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Chapter 196 A Good Captain

As Peter Oliver drove closer to Soccer City Northumberland, the gates were packed with fans.

In addition to the local Tyne fans in Newcastle, there were also some fans who came from out of town.

They might not be fans of Tyne, but rather fans of a particular player. However, because this player joined Tyne, they followed him to the Tyne training facility, hoping to meet their idol, get an autograph, and take a photo together.

This scene was already familiar to Oliver this summer.

Just as Tyne fans have said online:

Tyne is getting better and better.

The only regret is that it seems to have nothing to do with me anymore...

Because he didn't know if he could stay with this team that was getting better and better.

Just yesterday, the team's two midfielders, Gabriel Barreto and Tommy Biggins, both transferred away.

Head coach McNeil's tactics have changed significantly since he first arrived in Tyne.

The wingers are no longer important in his tactics, and the team's formation has changed from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3.

Last season, as Wang Lie's form improved, Tyne's starting midfield combination was basically one defensive midfielder and two central midfielders, while Barreto and Biggins gradually became substitutes instead of starters.

It's just that the transfer window wasn't open at that time, so the team couldn't sell players.

Tommy Biggins is willing to leave, but there are limited teams that want him, and he needs to be selective, so he has delayed his departure until now.

Argentine international Gabriel Barreto didn't want to leave because it was obvious to everyone that he would be successful with Wang Lie. The current Tyne is full of vitality and has a very promising future.

But after McNeil spoke with him alone for more than forty minutes, he accepted his fate of leaving.

Oliver didn't know what his boss had said to Barreto; perhaps he had explicitly told him he wasn't in his plans, or perhaps he had been threatened with being demoted to the reserves if he didn't leave...

In short, Barreto left.

Oliver has been a bit paranoid lately, feeling like it's his turn to be next.

Perhaps when training ends today, I'll be called to the boss's office.

Like Barreto, Oliver was also unwilling to leave the team that was becoming promising.

But he also knew that, like Barreto, this was probably beyond his control.

He is well aware of his own abilities and believes he is not up to the team's current requirements.

He's just a clumsy, big center forward who's over 1.9 meters tall. The reason he can play for Tyne is because Tyne used to be a relegation-threatened team.

If Tyne were a Champions League-caliber team, he wouldn't even consider playing for Tyne...

As a center forward, his strengths are his physicality and ability to hold the ball near the penalty area, creating opportunities for his teammates. His weaknesses are also obvious: as a center forward, his scoring ability is rather poor.

He has been a substitute ever since Wang Lie arrived.

Moreover, he wasn't Wang Lie's substitute; he was just a substitute.

After all, he couldn't be Wang Lie's replacement in Wang Lie's absence.

Although Wang Lie and he both appear to be "center forwards" in terms of position, he cannot drop back and rush forward as frequently as Wang Lie, nor can he drift to the wing to cross and shoot like Wang Lie. In terms of tactical requirements, he is far less versatile than Wang Lie.

He himself couldn't understand why Tyne wanted to keep him on, or what value he could bring to the team.

But he really wanted to stay.

The 26-year-old has played for Tyne for three seasons, and his original contract with Tyne was for five seasons.

He hoped that he could at least fulfill the contract.

After turning his attention away from Wang Lie, a fan wearing the number 99 Tyne jersey, Oliver drove his car into the training base.

※※※

"I'm going to go to Wang and tell him I'm willing to give him my number 9 jersey."

Oliver, who was tying his shoelaces with his head down, suddenly spoke to his teammate Van Ginkel, who was changing clothes next to him.

Van Ginkel was somewhat surprised: "The King put pressure on you?"

Oliver laughed: "Look at what you're saying, Mattis. How could Wang possibly pressure me about this? It was my own choice. He's more qualified than me to wear Tyne's number 9 jersey."

Van Ginkel fell silent.

He suddenly remembered the day Wang had just joined the team six months ago. In the same locker room, he asked Oliver if Wang would give him the number 9 jersey.

Although the king has not yet arrived, in his heart, this is indeed something the king is capable of doing.

As it turned out, Wang didn't mention it at all and chose jersey number 99.

This jersey became the best-selling item in Tyne's fan shop.

He had forgotten about it until today when he heard Oliver bring it up again, and he remembered that he had had similar concerns back then.

In Van Ginkel's mindset, he doesn't approve of any new player transferring their jersey number to someone else as soon as they join the team, no matter how famous, high-ranking, or strong the new player is.

However, if someone voluntarily gives up their number, that's a different story.

If Oliver wants to give in, he won't stop him.

Besides, Oliver is right, Wang truly deserves to wear the number 9 jersey now, which has always been his number and has become his personal identifier—"WL9" is even trademarked by Wang…

As a result, because he transferred midway through his career, the rules did not allow him to change his number, so he was forced to choose number 99.

