.
Yet here was a Wanderer facing him, speaking with utter joy and happiness.
"You've brought happiness and possibility to so many. Even to Bolton, tumbling into the abyss, you've shown that bright days can return."
Gold smiled wryly and added,
"Of course, I'd love to see Bolton back in the EPL before I go... but even if not, it's fine now. The Bolton you've shown these past year and a half... it was magnificent enough."
Finally, in that halting tone, he said once more,
"Truly, thank you."
* * *
FulhaMad Dog Bolton didn't share a derby rivalry.
Fulham was in southwest London, Bolton in Greater Manchester.
Geographically and in the league, they rarely crossed paths.
They had met in the EPL, but only briefly.
Still, Fulham's Cottagers were certain of one thing.
That Fulham would crush Bolton in the opener and kick off the season in style!
The media agreed.
[Fulham! Finally a blockbuster promotion push this season?!]
[Fulham lands Man Utd's Amad Diallo on loan! Glamorous attack line rivals lower EPL!]
[Bookies set Fulham at 1.83, Bolton at 3.80!]
It was undeniable reality.
Even with Bolton's League One comeback win, the gap between Championship and League One was vast.
Player values told the tale.
League One average semi-name value was £400k (₩800m), while Championship was tenfold at £4m (₩8bn).
Top Championship talents fetched £14m+ (₩22bn) baseline.
Fulham boasted five players worth £14m+ (₩22bn).
* * *
August 17.
The 35,000-capacity University of Bolton Stadium was packed to overflowing.
Wanderers filled not just the stands but encircled the grounds outside.
"Incredible...!"
Fulham manager Marco Silva stepped into the technical area and let out a bewildered laugh.
In mere minutes, the Wanderers' numbers and heat had surged, unbelievable for a freshly promoted League One side.
"They're over 10,000 more than us."
Senior coach Tom Whites muttered beside him.
Silva nodded.
"With the outer crowds, even more."
He'd been stunned arriving by team bus.
Seats dotted the outskirts for overflow.
Giant screens lined the walls everywhere.
Enviable, really.
"League One averaged 30,000 attendance?"
"Yes, that's what they say."
At his senior coach's reply, Silva smiled bitterly.
"Just a year and a half ago, they couldn't crack 10,000? And now this in such short time."
Fulham, relegated to Championship, averaged 20,000.
Bolton, new from League One, pulled 30,000 on average. Astonishing.
'I heard bonds between players and Wanderers strengthened since Ma took over as chairman and manager...'
His talent as chairman was undeniable.
That's when it happened.
Thud, thud!
A black-haired man, arriving late to the stadium, strode toward them.
Silva instinctively stepped back at the sight: taller by a head, rumpled white shirt.
The aura was like a beast ready to snap at his neck.
Ignoring that, Ma Jeong-woo closed to within a step and extended a hand with a grin.
"Skip the formalities. Let's just tear into each other like rabid dogs."
"..."
His first impression had been spot on.
* * *
As both teams' players entered, the commentary ramped up.
[2022-2023 season! August 17, 8 PM! League Round 1 at Bolton's home, University of Bolton Stadium!]
[Here are the starting lineups!]
Fulham fielded their elite.
[4-2-3-1 with striker Aleksandar Mitrovic up top!]
[Second line: Amad Diallo, Tom Cairney, Bobby De Cordova-Reid!]
[Double pivot: João Palhinha, Michael Seri!]
[Back four: Antonee Robinson, Tosin Adarabioyo, Tim Ream, Ola Aina!]
[Paulo Gazzaniga in goal!]
The commentators were impressed.
[A dream lineup! Most have solid EPL experience!]
[Especially looking forward to Diallo!]
Bolton, meanwhile, deviated from their League One tactics.
A 3-5-2 with a central sweeper.
Up front, golden boy Pak and Shearer Kane as the duo.
[Wide midfielders: Frank Gerrard and David Dignity!]
[Central mid: Owen Fresais!]
[Side mids: Morten Pedersen and Delicate!]
The back three: tall 2m center-back Dominic Shield and fellow giant Joel Biggs.
Gary Todd in the middle.
In goal, this season's Man City loanee Gavin Bazunu.
The commentators couldn't hide their confusion.
"Gary Todd...! Man Utd youth product, always a striker...?"
Deploying him—not even as an attacking mid, but sweeper? Baffling.
Fulham's Marco Silva felt the same.
"I figured the ex-Man Utd striker in the XI meant a three-pronged attack..."
Way off the mark.
No complacency against League One champs.
But seeing Todd—headgear like old Petr Cech—it was laughable.
'Underestimating the Championship, are we?'
And glaringly obvious, no analysis needed.
'That's the weak spot.'