Chapter 91
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 91
Chapter Title The Eldest Son Craves Soccer
The first half between the two Uniteds ended in a draw.
The fans cheering for both teams must have been on edge, but it was a damn entertaining match anyway.
Of course, the players couldnt just call it fun and leave it at that.
Taeyang, how was my first half? Were the crosses I sent okay?
Everything except the crosses gets a zero.
That bad?!
Yeah, zero nutritional value.
Taeyang irritably dragged over Chalret and pulled out his own tablet.
It was the clubissued tablet given to each player for training checks, tactics reviews, discussions, and match prep.
Look, Im coming in like this, so why the hell are you following me in here? You shouldve gone into the space I left or over there!
Oh.
What do you mean oh? This guy comes up to the first team and gets even dumber?
Um.
Chalret shut his mouth for once.
Menendez, watching from the side, looked at Taeyang with amazement.
This kid would make a great manager someday.
But hold onwhile he was moving with the ball, he was tracking his teammates runs too?
Does he have eyes everywhere?
Think back to how we used to play. Nothing you did fits except the crosses. Got it?
Yeah.
Youre really dead meat?
Yeah.
The charisma is no joke.
Did Chalret get slapped like Ilhnyu? This guys two years older and cant even squeak.
Menny, you too. I bust my ass opening up space and calling for itwhy dont you pass right away? If youd done it at that timing, wed have two more goals!
Sorry.
Guess I cant squeak either.
Menendez let out a selfdeprecating chuckle.
And you!
Taeyang finished chewing out a few guys who hadnt impressed him in the match, then muttered, No bananas? and headed out to find some.
The locker room finally quieted down.
Silva, whod been lounging around leisurely by himself, chuckled and said,
You lot screwed up, so our young prince is pissed. What good are vassals who shit the bed?
Arnold grumbled at that.
What prince? Hes the king.
Silva looked at Arnold and replied,
When the king gets old, the prince might as well be king. Hell be taking the throne soon anyway.
Arnold glanced at the old king in question.
This guy might look like this now, but back when he transferred here, he was overflowing with charisma.
Seeing him like this, time sure is cruel.
Whatre you staring at? First old guy youve seen? Oh, waityoure pretty old yourself.
Old as hell. Youre the weird one. Next year, the year after, retiring wouldnt be strange at my age.
Silvas face fell for a moment at that.
Arnold, the most reliable guy in Newcastles backline, retiring?
We need to sign a defender before he leaves No, we need someone by January. Wonder if theres any plan.
Youve got a long way to go, Arnold. Instead of talking shit, give it everything till the end. Gotta win one before you retire.
He was talking to himself too.
Hadnt he spent over fifteen years at Newcastle chasing trophies?
Tch.
Even Man United, who were doing so well, were struggling. Winning looked tough.
Second half underway.
The first half was intense, wasnt it? I bet tons of fans watched on the edge of their seats.
Yoon Taeyang bagged two in a row, but right at the end of the half, Feliciano equalized. Cant wait to see what happens now.
The players returned to the pitch, and the second half kicked off.
It looked like Newcastle had the edge, but Felicianos late firsthalf goal made it tight again, so both teams seemed poised to play it cautious
Oh, Newcastle pushing the ball forward aggressively!
Quick transition passes! Straight to Yoon Taeyang in one go.
Taeyang, receiving it from a slightly dropped position, dragged the ball to pull in Man Uniteds centerback, then slipped a through ball into Chalrets run.
Chalret chased the ball desperately, but Davies marking him was a step quicker.
Davies cleared it instantly.
Chalret instinctively glanced at Yoon Taeyang.
He could see Taeyang mouthing, Do it right
What was it Taeyang said earlier?
Meanwhile, Bandia had come up to take a throwin.
Chalret shuffled for position, and Bandia launched it long.
Chalret shook Davies sharply and claimed the ball.
Pass it the second I cut in!
It echoed in his head like Taeyang was shouting it.
Right, thats what Taeyang said.
Chalret looked up, saw Taeyang cut in, and poked the ball through.
Taeyang cushioned the fast ball with a soft touch, spun past Segel marking him, and unleashed a shot.
Ding!
The ball ricocheted off the post by a paperthin margin.
Stojkovic, burned by the earlier miss, scrambled for the rebound and hooked it out beyond the line.
