As a professional journalist for the Manchester Evening News, Scarlett was currently covering three Manchester teams: Manchester United, Manchester City, and New Manchester United. Originally, her impression was that New Manchester United's home atmosphere should be the best, because their fans were the most passionate.
In contrast, Manchester United's fans were the most polite, and also the least like traditional fans. Even when their team scored, they did not shout or cheer at the top of their lungs. They were like neutral spectators, passing through the stadium like fleeting clouds, leaving no trace behind.
The reason Keane was so stubbornly locked in a contract dispute with Manchester United was precisely because of his disappointment with the club's management!
However, for New Manchester United's first match of the season in the National League, hosting Rushden & Diamonds at home, the entire stadium was eerily quiet when the referee blew the whistle for the end of the first half.
Was it because New Manchester United had moved into the larger Gigg Lane, leaving the stands looking empty?
Clearly, that was not the whole reason. Although only over three thousand fans occupied the eight thousand-plus seats, in the past, those three thousand fans could still create a home atmosphere that struck fear into visiting teams.
If there were any doubt about this, one only needed to look at the FA Cup match a few months ago, when New Manchester United challenged Arsenal away.
The only reason for the fans' low spirits was that New Manchester United were losing, and losing in a complete rout!
The large red scoreboard on the pitch showed the numbers 0-3. Following convention, the home team was listed first, and the away team second!
For this match, New Manchester United fielded a 4-4-2 formation. The forwards were the twin towers, Žigić and Crouch. The left and right wide midfielders were Krzynówek and Darren Lyons. The central midfielders were Juninho and Karl Marginson. The back line, from left to right, consisted of Evra, Abidal, Gary Turner, and Kevin Evans, with Schmeichel in goal.
Compared to last season's starting lineup, New Manchester United had changed six starters this season, including the entire strike partnership.
For a newly promoted side, changing the majority of the starting lineup was not surprising, but such a collapse in the first league match was indeed shocking.
Was it a matter of strength?
Scarlett had been a football journalist for over a year. While she would not claim to be an expert, she at least had some perspective. She felt the main issue lay in midfield. New Manchester United had been completely overrun by Rushden & Diamonds. In particular, the Brazil international signed for a large fee had performed terribly.
According to Scarlett's understanding, New Manchester United had spent big to bring him in, hoping he could control the tempo of the game and become the core of their attack. But judging by the current situation, he was completely out of sync with the team. When all the players were making runs, his passes were either behind them or too far ahead, rarely reaching his teammates' feet accurately and on time.
As a Brazilian player, Juninho's technique and ability were beyond doubt. The only question was just how much of that ability he could actually display in this team.
Perhaps taking him off would be a good choice!
Scarlett thought to herself. At least in the pre-season friendlies, that young Danish player named Poulsen had performed very well. His tenacious style had stiffened New Manchester United's spine, and his chemistry with Marginson was excellent.
Likely, very few people in the entire stadium shared Scarlett's thoughts, including New Manchester United's manager, Bruce...
In the dressing room, all the players had their heads bowed. Even goalkeeper Schmeichel, making his debut for the team, had a face full of frustration. Clearly, at this moment, he must be regretting his decision to join New Manchester United.
Yes, judging by the total collapse of the first half, the situation in the second half would likely only get worse.
New Manchester United were very strong last season, but that was in the amateur regional leagues. Now they were in the National League, a completely different world.
And Rushden & Diamonds were also a very strong professional club.
"I am ashamed of your performance in the first half!" Bruce said in a low voice.
Hearing this, all the players bowed their heads even lower. Especially Juninho. Although no one said anything, he knew full well that the opposition had constantly used the centre as a breakthrough point. He had not given Marginson enough help, leaving the latter exhausted from running. Worst of all, he had not played his intended role in attack either.
Is my poor performance dragging down the whole team?
Perhaps joining an English team was a mistake in itself!
Juninho thought regretfully. As soon as this thought surfaced, it spread like a plague, occupying his entire mind and eroding his will to persevere.
For instance, he did not like England's damp, rainy weather. He preferred the Brazilian sunshine. He also did not like the English league's physical style of football. He preferred Brazil's technique-oriented attacking style.
Maybe I should take advantage of the transfer window still being open and go back to Brazil!
Bruce naturally did not know what was going through Juninho's mind. In fact, he could not control Juninho's thoughts anyway. He only cared about how to turn things around in the second half and win this match.
"Christian, you're coming on in the second half to replace Ribeiro as the defensive midfielder. Remember, your primary responsibility is to firmly control the situation in midfield. Any pass trying to go through the middle, you intercept it for me without exception!" Bruce slapped the midfield area on the tactics board with force.
