Football: The Journey of a Coach

29. The Long Road

    

This type of game is the most adrenaline-pumping. Supporters at the Selhurst park stadium applauded vigorously at Crystal Palace's tackle and interception, and would insult and scorn Ipswich Town's players.

The tension did not subside at all in the second half, Daniel decided to pull back Crsytal Palace playmaker Nick Corle, who again failed when given the opportunity to play by him.

Morgan Schneiderlin came on in the 55th minute replacing Corle, with Morgan entering. Daniel changed the strategy to 4-3-3 with Derry as a metronome midfielder, on the back of two defensive midfielders Kante and Schneiderlin.

With two Winger Moses, as well as Ambrose to advance slightly forward accompanied Alan Lee. Utilizing the speed and passes that make the Winger. Crsytal Palace's main striker will be a pure finisher.

With a high-pressure system like this Ipswich Town was besieged and had difficulty developing the game.

In the 71st minute, Crsytal Palace finally enlarged the lead. Ambrose was fouled by a defender on the left side of the penalty box, after a header from Ryan Shawcross greeted the dead ball released by Derry, hitting the right corner of the Ipswich Town goal.

Crsytal Palace were 2-0 up from their opponents.

But unfortunately Palace who are exhausted from using the full pressing system, began to decline. He is played by Ipswich midfielder Tony Tissue. In the 88th minute, Tony fired a long-range shot from the second line abruptly. Speroni was completely powerless stopping the ball from getting into his net.

Ipswich narrowed the gap to Crsytal Palace 1-2. The goal was like a turning point for Ipswich Town, they bombarded an exhausted Palace defence.

Daniel, who saw his team in an all-out attack, made substitutions to rejuvenate Palace's stamina. In the 90th minute, the most exhausted McCarthy came out. Replaced by Chris Hill, a 30-year-old experienced defender. Hopefully his experience will help the team.

But it looks like Goddess of luck said another, Chris Hill who just entered the fatal foul in the Palace penalty box. Hill who saw young defender N. Clyne skipped the opposing striker, making a late tackle which resulted in the referee pointing to the white spot and awarding Hill a red card.

If at this value whose fault, it is clear that Hill's late tackle is the most fatal. But it is undeniable that it was Clyne's loss of focus that started all this. So it's not entirely Hill's fault, Clyne also took part.

Seeing Chris Hill bowed lethargic out of the field, Daniel waited for him to come out, then grabbed him by the neck and said, "Don't think too much. Rest up. " Then pat her back.

After consoling Hill, Daniel finally recalled why Warnock decided to buy Ryan Shawcross for him earlier in the season, despite Crsytal Palace having three centre-backs at a productive age. Plus Lawrence so Palace had four defenders, by the time Daniel asked Warnock directly. The old coach simply said, "Their defense is like paper, easy to penetrate ".

" Fuck, looks like I need one more centre-back ". Daniel said in his heart

In the 93rd minute, the Ipswich Town striker finished the job well. Julian Speroni guessed the wrong direction from the opponent's penalty kick.   

Ipswich equalised to 2-2

At the end of the game, the Crystal Palace fans felt a little confused, their team was 2-0 to 80 minutes ahead. Fans have been singing with joy at the thought that this victory would overtake fourth-placed Cardiff City.

But 20 minutes later like doused in rain, they can only be silent to see the favorite team conceded two goals. By the time the referee pointed to the penalty spot, angry exclamations mixed with spit filled the entire corner of Selhurst park. Fans can only accept this reality by force.

Daniel saw the final score showing a shock 2-2, he actually did not expect that Ipswich Town would equalise.

After the previous game against Barnsley, Daniel went into hiding and left Matthew Lawrence in the interview. But this time it was different, Daniel himself who was present in the interview after the game.

" We played well, didn't give them too many chances and I'm happy because we're always improving. Offensively the team also improved, the team attacked together. Hold it together too."

" When the tension of the match increases, emotions will also increase. Sometimes people lose a little bit of control, but it's over. Just like the match that will also eventually be finished. "

" Fault at the last minute, it's something we can't avoid. Everyone will make mistakes, it's all my fault. If anyone feels like blaming, blame me. " Daniel deliberately draws the focus of the reporters to his mistakes, by using himself These reporters will leave his players out of the spotlight that is not right.

    

***

" Chris Hill the scapegoat ". Hill, who made a mistake, became the front page headline of a local newspaper.

Looking at the contents of the morning paper, Daniel could only sigh. After a night of searching where Crsytal Palace went wrong, he finally realized that losing two goals also included his mistake.

If Daniel is not too forced to play with high pressure, if he can be calmer and not affected by Roy Keane's emotions. Yesterday's game will be different, Daniel is aware of this. The road is long to be a great coach.

Daniel is quite worried about the impact on the team when this kind of thing happens off the pitch, fortunately the players are not affected by off-field factors.

Crsytal Palace, who lost two points, remain in fifth place, Cardiff City are further away with a 5-point gap due to being held to a draw by Ipswich. And under him Nottingham forest trailed tightly, the forest that beat his opponent reduced the points to 2 points behind Palace.

After preparing, Daniel departed for Crsytal Palace's training base. On his way to the training ground, he was intercepted by his uncle Wayne Collins. Wayne asked his nephew to follow him to the Crsytal Palace manager's office.

It turns out that during Daniel's busy time as coach, Wayne was appointed on a deal with William Carlton and Simon Jordan to become Crsytal Palace's interim manager.

Since Simon Jordan appointed Neil Warnock as coach, Warnock worked as a coach and manager. So it's been half a season the position of Palace manager is empty, now his uncle brings it here. Daniel can already guess a bit, definitely related to the January transfer.

After they sat down, Daniel took a look at the Palace manager's office. Very simple, a little similar to his own office and very simple. There is only a sofa to welcome guests and an office table opposite it.

Daniel and his uncle sit on the couch face to face, having served a sexy blonde secretary coffee out of the office.

" Thank you, Alice ." Uncle said.

" It doesn't matter sir, if there's anything else, just call me. " Alice, the secretary replied with a smile. Then come out by swinging his big hips.

Daniel only realized that his uncle had hired a secretary, let alone a young and sexy like this.

" You can look at it later Daniel, now there's something important. "

" Oh, what's the matter uncle. "

" Just the first day of the January transfer window is open, there are already many clubs eyeing our players. "

" Is it Hull City who want to borrow Morgan, didn't I tell you in advance that Warnock called me directly ".

" Not only Hull City, the other clubs have started to move. "