Chapter 123 Liverpool's Crossings

Chen Yingxiong had been feeling throughout training sessions that the team's crossing quality was very unstable. Sometimes it was acceptable, other times it was a complete mess. Moreover, Liverpool didn't have anyone specifically responsible for crosses; their wing attacks were almost negligible.

Although Chen Yingxiong's current ability allowed him to break free from simply relying on wing crosses and then heading for the goal in the center, he still felt unaccustomed to the lack of wing crosses. After all, wing crosses and center headers were a very efficient scoring method. As a center forward, what mattered wasn't whether the goal was beautiful, but whether it was scored. Efficient scoring methods were naturally the most welcome.

He had noticed this during the summer warm-up matches. Liverpool's crosses were really just kicking the ball toward the center.

He had to find the landing spot himself, find it and fight for it, and basically face two people alone. He scored very few headers in the warm-up matches, and that was related to this.

His teammates didn't pay attention to accuracy or anticipating the run when crossing from the wings. It was just crossing, completely different from his experience in Naples.

In Naples, when his teammates crossed, they would see where Chen Yingxiong was and what his running route was, so the crosses were targeted. Moreover, in normal training, crossing was a subject that the wing players had to practice specifically. At that time, Chen Yingxiong would cooperate by running into position in the center to receive his teammates' crosses. This kind of practice was very targeted, and it was one of the reasons why Chen Yingxiong was able to score fifty-one goals in one season.

At Liverpool, Dalglish didn't arrange such special crossing practice to let his teammates understand Chen Yingxiong's running and receiving habits, and Chen Yingxiong naturally had no way of knowing his new teammates' crossing habits. He had figured out Liverpool's crossing performance himself from so many warm-up matches.

He immediately felt that such crosses were just too坑爹 (kēng diē –坑, to deceive/坑爹，to rip someone off). Many times he ran to the open space according to his experience and habits, but his teammates passed the ball behind him. The next time he deliberately waited a bit, but his teammates passed the ball in front. He went to the far post, the cross ran toward the near post, he was at the near post, the cross went straight to the far post... If he didn't know that his teammates didn't have that intention, he would really suspect that they were deliberately playing with him.

Later he learned that Liverpool's crossing level was just like that...

He had a feeling of not knowing what to say.

In Naples, the whole team's tactics were formulated around him, and it was so meticulous that even such a basic technique as crossing had to be practiced specifically, striving to allow every Naples wing player to grasp the characteristics of Chen Yingxiong's running position, find a tacit understanding of cooperation, and accurately pass the ball to Chen Yingxiong's head.

Chen Yingxiong, who had adapted to this kind of treatment, was a little unable to adapt to Liverpool's tactical style of passing wherever they thought of.

Although he scored a lot of goals in the warm-up matches, to say a lot, it was actually just a hat-trick against the Chinese national team, and the other matches were all one goal. His big outbreak against the Chinese team had special reasons, and could not be used as a reference.

In fact, his scoring efficiency was not high - yes, one goal per game, for Chen Yingxiong, this efficiency really couldn't be considered high.

The reason why his scoring efficiency was not high was that he had not yet figured out Liverpool's wing play, and after he figured it out, he found that he couldn't adapt. He could still score one goal per game, it was really because of his strong personal ability, especially long shots. In the four warm-up matches, he scored three goals with long shots.

This was still because it was a warm-up match, and everyone's defense was not too serious. If it was the official league, and he still always relied on long shots to score, it would be difficult.

At this time he noticed that his teammates were discussing new signings.

Downing was coming?

He didn't know who Downing was at first, but later he gradually learned about this person in everyone's discussions. It turned out to be a winger who was said to be very powerful in his early years, and many people had high hopes for his future. Last season he was still Aston Villa's best player. Chen Yingxiong had a feeling of "although I don't know what's going on, it sounds very powerful"...

It's good that he's a winger, it seems that Dalglish has noticed this problem, so he has nothing to worry about.

As for what Downing's level was, he couldn't control that. He felt that the person that "King" liked wouldn't be too bad, right? Liverpool, after all, is a powerhouse, so naturally there must be players of powerhouse level. How could just any Tom, Dick, or Harry come?

He must be someone with some ability, right?

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Niang didn't directly put Dalglish's counterattack on the table, because that would be a direct slap in the face, affecting the unity of the club's management. Moreover, Dalglish's prestige among the players and fans was still very high. Although there were many fans who questioned the reason why he valued Downing so much, overall, the Kops still admired and supported Dalglish very much. If he broke with Dalglish face to face, he was afraid that it would not be good for him, and Chen Yingxiong's pressure would increase sharply.

He decided to cross the river by stealth.

He ignored the overwhelming transfer rumors about Downing in the news media. Downing was not a player of Messi and Chen Yingxiong's level. Why would the media pay so much attention to his transfer? He couldn't help but wonder if Downing's agent had been instructed to use the media to promote the transfer and create a fait accompli, making it impossible for Liverpool not to buy, and forcing them to accept the price they offered.

