Chapter 69
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 69
Chapter Title The Eldest Son Craves Soccer
Its real.
Its actually happening.
The Toons who had made their way to the stadium all fixed their eyes on Yoon Taeyang.
More precisely, on the number 7 emblazoned across his back.
For them, that number 7 had belonged to one man alone for over a decade.
Seeing it on someone elses back felt so utterly strange.
Yeah, times are changing.
Maybe weve been holding on too long?
Some were saying it was time to let go and embrace a new era for Newcastle.
But Mattys still right there...
Isnt it too soon? That kid wearing 7?
Others werent ready to say goodbye to Matteo Silva just yet.
But one thing they all agreed on.
Yeah, 7 belongs to Taeyang now.
If theres a next 7 after him, itll be that lad.
Thered be nothing strange about Taeyang taking up the number after him.
Alright, the match between the two teams is underway. Middlesbrough cautiously building from the back.
Middlesbrough had no choice but to approach Newcastle with extreme caution.
To them, Newcastle had become their most hated rival in recent years.
Put simply, a team they absolutely could not lose to.
Over the past decade of yoyoing between promotion and relegation, whenever they stood at that crossroads, it was always Newcastle who shoved them down into the abyss.
Newcastle might not have given it a second thought, but for Middlesbrough, it was a bitter, deepseated grudge.
Lose to Newcastle in the opener?
Itd trigger relegation PTSD from the getgo, with fans unleashing a torrent of abuse on the players.
But talk is cheap.
How easy is it for a promotionrelegation battler to beat a Champions League regular?
They had to tread carefully.
Every single pass was deliberate.
Which meant the ball, pushing forward, often came straight back.
Middlesbrough might be playing it a bit too safe here.
The opening minutes have been a tad dull.
Too safe?
No.
Middlesbrough wanted to attack too, but Newcastle wasnt giving them an inch of space.
And all those backward passes were handing Newcastle golden opportunities.
Oh! Gomez wins it back! Straight to Yoon Taeyang! Its Yoon Taeyang!
While Middlesbrough dawdled, hesitant even to push forward, Newcastle was bold.
Newcastles new number 7 wasnt about to waste a second.
Yoon Taeyang is off! Salqueld rushing to close him down! Yoon Taeyang, Yoon Taeyang!!
Midstride with crosssteps, Taeyang faced the charging Salqueld and breezed past him with a La Croqueta.
Curtis stepping in to block, but Yoon Taeyangone beat aheadthreads it through the gap Curtis opened!
Illing races in, takes it... shoots!
Shwooo! Goal!
Its in! Goal goal! Illings debut goal on debut!
Middlesbrough stood stunned, staring at Illing.
The scorer let out his signature Hulk celebration roar before sprinting over and hoisting Taeyang high.
Taeyangs face was impassive until he was suddenly airborne, then he scowled and smacked Illings forehead with an open palmthwack.
Illing lifts Yoon Taeyang up. Thats some serious strength.
Newcastle takes the lead. Not the start Middlesbrough wanted.
Losing to Newcastlewhos been the kiss of death for their survival every yearis the last thing they need. And sure enough, boos raining down from the away end.
The jeers made Middlesbrough anxious, but the momentum had already swung to Newcastle.
Newcastle coming out swinging since kickoff.
I mentioned Middlesbroughs solid teamwork keeping them afloat through all the ups and downs, but right now, Newcastlewith five debutantslooks more cohesive.
Middlesbrough struggling under Newcastles press. Oh, and right as I say thatYoon Taeyang steals it!
Three Middlesbrough players in a triangle, closing fast on Yoon Taeyang!
Before they could swarm him, Taeyang stood still and chipped the ball up from underneath.
It floated over the defender shadowing him, dropping perfectly into empty space on the other side.
Redley latched onto it.
A quick glance at goal, and from therehe shot.
The ball rocketed straight into the far corner.
Goal! Another one just four minutes later! Redleys strike!
Newcastle is scary
Even against Middlesbrough, Newcastle makes it look easy af
Taecyang makes soccer look the easiest
Sets the table and spoonfeeds it
Just casually chips it up for the assist
That solo run and through ball earlier was insane too
Hes like 17 in Korean age, right? 17yo flying around the EPL
Koreans watching live were losing their minds.
A young Korean kid notching two assists in the Premier League? How could they not?
But was it just here?
New St. James Park echoed with nonstop roars from the Toons.
They belted out Newcastle anthems like mad, beers in hand, cheering their players exploits.
And whenever Taeyang got the ball, at some point, the Toons would erupt into a single chant.
OH, MY SUN!
OH, OUR SUN!
OH, EVERYONES SUN!
Looks like Taeyangs got his own chant now.
