Reverse.

Chapter 24 Will he appear?

Northumberland is located in the northeastern suburbs of Newcastle. It has high-end residential areas and is a well-known wealthy area in Newcastle.

Those who can settle down there are either rich or noble.

In addition to high-end residential areas, Northumberland also has a high-tech professional football training base belonging to Newcastle Tyne Football Club, called Northumberland Football City.

It takes no more than twenty minutes to drive from Northumberland's upscale residential area to Northumberland Football City.

A lot of Tyne's players live in Northumberland.

But don't think that they chose this place because it is close to the training base.

In fact, the causal relationship is just the opposite.

First, a large number of Tyne players chose to live in Northumberland, a luxury residential area with excellent conditions in all aspects, and then there was Northumberland Football City.

After the oil capital from the Middle East acquired Tyne, in addition to waving their checkbooks to buy players all over the world and making themselves the "public enemy of the whole of Britain", they also immediately started the renewal of the hardware facilities of the Tyne Club.

Tyne's original training base was at Kenton Lane, a little north-west of Newcastle, close to Tyne's home ground, Leeds Park.

This is the case for most of the historic English football clubs, where their training base and home ground are not far apart.

Some training bases are even next to the main stadium. When the main stadium was built, a part of the land was allocated for use as a training ground.

However, with the rapid development of professional football, most Premier League football clubs have relocated their training bases.

After all, a professional football training base includes more and more parts, which is far beyond what can be accommodated by any empty space next to the home field.

The Kenton training base in Tyne was built when the Premier League was just established. When it was completed, it was at the mainstream average level of the Premier League at that time.

But by the time Middle East Oil Capital acquired Tyne, the main facilities of the Kenton training base had not been updated for twenty years and were seriously out of date.

At that time, the new owner of Tyne had two choices. One was to expand, repair and renovate the original training base, and the other was to start from scratch and choose a new site to build a more luxurious and advanced training base.

Not surprisingly, the wealthy Tyne club chose the latter.

Then, considering that most Tyne players lived in Northumberland at the time, the wealthy boss from the Middle East simply decided to set the address of the new training base in Northumberland.

It’s like they opened a company outside the employee community to make it more convenient for their employees to commute to and from get off work.

Although this will greatly increase the budget, it doesn't matter. Tyne, who became rich overnight, has no honors, no achievements, no status... nothing, just money.

After three years of site survey and two years of construction, the five-star training base named "Northumberland Football City" was put into use last summer, just in time for the team's pre-season training for the new season. It can be said that Tyne is preparing for the new season in this training base, but looking at Tyne's performance this season, I don't know how many people feel sorry for this training base...

This spectacular training base includes a formal football field with a night lighting system that can accommodate 24,000 spectators. It serves as the home ground for the Tyne youth team, reserve team and Tyne women's football team. This stadium alone is larger and has better facilities than the home grounds of some Championship teams.

It also includes a main office building and two subsidiary buildings. In addition to the five-star hotel standard rooms that can accommodate all first-team and youth team players, there are also a physical training center with advanced facilities, an injury treatment and recovery center, an entertainment center equipped with various entertainment facilities, a media center for press conferences, a tactical analysis room, a conference room... There are four restaurants alone, two of which are open to the public, and the other two are not. One of them is only for first-team players and coaches.

The main office building and two subsidiary buildings divide the entire training base into two halves. The south side is used by the first team and reserve team, and the north side is for the youth team and women's football team.

There are seven standard 11-a-side football fields, three of which are reserved for the first team. Two of these three training grounds are covered with natural grass, and the other is an indoor football field covered with the best artificial turf.

In addition, there are several non-standard football training fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, badminton courts, table tennis halls, swimming pools and other facilities.

Tyne's first team, reserve team, youth team, part of the youth team, and the women's first team and youth team all train and play in this magnificent modern football city.

This scale can indeed be called a "city", but rather than calling it a "football city", it might be more appropriate to call it a "sports city".

This training base is not inferior to the training bases of the top clubs in the Bundesliga and La Liga, not to mention in the Premier League, even in the whole of Europe.

