Chapter 163: A Crack Part 1
Chapter 163: A Crack Part 1
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Middlesbrough, who was driven far away from the penalty area by the Forest team's defense, was able only to attempt to breach the Forest team's goal with long-range strikes, which might have been the best way to break the intensive defense. However, their team lacked a player with excellent long-shot ability. Sometimes, the shots might make the Forest fans break out in a cold sweat, but they did not threaten the security of the Forest team goal.
Tang En remained unmoved. He felt that his team's current tactics were very good, and could restrain Middlesbrough's attacks. As long as McClaren did not make a move, he had no need to adjust his original intentions.
The two managers sat in their seats, plotting their tactics, and the fans in the stands thought this final was very boring. The first half was almost over, and the Forest team had only attempted one shot. Although Middlesbrough seemed to be fierce in their offensive, there was no good opportunity. More often than not, they could only cross, pass, and pass the football to each other in front of the Forest team's defense line. If they moved forward, they would soon be cut off.
Nottingham Forest's defense had left the Middlesbrough players helpless. Without further instructions from their manager, they could only play according to the formation set before the game... But the tactics laid out before the game were obviously unsuitable to deal with the current Forest team.
Only Downing was working hard. This was the EFL Cup final. Like what Tang En had said, this was the best opportunity for a young rookie to make his mark and become famous with one shot. At this time, if he did not perform, what was he still waiting for?
But he, who wanted to be famous, had picked the wrong opponent. The heavily defended and compact Forest team was definitely not the best opponent for Downing to bring his strengths to play. His two rivals, which he currently faced, were the Forest team right back, John Thompson, and right midfielder, Ashley Young, the more imposing of whom looked to be the right back.
Ashley Young was fast and physically flexible. He was definitely on par with Downing one-on-one. While John Thompson was inferior to his opponent with his personal ability, he had a very good advantage, which allowed Tang En to buy so many players during the winter transfer period, that he had not introduced a right back.
For Thompson, who had switched playing as a center back to now playing as a right back, his assist ability could not compare with Leighton Baines, who played on the other side, and his personal skills could not be compared with Ashley Young, who was now in front of him. It looked as if he did not seem to have any essential skills. But, he had been the Forest team's unwavering, main right back, ever since Tang En took over.
He was chosen for this position, because he played cleanly and played his defender position very well. If the passing was inaccurate, or the pass speed was slow, he would not go in for an assist. If his technique was not good, he would just kick the ball out. With him around, the Forest team's right wing was safe. Therefore, Ashley Young could do several passes in the game, because he knew that if he lost his ball, Thompson would be behind him.
In this game, because Ashley Young came back to play defense, Thompson's position was closer to the midsection of the penalty area, in order to prevent the opposing striker and offense from taking advantage of this gap to make a breakthrough. Of course, he was really here to increase the defense of the wing.
Downing's personal ability was excellent, and Tang En knew that Ashley Young, the interim defender, was absolutely unable to mark him, so he arranged for Thompson to be the second guard. When Downing dribbled the ball over, Thompson would help Ashley Young defend. When faced with such a dedicated and unyielding right back, Downing really had no other good ideas.