Chapter 129 Newcastle United's Defense

Newcastle United's halftime break passed in an atmosphere of unease. Alan Pardew spent the entire time trying to encourage his players, telling them Chen Hero wasn't that great.

However, he could sense that his words lacked persuasiveness. On the other hand, Coloccini's words had a significant impact on the players.

Thinking of this, he hated that damned Argentinian Coloccini even more!

Damn it, if this were a time of war, he would have executed such a villain who spread rumors and undermined morale without hesitation! Absolutely no second thoughts!

Now it's a civilized society, and you can't just execute someone casually... How annoying!

When the Newcastle United players walked onto the field at the start of the second half, Pardew was still very worried. He couldn't continue sitting on the bench. He stood on the sidelines and didn't go back from the beginning of the second half onward.

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At the start of the second half, many people noticed that Coloccini, who had made two mistakes in the first half, was no longer in the Newcastle United lineup.

"He's finally been substituted! I now have full confidence in Newcastle United's performance in the second half!"

"The culprit who caused the team to concede two goals in the first half has been replaced. Now Chen Hero will face a real iron wall! He won't get support from Coloccini anymore!"

The commentary box was filled with excitement. Most English commentators, whether working for television or radio, didn't want to see Dixie Dean's record broken by Chen Hero. Although they all claimed to dislike Chen Hero's arrogant attitude and didn't discriminate against Chen Hero for being Chinese, it was actually a very subtle form of discrimination. Because they themselves didn't consider it discrimination, but a normal behavior, it showed that the other party's discrimination had penetrated deep into their bones and blood.

Chen Hero also noticed that his "good partner" Coloccini had been substituted in the first half. It seemed that Pardew had noticed it too.

Moreover, he encountered new troubles. He was surrounded by more Newcastle United players. As soon as he got the ball, at least three Newcastle United players would rush up to surround him.

During the halftime break, Pardew didn't just talk empty words, saying things like "You don't need to be afraid" and "There's nothing to be afraid of Hero's long shots," which had no effect at all. He also made practical adjustments. In response to Chen Hero's frequent long shots, he ordered the players not to stand in front of Chen Hero anymore, but to go up and surround him. Charge up immediately, surround him completely, and don't give him a chance to shoot.

As long as he didn't have a chance to shoot, he naturally wouldn't kick the ball into the bodies of Newcastle United players.

As for whether such a surrounding defense would leave other Liverpool players with a lack of restrictions, he wasn't worried at all. Anyway, Liverpool's attitude was very clear: to let Chen Hero shoot. So the ball would definitely be passed to Chen Hero's feet in the end. As long as Chen Hero was trapped, Liverpool's attack would be trapped.

"I've never seen a game like this. It seems Hero has become a public enemy. To make a team like Newcastle United completely abandon other Liverpool players and only target him... Can I say this is because Chen Hero's ability has become extraordinary and completely surpassed Newcastle United? Newcastle United needs to use an entire team to defend Chen Hero. Such high-level treatment in itself shows how powerful Chen Hero is!" The Chinese commentator couldn't help but complain.

In fact, he really wanted to say that the British were being shameless...

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Chen Hero, surrounded by Newcastle United players, really couldn't shoot directly.

But Liverpool hadn't only prepared this one method, and Chen Hero couldn't be trapped by this kind of defense.

They quickly made adjustments in response to Newcastle United's approach of not marking other Liverpool players.

Liverpool started playing crosses from the wings.

You have more people and won't let me, Chen Hero, shoot?

Then let's decide the outcome in the air!

In the air, Chen Hero is invincible!

Liverpool made full use of Chen Hero's aerial advantage to bombard Newcastle United's goal from the air.

Before it was long-range artillery, now it's an air raid!

There's always one offensive method that suits you, dear Newcastle.

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Seeing Liverpool change their tactics and start playing crosses from the wings, Alan Pardew slapped his forehead on the sidelines. How could I have forgotten about this!

Damn it, Chen Hero is good at headers!

But could he let his players defend Liverpool's crosses?

He couldn't. As soon as there were fewer people defending Chen Hero, Liverpool could directly pass the ball to Chen Hero's feet, and the situation would return to what it was before.

Now he could only watch Liverpool players pass the ball up again and again, and then start praying that his side, relying on numerical superiority, could offset the disadvantage in aerial duels.