Simple, but it hits.
Shows just how much Newcastle loves their new 7.
Amid all that, the raucous first halffor the masters of St. James Park alonecame to an end.
Hows the game treating you, SOL?
The moment we stepped into the locker room, Artelli asked me.
Fun?
Hmm.
Not enjoying it?
Hmm. Who plays for fun? Gotta eat to live, right?
Keh keh, true enough. Yeah, its about survival.
A common Korean saying, but to the manager, it landed like prime comedy.
Why not bag a goal while youre at it?
Shall I?
Keh keh, yeah. Go on, score one for us.
He said that, then strolled off to the others.
No tactical lectures for them eitherjust encouragement and a headsup on potential pitfalls.
No need for a huddle and strict orders right now.
Wed dominated Middlesbrough all halfwhat more was there to say?
Sure, a manager like Pep Guardiola back in the day might drill down to the tiniest details even now, demanding perfection on his vision. But not ours.
Same as always banana for the sugar hit, fresh kit and socks, back out onto the pitch.
Middlesbrough made changes.
Out went striker Brian, who barely touched the ball. In came a black player Id never seen.
And their new defensive midfielder, Jack Kailun.
At 27, Kailun was an exAston Villa man Middlesbrough had splashed big on.
Transfer fee about 700 billion won? Nowait, 70 million quid or whatever, but yeah, pricey.
English domestic premium, 18 England caps.
For a yoyo club like Middlesbrough, landing a star like that was huge.
Villa wouldnt have let him go without a pricier replacement.
Big work rate, top defenderbolstering their midfield grip.
But thats it.
England premium and caps, yet only that price?
Pricey for them, sure, but dirt cheap for a PL Englishman with those creds.
Man City just grabbed an 18yo prospect with shaky prospects for similar cash.
Why so cheap?
Good reason.
Defensive mid who does one thing defend.
Bolsters the back, but nothing more, nothing less.
Like Gong Sehwan before he switched positions.
Defense aside, vision? Passing? All lacking.
Felt tighter at the back now, but the ball wasnt venturing forward at all.
Then Middlesbrough subbed in another defender Allegri.
What the hell?
Another defender?
Planning to see this out?
Just as I wondered
From deep in their huddled defense, Allegri lumped it long up top.
The classic English kickandrush kicked in.
Wait, after all these years, still?
One player burst through our line like a leopard on the hunt.
That unknown black guy.
Built like no footballerbouncy muscles, sleek frame, born to sprint.
Never seen him in my past life.
He scorched past everyone, claimed the ball, and hammered a greedy shot at goal.
In a flash, the black guy whod conjured a goal roared.
Whoa, whos that?
Gomez, standing dazed beside me, stuck out his tongue in awe.
Yeah, who?
How dyou even say that name?
I asked Gomez, who squinted at it.
Nmbawaye?
Hmm, classic African name.
Never heard it before.
Anyway, the key stupidly fast.
In decades of pro soccer, Id never seen anyone that quick.
Fastest in Premier League history, maybe.
Shocking speed, yeahbut we still led by one.
We calmly pushed the line up, pressed as usual... or so I thought.
Until I glanced back.
What?
Dida and Arnold out of position.
Gaps too wide to midfield.
Spooked by Nmbawayes pace, they hadnt advanced the line.
Dangerous.
Menendez clocked it, urging Dida and Arnold onbut in the chaos, a Middlesbrough midfielder nicked the ball off Boxall.
They slotted it into the huge gap between their second and third lines.
Nmbawaye grabbed it again, sprinting into space.
Not just a straightline track star.
He weaved past Dida and Arnold, creating distance, then surged forward by that margin.
Fast with the ball, not just running.
Pace and skill? Starter material for a top PL side.
Why no trace of him in my past life?
Butterfly effect from my existence?
Or he made Middlesbrough but flamed out for some reason?
Anyway, Nmbawaye blasted through our line with those freakish legs and scored.
Back to square one.
And thats when I spotted our teams weakness.
The centerback duo whod guarded Newcastles rear with telepathic synergy.
Dida, whod intercept anyone with his pace, wasnt the same at his age.
Arnold was too slow to cover for Dida.
For a highline team like ours, slow CBs were a glaring hole behind.
Arnolds organizing and Sanchezs help had masked it till now.
But Nmbawayes cheatcode speed broke through.
So Middlesbrough turns into our counterkiller now?
A couple subs, and they became poison to us.
Manager mustve seen it.
I glanced over, and right thenhe locked eyes and yelled.
SOL!!! Attack!! Attack and attack again!!
Artelli, business as usual, ordering the assault.
Rightbest defense is a good offense.
The whistle blew, I took the ball, and charged forward.