Chapter 288 Another Miracle [6000 Words]
Sorry for being even later, mainly because when I reached the 5,000 words promised in advance, I suddenly found that I couldn’t express what I wanted to express in this chapter, so I wrote more than 6,000 words in one breath...
——
The praises are pouring in and the criticisms are pouring in!
This was the reaction of public opinion within 24 hours after Li Tongfan's acquisition of Newcastle was announced.
Originally, Lao Li would just dismiss the views of media reporters and experts as bullies and laugh them off.
However, considering that the trend of public opinion will greatly affect the views of Newcastle fans, Li Tongfan thought over and over again and finally decided to take some measures to guide public opinion——
Use old Sir John Hall's personal network as powerful as an "old tree" to bribe the "Newcastle Post", "Sunday Express", "The Sun" and other very influential media in the UK, through The media praised the surprise acquisition and created momentum.
After all, in essence, the support of fans is the most solid foundation for a club.
If Newcastle, which claims to have the largest number of fans in the UK, boycotts because of a Chinese takeover, then your life at St. James Park will definitely not be easy.
In fact, in addition to temporarily buying the media, Li Tongfan chose to accept the FA to coach the England national team and turned the tide to help the Three Lions advance in a desperate situation. Then he took the lead as the head coach at the difficult stage when Newcastle fell to the bottom of the standings. Joining Newcastle in one step to "save the party and the country in the critical moment of life and death"... This series of actions are all aimed at laying a good fan base for today's acquisition.
According to Lao Li's original plan, when he acquires Newcastle as a savior, there should be less resistance from public opinion, right?
So one day later, when Li Tongfan estimated that Newcastle people had almost digested the news of the club's acquisition, Li Tongfan made his first careful test of the fans!
Lao Li organized the last player celebration banquet of the season on the grounds of celebrating the team's entry into the UEFA Cup, and sent an invitation to fans through the club's official website one day in advance: Newcastle citizens can watch any of the 38 league rounds this season. A ticket stub from a Magpies game to attend the celebration party...
It all depends on the fans’ reaction!
…
John Newton.
This ordinary member of the Newcastle bus driver has been in pain and happiness in the last two months of the Premier League -
The pain was because his newlywed wife Nelly's washboard almost made him kneel on his bare knees to pieces.
When he was happy, Newton and other die-hard Magpies fans from the "Flying Magpies" fan club followed the path of the Newcastle bus and witnessed a game that was unimaginable in the Allardyce era two months ago. Hearty victory.
When Crazy Li, the Chinese young man who created miracles in Real Madrid, arrived at Newcastle in magical footsteps, everything became simple.
Facing a weak team, Newcastle can perform a goal-scoring performance like an overwhelming one!
Opposite the giants, Newcastle can actually make those high-ranking stars look for teeth in head-to-head confrontations. These dreams that were previously unattainable for all Newcastle people have become a living reality because of the existence of Crazy Lee.
Three days ago, on the afternoon of Anfield, when the team relied on Michael Owen's assist to defeat the powerful Red Army Liverpool at the last minute, Newton, like all Magpies fans, fell into uncontrollable madness.
Fifth in the league!
Entering the European arena next season!
Who would dare to expect such results when the team ranked last in the league two months ago?
However, after the madness comes the troubles of happiness.
Like many Newcastle fans, Newton is proud to have such a head coach. It is obvious that this happiness will continue as long as Crazy Lee coaches Newcastle. On the other hand, Newton is worried that Newcastle cannot accommodate this small puddle. With a great god like Crazy Li, I am afraid that I will wake up one day after the season and find in the newspaper that Inter Milan or some other wealthy club poached Crazy Li with a check...
Is there any way to keep Crazy Lee in Newcastle forever?
There was silence in the days that followed Newton's afternoon at Anfield.
The young die-hard Newcastle fan began to think hard and search for a perfect solution to the problem. In the end, Newton came to the only conclusion that the club should get rid of Mick Ashley, a shameless fat man who never believed in his words, as soon as possible, and then Replace with an owner who truly loves the team and is willing to spend money, and give the greatest support to all management actions of Crazy Lee at St. James Park...
Transfer fee and trust!
These two things are what Crazy Lee needs most in Newcastle.