The players were startled by the loud slap. Hearing this, a flash of disappointment crossed Juninho's eyes, along with a sense of helplessness. He had been mentally prepared for such a substitution, but when it actually came, it still felt painful.
The others around him also looked at the club's biggest star with sympathetic eyes. He did not have the typical Brazilian casualness or the habit of showing off technique. He was always diligent. Whether on the training ground or the pitch, he was the most hardworking and industrious person.
Yet he happened to be the one performing the worst!
In many cases, professional football was just that cruel. You could work the hardest, but that did not mean you would get the reward you deserved!
"Peter, we're changing tactics in the second half. Your impact on the pitch isn't obvious. Ivica, you're going on to play as a shadow striker behind Nikola. Remember to drop back more and link up with the midfield!" Bruce did not even look at Juninho as he continued arranging the tactics.
Crouch and Olić both nodded in agreement.
"Nikola, you are the most dangerous player on the pitch. Your height is your greatest weapon. In the second half, push up for me, as far as you can. Ideally, root yourself in the opponent's penalty area. Shoot if you can. If not, lay the ball off for your teammates. We need more crosses and high balls from both flanks in the second half to make use of Nikola's advantage!"
Žigić stood up and nodded in agreement. In the first half, neither wing had delivered a decent ball, which had left him feeling very frustrated.
"This match is the first of the season. As I told you before the game, our goal this year is not survival. It's the championship! We want to win the title, get promoted, and go to League Two next year!"
Pausing for a moment, Bruce spoke again. "The club has invested a large sum of money this year, including building the Newton Heath training ground, acquiring a stadium, and bringing in several quality players. All of this is enough to show the club's determination. But after that first half, I seriously doubt whether you have the same determination as the club."
"If you do, show it to me, to the owner, and to the fans on the pitch. If you don't, then I'm sorry. The transfer window isn't over yet, and I won't be disappointed by any player's departure!"
Bruce's words immediately filled the dressing room with tension. Whether they were new signings or veterans from last year, everyone began to feel that their positions were in danger.
When they were competing in the North West Counties League Division Two, the team only had 19 players to handle the entire season. Now, the first-team squad had a full 25 players, and Bruce would be more than happy to make an example out of anyone who did not fall in line...
"Wait... wait... wait! Jim, slow down!"
The frightened shout of a male passenger came from a taxi speeding through the streets of Manchester.
"Don't worry, mate. My driving skills are very reliable. Look, I was worried we wouldn't make it, but looking at the time, we can definitely catch the second half!" Jim floored the accelerator while looking back to smile at his passenger.
"Don't look back, you bastard! Watch the road in front of you!" the male passenger roared at him.
Jim chuckled, then slammed on the brakes as he turned right into Gigg Lane, nearly scaring the passenger in the back seat to death. He then took the corner like a racing driver, with a real sense of drifting.
Although the taxi driver's moves and technique were impressive, the passenger behind him did not find it fun at all, as he slammed heavily against the taxi door, his head nearly smashing into the window glass.
"Bastard!" The passenger wanted to keep cursing, but he immediately shut his mouth.
After turning into Gigg Lane, both sides of the road were lined with parked cars, leaving only a narrow gap in the middle to pass through.
"Hey, are you sure this is the place?" The passenger forgot his pain and poked his head out of the window.
Wow, looking down the entire lane, both sides were packed with cars. The police officers, who usually supervised parking, were now standing beside the illegally parked vehicles, looking more like car park attendants, occasionally peeking toward the stadium behind the two rows of two-storey brick houses.
"John, make some room. I'm parking here!" Jim shouted at a police officer.
The officer named John lowered his head by the car window, and seeing Jim inside, he immediately stepped aside with a smile.
"So? How many goals are we up by after the first half?" Jim parked the car, pushed the door open, and asked immediately.
"3-0!" John replied disappointedly.
"Hey, John, I really didn't know you were a Rushden & Diamonds fan. But it's okay, even if you lose this game, you can still win it back next time!" Jim said with a laugh, feeling very excited upon hearing the score.
"I'm a New Manchester United fan, okay, Jim?" John brushed off Jim's hand as he tried to comfort him. "We're losing. Rushden & Diamonds are the ones who scored!"
Jim was stunned.
"Good God, 3-0! That's too brutal. I think I'd rather not go watch!" Hearing the score, the passenger began to have second thoughts.
"Stop right there, bastard!" Jim grabbed the passenger's hand. "You're going to watch. Otherwise, you'll definitely regret missing a classic comeback. We will definitely win this match! Ethan and Steve both guaranteed it to me!"
With that, Jim turned and walked toward the stadium entrance, muttering to himself that they would definitely win!
(To be continued.)