It's worth noting that apart from when he first debuted with Born and wore other numbers because he was young, Wang wore the number 9 jersey for the rest of his career.

It was only when Tain came that an exception was made.

Perhaps Wang has wanted his number back for a long time, but he was too embarrassed to bring it up. Either the head coach has to play the "bad guy," or he has to wait for Oliver to speak up, just like he is now.

※※※

After training, Oliver approached Wang Lie and whispered to him, "Wang, can we talk alone sometime?"

Wang Lie was somewhat surprised; he didn't know why the other person wanted to speak to him alone.

But he didn't refuse: "Then let's do it here."

He pointed to the training field.

When the other teammates saw Oliver suddenly approach Wang Lie to talk, Wang Lie stopped and all looked at him with curiosity.

Oliver was clearly uncomfortable under their gaze.

Although Wang Lie didn't know why Olivier had come to see him, judging from Olivier's behavior, he felt it must be something he was reluctant to talk about and naturally didn't want others to know.

So he pointed to a corner of the training field in the distance: "Let's go over there and talk as we walk."

Oliver breathed a sigh of relief: "Great!"

The two turned and walked away. Seeing this, the other teammates knew that they didn't want everyone to know what they had said, so they also headed towards the locker room.

Only Mattis Van Ginkel turned back and glanced at that spot a few more times before leaving.

"Is there something you need, Peter?"

Seeing that Oliver hesitated, Wang Lie spoke up. Oliver glanced back at his teammates who were already far away before saying, "It's like this, Wang... I know you've always worn the number 9 jersey, so I wanted to give you my number..."

Wang Lie was surprised and shook his head, saying, "No need, Peter, no need. I came to Tyne wearing the number 99 jersey. I like this number very much and have no intention of changing it."

"But number 9 is your personal symbol. When people mention number 9, they think of you..."

“That was before, not now. I won’t take your number, Peter.”

Seeing that Wang Lie was hesitant to accept, Oliver assumed he was worried about the pressure, so he quickly explained, "It's voluntary, Wang. Actually, if it weren't for the rule against changing numbers mid-season, I would have given you my number when you came last season. Really, I sincerely admire everything you've done for the team. Before you came, Tyne was stagnant; you brought victory and hope to the team. Really... there's not much I can do for you, and this is the only thing I can do for you..."

He was interrupted by Wang Lie before he could finish speaking:

"Not for me, but for the team, Peter."

He first corrected Olivier's statement, and then continued:
"Who says you can't do a lot for the team? You're Tyne's center, a real center."

He emphasized the word "truly".

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, or what your purpose is in telling me this, Peter. But what I’m about to tell you is as the team captain.”

Wang Lie turned to look at him, his expression very serious.

Seeing him suddenly say this, Oliver's expression also became focused.

"The team has a heavy workload this season because we have to compete on several fronts simultaneously and maintain a high level of performance in all of them. Otherwise, if we participate in the Champions League but are relegated from the league, it would be better not to participate in the Champions League at all. As you know, the FA stipulates that only 25 first-team players can be registered in the league, so the team has a limited number of players available. This requires every player in our first team to face a lot of match duties... so everyone has to play a very important role."

“I’m not saying there’s no distinction between starters and substitutes in the team, but in reality, the boundary is indeed more blurred than in the traditional sense. You are very important in the traditional center forward position, and the team needs you to continue to play that role. Before your injury last season, you were actually doing quite well in that position. The team scored fewer goals at that time, and the main problem wasn’t with you, but with Vitini and Dean holding you back…”

Upon hearing Wang Lie's words, Oliver almost lost his composure:

Vitini and Dean held me back? I would have believed it if I hadn't actually played the first half of the season!
"...You created many opportunities for them, but they didn't seize them."

Oliver thought about it and then realized that what Wang Lie said actually made some sense!

His tactical role in the team was not to score, but to hold the ball in the frontcourt and set up his teammates.

The task of scoring is for Vitini and Dean.

So... the team's low goal tally seems to have nothing to do with me?
"...So you don't need to belittle yourself or doubt yourself, Peter. You are the best center for Tyne right now."

Wang Lie pointed at Oliver and, seeing that Oliver still seemed a little dazed, asked him:
"If you don't believe in yourself, then do you believe in me?"

Oliver nodded: "I believe you, Your Majesty. I believe you one hundred percent..."

"Okay, then remember this: I believe Peter Oliver is the best fit center for this Tyne team. Do you have any questions now?"

“I…” Oliver opened his mouth, not knowing what to say. Wang Lie’s words had stirred his emotions so much that he had almost lost the ability to think.

