Don thought about it for a long time, these years there are a lot of excellent strikers and frontcourt players, but there are few good central defenders. The defenders he was familiar with, with Forest's current league standings, prestige, and financial resources, could not be bought.

Only from Forest's opponents in League One. Don sighed, missing the scouting tools in FM...... After all, manpower is limited, and it is not as convenient and fast as a computer system. Thinking of this, Don suddenly had a flash of inspiration in his mind - why can't he imitate FM and CM and build a scouting data system by himself? Enter the player information inspected by the club's scouts into the computer system, detailing the player's name, age, place of origin, location, club he plays for, technical characteristics, game video, and relevant media reports...... It's all there. It is updated once a year, and when the coach needs a player in any position, he can find it directly in the computer system. Wouldn't that be a lot easier? It can also save a lot of manpower and material resources.

Thinking so, Donn decided to propose this plan with Evanti another day, and spend money to entrust those program companies to make a system like this and apply for a patent...... If the effect is good, maybe it can be promoted to other clubs, and it will be no problem to make a little money at that time.

Training is in full charge of Walker and the dedicated coaching staff, and Donn basically interferes with the team's training except for meeting with the coaching staff every morning to have a meeting and review today's training schedule.

At the beginning, the players who have only arrived in the team this season are still a little uncomfortable, how can there be a team manager who does not care? But soon the veterans who were in the Forest team last season told them that the boss is such a manager, as long as he can win, it doesn't matter if he comes up to practice in person during training, or does he watch from the sidelines in suits?

Yes, there are many types of head coaches, and some head coaches don't like to train the team themselves, they usually systematically develop a training plan and then hand it over to the assistant coach to do. For example, former Barcelona manager Dutchman Van Van Van V Gal. There are also coaches who don't have any training plans and like to be involved in it personally, and may adjust his training ideas at any time, such as former Barcelona manager and current Newcastle manager Bobby. Robson.

Donn is clearly somewhere in between, but as he grows more experienced, his approach to training should gradually move closer to that of Van Gaal, although he himself doesn't like the Dutch coach very much...... the sky is gradually becoming less and less sunny, and it is always wet, rainy and wet. When I opened my mouth to speak and breathe, there was already a clear white gas spurting out, and the temperature was getting lower day by day, and the feeling at the end of the year was getting stronger and stronger.

Christmas is coming, and this is the most important of the Western festivals, which is equivalent to the Chinese New Year. The festive atmosphere is everywhere in Nottingham. Lights everywhere, the Victoria Shopping Mall in the city center has been erected in front of the Christmas tree more than ten meters high, the lights are hung high, when the lights are turned on at night, you can see the light on the Christmas tree from afar, the lights in the city almost half of the sky, such a scene will only appear in the ancient city of Nottingham at Christmas.

There is also a small Christmas tree in the club's training ground, which is filled with small gifts for the players. Donn doesn't know if Forest FC has such a tradition before, but judging by the surprise performance of the players, it is estimated that this is also Allen. Adams called it part of "team PR".

Each gift has the names of the players on the outer packaging, from the first team to the youth team. The coaches' gifts were delivered directly to their offices and placed on their desks.

In the lobby of Building 1 of the training base, the players are happily rummaging around the Christmas tree for their gifts, holding them up and cheering every time someone finds them, and then eagerly opening them. There are not many types of gifts, basically a greeting card with a gadget, which is not very valuable. But the club's heart still makes many people feel warm in their hearts.

Don looked at these "New Year" players, stood at the gate with a smile, and did not urge them to go to the training ground. It doesn't matter how much they already have a weekly salary, most of them are still children after all, and sometimes they have to relax when they should relax.

Today is December 24th, the last day before Christmas, Christmas Eve. The team only trains in the morning, has a half-day off in the afternoon, and the next day on Christmas morning, the team continues to take the day off until the afternoon when the players come back to assemble and then prepare to go to Norwich City away for a match in the 25th round of League One.

