Chapter 15 Carrow Road

The fifteenth round of the English Championship, Carrow Road stadium, forty-five thousand people packed in, not a single seat empty!

Against Sheffield United, this might be their best chance to grab points in the next four games.

Because after Sheffield United, they face promotion favorites Fulham and Watford. The third game is against Nottingham Forest, a fallen giant who has suddenly awakened this year after years of decline.

Facing those three teams, Norwich, now mired in the relegation zone and lacking firepower upfront, simply has no chance to fight back.

In the previous fourteen games, they had only two wins, two draws, and ten losses.

The team had reached a point where they couldn't afford to lose anymore. The fans in the stadium were simultaneously venting their dissatisfaction with the team and cheering them on.

Fierce and contradictory.

Zhao Gang followed the team onto the field.

Deafening shouts, flags waving everywhere.

Even though in his previous life, he had been called an idiot by the entire crowd, Zhao Gang was still stunned by the scene before him.

In his previous life, the entire stadium had only five or six thousand fans, with plenty of empty seats. Being called an idiot was just a bit harsh.

It was nothing compared to the roar of the crowd of over forty thousand people.

Zhao Gang sat on the bench, listening to the shouts, his heart pounding.

In his past life, he was greeted with boos. Now that he had a second chance, he would make all the fans go wild for him!

On the north stand of Carrow Road, die-hard fans raised banners, and hundreds of shirtless fans waved flags and shouted.

"Lose the game, and you all die!!"

"We don't need trash, we only want victory, victory!"

The broadcast cameras focused on Zhao Gang, the obscure kid from Long Country, who had become the center of attention in just one day.

As Zhao Gang's image appeared on the screen, a chorus of boos erupted.

"Go home, Long Country man!"

"Pig, garbage!"

The frenzied fans vented their dissatisfaction, at Zhao Gang, but also at Farke, at all the players and management!

Zhao Gang's face remained calm, unaffected.

The two commentators also took the opportunity to share their views on Zhao Gang.

Rhodes: "This player from Long Country seems to have a good mentality..."

"Bullshit, he's just scared stiff. Farke, that piece of trash, is just trying to fool the fans with this garbage!" Brook, a local commentator with a fiery personality, had gained a large following for his blunt and angry rants.

The two commentators' styles complemented each other well.

They flipped a coin and chose their half.

Beep!!

With a whistle, the game officially began!

Rhodes' commentary remained calm and objective, "Norwich's starting lineup remains the same as the last game, a 4-4-2 formation. The two forwards up front, one tall and one short, are still Ospina and Eripp, who were promoted from the youth team. They have only scored one goal in nine games, and that was a penalty. Today, against Sheffield United's defense, their performance will be worth watching."

"Those two don't even deserve to start in the Championship, let alone be on the bench! Farke is just plain stupid! Why didn't he try to loan a striker after the transfer window closed? He could even move a midfielder up to the front line.

He stubbornly sticks to the 4-4-2, starting two young and inexperienced players, and even signed an 18-year-old Long Country striker who hasn't played a single game.

Farke has been blinded by last season's FA Cup victory. He will pay a heavy price for his choices!" Brook said angrily.

As a commentator for the local station, his passionate, humorous, and angry rants have always been very popular.

Less than five minutes into the game, the fans were already booing.

After the kickoff, Sheffield United began to press aggressively.

The midfield quickly moved forward, and the entire defensive line was almost at the halfway line.

When midfielders Wright and Philip got the ball, they found no passing options ahead and could only pass it back.

"Look, look! Many fans will think it's Norwich's midfield that's the problem, but it's actually the forwards!

The forwards are not a threat, they have no attacking ability, and every team has figured them out! They can press forward with confidence!

The two forwards are practically defenders for the other team.

They pose no threat to the opponent's goal.

The opponent's defenders will become more and more brazen, constantly pushing forward!" Brook criticized Farke and the two forwards harshly.

The two forwards kept running back and forth, drawing boos from the fans.

The team's only form of attack was the left-back charging down the right flank.

The scene was very ugly.

This kind of monotonous attack was too easy to defend against.

A lack of firepower up front not only made things easy for the opponent's defense but also completely freed up their midfield.

The midfield didn't need to fall back to defend; they only needed to press forward with confidence.

This meant that Wright, who was very good at passing, had no chance to show his skills.

A strong forward line is not just about scoring goals. It puts enormous defensive pressure on the opponent, preventing them from focusing on attacking and forcing them to constantly guard their own defense.

The current two forwards simply don't have the ability to deliver the final blow. Even if the midfield can provide effective support, the ball will be stopped in the danger zone.

Then the opponent will launch a strong counterattack.

After a few passes, Wright fell back into his previous struggles.

His forward had the ball easily tackled away by the opponent's defender.

