Addendum: Nottingham Forest final squad for the 06-07 season (the numbers in parentheses are shirt numbers).

Goalkeepers: Van der Sar (1), Paul. Gerard (25), Igor. Akinfeev (12, on loan to CSKA in Moscow).

Defender: Leighton. Barnes (22), Gareth. Bell (2), Pascal. Zim Bonda (3), Sun Jihai (21), Herard. Piquet (24), Vicente. Kompany (33), Pepe (6), Weiss. Mogan (5).

Midfielder: George. Wood (13), Demitrio. Albertini (4), Martin. Petrov (8), Raphael. Van der Vaart (23), Chris. Cummons (20, loan at Watford), Ashley. Yang (18), Allen. Lennon (17), Frank. Ribery (7), Mikel. Arteta (14).

Forward: Freddy. Eastwood (11), Niklas. Bendtner (9), Luther. Van Nistelrooy (10), Nicholas. Anelka (39).

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"Think it's amazing, guys." In the dressing room ahead of the first game of the season, Donn asked his team, "Last season our first game was also here, against the same opponents. ”

As soon as he said this, everyone remembered. That's right, exactly the same.

In the first game of last season, Nottingham Forest hosted Wigan Athletic. Everyone still has an impression of this team because whether it is before or after the game, this team is called "Nottingham Forest second" by the media, and the opposing head coach also called Donn his idol in an interview, and Nottingham Forest is a role model for his team to learn from.

"Looks like you all remember, so does anyone remember the game?" Don continued to ask.

Then everyone thought that apart from the new additions Van Nistelrooy, Van der Vaart and Petrov, everyone remembered what that game was like.

"Boss, we played badly in the first half." Albertini replied, standing up. Although George. Wood spends more time wearing the captain's armband on the pitch, but now the team's first captain is still the Italian.

"Not bad." Donn motioned for Albertini to sit down. "I was furious with you at half-time and then in the second half we won. But I don't want to do it again. I'm sure you don't want to see me like that all the time, do you? Actually, I'm a very kind person. ”

The players laughed.

"At that time, we were all very young, and we were blown away by a few words of praise from our opponents. It's different now, we've all gone through a lot of important competitions and seen big scenes! 'Donn looked at his players, the players looked at him, and in eye contact, the players knew what the big picture was – the European Champions Cup final. We're not the same as we were a season ago, we've had a lot of wind and waves, so don't get stuck in front of this little ditch. Get your best! We have a great goal for the new season, you all know, right? ”

"Yes, Chief!"

"Champions Cup Champion! ooo！ ”

The players shouted that this goal can really make people's blood boil.

"Good. Now it's our first official game of the new season, so ...... Give me a head start! ”

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"It's a wonderful coincidence for Nottingham Forest, whose opponents in the first round of last season came in the first round of this season. Wigan Athletic, who were not very strong, could not threaten the Forest defence, and Forest's big stars showed their attacking prowess in front of them, and poor Wigan had to choose to defend to the death. ”

"Don doesn't show any mercy to his little brother...... Ha ha! ”

It's almost a remake of everything last season, and even the two people who commented on the game were John, Donn's old acquaintances. Mortenson and Alain. Hansen.

The only difference was that the two men were poking fun at the two teams in the game from the commentary bench and didn't sneer at Nottingham Forest's poor performance as they did last year.

Because both in terms of the game and the scoreline, Nottingham Forest are gaining the upper hand.

The electronic scoreboard shows the score of the match so far: Nottingham Forest 1:0 Wigan Athletic.

'It's a more mature team. That's what Mortensen said about the current Forest team.

He's right, after that big defeat, the Forest team has matured a lot. Just look at how they do with Wigan Athletic.

Without giving their opponents the slightest chance, they took advantage of the overwhelming dominance at home and in terms of quality, and they kept the tempo of the game firmly at their feet. The team's overall tactics are no different from last season. At the beginning of the new season, Donn focused on seeking stability, consolidating his results first and then considering changing tactics. In this game, Forest's two wings were in full swing, with Ribery disrupting Wigan's right side of defence on the left. And Ashley, who returned from an internal ban. Young also saved his image in the manager's mind with one cross after another.

Apart from major surgery up front, with Ruud van Nistelrooy replacing Viduka and Eastwood replacing Nicolas Anelka, the rest of the team is no different from last season.

The £4.5 million Van der Vaart was named in the squad but did not start. The Forest's midfield midfield combination is still the thunderous George. Wood and Arteta. Therefore, the team formation is still 442 in parallel position.