He responded with silence, and then started his own actions - you Dalglish can buy and sell players, so can I!

I am the general manager of the team, don't I have this little bit of power?

He had his eye on Adam Johnson, who played for Manchester City.

Compared with Downing, Johnson's speed didn't have any advantage, but his technique was good, and he was also an English player. Most importantly, although he was a left-footed player, he could also play on the right wing, and could play on both the left and right wings. Moreover, his fame was not as big as Downing's, so the price could be cheaper.

In addition, Niang also learned that Manchester City was seducing Arsenal's Nasri. Nasri mainly played on the wings, and after he came, there would definitely be no place for Adam Johnson. Last season Adam Johnson was a main player for Manchester City, playing in thirty-one league games in a season, but this season his situation might not be the same as last season.

Niang planned to start from here, using Nasri to persuade Adam Johnson to transfer to Liverpool. Although Liverpool had not won a championship in recent years, and their fame and number of overseas fans were declining, Liverpool's influence in England was still very large. Liverpool and Manchester United were the two teams that English players were most willing to join. The old powerhouse, the former overlord of English football, still had that prestige.

The only difficulty for Adam Johnson to transfer to Liverpool, Niang believed, was at Manchester City - Manchester City might not be willing to sell players to league rivals.

To this end, he had secretly authorized others or personally launched public relations.

He didn't tell anyone about this matter, unlike Dalglish, who was yelling all over the world, wishing everyone knew that he was going to spend 20 million pounds to buy Downing as a sucker.

The fact that Liverpool was interested in Adam Johnson was announced by Manchester City.

They said that Liverpool had asked the club about Adam Johnson's asking price.

Niang was not afraid of this matter being exposed. It was better to be exposed. It was obviously better to pass some hints to Dalglish through Manchester City and the media than to push himself into the limelight.

But Dalglish was a little surprised when he heard the news - although he had also said that Adam Johnson was within his consideration, he had not asked Manchester City for a price. He was still single-mindedly trying to conquer Downing.

What's going on?

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Dalglish ran to find Niang.

"Ah, that's right, Kenny. We think we can't put all our eggs in one basket. If Downing can't be negotiated for a long time, we can't not sign a winger, right? So we tried to contact Manchester City to ask if they would be willing to let Adam Johnson leave. Because we know that you have also said that Adam Johnson can also be considered..." Niang brought out the words that Dalglish had once said, he did say that if Downing really couldn't do it, Adam Johnson could also be considered.

In any case, Niang seemed to be considering for himself, right? But why did he just feel uncomfortable? Feeling like he had been offended...

"That's right, but, Niang. Downing will definitely come back to Liverpool, there is no problem at all! He himself has a strong desire to join the team, and the price offered by Aston Villa is not too high, they only ask for 20 million pounds. 20 million can hardly buy any decent players in today's football, let alone a player as outstanding as Downing! I am working hard to contact Aston Villa, as long as we raise the offer to 20 million pounds, I believe we can reach an agreement soon! Downing himself also said that he is happy to come to Liverpool." He still expressed his dissatisfaction. "Moreover, I think that when the club plans to contact other teams to buy a certain player, it is best to discuss it with me. You must know... I have the final say on the team!"

Kenny Dalglish is worthy of being Liverpool's "King", and saying such domineering words is full of aura.

Niang didn't want to have a direct conflict with Dalglish yet, so he just smiled and didn't refute him.

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After teaching Niang this young man a lesson, Dalglish left.

Niang's bypassing him to contact Manchester City made him feel a sense of crisis, making him feel the need to speed up his contact with Aston Villa.

Isn't it just 20 million pounds? Although the club's transfer budget for this season is only 20 million pounds left, he still plans to smash it all on Downing.

He is the coach of the Premier League team, he has the right to do so. If it was the coach of a Serie A team, he would have no say in this matter.

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Dalglish planned to speed up the negotiations with Aston Villa, while Niang was also stepping up his efforts to poach people from Manchester City.

He also sent people privately to contact Adam Johnson to find out his tone and see what he thought about leaving Manchester City to come to Liverpool.

This summer, Liverpool had such a perverted shooter as Chen Yingxiong, which did increase the attractiveness for many players, because it showed that Liverpool was really planning to do something, and their new boss still had ideas, unlike the previous two American bosses who just planned to use Liverpool to make money...

Niang's people directly told Adam Johnson that Liverpool now has a high center forward like Chen Yingxiong, so we need wingers who are able to pass the ball to his head on the wings. And you, Adam Johnson, are exactly what we need. Come to Liverpool, we will definitely guarantee you a starting position!

These words were a bit presumptuous, because the person who can guarantee a starting position is the coach, not the general manager of the team.

But Adam Johnson didn't know about the conflict between Niang and Dalglish, he only thought that Niang was representing Dalglish to talk to him.

Manchester City's pursuit of Nasri was coming to an end, and it looked like they were going to succeed, and once Nasri came to the team, he would lose his position, that was for sure.

So... maybe changing places is really a good choice?

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ps, the third update is here, continue to ask for monthly tickets!

More updates tomorrow!