Newton has no doubt that as long as he has these two things, the talented madman Li will definitely be able to build Newcastle into a dynasty like Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool, and recreate the glory that fascinated countless Newcastle fans in the 1940s!
However, the most critical question is: Who can give Crazy Li these two things?
Sheffield?
impossible!
Because since the former chairman sold Newcastle shares to Mick Ashley, he has solemnly declared that he will only love Newcastle as an ordinary fan from now on, and under the recent economic situation, the Sheffield family business seems not too good……
Sir John Hall?
It’s quite annoying!
Although no one doubts the old Sir's love for Newcastle, and no one does not hope that the old Sir can once again fall from the sky to save the Magpies from crisis as he did many years ago, but think about the age of this old man...
The poor young bus driver Newton thought about it and found that he had completely entered a dead end. All contradictions finally returned to the starting point of the problem. Now it seems that no one can help Newcastle keep Crazy Lee forever.
Of course, if those wealthy Arab oil tycoons or Americans may be interested in acquiring Newcastle, they may be able to provide sufficient transfer fees, but as a native of Newcastle, Newton always thinks of these people. Sometimes, I will only do the same action as many other Newcastle fans——
He stretched out his finger and cursed fiercely: Go to hell!
Do those guys who treat football as a toy understand the true essence of Newcastle Shakhtar football?
The reason why Newcastle has the largest number of fans in the UK is precisely because the club has always represented the image of the working people since the first day of its birth, and Milburn, the first team hero since the Magpies was founded, has been Newcastle are affectionately known as "sons of the working class".
The British BBC TV station once conducted a survey and surprisingly found that in England, in addition to supporting their home team, most fans also have a soft spot for the "Magpies". Even the former British Prime Minister claimed to be a loyal Newcastle fan. .
This shows the influence of Magpie among the middle and lower class people.
The book returns to its true story.
In three days, young John Newton repeatedly risked the "huge" risk of kneeling on the washboard. As soon as he got off work, he couldn't wait to gather in the bar with his "Flying Magpie" golfers to worry about the future of the team. Fans gathered together to drink, chat, brag and think of many ways, but the feasibility of these bad ideas didn’t seem very reliable...
In the afternoon of the third day.
Just like the previous few days, Newton made a few phone calls to his newlywed wife Nelly after get off work, claiming that he had to work overtime, and then sneaked into the football-themed bar near the station.
Pushing open the squeaky retro trap door and entering the dim bar hall, a fanatical atmosphere hits you.
Newton found that a lot of people had gathered in the bar. The fat guy David, who always yelled and spilled beer on others when watching football, was standing tall and naked on the bar with a 500ml beer in his hand. Cup shouted:
"Hey, come on! Cheers to the wonderful fifth place in the league, brothers!"
"Cheers!" Other fans, sitting or standing, also shouted loudly, holding their glasses high.
"Cheers to the UEFA Cup next season!"
"cheers!"
Seeing this scene, Newton walked in blankly, pushed Fat David off the bar unceremoniously, and then jumped up on his own: "Hey, guys, wake up! We are not drinking beer now. when……"
Newton patted his chest excitedly: "War is coming!! We must be ready to fight! Want to win the UEFA Cup? Want to appear in the European competition next season? We must keep Mr. Rice!" Don’t you know that those damn wealthy clubs are already waving checks to invite Mr. Rice Tong to join their clubs?”
There was silence in the bar.
Indeed, less than two or three days after the end of the Premier League, news about the transfer of Crazy Lee and Newcastle’s star players is already flying all over the sky——
Inter Milan, which once again failed to win the Champions League, Real Madrid, which barely defended the league title, Bayern Munich, who is looking for Klinsmann's replacement... almost any European giant with an unstable coaching position or a poor record in the 2007-08 season is sparing no effort. To ogle Newcastle's savior Madman Lee.
News about the transfer of Newcastle players, such as Liverpool's acquisition of Michael Owen, Arsenal's introduction of Given, and Manchester City's seduction of Joey Barton, are even more numerous and frequently reported in the newspapers.
The atmosphere created by the media has made Newcastle become a "football supermarket".
Newcastle fans are in constant panic.
At this moment, Newton's words undoubtedly exposed everyone's scars.