Don saw George on the outside of the crowd. Wood, who hasn't had time to go back to the youth team since he returned to the first team. But he was relieved to see Wood, who was much more mature than before in every way. Chris Rac values Wood as much as he does, and with him to take care of him, he shouldn't have to worry about this kid not having a ball to play.

George. Instead of crowding with the people, Wood waited outside, looking around as if he was looking for someone.

Don thought he must be looking for him, and sure enough, Wood saw him and walked straight up.

"Hi, Merry Christmas, George." Don took the initiative to wave in greeting.

"Merry Christmas......" Wood wears a club-issued winter sports jacket that is thick on his body, but he doesn't feel bloated in the slightest, on the contrary, his height of 1.86 meters, and a year of professional training, makes him look powerful - he doesn't just look like a professional footballer. "Do you have something to do at night?"

Don spread his hands: "No." I'm alone, what can I do? ”

“…… My mom invites you to dinner at home in the evening. Wood hesitated for a moment, but still stated the purpose of his approach to Done.

Sophia? Hearing the news, Don immediately thought of that night when he was alone with Sophia. He immediately smiled and said, "Okay, tell your mom, I'll go in the evening." ”

But instead of walking away immediately, Wood stood in front of Don and continued to look at him.

"Anything else, George?" Don asked him.

Wood then turned and went back to the Christmas tree, where there were few people left, and he easily found his present. Then he took his Christmas present, turned around and left the place, and went back to the youth team training base.

Donn looked at his back, shrugged, and walked to his office.

Pushing the door open, he was startled by what he saw. The table is piled up with all kinds of gifts, large and small boxes...... There's even a Christmas tree bonsai with ribbons!

Seeing this scene, I honestly said that Don was very moved. What is it about a manager who, in addition to the self-satisfaction of his results, can make him feel that everything he has done is worth it and be happy about it? The only way to admit it, to the players, the fans, to the club: you have all our hopes on your shoulders, you are the manager of Nottingham Forest, not some nobody kid who came out of nowhere!

Looking at the table full of gifts, Don knew that he, the "new" coach who had only led the team for two games, had already gained the trust and support of the whole team. Is it just because he led the team to two wins in a row? No, in the London Underground, when he stood in front of the drunken Millwall fans and everyone else in the team, Don had no idea what kind of eyes the players were looking at his back.

Abandoning players for the sake of their own future is not uncommon in the cruel world of professional football. Coaches are always in the habit of sacrificing players for their own benefit. And Donn, in the face of a possible danger to his life, chose to bravely stand up and protect his players. Maybe he only made this move because of Gavin's death, but in the eyes of the players, this man is a manager who deserves everything they can to help him win and help him make a name for himself. If he says, "Guys, I need you to win this game." "Then no matter how strong the opponent is, they will fight with confidence.

The gifts came from the players, the coaches, the team doctors, the president of the club and the marketing manager who has not yet taken office but has actually started working. Most of them were just cards, but Don still took them apart and looked at them one by one. It's as happy as receiving a greeting card from a girl you like when you're in school.

Sergei. Rebrov: Thank you, sir, for giving me back my confidence. I used to regret coming here, thinking that I was just wasting my time. But now I'm glad I played under you. Merry Christmas and good luck every day.

Des. Walker: Merry Christmas, Tony! Even though I'm leaving the team at the end of the season, I think the experience of working with you has been a valuable experience and I've learned a lot from you. Hopefully, one day, we'll be able to work together. Remember, we're the best mates!

Evan. Dogti: Tony? Don't forget our plans! Victory! Victory! We will be the best president and manager of the club. Also, Merry Christmas!

Allan. Adams: Merry Christmas, Tony. Hopefully this time next year, we'll be in the Premier League. By the way, your suggestion about setting up a player database system excites both Evan and I, and it's a great Christmas present. I'll fly back to the U.S. after Christmas and do this.

Looking at the cards, Donn's eyes flooded with a layer of moisture. He rubbed his eyes and continued to look. On this cold winter morning, the door of the office was open, and the cold wind from the hallway poured in, but Don felt like a warm spring in the room.

(To be continued)