722 The Future Belongs to the Young

Carl Spicer had criticized Twain's recruitment strategy for the summer in his column. He believed that Twain was living in a fantasy if he intended to employ a team made up of young players the following season.

His views were met with approval from numerous media outlets, and led to the successive arrival of various other criticisms.

Some of those criticisms were against Twain, and some were against the club, while others pointed their fingers at the players.

"I don't believe Tony Twain will be able to achieve any notable results this season."

"The club spent money buying all these young players, and it will quickly be proven that they have invested wrongly."

"Nicolás Millán? I'm sorry, I haven't even heard of the name before…"

"Tony Twain must be dreaming if he thinks he can make the team powerful just by bringing in all these young players with potential. Is he trying to replicate Manchester United's Class of '92? This is nothing more than a complete farce in my eyes!"

Even Pierce Brosnan, the journalist for the Nottingham Evening Post who had always supported Twain, published an article expressing his concern at how Twain had mostly bought young players over the summer.

He opined that it was worrying that Twain had pinned his hopes on a team of young players between the ages of 17 and 18. He did not doubt that Twain had brought in talented youths, but he felt that grooming these youths was a process that would take time. They might turn out to be great players in a few years' time, but was Forest going to rely solely on them at present?

He tried his best to be as tactful as he could, and to phrase his words nicely as much as possible in the article.

However, his article still angered the King.

He received a call from Twain, and a flood of admonishments came his way the moment he picked up.

"What the hell are you writing about in your article, Mr. Reporter? Are you trying to denounce me? Thank goodness I didn't plan on publishing an article in a column in your newspaper—otherwise I'd have become a big f*cking joke! An article written by me scolding the media, and the article from you casting doubt on me would have been published at the same time in the newspaper… Hmm?"

"But…but Mr. Twain, I only wrote what I wrote out of concern as a Forest fan…"

"Forest fan? Have you gone out on the street to interview people? Are those fans worried? Can you represent their opinion?"

"Based on what I understand so far…Yes, they are worried, Mr. Twain. They are all worried about the overly young team that you have right now…"

"They have their reasons to be worried! But you don't have the right to publish them! Do you know what I've been doing every single day besides training the players? I've been inculcating the footballing spirit of Nottingham Forest in these youngsters! I've been telling them that whatever the media says is bullsh*t, and that they are actually much better than what the media makes them out to be! I've been trying to instill confidence in them all this while…And here you are trying to wreck my plans! You have to understand where you are coming from, Mr. Reporter. You are the local newspaper for Nottingham, and you represent the voice of Nottingham—you can't get in my way like this! If we start fighting amongst ourselves, then aren't we just going to end up becoming a laughingstock to others?"

"But what I'm saying is the truth…"

"Screw your f*cking truth! I'm the only one who needs to know about the truth! What you need to do is give the youngsters confidence—confidence and more confidence! The reason I gave you access to the club's exclusive information was not for you to be loggerheads with me! Are you a Nottingham Forest fan or not? Do you wish for Nottingham Forest to become better, Mr. Reporter?"

"Of…of course I wish for that…"

"Then you go out there and write a story about how these youngsters are the best in the world! The best! It doesn't matter if you praise them to the skies. Don't worry about them letting your words go to their heads. It's my job to make sure that doesn't happen, Mr. Reporter."

Pierce felt wronged, and was reluctant to do as Twain said, but he could not continue squabbling with Twain over the phone. After remembering that Twain had a heart condition, he was worried about sending him back to the hospital.

"All right… I will accept this suggestion of yours, Mr. Twain."

Twain's voice softened a little after hearing his words. "Remember this, Mr. Reporter. You represent Nottingham, and you are the voice of Nottingham Forest. No matter what happens, you must always stand on our side. I need you to be a voice of support. When the other media outlets out there are questioning my team, you have to step out and defend us. Do you know what I mean by 'the atmosphere at our home grounds?' Don't think that you only get that kind of atmosphere when you're at the stands of the City Ground stadium. What these youngsters need is not the media's disapproval of them. It's praise! Don't focus on anything else. You're only getting in my way if you do."

Two days later, an article was published in the Nottingham Evening Post by Pierce Brosnan. In it, he interviewed the young players playing for Nottingham Forest. He wrote about how the young players had a lot of fight and resolve going into the next season, and displayed a tightly-knit and optimistic team to the public.

Of course, the article had been published at Twain's behest. Twain couldn't care less about Pierce Brosnan and his 'position as a journalist.' All he cared about were the things that benefited him, and those that did not.

※※※

Twain's anger towards Brosnan's earlier article was well grounded.

The truth was that Twain was actually happy that the other media outlets out there were chastising his players. He had only been feigning fury at their words. This was because he could make use of the opportunity to unite the youngsters as one.

