Chapter 68
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 68
Chapter Title The First Whistle
Newcastle United, having sent their squad on a training camp in the United States, continued their preparations back at their own training ground, Darsley Park.
With the season just around the corner.
Matteo Silva, the player most familiar with the place, strolled leisurely through the club house.
Matty!
A staff member called out to Silva.
Yeah! Long time no see!
Yeah, it has been. Oh, I checked with the admin office about your jersey numberthey approved it.
Silva made an oh face at the staffs words.
Its approved? Thats surprising.
After all the money they spent, they had to give you this much.
True that.
As Silva chuckled, the staff handed him a freshly marked jersey.
Hang it up in the locker room.
Got it.
Number 77.
That would be his number for the season.
The Premier League had no basic restrictions on numbers, but considering the second team leagues, they rarely approved numbers above 30 for firstteam players.
Meaning personal faves like 55 or 69 werent usually allowed.
In that sense, Silvas 77 was exceptional.
Better than 7, dont you think? What about 777?
No way.
Shame.
Matteo Silva slung the jersey over his shoulder and sauntered into the locker room.
He absentmindedly headed toward the spot with the number 7 jersey, then stopped.
Not my number anymore.
Silva went back to his original empty spot and hung up the 77 jersey the staff had given him.
Nice.
Looks good.
Silva nodded to himself and sat down.
Ugh.
A groan escaped him like an old mans.
His knee wasnt in serious pain after not playing for a while, but the creakiness was unavoidable.
Once he started training and played a match or two, the fluid would build up again.
But hey, better than early last season.
At this state, he could probably play two or three more seasons.
Wishful thinking, probably.
This season would be Matteo Silvas last.
Hed expected to feel regret, but surprisingly, he didnt.
Was it because the season hadnt started yet?
Maybe itll hit different in the final round.
Talking nonsense before it even begins.
Matteo Silva smacked his lips and started changing into his cleats.
That was when.
He heard footsteps outside the locker room.
What is it? He looked over.
Oh, what brings the young lads here?
Uh, well... weve been called up.
Oh, really? Whats our team up to, thinking of bringing kids to the first team?
Of course, no guarantees on starting spots, but making the first team was something.
It was a change for Newcastle United.
Well, the youth director back then had a different style from the current one, and Artelli valued youth promotions, so it made sense.
Above all, wasnt 16yearold Taeyang out there playing?
The kids in front of him were 18 or 19, so considering Taeyang, it wasnt weird.
Uh... what were your names again?
Im Joachim Schlett.
Saviola.
Jake Lindeman, Mr. Toon.
Oh, right, thats it. Nice to meet you all.
These were the kids Taeyang had said were pretty decent.
And they were, as he said.
Hows it feel making the first team?
Still... feels like a dream.
Silva chuckled at that.
It reminded him of his own youth.
Thats how it felt when he first made the first team.
The memory had faded, but seeing these kids brought it back vividly.
So freshfaced. Taeyang lacks that charm.
Taeyang?
Yeah. Speaking of, where is that kid? Hed usually beat me here.
Yeah, hes always first at the training pitch.
Got cocky now that hes on the senior team?
The kids started murmuring.
Hmm, maybe?
Just as even Silva was starting to agree, Taeyang appeared.
What, why are you late?
An old man and three kids in the locker room.
Never saw that coming.
Late? Whos late? Tons of guys come after me.
Well, being later than Newcastles prince is a sin. Shall we send you to the gallows?
Sheesh.
Id tried acting cool with Menendez calling me prince or whatever, but now Matty and the whole team were teasing me with it.
AC? Whats that? Milan?
Its when Im annoyed. Anyway, whats with you guys? First team starting today?
Yeah.
We got called up.
Somehow.
They were trading lines like a set routine.
Seeing my friends standing awkwardly felt like looking at fresh recruits on their first day in the army.
Not that Id knowI skipped it in my past life and this one.
Past life as an orphan, no go. But this life? No exemption reason.
Suddenly felt daunting.
Military issue.
Whatever, callup warrants far off. Think later.
Come on, sit and get ready if youre here.
Uh, yeah. But the spots...
The jerseys hanging there are yours.
I said that and sat in the 7.
Me with the 7.