For a moment, everyone in the bar didn't know what to say other than lowering their heads and drinking. The fat man David, who had been pushed under the bar by Newton, stood up, slammed the cup in his hand onto the bar, spread his hands and said helplessly Shrugging: "Hey, little Newton, tell me, what can we guys who have to wait for a beer at the bar do for Newcastle?"
"Can we...can..." Newton was left speechless by Fat David's question.
at this time……
Suddenly, a bald man wearing a Newcastle uniform suddenly stumbled into the bar outside. Like a neurotic lunatic, he grabbed the remote control for the big screen for watching football from the bartender's hand. He hurriedly adjusted the channel in a few seconds, and then started staring. The screen takes care of itself and looks carefully...
Others in the bar were clearly confused by the bald man's behavior.
Fat David took a sip of beer and cursed: "Hey, Bald Bill, what the hell are you doing? Is your damn fat pig wife coming to hunt you down again with a kitchen knife?"
Remembering the scene three days ago when this bald man named Bill was chased by his wife because he delayed picking up his children from school while watching football, the fans in the bar burst into laughter. But just halfway through laughing, everyone looked like a drake that had been strangled by the neck, staring at the TV screen with wide eyes——
"...This is the press conference hall of Newcastle St. James Park Stadium. BBC TV reporter Angela is reporting for you...Ouch, damn, don't squeeze me!"
A gorgeous woman with heavy makeup appeared on the big TV screen, holding a microphone in her hand and struggling to broadcast live in the crowded crowd.
Of course, the reason why all the men in the bar were staring at the TV screen intently was not because the female anchor named Angela was extremely beautiful and beautiful, nor was it because her thin underwear was removed from a certain part of her "uproar" group. The restraints jumped out...but——
The location of the broadcast is surprisingly at St. James' Park!
On the screen, two men who hold the hearts of thousands of Newcastle fans can be vaguely seen behind the crowded crowd——
Madman Lee, the God of Newcastle today, and Sir John Hall, the God of Newcastle once upon a time!
what's going on?
Why is Mr. Hoare there with Sir Hall? The reaction of the fans in the bar was exactly the same as when Michael Owen and Alan Shearer saw the two new owners in Chairman Martin's office.
The mystery was quickly revealed.
The female anchor of BBC TV answered everyone's questions: "
... Please note that this is Angela reporting for you, the most incredible news of this season, Newcastle coach Lee Lee and Sir John Hall purchased the Magpies and became the century-old club with 51% of the shares. The team’s largest shareholder…”
Boom~~~~
The bar is in chaos!
"...Ouch, God, Mr. Rice Tong bought Newcastle? What the hell is going on?" Fatty David was the first to moan while covering his heart: "He is a Chinese, not an Englishman. How could he do this..."
"Why not Sir Hall's sole proprietorship? I prefer that Madman Lee is just the head coach of the team, not the chief shareholder of this damn club! He made St. James' Park become impure in the minds of the English..."
"Hell, Newcastle doesn't belong to the British anymore?"
"What should we do? Are we really going to hold a sit-in protest under the club building with slogans like "Get out of the Chinese" or some other protest against the takeover?"
The crowd in the bar was noisy, and it was obvious that these traditional British men had a hard time accepting the fact that a Chinese suddenly became the leader of the club.
To some extent, the English are notoriously stubborn.
When the Americans Hicks and Geely bought Liverpool, the Glazer family bought Manchester United, and former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra bought Manchester City, they were all met with crazy resistance from fans, and even stadium tickets were sold out at the beginning of the new season. It couldn't be sold, and every game there were always some die-hard fans in the stands holding up slogans and flags protesting the takeover and cursing the club's new owner...
For British gentlemen, whether they are Americans, Thais, Arabs or Chinese, as long as they do not have the blood of Great Britain flowing in their bodies, the acquisition of a football club will always be resisted.
At this moment, even John Newton, Li Tongfan’s crazy admirer, was confused. Although the young bus driver hoped that Crazy Li would stay, he was a little stunned to stay in this way...
…
May 21st.
The clouds will turn sunny and the temperature will rise.
This is the third day after the news of Li Tongfan's acquisition of Newcastle was announced.
The square in front of St. Gateshead Music Hall, Newcastle.