Small moves are fine, and if it really doesn't work, fouls are fine, as long as the referee doesn't see it!

Alan Pardew was overthinking it.

Even if the referee saw it, he would definitely turn a blind eye.

First of all, this is the Sports Direct Arena, Newcastle United's home stadium. Secondly, the referee is also English.

When Chen Hero jumped up to compete for the header, he was pushed from behind by Newcastle United captain Steven Taylor, losing his balance and falling to the ground from the air.

The Liverpool fans in the stands let out piercing boos.

The Liverpool players on the field also raised their arms and appealed to the referee: "Foul! Newcastle United foul!"

But the referee showed no expression, not even a gesture to continue the game, as if he hadn't seen it at all.

The Liverpool players just roared a few times and gave up. Wrong judgments, misjudgments, or missed calls are common in games. If every such wrong judgment had to be argued for a long time, the game couldn't be played.

They meant it was just an accident.

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The Newcastle United players were also quite worried at first, but after discovering that the referee didn't show any expression or death, they became bolder. They knew that this was their home stadium, and the referee would definitely favor them and not help the away team. If this game was at Liverpool's home stadium, it might be the complete opposite.

Since the referee was on their side, what did they have to worry about?

That's right, there wasn't a single player in Newcastle United who could beat Chen Hero in headers, not even captain Steven Taylor.

But we have more people and more hands to make trouble. When surrounding you, very subtle small moves and fouls are guaranteed to make the referee unable to find fault even if he wants to, let alone if he's turning a blind eye?

Steven Taylor even acted as the vanguard. He had said before the game that in critical moments, even if he had to use fouls to stop Chen Hero, he would execute them without hesitation. Now he was using his actual actions to fulfill his promise.

Sanchez crossed, Chen Hero jumped, but he didn't jump up completely. He was firmly pulled by his jersey by Steven Taylor, and his figure paused for a moment. Then Taylor let go, and Chen Hero jumped up this time, but it was too late. The ball划过ed over him.

He didn't hit anything.

Chen Hero turned to complain and protest to the referee, believing that the other party had obvious foul actions.

But the referee still turned a blind eye.

Soon Liverpool's cross flew over again. This time it was Gareth Bale's cross. Chen Hero used flexible running to prevent Taylor from grabbing himself, and then jumped up. This time he must hit the ball!

He hit the ball, but he was also pushed down from behind by Steven Taylor, losing all his balance. The headed ball flew high over the crossbar. Laughter rang out from the Newcastle United fans in the stands.

"Air ball—"

Seeing Chen Hero fall to the ground, the other Liverpool players once again raised their arms to protest Newcastle United's foul to the referee.

This time, the referee's whistle blew.

"The referee whistled!"

"Is it a penalty? If it's a penalty, this ball will definitely be kicked by Hero!"

"I think it should be a penalty, right? Taylor obviously had a pushing action..."

Just when everyone thought it would be a penalty, the referee ran to Chen Hero, who was lying on the ground, and then signaled him to stand up, and then showed him a yellow card!

Diving!

He judged that Chen Hero was diving!

And therefore gave Chen Hero a yellow card!

When Chen Hero saw the referee do this, he froze for a moment, and then quickly reacted. This damned referee doesn't seem to want me to break the record smoothly...

Interesting, even the referee has joined in. I've really become a public enemy.

Being able to make so many people put aside their prejudices and come together, even the referee is helping them. I'm really... too fucking awesome!

But you think you can resist me by holding together?

I'm telling you, there's no one in this world who can stop me!

He smiled.

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"Diving? The referee actually judged Hero was diving?" The Chinese commentator finally couldn't help but say, "What kind of judgment is this? Is he blind? Did he really not see Steven Taylor push someone? How can he make such a blatant misjudgment? This is a blatant black whistle!"

His commentary also resonated with Chinese fans, and everyone cursed for a while.

"Damn it! Doesn't he know that Hero never dives?! Using diving to find fault is simply laughable!"

"These damned British! What bullshit justice and fairness? It's never existed in this world!"

……

When Harry Levy saw the referee actually judge Chen Hero for diving, he was also amused: "Diving? Is he sure Hero is diving? You know, Hero never dives! This is the consensus of the world football! Everyone knows it! Hero would never do such a thing as diving to cheat for a penalty! Please find a more reasonable excuse next time, okay?"