Wang Lie raised his hands and grabbed Oliver's shoulders, squeezing them firmly: "So relax and wear your number 9 jersey, Peter. You know, before I came here, you were Tyne's number 9, Tyne's starting center. As long as you're still on this team, you don't need to give up your number to anyone."

Oliver bit his lower lip tightly this time.

Finally, Wang Lie changed to a more relaxed tone and laughed, "Don't think that I chose number 99 out of desperation because number 9 was already taken. I really like this number because I was born in 1999. Also, let me tell you something else, Peter—I've registered 'WL99' as a trademark, and now 'WL9' and 'WL99' are both my personal trademarks!"

※※※

Van Ginkel dawdled as she changed her clothes, waiting for Oliver to return.

On the way back to the locker room from the training field, everyone else was speculating about what Oliver wanted to talk to Wang about. He knew what they were talking about, and he wanted to know the outcome.

Wang Lie was the first to return, and Oliver returned a minute later.

Van Ginkel tried to read the clues from the two men's faces, but found nothing.

So after Oliver sat down next to him, Van Ginkel impatiently covered her mouth and asked in a low voice, "How is it?"

Oliver also covered his mouth and whispered, "He refused."

“Ah…” Van Ginkel was a little surprised, “Why? Doesn’t he want his number back?”

Instead of answering his question, his good friend asked, "Mattis, do you think I'm a qualified center for the team?"

"Why are you asking this..."

"Wang said he thinks I'm the best center for this Tyne team. He also said I'm Tyne's number 9..."

Oliver had his head down when he said this, so Van Ginkel couldn't see his expression, but from the sound of his clenched teeth and his tightly clenched fists, Van Ginkel knew he must be very excited...

※※※

"I'm a little curious, what did Peter talk to you about?"

Wang Lie was stopped by Elliott Goetz on his way to the parking lot.

As the vice-captain, it's perfectly normal for him to be concerned about the situation among the players, so when Goetz asked, he waited for Wang Lie's answer.

Unexpectedly, Wang Lie shook his head and refused, saying, "I'm sorry, Elliott. I'm afraid I can't tell you."

Goetz was somewhat surprised. "Why? I won't tell anyone..."

Wang Lie still gave an apologetic look: "I think Peter might not want everyone to know about this, so if you want to know, I suggest you ask Peter."

Goetz recalled that Peter Oliver had specifically gone to talk to Wang Lie alone in a distant place. It seemed that Wang Lie was right; Oliver probably really didn't want others to know what they talked about.

So he shook his head: "I understand, I won't ask him anymore. But I want to know, is the matter resolved?"

As the captain, even if he doesn't know the specifics of what happened, he has to determine whether it will have any impact on the team.

“Of course, it’s resolved.” Wang Lie spread his hands. “There won’t be any more problems.”

When he said that, Elliott Goetz believed him without a second thought.

He wasn't worried that Wang Lie was deceiving him or intentionally hiding something.

Because Wang Lie is not that kind of person.

As Wang Lie himself said: He has many shortcomings, but he never lies.

If he says it's solved, then it's solved, no matter what the problem was.

Goetz nodded and smiled: "You're becoming more and more like a good captain, Wang."

Wang Lie was somewhat surprised and raised an eyebrow: "Didn't you give me the captain's armband because you think I can be a good captain?"

“I gave you the captain’s armband because you can lead the team to victory. But a captain’s job is not just to lead the team to victory…” Goetz said.

"A team is made up of many individuals, each of whom is different and has their own ideas. If you want to win, you must bring these completely different individuals together. It's like braiding a rope."

Goetz made a twisting motion with both hands.

"The ropes rub against each other and become tightly entangled, a process that is certainly not comfortable for them. But in order to withstand greater force, they must be entangled even tighter and rub even more fiercely. The ropes inside bear enormous pressure, while the ropes on the outside are worn raw and may even snap."

"For victory, there will always be sacrifices in this team, and some people will become the 'price of victory'. As the captain, you not only have to lead everyone to win, but you also have to pay attention to those who are sacrificed, and at the very least make them willing to make sacrifices for your goal and become the price."

Wang Lie looked thoughtful, then exclaimed, "English football underestimated you, Elliott. You're practically a football philosopher! The rope analogy is brilliant!"

Götz, who was praised by Wang Lie, laughed: "What kind of philosopher am I? If we're talking about the height of football philosophy, I think your statement 'We will definitely go to the Champions League, just like the Tyne River will eventually flow into the sea' will definitely leave a place in the history of world football, and occupy a very important position. You can't imagine how I was when I heard you say that on TV... I was even willing to die for you at that time."

Wang Lie was a little surprised, but he quickly recovered and patted Goetz on the shoulder: "We don't need to die, but the goal behind us is in your hands, Elliott."

Goetz spread out his "giant hand" and showed it to Wang Lie: "I will not let you down, Wang."

(End of this chapter)