Lee Tong-beom announced through the Newcastle club's official website that a celebration banquet to celebrate the team's entry into next season's UEFA Cup competition will be held here.
A small temporary stage has been set up for the ceremony.
At nine o'clock in the morning, everyone from the Newcastle Club, including the new chairman Sir John Hall, to the old Sean who was guarding the gate of the Rigbotton training base, came here. More than 200 people from the first team, reserve team, U18 youth and club staff came here on time.
In addition, there are hundreds of journalists from major media groups.
As for Newcastle fans?
Probably less than 500 people came here and there. Such a lineup was nothing compared to the more than 250,000 Magpies fans in Newcastle. And until half past nine, no more fans came to attend the celebration banquet.
There is only one reason for such a cold scene.
That is that the vast majority of Newcastle fans do not welcome Crazy Lee to come to St. James Park as the club's majority shareholder.
He is indeed a xenophobic Englishman!
Even if Crazy Lee saved the England team and Newcastle, which was in the abyss of relegation, he would not be able to get the support of Magpies fans on this matter...
Among the reporters who came to cover the celebration party was Luis Garcia, a reporter from the Spanish Catalonia "Mundo Deportivo". This guy was mixed in with his colleagues and showed a gloating smile on his face, constantly fanning the flames: "This time Crazy Li has lost face...
Ten minutes later.
The situation still did not change.
Garcia finally couldn't help but jump out, like a clown who has succeeded, he shouted in a weird tone: "Crazy Li, where are all the Newcastle fans? Is your club only less than 500 fans? Haha..."
On the temporary stage
Li Tongfan frowned, and this scene made the old Li very disappointed. Could it be that after doing so much, he really couldn't make those stubborn and conservative Newcastle fans accept him?
Offstage.
After finally catching the extremely embarrassed figure of Crazy Li, the gloating Garcia was about to raise the camera in his hand to take a picture of this rare scene, and then write an article titled "Poor Crazy Li Becomes the Most Unpopular Person in Newcastle" to ridicule the biggest enemy of Camp Nou. But the scene that happened next made the Catalan The proud smile on the face of the Asian reporter froze...
Someone is coming!
A lot of people!
Suddenly, from the main road at the far end of the square in front of the Gateshead Music Hall, countless fans wearing black and white Newcastle uniforms poured out like a flash flood. The burly men at the front held up a large banner with the head of Crazy Li printed on it -
"Although you are a Chinese, although the blood flowing in your body is not Great Britain...but, whether you are the head coach of the team or the big boss of the club, in our hearts you are the most popular person at St. James' Park! "
In the crowd, Newton and Fatty David walked in front with big banners and smiling.
The young bus driver and all the people in the "Flying Magpies" fan club spent three days contacting thousands of fan organizations in Newcastle and planning this surprise appearance, which was a small surprise for Mr. Lucky.
They want to let the whole world know: Although the English are stubborn and xenophobic, they also know how to be grateful.
For those who really love football and magpies, Newcastle people are willing to open their arms and warmly welcome them, such as Mr. Lucky today...
At this moment.
The applause and cheers roared like the eternal waves of the English Channel, and the black and white crowds soon merged into every corner of the square in front of the Gateshead Music Hall.
The media reporters roughly estimated that there were at least 100,000 Newcastle fans. Newcastle fans accepted the invitation of the club's "new boss" Li Tongfan, and came to cheer for the team's celebration banquet with ticket stubs for watching Newcastle's game this season!
This number is almost half of the total population of Newcastle.
With just one informal invitation through the club's official website, so many people came. Crazy Li's appeal in this city is really terrifying!
On the other side.
Li Tongfan's tense heart finally let go. With the salutes and black and white confetti that had been prepared around the square, Newcastle entered a carnival moment.
The celebration banquet officially began!
The scale and the atmosphere were far beyond anyone's expectations!
The edge of the square.
Luis Garcia, a reporter from the Daily Sports Daily who was squeezed to the outermost edge by the crowd, sighed dejectedly: "Damn it, let this hateful Chinese reverse it again! It seems that Crazy Li will create a new record again-
He will become the first person in history to acquire a Premier League club as a foreigner, but still be warmly welcomed by arrogant and proud British gentlemen!
Damn it!
Another miracle!