Damn.
Taeyang scratched his head in frustration and turned away.
Chalret squinted at him.
What, man?
Im human too. Bound to miss one now and then.
No, even so.
Tch!
Sorry. Honestly, I wanted to give you the cold shoulder once or twice. You kept yapping, and it was killing my game.
Ugh.
Taeyang brushed off Chalret, whod been waiting to vent, and hustled back into position.
This time, Omar controlled Sanchezs throwin.
Omar twisted and turned to break Vinesville but, finding no gap, passed to Menendez.
But the opponent read it.
Bienvenu intercepted and slotted it into Newcastles backline instead.
Every player surged toward the ball.
Feliciano got there first, barely.
But Arnold and Bandia had closed in tight, boxing him in on both sides.
With no options, Feliciano passed sideways without hesitation.
He was the incarnation of ambition and goals, but he wasnt the fool to blow a big moment chasing a selfish shot.
Egerton, receiving the pass, struck quickly before Ritchellafixated on Felicianocould react.
The low, vicious shot buried into the bottom corner.
Goal! Goal! GOAL! Egerton scores!
From a tight second half, Manchester United takes the lead!
Man United ahead again!
At the 18th minute of the second half, Egerton roared, sprinted to the stands, and slid on his knees in celebration.
The Toon Army jeered him mercilessly, but Egerton shrugged it off, striking a fighting pose to rub it in.
Newcastle will rue that Taeyang shot off the post.
Its fine. Still just one goal in it. The way things are going, an equalizer or turnaround could come anytime. Both teams have the tools.
This match really highlights the defensive issues for both sides.
It stung Man United more.
Theyd splashed huge transfer fees multiple times, succeeding with stars like Feliciano at the helm, but their centerbacks were perpetually cursed.
Hot prospects flopped. Breakout stars from minnows bombed. Steady vets from big clubs withered. Failures piled up like a hex.
Honestly, Segel and Inyeocio hitting average was the best they could say.
And that was for a big club in the Premier League, with the leagues most disappointing backline rep.
That was exactly what Newcastle targeted.
Keep hammering, even if it means conceding.
Still shaky, so drop Rossi into the backline and push the fullbacks up to wingback.
Artelli, watching on, prompted his assistant, who frantically signaled Rossi and the defense.
Newcastle shifted to a 343.
Fluid depending on the phase, but the threeattheback would hold.
Then Artelli prepped Lindeman and Sobiola.
Lindeman was near a complete fullback but still attackminded.
Sobiola, a utility midfielder, leaned defensive.
Pairing them should work.
Age?
With Yoon Taeyang around, age didnt matter at Newcastle.
Scratch that.
Wed stuffed in a bunch of kidsmaybe toss in an oldtimer now?
Artelli glanced back.
There was Silva, legs crossed, leaning back, watching the game cool as a neighborhood loafer.
But his eyes were sharp, dissecting the pitch.
Matty.
Yes?
Get ready too. Sub for Chalret.
Chalret was solid, but the tension seemed to be wearing him down.
Plus, one vet over three kids in that line sounded better.
Got it.
At the managers order, Silva popped up instantly.
Knees okay?
Plenty of full games lately? Feeling light.
Perfect. Be our super sub today.
Back in the day, they called me RealSilva.
Mixing his name with Solskjaer, huh.
Artelli chuckled at the joke and eyed the pitch.
Right, show the original super sub that the best impact sub in the games on our squad.
Yes, sir.
Newcastle making a triple change. Lindeman, Sobiola, and Silva coming on.
The moment Mr. Toon, Matteo Silva, stepped onto the pitch, the Toon Army erupted into his chant.
Fans lit up seeing him out there, but Man Uniteds players barely blinked.
Whats an oldtimer gonna do?
Slow feet, faded explosiveness, balance, strengthnothing left.
Worst nightmare for a forward.
But that old man had strengths.
And it depended on how you used them.
The youngest on the pitch, who knew that old mans heart best, gave Silva an eye signal and slipped away.
As Newcastle took possession, Taeyang started a weird run, drawing every eye.
The second he got the ball, they swarmed him chaotically to shut down whatever he had planned.
Meanwhile, the old wolf on the pitch melted into the shadows, stalking his unseen prey.