So even though Middle Eastern capital spent a lot of money on player transfers, causing complaints from rival fans, Tyne's own fans are very satisfied with this wealthy boss.

Because even if the Middle Eastern capital withdraws in the future, this top European training base alone will become a valuable asset to the Tyne Club and will benefit them for many, many years.

Just from the new boss's relentless investment in fixed assets such as the training base, it can be seen that these turbaned oil tycoons are probably not in the Premier League for fun.

※※※

CCTV reporter Guo Xuequan sat on the sofa chair and twisted his body. As he moved, the sofa chair made a creaking sound, which was the sound of the leather being squeezed and rubbed.

He gently stroked the leather armrest of the sofa chair with his palm and groaned with envy: "What a rich dog! It's actually real leather!"

The media centers of other clubs mostly use ordinary chairs, and some even use folding chairs.

The media center of Tyne Northumberland Football City is not only full of sofa chairs, but also made of leather! The leather is delicate and soft, and the backrest of each sofa chair has an embroidered pattern of the Tyne team logo. The double-row stitching is neat and uniform, and the details are luxurious. When you sit on it, you don’t feel like you are at a press conference, but more like sitting in the first-class lounge of a Middle Eastern tycoon airline.

Liu Zhong, who was standing beside him and was from the sports department of the famous domestic platform Yunxun.com, was also shocked by the environment he was in. He turned his head and looked around, then sighed: "The aesthetic taste of the Middle Eastern dog owners is really... If I hadn't told you, I would have thought this was the Vienna Golden Hall..."

The two reporters have been stationed in the UK for a long time and have traveled all over the country. They are experienced. But they were still controlled by the inhumane "luxury" and "rustic" of Tyne.

In fact, it was not just the two of them. At this moment, there were many Chinese reporters in the hall of the Northumberland Football City News Media Center. Without exception, they were amazed at everything they saw and touched, and kept exclaiming in amazement, just like Granny Liu who had just entered the Grand View Garden.

But we cannot blame them for not having seen the world. Even their English counterparts behaved the same way as them when they first came here - people all over the world are the same when it comes to "money power", and no one is superior to anyone else.

The Northumberland Football City training base has only been in use for half a season, and many English journalists are still not excited about it, not to mention Chinese journalists - Newcastle is not the center of English football, and there are no popular strong teams, so they rarely visit here. It was only recently, with the joining of Wang Lie, that the number of Chinese journalists here began to increase.

Guo Xuequan gently pinched the armrest of the sofa chair, shook his head and sighed: "Look at this luxurious training base, and then look at Tyne's record in the Premier League in recent years. I feel sorry for the rich dog family... Spending so much money is worse than skipping stones. At least you can hear the sound and see the splashes. But they can't even see a splash! So much money is like it disappeared into thin air..."

Liu Zhong was also heartbroken - it would be great if this money could be given to me!

But he is more worried about the future of the club: "The money of the big players is not blown by the wind. If the results don't improve, there is no need for them to continue to play with us, right? Those who suspect that Tyne is a scam on the Internet are not completely unreasonable... So much money was spent, but there is no effect at all. It seems outrageous no matter how you look at it!"

It has been six years since Middle East Oil Capital acquired Tyne. Excluding investment in hardware such as infrastructure, the money spent on buying players alone has exceeded 800 million pounds, close to 1 billion euros!
If it weren't for UEFA's latest version of the Financial Fair Play scheme, which allows clubs to use investments in new construction, renovation of stadiums, training bases and other hardware facilities and women's football projects to offset the costs of transfers and signings, they would have been sanctioned countless times.

From this point of view, perhaps the main purpose of the Tyne Club's construction of this "inhumane" training base at all costs is to "settle accounts". As for providing the team with better training conditions and improving the team's training level... etc., it seems to be a "side effect".

Guo Xuequan said: "It is said that the contract signed by Wang Lie and Taien was originally a short-term contract of one and a half years. So it doesn't matter what happens in the future. Wang Lie obviously wants to find a team that can maintain his competitive form before the World Cup starts..."