Although the new tactics were repeatedly rehearsed during the summer training camp, Don was still not at ease, after all, the new things were rushed, and they were not as safe as the old tactics that the team had practiced for two years. At the beginning of the new season, he chose to be stable, and in the final analysis, it was utilitarianism that was at work.

The team has been doing well year after year: fourth in the Premier League in its first season and a League Cup quarter-final. In their second season, they finished second in the league and finished second in the Champions Cup...... How far will we have to go this season to be satisfying? Forest will have to bear more expectations every season in the future, and the rocket-like rise of the Forest team makes everyone take it for granted that this miracle team has achieved good results, otherwise World Football magazine would not have commented that Nottingham Forest is a "strong team" rather than a "dark horse".

While Tang En was proud, the pressure on his shoulders became heavier and heavier...... Of course, this is part of the price that must be paid for success. As the most popular head coach at the moment, he must have this awareness.

※※※

The man who scored a goal for Forest was Frank. Franck Franck Ribery has become a world-renowned star thanks to his performances at the World Cup and the European Champions Cup. Wigan Athletic has been specifically targeted at him and still haven't been able to keep an eye on him. From a corner, Franck Ribery volleyed home Nottingham Forest's first goal of the new season.

City Stadium is in a frenzy, even though everyone is familiar with Tony. Donn's side have brought them victory after victory, but every goal still ignites the passion.

After the goal, Ribery ran to the corner flag, followed by Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was the new addition waving his arms for his team-mates to come up and celebrate.

Don has told Don and Chris Lak that he is not at all worried about Ruud van Nistelrooy's integration into the team. Now it has been proven.

Donne knows that, of course, Ruud van Nistelrooy is a very professional player, a change of environment means a fresh start for him, he needs to adapt to everything in his new team, he knows how to integrate into this team faster and better - it's a good idea to take the initiative in normal times.

He's not a perverse person like Anelka, and he's not likeable.

If Ruud van Nistelrooy is well integrated into the team, then Van der Vaart will not have a hard time. Counting the first arrival of Van der Sar in the team, there are three Dutchmen, Donn doesn't mind people from the same country hugging in a bunch, and the veteran players can help the new players get familiar with the team, and it is a good cycle to deal with it.

As for the intrigue between gangs in various countries...... Don wasn't worried. It's long, and there is time for them to know who the most indispensable person in this team is.

※※※

At the end of the first half, the score was still 1-0, with Nottingham Forest having the upper hand and the home fans were not worried about the outcome of the game. Tony. Donn's team is reassuring that the team's willpower will not be prone to accidents like the "black five minutes".

Fifteen minutes after the break, Donn praised the team's performance without hesitation, and everyone praised it after the roll call, and it was not empty words, but really said praise in everyone's heart.

No one hates praise. Don also did not hesitate to praise, which is also a means of management. It was only after Chrislac had mentioned Bell that he had reminded him. A word of praise is a simple thing for the person who says it, but it can be a very important reward for the person who hears it.

Of course, he will not be stingy with the fury of the storm.

At this point, Donn is very rewarding and punishing......

At half-time, Donn didn't say much about the tactical side other than praising everyone on the team. Coaches know that when their team was at the top of the game in the first half, they often don't have to do anything at half-time and let the team continue to play like they did in the first half. This is the same as when a set of lineups wins one after another, there is no reason to rashly change tactics and staffing.

So at the end of the break, Don just slapped his face and said to the players who were about to play, "Kick how you want to play!" ”

※※※

Forest carried through that in the second half, and the same set in the first half continued to be used in the second half.

Wigan Athletic certainly weren't content to lose in this game. After all, they are no longer the same team that just had been promoted to the Premier League just a season ago, and their biggest dream was to avoid relegation, but last season's excellent results have given them more hope for this season - to qualify for next season's UEFA Cup.

Since it is known as "Nottingham Forest second", how can Wigan Athletic's manager Jewell not study the team in front of him?

He thinks he knows Donne's team and the person he is and is well positioned to turn the tables in the second half – conceding only one goal in the first half was entirely in Jewell's plans.

Tang En is young and ambitious, and it is the time when the spring breeze is proud. The first half showed weakness, allowing him to underestimate the enemy, and the second half was a good time for Wigan Athletic to counterattack. He remembers Forest's performance in the first game of last season.

Had it not been for Donn waking up his players at half-time, Wigan Athletic could have gone home with three points.

But now, there's no more halftime for you to scold, Coach Donne...... Jewell thought to himself with a slight smugness.

Ten minutes into the second half, Wigan Athletic suddenly came on and threatened the Forest's heart with three consecutive attacks.

