Starting with saving Manchester United

From the National Football Museum, walk south along the River Will.

Less than 1 kilometer away, across the Sanyi Bridge, lies the famous Laurie Hotel.

One of the main reasons this hotel is well-known is that it has a long-standing partnership with Manchester United.

The night before each home game, Manchester United's stars would gather at this hotel.

Tonight is no exception, but it's a little special.

Yang Fan moved the meeting time forward to 21 PM.

"Everyone except Giggs is here."

When Yang Fan received Jackie Kay's report, he breathed a sigh of relief.

As for Giggs...

Yang Fan had no idea that the Welshmen were plotting something in a bar about 1 kilometer away from the Laurie Hotel.

He didn't care.

"Paul." Yang Fan looked at Paul Brand.

This Scotsman, who usually has a baby face, now had a scruffy beard.

Over the past two days, the busiest person on the team has undoubtedly been Paul Brand.

He did the work of several people, working himself to the bone, practically living in front of the computer.

Fortunately, he did not disappoint Yang Fan's high expectations.

After receiving instructions, he, accompanied by Mike Phelan, knocked on the doors of the players' rooms one by one.

Each player will receive an analysis report on their opponent, Olympiacos, as well as a USB drive containing analysis videos of Olympiacos and some tactical analysis videos.

Each person's USB drive contains different information, prepared specifically for different locations and roles.

Yang Fan has yet to reveal the starting lineup to anyone.

After being reminded by Jackie Kay, Yang Fan began to think about how to keep it a secret.

He adopted an information classification system that was more common in his previous life.

Simply put, it involves decrypting the game step by step according to the player's level of access based on the game's timeline.

For example, during the meeting at Carrington just now, Yang Fan shared information with the seven core players that the team would be changing its formation and adopting the RACI model.

At the pre-match press conference, Giggs announced Manchester United's 18-man squad for tomorrow night's game.

The official websites of Manchester United and UEFA will also release the information tonight.

Goalkeepers: De Gea, Lindegaard;

Defense: Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Smalling, Phil Jones;

Midfielders: Carrick, Cleverley, Fletcher, Fellaini, Januzaj;

Forwards: Rooney, Van Persie, Hernandez, Welbeck, Ashley Young, Valencia.

No Giggs!

Yang Fan believed that this was the reason Giggs was throwing a tantrum and refusing to come to the Laurie Hotel tonight.

Tomorrow morning, before training, the team has arranged a tactical video conference where Yang Fan will officially announce the team's starting tactics and formation for the match against Olympiacos, as well as a series of targeted measures.

These will all be practiced and reinforced in subsequent training sessions.

This training session wasn't very intense; it was more about familiarizing oneself with the game and wouldn't affect tomorrow night's match.

After training sessions, before noon, Yang Fan would have private conversations with key players such as the captain, vice-captain, Ferdinand, Rooney, and Van Persie, explaining his reasons and criteria for deciding who would start and who would be a substitute.

The afternoon was for rest and preparation, while I also had private conversations with the players on the 18-man roster.

The starting lineup is officially announced before the match, after the players have finished their pre-match training.

This step-by-step unlocking method minimizes the risk of data leakage.

Moreover, even if there is a leak, Yang Fan can quickly pinpoint the source of the leak.

Yang Fan didn't actually want this to happen either.

But there was nothing we could do; there was a mole in the locker room.

……

There was a heavy rain last night.

In the morning, the air in Manchester was as humid as if it had just been pulled out of a washing machine.

Thick, dark clouds pressed down on the entire city, making it feel oppressively suffocating.

At a convenience store on a street corner in a Manchester neighborhood, the red flag outside, soaked with water, hung listlessly, motionless.

Old Jack stood under the flagpole, reaching out to pull the red flag, trying to reveal the crest that symbolized Manchester United fans.

As soon as it was pulled apart, it quickly glued back together.

Just like Manchester United this season.

Old Jack shook his head helplessly and sighed. He pushed open the convenience store door and his eyes found the familiar stack of newspapers on the counter.

"A copy of The Sun," old Jack called out, reaching for a coin and slamming it down on the counter.

He casually grabbed the top newspaper.

The red masthead is why countless Manchester United fans love reading The Sun.

But today's Sun newspaper is strange.

Generally speaking, The Sun usually features a photograph on its front page.