Liu Zhong also found it incredible: "Wang Lie actually wants to play in another World Cup... Wasn't it just a joke among netizens before? I didn't expect that he would really turn this joke into reality...

"He will be 39 years old next year at the World Cup. So what if he participates? A locker room mascot and a cheerleader on the bench? I don't think Wang Lie would accept such an arrangement, right? If he and He Zhenyong start a quarrel... the internal strife will hurt their fighting capacity!"

"Don't even mention internal strife. Look at the World Cup qualifiers right now. Coach He didn't recruit Wang Lie for a single match. What has the domestic public opinion become? Wang Lie and Coach He haven't even publicly expressed their conflict yet..." Guo Xuequan also sighed. "Wang Lie's performance is such that he really can't refuse to admit defeat!"

Liu Zhong said: "Well, Wang Lie's fans also have something to say. They said that Helden didn't give Wang Lie a regular game, so how could Wang Lie be in good shape? So it's not that Wang Lie is unwilling to admit his age, but that he was not given a chance to prove that he is not old.

"I actually think it makes sense. The past half season has been abnormal for Wang Lie. Under abnormal circumstances, many opinions and views, whether scolding him, making fun of him, or criticizing him, are unfair to Wang Lie."

Guo Xuequan nodded in agreement: "That's right. So this trip to Tyne is Wang Lie's last chance to prove himself. He is the one that coach McNeill specifically asked for, so he will definitely be given a chance and will definitely be supported tactically... If he doesn't perform well again, then there will be nothing to say.

"In fact, we don't need to wait for the World Cup, just wait until the end of this season. Half a season is enough to explain the problem. Let's see what kind of performance Wang Lie, who is 38 years old, can bring. If his performance is really not good, even if Coach He completely excludes him from the national team roster, I guess the resistance from public opinion will be much smaller."

After hearing what Guo Xuequan said, Liu Zhong suddenly had an idea. He looked around, then came close and asked in a low voice, "Do you hope Wang Lie will perform well or not?"

Guo Xuequan didn't expect Liu Zhong to ask such a question. It was too difficult to answer.

From a personal perspective, he certainly hopes that Wang Lie will perform well and be able to slap the faces of those English media who laugh at him and are not optimistic about him.

But considering the overall national situation, he didn't want Wang Lie to bring any shock or turmoil to the already stable national team. The World Cup will be held next year, and what the Chinese national team needs is stability and unity, not a superstar who falls from the sky...

But no matter which answer is chosen, it seems to easily cause controversy, and reason and logic are the most meaningless on this issue.

Just when Guo Xuequan hadn't figured out how to answer, the side door of the media center was pushed open.

Everyone's attention was drawn to that place, and the hall, which had been as noisy as a vegetable market, suddenly became quiet.

Guo Xuequan and Liu Zhong did the same and turned their attention to the side door.

Under everyone's gaze, Tyne Club press officer Connor Plant walked in first.

Next to appear behind him was the team's head coach Sam McNeill.

The last person to come in was the reason why so many Chinese and foreign journalists gathered here today - Wang Lie.

This was his first time appearing at a press conference after joining Tyne. Seeing Wang Lie, there was a commotion in the press hall.

But they were soon forced back, and they just locked their eyes on Wang Lie, turning their necks to follow his steps.

After the three people were seated on the stage, press officer Connor Plant announced the start of the regular midweek press conference. Head coach McNeil first gave a brief introduction to some basic information of the team in the first half of the week, such as the team's current injury problems and the adjustments made after losing the previous game.

These are actually not the highlights. All the reporters are waiting for is the free question session.

Sure enough, after press officer Plant said questions could be asked, a lot of arms were raised in the press hall.

Plant didn't even have to choose, he just ordered one at random.

The lucky person chosen was a reporter from BBC5, but his questions were not very friendly:

"Mr. McNeill, after Wang joined the team, there was no ceremony. Was it because of concerns that the fans would oppose the transfer?"