Don glanced at Jewell, who had walked from the dugout to the sidelines, and reminded: "Tony......"

Tang En smiled and waved his hand: "I know." The taste of 'so-and-so second' is not pleasant~~ You see, there is really no one who is willing to be someone else's substitute. Jewell thought he had studied me and the Forest, so let him think so. ”

"Is there anything going to change?" Chris Rac asked.

Don stared at the field for a moment before replying, "No." ”

Chrislak was surprised by this answer, and he thought that Donn was going to adjust his tactics. 'But the opposition has seen through our tactics and they have strengthened their defence on the flanks,' he said......, pointing to the pitch.

Don smiled, "You're right, they saw through our tactics. But...... So what? ”

This rhetorical question left Chris Rac speechless.

"Do you know how to deal with it once you see it through? If you know how to deal with it, you will be able to deal with it? Don smiled more and more happily, and in Tang's eyes, there was even a feeling that the prank had succeeded......

"David." Don decided to teach his assistant a lesson, "It's not a world that can be unimpeded by just playing these little tricks. You also know that they have a strength gap with us, but do you know how big the gap is between them and us? Sometimes, sheer superiority in strength can nullify all intrigues. The ...... between them and us," he confidently pointed to the darkening sky, "is the distance from Earth to Mars." ”

Chrislac's mouth was wide open, somewhat unacceptable to the suggestion.

"Nothing has to change, this lineup, this set of tactics, all the same. Let's show Wigan Athletic why they can only be 'Nottingham Forest second' and not Nottingham Forest. You know, it's dangerous to live in fantasy and still be self-righteous. ”

With that, Donn stood up, walked from the dugout to the sidelines, and whistled. After the players all looked at him, he made a gesture of pushing forward. It's telling the formation to keep pressing, keep attacking, score more goals.

Wigan Athletic has just hit the heart of the Forest team with three consecutive attacks, which has already aroused the displeasure of the arrogant players of the Forest team, and they don't need to be reminded by the manager that they have to press up and beat the opponent to the ground.

In the next game, Jewell could only watch his team be ravaged by the other side with a look of surprise on his face.

Donn is right, Jewell has really seen through the Forest's tactics, studied them thoroughly, and has come up with a lot of ways to contain the Forest's proudest attack on the wing. But he didn't consider that his team's overall and individual combat ability is far from the Forest team, and what is the use of the tactical opponent and the lack of strength of the people who implement the tactics?

“…… Arteta...... Nice pass! Eastwood wasn't greedy and he split the ball to ...... Van Nistelrooy!! His first league goal for Nottingham Forest! ”

'Van der Vaart's first touch of the ball after coming on was a long-range shot that bounced off the Wigan Athletic defender's leg...... Ashley. Young, cross! Antonio. Valencia...... Own goal! Poor Valencia, it was his first league game for Wigan......"

"The forward line of Husky and Kamala simply can't do anything against George. Wood's defense posed any threat, and Wood rushed to join the attack...... He came with a long-range shot! Oh, what a pity, shoot high! ”

After the team took a 3-0 lead, Donn, who was standing on the sidelines, turned around and shrugged his shoulders to the two assistant coaches and walked back.

"It's over." At the seventy-six minute mark, he said to his two assistants.

On the other hand, Jewell's face was as ugly as a pig's liver. But what could he do? This set of tactics was completely ineffective against the Forest team, and the difference in strength between the two sides was too great...... It's bigger than it was a year ago. It's not that Wigan Athletic has weakened, but his squad has added some personnel this summer, and there is only one reasonable explanation, and that is that Nottingham Forest has become stronger, and this is much faster than he expected and imagined.

“…… Nottingham Forest has fully demonstrated the strength of a strong team, poor Wigan Athletic, it seems that they can only continue to be the 'second'! There was no suspense in the game, Nottingham Forest controlled every corner of the pitch and could score more goals if they wanted! Tony. Donn was smiling so happily, it was indeed a perfect start to the new season! ”

Amid Motes' praise, the referee blew the whistle for the end of the match.

Tony. Don took the initiative to walk up to Jewell, the loser, and shook his hand: "Welcome back to Earth, Mr. Jewell. There are still 37 rounds left in the league, so keep it up! ”

Jewell smiled helplessly: "Please keep up the good work, Mr. Donn." ”

That's right, there are still 37 rounds of the league, and the new season has just begun, so they all need to keep working hard.

Regardless, Jewell's side were defeated, while Don got off to a morale-boosting and boding start.

(To be continued)