Football: The Journey of a Coach

20. The Crsytal Palace

    

    The end of the game was getting closer and closer, and Plymouth momentum was also released. Daniel can see that some people at Plymouth may not give up, but the whole team has lost the spirit.

Warnock was still very nervous on the sidelines, the so-called football was round, Plymouth seemed to have nothing to do, but the team could not slack in the slightest before the final whistle sounded, three points yet to be scored.

In added time, Crystal Palace supporters at Selhurst Park have toted each other to celebrate. Finally in the 96th minute, the referee blew a long whistle marking the end of the match.

Crsytal Palace won the match 1-0 against the visitors of Plymouth.

The fans left the stadium happy. They may know a little about the situation of the cash-strapped team, but this is the home field, and it is the first game of the new season. After all, the result was acceptable to everyone.

When Warnock was interviewed on the sidelines, his mood gradually calmed down, and he said, "The results were a bit bad, but we won the game deservedly."

Daniel also joined the ranks of the players, they celebrated Crsytal Palace's first win of the new season.

"Don't shut up, Mr. Lawrence. Don't want to celebrate with them". Daniel told Crsytal Palace's oldest player.

Matthew Lawrence, the 35-year-old centre-back, was just standing on the wall watching his team-mates celebrate the win. Drink it relaxed and smile.

" Aah, Daniel. I'm too old to celebrate with them." Lawrence said as he drank the beer in his hand.

"Two?, I don't think age is too important for fun" Daniel said.

" Hahahaha, you're absolutely right". Lawrence laughed at Daniel's reply.

Eventually the two men drank and joked on the wall of the dressing room, while watching the others partying. During his time at Palace, Daniel was a bit familiar with Lawrence. Maybe because of their age that is not far away.

***

In early September, Daniel walked into his regular drinking bar.

"Haha, let's see who's coming. The winner, Daniel Ward". Daniel shows up at Paul's bar at night. After a long time of not coming, Paul joked with him.

The two raised their fists against each other.

"Hello, Paul! Long time no see! A beer!" Said Daniel.

"Hello, Daniel! Long time no see!".

"Hello, Danny ...".

A lot of people in the bar know Daniel Ward. Bar Paul was a gathering place for Croydon fans, and everyone was excited to meet Daniel.

“Hey, I didn't expect my popularity to be so high!”. Daniel said a little too much to everyone.

Everyone laughed and praised Daniel's great achievement at Croydon.

This period of time is exhausting. For Daniel, it was all difficult at first. Players need a period of adaptability when first joining the team, as well as assistant coaches.

After such a period of time, Daniel has gradually become familiar with the players and finished his job well and Neil Warnock has said he is not wrong to sign him to Crsytal Palace.

Tonight, he purposely went to the bar alone to drink and relax, he did not expect to be treated well.

Crystal Palace did not play well, and these people were already half dead from anger.

It is said to be in discussion at this time, but in fact, a group of people complained to Daniel. Starting from the barrenness of the striker, to the bankruptcy of the owner, a lot is discussed.

"That's who?. That striker. To be honest, he ran slower than my father and shot like shit. Why did Mr Warnock choose him?!".

"Yes, that's really a bad choice, don't we have another striker?. Danny, the striker you introduced...., what's his name?!”.

“ Jamie Vardy!”. Daniel Ward replied helplessly, he didn't really want to discuss with everyone. He is also in a bad mood when the team is on a decline.

“Yes, why not play this guy?!”.

“She looks skinny broom!”. Someone objected.

Daniel Ward doesn't talk much, he sits next to him drinking and listening, occasionally responding to enthusiastic fans.

Initially it was to criticise the players, but gradually Simon Jordan was criticised. As a friend of Simon Jordan and head coach of the team, coach Neil Warnock was gradually subjected to criticism. Some people say that Warnock did nothing at Crystal Palace. They haven't seen a miracle in him for more than a few months, and some have argued in Warnock's defense that Simon Jordan was the culprit.

Gradually, everyone's topic began to worry the team a little.

"Danny, you mean the team will be relegated?." A fan asked.

" It's not an exaggeration to say relegation, it's true Crsytal Palace were deducted 10 points at the start of the season. But now after December the team occupies the 8th position of the standings, if not for being reduced Palace will be in the top five of the standings now." Paul supported the words of fans who asked to be relegated.

“Paul correct. I believe that we will not be relegated, I believe in our players, and I also believe in Mr Warnock, he is a good coach!”. Daniel chimed in on Paul and defended Neil Warnock.

Speaking of Crystal Palace's future, Daniel inevitably thought of his own destiny. He already knew from some audible rumors that head coach Neil Warnock was staying just because he was expecting a new owner.

What if Warnock can't survive, and the new owners don't come. For sure the current Crsytal Palace team will be cut into pieces, the FA audit board will sell valuable players to cover up in order not to go bankrupt.

Instead of finding happiness with a drink at the bar, she becomes a little sadder, and Daniel decides to leave the bar early.

***

Time passed quickly in the packed schedule of the league. The international match day in early November has arrived. Under Warnock's leadership, Crystal Palace have completed twenty league rounds and nine League Cup games.

Under his leadership in twenty rounds, Crsytal Palace's team got 11 wins, 4 draws and 5 defeats. They scored 27 goals and conceded 15 goals, amassing 37 points.

They are currently ranked 7th in the standings, just a step from the qualification zone for third place to advance to the English premier league. In the FA Cup, they were knocked out by Tottenham Hotspur in the fifth round, a result like that still inflicting a lot of curses from the under-grateful Crystal Palace fans, and Simon Jordan, who was not the best of the fans, as the owner is the most cursed person.

It's unfortunate it's useless. Daniel Ward swore that ever since he came to the team, he had only met the real owner once. Simon Jordan may be struggling to get more money from Crsytal Palace.

And according to rumors circulating, there are already many Palace fans at this time. From the local rich, to the American and European billionaires. Because the team is currently in decent form, Simon Jordan wants to squeeze to the last point of profit he gets.

As a member of the coaching team, Daniel Ward is naturally concerned about the performance of the team in these moments. But he knew this was not a problem he could solve by him. Not once did Daniel condemn the greed of Simon Jordan who was unwilling to quickly sell the team.

During the day of the national team's qualifying match, Daniel decided to add to his qualifications. By enrolling in a coach training course held by the FA in London.

And still follow the training of French and other languages, which is considered to benefit him.