When McNeil heard this question, he frowned, with a question mark on his face - what the hell is this? You were the first one to be called on to ask a question, and you asked this kind of bullshit question?
However, Wang Lie, who was next to him, did not get angry when he heard this question, but grinned.

Ah, what a nostalgic feeling...

Fight with the sky, the earth, and people, the fun is endless!

He held McNeil's hand next to him and said to him, "I'll answer it."

After saying this, he leaned forward slightly, got close to the microphone, looked at the BBC5 reporter who asked the question and said, "I guess, if I say that I voluntarily gave up the welcome ceremony prepared by the club because I didn't want to affect the team's normal training rhythm, you will definitely say that this is an excuse I used to cover up the embarrassment when you go back to edit the news, right?"

The BBC5 reporter who asked the question wanted to defend himself, but was interrupted by Wang Lie: "It's okay, you don't need to say anything now. Anyway, I'll wait and see your news reports to know whether you will do this. It's not like you haven't done this kind of thing before. Have I wronged you, BBC5?"

Unexpectedly, the confrontation over the first question was so tense. Liu Zhong and Guo Xuequan looked at each other, then lowered their heads and whispered together.

Liu Zhong: "Fuck, it's a familiar recipe, familiar taste! Wang Lie is still the same Wang Lie... He is really straightforward and never beats around the bush!"

Guo Xuequan: "But I'm worried. Wang Lie was able to be so tough before because he had good grades and his performance was convincing. Now he is still so tough with the media. If his performance doesn't improve again, I'm afraid he will get himself into trouble! It's not smart to do this..."

Liu Zhong: "Well, isn't Wang Lie such a person? How could he possibly consider those things? If he could be smarter when facing the media, there wouldn't be so many negative articles..."

Guo Xuequan: "In fact, I can understand why Wang Lie did this. It's nothing more than path dependence. In the past, he was so angry at everyone and it didn't matter how much he offended people, because he performed well and had good results. In competitive sports, results and strength are the key. As long as you have good results and strength, you don't have to worry about anything. But the problem is that Wang Lie doesn't have that strength and results now..."

Liu Zhong also agreed with this point: "So in the past six months or so, Wang Lie's image has been relatively negative. There is nothing we can do about it. People's character is not so easy to change. We can only say that character determines destiny. Arrogance and paranoia made Wang Lie successful, but they can also ruin him..."

While the two were discussing privately, head coach Sam McNeill on the stage seemed to want to cool down the situation between the two parties, so he added: "The club has decided that we will prepare a grand welcome ceremony for Wang before the start of the new season. Besides, there is no evidence to show that Tyne fans don't like Wang's arrival. Next one."

This time, press officer Plante called on a Chinese reporter to try to ease the tense atmosphere.

As a result, Guo Xuequan was the one called.

Guo Xuequan quickly stood up and introduced himself first - Hello everyone, who am I, which media I work for...

Actually, you don’t have to do it.

As CCTV's sports reporter based in the UK, Guo Xuequan has been following and reporting on Chinese overseas players in England for a long time. Both the players and Chinese reporters know him.

Wang Lie is no exception.

However, Guo Xuequan may feel that since Wang Lie has changed clubs this time, he should introduce himself again, giving it a sense of ritual of "starting over again".

After introducing himself, Guo Xuequan looked at Wang Lie and said, "I'm actually asking this question on behalf of the Chinese fans in China. That is... Can you play in the league match against Helinghan FC this weekend, Wang Lie?"

※※※

“Will the king appear?”

At the same time, far away in London, Hurlingham FC head coach Kofi Rossiter asked back to the reporter who asked him a question.

The other party nodded.

Rost snorted: "Sorry, sir, you've come to the wrong place. You should go to the north..."

He pointed behind the reporters, which was the north side and the exit of the press conference room.

"Go to Newcastle and ask Tyne's head coach McNeill, or you can go directly to ask Wang if he will play in the weekend game. And now you come here to ask me... What? Am I the head coach of Tyne? Can I decide whether Wang will play or not?"