He ran back quickly to defend.

Watching the opponent's defenders charge forward fearlessly, Wright looked at the bench.

Damn it, if Zhao Gang was there, he could receive a pass and unleash a shot. Even if it didn't go in, it would scare the opponent's defenders from attacking so carelessly.

Although Norwich hadn't conceded a goal in the first twenty minutes, the opponent's defenders were attacking so recklessly that it wouldn't be long before the goal was breached.

Moreover, this would put enormous defensive pressure on his own defenders, and the midfield would have to constantly cover, making it impossible to create any attacking opportunities!

"What kind of crap are you playing?"

"Go home and raise pigs!"

"Send them to mine in the Third World!"

"You're all trash, go die!!"

A huge chorus of boos erupted from the stands.

Brook, with a dark face, continued to rant, while Rhodes kept giving Farke suggestions.

The Sheffield United coach looked at the situation on the field, which was exactly as he had predicted.

He boldly waved his hand, directing his defense forward to continue pressing.

Suddenly, Philip made a small mistake in a pass, and the Sheffield United midfielder intercepted the ball directly.

And Sheffield United captain Stes, a center-back, was already leading the charge, rushing into Norwich's penalty area!

Sheffield United midfielder Donny sent a precise over-the-top pass, and Stes rose above the crowd, cleanly and decisively heading the ball.

Bang!

Without a doubt.

Goal!

0:1!

Stes roared wildly, running towards Norwich's north stand.

That was where Norwich's best and craziest fans were.

He wanted to celebrate and show off in front of those fans!

"F**k!"

On the stand, countless fans turned red with anger, giving the international friendly gesture.

Stes raised his hands, shouting and taunting wildly around the north stand.

"Go eat sh*t!"

"Trash, trash!"

"Falke is garbage!"

"The forwards are idiots!"

"You play like dog sh*t, do you even have the face to live? Why don't you learn from the Little Cherry and commit seppuku!"

Philip lowered his head, his face pale. He was the one who lost possession.

The two forwards covered their faces. If they were good enough, Sheffield United wouldn't dare to attack so fiercely.

Especially Stes, a center-back who had charged into their penalty area and scored from open play!

The fans shouted loudly. Losing made them feel bad, but what made them feel even worse was the way they were losing!

They were completely helpless, allowing the opponent's center-back to charge into the penalty area and score a header!

Was this a training match?

At the center circle, Wright gritted his teeth, his eyes firm.

Taking advantage of the opponent's complacency, he quickly dribbled through, looking for the overlapping full-back. A series of one-two passes instantly made the fans who had been shouting angrily cheer loudly.

"Go! Crush these bastards!"

"Wright, Wright, shoot!"

Watching Wright's unstoppable moves, the fans' enthusiasm was ignited.

Wright felt a surge of excitement and sent a beautiful through ball to the forward.

The forward received the ball and adjusted.

The opponent's defender was half a beat too slow. When he came forward to block, Eripp had already started his shot.

A high shot, Eripp fell to the ground in frustration, pounding the ground.

Farke clenched his fist with a gloomy face.

That was an absolute opportunity!

After the excitement, the fans in the stands knelt down in despair.

Brook's face was dark, and he was too exhausted to rant anymore.

Even a midfielder should have been able to seize such an opportunity.

He didn't even hit the target!

He even had time to adjust his shot, and he kicked it so badly!

In the next ten minutes, Wright was going crazy. His passes could reach the forwards' feet, but they didn't even need help defending. A single defender could easily break up the play!

The forwards needed a long time to adjust before they had the confidence to shoot.

But how many such opportunities would they get in the whole game?

Even if they had the chance, they would waste it!

"Eripp missed the most crucial scoring opportunity. It will be difficult to have such an opportunity again. Norwich is in danger in this game.

Sheffield United's midfield, including the defense, is attacking without any hesitation. Norwich's forward line is still the same as always, unable to provide much help."

Before Rhodes could finish speaking, Brook shouted angrily, "Sh*t!"

Stes cheered again. The opponent's defender received Wright's accurate long pass and, in front of Ospina, kicked the ball to the midfield, who quickly dribbled through and easily found Stes, who had once again charged into the penalty area.

Stes ran towards the north stand again, celebrating as if this were his home stadium!

He put his index finger to his lips, shut up!

"Son of a b*tch!" The fans threw coke and hamburgers wildly, wishing they could smash the madman to death!

In the fans' eyes, this game was over.

A center-back, fearlessly charging into the penalty area.

Scoring twice!

What followed would only be more tragic.

This would be a massacre!

Apart from the huge boos from the north stand and the few visiting fans who had traveled a long way, the entire Carrow Road stadium was silent.

The fans' faces showed no hope, only heartache and despair.

God, save poor Norwich!