Today too.

This photo is made up of many small square photos, each capturing a moment of Manchester United fans frozen in time.

They might have faces contorted with rage, or they might be covering their faces, unable to bear the sight, or they might be sobbing silently...

Of course, we can't forget the classic photos from last Saturday.

Manchester United fans roared at Moyes, who was slumped over the Old Trafford bench, from the stands.

After the match, out-of-control Manchester United fans broke through security and punched Moyes.

There was also the banner that Liverpool fans unfurled at Old Trafford that read, "Moyes is a genius."

Every single photo is a disgrace to Manchester United fans, a scar on their hearts.

These small photos, taken one by one, formed the headline of today's The Sun.

"God, please save Manchester United!"

The front-page headline, composed of small photos and surrounded by scarlet patterns, looked like a pair of eyes shedding bloody tears, crashing down from the newspaper.

Old Jack stood in front of the counter, staring blankly at the line of text on the newspaper, not moving for a long time, just like the lifeless team flag at the door.

……

The print edition of the Manchester Evening News goes on sale at 16 p.m. every day.

But news websites update 24/7.

Rob Dawson's column on the website, the chief Manchester United correspondent, is a must-read for countless Manchester United fans.

He updates Manchester United news daily and occasionally reveals insider information.

This morning, with a crucial Champions League match looming, he suddenly updated his website with a column article.

"Who can save Manchester United?"

The accompanying photo for the column is of Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs at the pre-match press conference.

The article begins: “It was 15:30 p.m. on the 18th as I drove along the long birch road leading to Carrington.”

"From the evening of the 16th to the afternoon of the 18th, in less than 48 hours, Manchester United was like the Titanic, which unfortunately struck an iceberg in the turbulent Atlantic Ocean."

In this column, Rob Dawson starts with Moyes' sudden resignation and goes on to discuss the power struggles within Manchester United.

In particular, Yang Fan, who was only 25 years old, was appointed by Ed Woodward to temporarily take over Manchester United's first team.

Rob Dawson believes this was not a normal business appointment, but rather a ridiculous and ignorant decision made by Woodward in his struggle for control of Carrington.

"He always hoped to manage a prestigious club like Manchester United, with its long history and unique heritage, just like managing a modern company!"

"He knew nothing about football, so much so that before appointing Yang Fan, he didn't even know that leading a team in the Premier League and the Champions League required a UEFA coaching license."

Rob Dawson said he simply couldn't understand why Ed Woodward would think that a 25-year-old Chinese man who had never even played football could shoulder the responsibility of saving Manchester United from its predicament.

The prominent Manchester Evening News reporter warned Ed Woodward.

"He should stop letting Yang Fan dance around Old Trafford with a mop, like a nightclub girl!"

"That would be the biggest disgrace in Manchester United's history!"

In closing, Rob Dawson concluded that Manchester United's search for a new manager was no longer a secret.

"Klopp refused to coach Manchester United, and Simeone has also made it clear that he will not leave Atletico Madrid."

"Now, Manchester United's target for the new season is Van Gaal."

"But before that, during this transition period, Woodward should stop his clumsy power games."

"Giggs is the best choice for a smooth transition at Manchester United!"

Rob Dawson believes that Giggs was forced to take a backseat during Moyes's tenure.

But in recent days, as the team has been in deep trouble, Giggs has returned to the spotlight.

On the morning of the 17th, it was he who stepped forward to appease the media reporters and fans.

On the afternoon of the 18th, he also exercised his authority as head coach, attended the pre-match press conference, and announced the 18-man roster.

"The birch road leading to Carrington is long, narrow, and bumpy."

"Manchester United had considered moving their training ground away from here, just like Manchester City did."

"But in the end, Ferguson chose to fix it."

"Because this is the foundation and core of Manchester United!"

"Only those who truly love Manchester United can save this great team!"

"Please give Manchester United back to all the fans who love it!"

The front-page headline in The Sun, Rob Dawson's column, and reports from other major media outlets quickly generated a huge response in Manchester, sending Manchester United fans throughout the city into a frenzy!

Public opinion intensified, with everyone directing their criticism at the 25-year-old rookie.

Especially in the afternoon.

Manchester United fans are increasingly organizing protests at Old Trafford tonight, determined to demand an explanation.

What qualifications does Yang Fan have to take over Manchester United?