It also gave him the chance to bring out the fight in the young players, and paradoxically, to build up their confidence by telling them, 'Look, the media does not think highly of you lot.' The youngsters were all at a rebellious age, so it was a good way to direct those fiery emotions of theirs towards the media instead. Then, he could tell them that he, Tony Twain, would always stand with them—that he would believe in them forever, and that they were the best!

Those words would get the young players fired up, and itching to prove their abilities on the pitch.

Afterwards, it would be up to Twain's ability to train and discipline the players.

He did not worry about the youths breaking free of his control over them, regardless of whether the team lost or won.

But Brosnan's previous article showed the world that he was more aware of the situation at Nottingham Forest than others.

All along, the Nottingham Evening Post had acted as Twain's spokesperson. It had been derided by others as a newspaper that was devoid of the principles of good journalism when it came to issues surrounding Nottingham Forest. However, the Nottingham Forest fans did not share their sentiments. They enjoyed reading articles that praised the Forest team. They would pay attention to the articles published in the Nottingham Evening Post. Nobody likes to read about criticisms against the team they support.

A media outlet that had always supported him had suddenly questioned him. That definitely made him feel uncomfortable.

※※※

Nottingham Forest did not make a trip to Asia for money during their pre-season days. Neither did they go to North America. The team did not even step out of Nottingham and visit other areas in Britain. They simply stayed in their training grounds and had practice matches with a few other British football teams.

Twain had arranged for more practice matches this year, because he hoped to bring the team together by playing more matches. This would help the young players get used to the way the team played more quickly.

It was also a good chance for him to observe and pick out the players who would be a part of his plans for the coming season. There were things he wouldn't be able to discern during training. The best way to judge a player's abilities is always through actual matches.

Twain found Adriano Moke, the player who Greenwood rated very highly, to be very disappointing after observing his performances over a few practice matches.

His physique, which was prone to injuries, constantly gave him the disadvantage when he was engaged in physical battles with his opponents. He might be good at dribbling and getting past his opponents, but those things meant nothing if he couldn't get into physical battles with other players. There is no soccer match in the world that doesn't involve physical contact between players.

If a player wasn't good with physical battles, then it didn't matter how good his technique might be. He was not a player that Twain wanted.

On the other hand, the player who had not stood out for a few years on the reserve team, Chris Cohen, impressed Twain. His performance on the left flank was noteworthy. His pace and technique did not rival Moke's, but he performed better on the whole than Moke.

Additionally, what really set Cohen apart from Moke was the fact that he preferred working with the team, unlike Moke, who preferred working on his own. Perhaps this had something to do with his lack of pace and power, and his inability to create many chances for the team on his own.

During the practice matches, he managed to make several good passes, and was a threat going down the middle from the left flank as well.

Twain decided to focus his efforts on grooming Cohen for the coming season.

As for Moke…He would either get him out on a loan or sell him.

Bostock and Millán's performances lived up to Twain's expectations. Neither of them lacked experience, having already played in plenty of youth team matches. Millán had even played in a first team match before, when he was just 14 years of age. Therefore, playing first team matches was not something new for either of them.

Similarly, Şahin's performance was worthy of praise as well. At the very least, he had displayed a higher level of ability than other players during the practice matches. His technique was regarded as outstanding by the British players, and Twain's decision to bring him back to the first team also seemed to have strengthened his confidence.

Meanwhile, the left back, Joe Mattock's performance was average at best. He had moments of brilliance, but did not perform better than Leighton Baines and Gareth Bale most of the time. Twain believed that the Premier League might still be a little challenging for a player like him, who had only played in League One so far. Mattock might have a lot of potential in him, but he had to be groomed over a period of time first.

Victor Moses had performed well thus far. His physicality and speed allowed him to gain the upper hand during the matches. He was good at breaking through the defense with his speed, and also managed to shoot for goals while holding back the defenders. He was a player who could be used during squad rotations.

If everything went according to plan, then as of now, Nottingham Forest's list of strikers for next season included Žigić, Eastwood, Agbonlahor, Nicolás Millán, and Victor Moses. The first three were players that Twain intended to rely upon heavily throughout the season. The other two players would play games for both the reserve and first teams, so as to gain experience and improve themselves through game time. As for what kind of position those two would end up playing on the first team, that would depend on the kind of performance they gave from now on.

Twain's most expensive signing of the summer, Agbonlahor, has not let him down so far. The kid's pace and power turned him into a razor-edged dagger on the pitch. He started in all four practice matches, and played until the end for each match. He scored a total of six goals across the matches.

Twain also tried to play him as a winger, and he put in a performance that was to Twain's satisfaction. Whether it was breaking through into the penalty box, crossing from the byline, or shooting, he was good at each and every one of them.

The best part about Agbonlahor was the fact that he had publicly declared his trust in Tony Twain's abilities, time and time again. He had expressed that he never regretted making the switch from Aston Villa to Nottingham Forest, because he believed that he would stand at the top with Twain one day.