Everyone smelled the smell of gunpowder in the air.

This is mainly because before this question, almost all the questions that reporters asked Rost were related to Wang Lie.

Will Wang Lie play?
What do you think about Wang Lie and Sofo United’s termination of contract?
Do you think Wang Lie taking a risk by going to Tain?

……

To be honest, most of these questions have nothing to do with Hurlingham FC, which Rossiter coaches, and it is indeed very rude to ask them.

But who says Wang Lie is one of the top players in the Premier League right now?
After Arthur Elorne left the Premier League and moved to FC Madrid in La Liga, the Premier League, which is known as the best league in the world, really needs a top superstar who can truly show off.

This role previously belonged to Wang Lie, so after he led SofaSoccer United to an unprecedented "seven crowns" and won the Golden Ball Award, the English media almost collectively promoted Wang Lie's great achievements in an attempt to create a heroic image that could compete with La Liga.

Now Wang Lie is old, but it seems that no one of the new generation can take his place.

Apart from him, today's football is actually dominated by two people, Arthur Eloun of Madrid FC and Ronil Nascimento of Atletico Barcelona, ​​who are the so-called "two heroes of the ages".

Arthur, 33, and Ronil, 32, are in the best stages of their respective careers and will continue to dominate world football for several more years.

A few days ago, all kinds of negative news about Wang Lie were flying around, and it was also thanks to these Premier League media.

Black and red are also red. During that period, the traffic and attention of the Premier League did exceed that of La Liga.

These people mocked and criticized Wang Lie verbally and in writing, but when they saw that Wang Lie chose to stay in the Premier League, many of them breathed a sigh of relief.

The Premier League has not lost traffic.

In the last match between Tyne and Sydham, everyone knew that Wang Lie was unlikely to play.

But this match against Helinghan FC is different, Wang Lie really has the possibility of playing!

So Hlingham FC head coach Kofi Rossiter was overwhelmed by Wang Lie's traffic.

Rossiter once opposed his club boss's intention to bring in Wang Lie, but as the head coach, he only had the right to make suggestions on the signings, not the decision-making power, so his boss did not listen to him and still wanted to push forward the matter. Of course, in the end, no one knew why, but Wang Lie did not come to Hurlingham FC, but went to Tyne, which made Rossiter breathe a sigh of relief.

Today's scene was just one game. If Wang Lie was really in his team, wouldn't he be distracted by the huge traffic in every game? There would be no peace!
Thinking of this, Rost retorted to the reporter who asked the question: "You shouldn't ask me whether Wang will appear on stage, you should ask me if I am worried about him appearing on stage. Then I will tell you that I am not worried. Why should I worry about a character who has retreated to the edge of the stage and will leave if he retreats one step further? Maybe you should ask when Wang will 'leave'."

Seeing the shocked expressions of the reporters below, Rost became more and more excited. He decided to use a big move:
"I can even tell you that Wang's agent team once contacted Helingham FC, but we rejected him... Strictly speaking, it was me who rejected him! My Helingham FC is a team, and we don't need someone who always puts himself above the team! So when the club asked me for advice, I told them directly not to waste time and money on Wang!

"Finally, let me answer your question seriously. Will Wang play in the game this weekend? I don't know because he is not my player. But if he is in Hurlingham FC, then I'm sorry, he will never play!"

There was already an uproar at the press conference of Hlingham FC...

※※※

“Will I play in the league this weekend?”

After hearing this question, Wang Lie turned his head and looked at head coach McNeil who was sitting next to him.

It looked like he was checking with McNeill, or perhaps asking for advice.

McNeill also turned his head to look at him, but didn't give him any signal.

Wang Lie retracted his gaze and looked at Guo Xuequan who asked the question, and said in an affirmative tone:
"Yes, I will be there."

※※※

PS, this book will be on the shelves on September 1st. I have accumulated some manuscripts before, so I will start updating from tomorrow. First, I will update twice tomorrow, then three times on the first day of the shelf, and then twice a day until the competition is finished!
(End of this chapter)