For a while, Newcastle locals buzzed about me inheriting Mattys 7.
Big rumor was Matty retiring before the season.
Total chaos.
Stopped at a pub with Grandpa on the way home and got bombarded with questions.
Honestly, at his age, retiring today wouldnt be weird.
Showed how much Toons loved Mr. Toon.
Next was that Id inherited the 7.
Reactions werent bad.
Some said too early, but when word spread he wanted to pass it before retiring, even that died down.
Lately, Toons call me Toon Junior. Or Toon the Second.
Anyone hearing would think Matteo Silva was my dad.
Taeyang, you hear?
I was sitting, changing cleats, when Schlettalready readycame over.
Oh.
Dropped my guard.
Too long since last time, no counter ready.
What nonsense from this motormouth now?
League fixtures are out. You see?
Yeah?
Lets check. Group chat probably has the schedule.
Here we go, first opponent...
Middlesbrough?
Middlesbrough was a promoted team this season.
Repeated promotions and relegations with Norwich.
You know Middlesbroughs strength? Theyre newly promoted, but no team to sleep on. Know they got England and Croatia internationals?
Here we go.
I shook my head and plugged in my earbuds.
Only way to dodge this guy.
Taeyang? You listening, Taeyang?
As Schlett grabbed and shook me, someone stood behind him and grabbed his nape.
Whats this, shorty?
Wwhat, ack!!
It was Ritsella grabbing Schletts nape.
Schlett paled at the gorillas iron grip.
IIm...
Aint that the little German from downstairs? Whyre you here?
Ccalled up...
Big shots change and now theyre promoting youth left and right?
Yyeah.
Not bad. Gotta raise the kids. Right, Prince?
...Me too.
Oh, right. Our prince was the baby? But its fine. Youre the prince, yeah?
Damn prince, go freeze.
I plugged my earbuds back in.
New season, huh.
To resign, gotta show out from the start?
For our youngest coming next year, at least.
The 203435 season finally kicked off.
League Round 1 Arsenal crushed newly promoted Preston North Endmiracle playoff winners, firstever Prem50, reminding everyone the Premier League aint easy.
Man United easily beat Wolves, who were scrapping relegation last time.
The opening days big clash was Man City vs. Tottenham.
City, a cut above everyone including Spurs last season, had no big signings but were still title favorites. Expected to handle Spurs easy.
But upset city.
Tottenham crushes City 41.
Spurs topple league champs!
Man City What went wrong?
City, shaky at end of last season, looked unsteady right out the gate.
Meanwhile, last seasons runnersup Chelsea beat Burnley 20 comfortably at the same time.
Next day.
Newcastle United hosted Middlesbrough at New St. James Park.
Premier League Round 1! Newcastle Uniteds match begins. Opponents Middlesbrough, relegated two seasons ago, back via promotion!
Middlesbrough flip promotions and relegations. Won Championship last season with overwhelming organization. Strong unitno sleeping on them.
Newcastle rebuilt bigtime. Key will be squad chemistry.
Todays lineups. Home Newcastle United.
FW Rederi Illinyu Yoon Taeyang
MF Boxall Menendez Gomez
DF Bandia Dida Arnold Sanchez
GK Ritsella
Six new transfers for Newcastle. Chemistry worry. Now Middlesbrough.
FW Brian
MF Retamar Soulsby Georgiu
Doyle Collingwood
DF Salcedo Curtis Haslam McNamara
GK Charlton
Middlesbrough put Championship stars up top with Brian, who scored 9 in league last season on loan from Norwich.
Boosted attackMiddlesbrough at peak to face Newcastle.
Newcastles anthem echoed through the stadium as Koreans stayed up late, gathering on Sports TV chat.
Middlesbrough solid but relegation fodder lol
Casual sayin like theyre great
But Brian no joke
lol Brian vs Illinyu who ya got?
Fuckin Illinyu obv
Serie A top scorer lookin like trash? lol
Brian no joke fr lol
FYI Brian faced Newcastle 5 times postdebut, zero goals.
Still, who knows. Newcastle half newbies.
True. Half transfers.
Slight worries amid the chat, players took positions ready on the pitch.
And.
Tweet!
With the refs whistle, the leagues first match began.