His words made Twain overjoyed.

The players who chose to stick with the team through their toughest times were the players who deserved his respect and attention, and a player who specially transferred to the club when it was going through those times was a player he must value.

※※※

That summer felt like a summer that belonged to the young in Wilford.

North Wilford welcomed a new batch of U18 players around the time when Twain was preparing for the new season with the first team.

Every summer, a group of players who had been specially hand-picked from around the globe would be sent to North Wilford. These players were there to receive the most professional training, and they were all there with the goal of becoming either a professional footballer, or a first team member of Nottingham Forest.

Some of the players were average, but there were also a few talented ones amongst them. Those with talent might get a few more glances their ways by the coaches, but their talent would have little to no impact on their futures. What determined whether a player could succeed in the future was not the player's talent or gift, but rather how much hard work he put into training and improving himself.

Every year, the head of the youth team would provide the first team manager with a new list of youth players. Talented players whom the manager should focus on would also get marked out on that list.

However, how many players on that list could make their way into the first team?

Only just a few.

There were very few players who went through training at Nottingham Forest's youth team and eventually ended up playing for the team. That was also why Twain's promotion of four young players to the first team became a topic of debate everywhere in North Wilford.

The young players who were training at North Wilford saw hope in Twain's actions.

Greenwood looked at the group of fresh faces on the training grounds. Some of the players standing before him had grown up in Nottingham, and had managed to rise above the rest after going through numerous trainings that were tailored for different age groups. Others wee players with potential who had been brought over by their scouts from other countries. They had all agreed to join Nottingham Forest's youth team and receive training in Nottingham.

For the young players who grew up in Nottingham, George Wood was their exemplar and someone they aspired to become.

For the players who came to Nottingham Forest from other parts of the world, Gareth Bale would be their role model.

The last batch of youth team players had mostly left the team. Some joined the reserve team, while some lucky ones managed to make their way onto the first team. As for the rest…They had either been sold to other football clubs in a different tier from theirs, or they had had their contracts terminated with the club, and were left to figure out what to do next on their own.

"Firstly, I'd like to welcome all of you to North Wilford." Greenwood stood before the bunch of kids with his other youth team coaches.

"Next, I'd like all of you to know that your goal is not to stay here forever. Your goal lies in the south…" He pointed in the southern direction. "That's the training grounds of Nottingham Forest's first team. A team that has won the Champions League four times is waiting for all of you there! Still, I hope all of you can understand that the door over there is not open to everyone. Every year we will eliminate many players, and even if you make it onto the reserve team, it doesn't mean you will have a chance to play for the first team. Besides training your hardest here, I also want all of you to put in your best performance for us and the first team manager. Don't even think about doing otherwise!

"I've looked at your résumés, and I understand a lot about where you lads have come from, and what you've done so far. I truly believe that you are the cream of the crop. But you need to prove that you are indeed more outstanding than others your age through your actions and performances! You're not here because you want to play amateur football, right? I don't want to tell you the success story of George Wood. That is a story that has been reported countless times by the media. I just hope you understand that he put in a lot of hard work to become as successful as he is now! From today onwards, each and every of you will be lucky enough to experience what he had to go through! It's not an experience that will make you happy, but I can guarantee you that when the day comes and you are able to shine on the pitch, you will realize that everything you have gone through here was not for nothing!" Greenwood flailed his arms about forcefully.

Chen Jian stood amongst this group of newcomers. He might have trained as a part of the youth team from last season, but he was still allowed to join as a newcomer for this year's youth team.

Henceforth, he would be an official member of this youth team. This time around, he had come from China, and not from a talent show. He was no longer just a 'guest' who could only participate in the training, and could not represent the team in any competitions. He had a concrete goal that he could work towards. Every good performance would mean something now, unlike in the past, when it did not matter whether he performed well or badly.

He wanted to become a professional footballer!

It did not matter how much sweat he had to put in for it, or how tough the journey would be for him. It did not matter how the road beneath him would twist and turn.

His goal would never change.

He was willing to gamble everything that he had, and give his all for it. He wanted to become a professional footballer, no matter what.

He was like a soldier who had wandered into the opponent's territory. There was no way back now. He could not even turn around. All he could do was keep walking forward.

And finally, at the end of the road… Checkmate!

※※※

Twain received the new list of youth players from Greenwood. There were 30 names on the list, and some were circled in red.

The ones circled in red were the players that Greenwood thought highly of. They had the potential to make it onto the first team, and they were the ones to pay attention to and see how they developed from that point on.

Those players were Lee Alexander from Nottingham, Darren Williams from Bishop's Cleeve, Andrew McLeod from Glasgow, Scotland, and Chen Jian from the distant, far-away country of China.