Chapter 565: The Merry Men

On July 1st, the players and coaches returned from their vacation.

Dunn had returned to Nottingham with Tang Jing the day before. He said he ran into Tang Jing at the Beijing airport, but Twain did not believe him and mocked Dunn with his sharp tongue. He only stopped teasing when Dunn blushed like a baboon’s bottom.

The English Premier League started earlier than the other leagues and would be fully opened in mid-August. Therefore, Premier League teams started training earlier than other countries’ league teams.

Only a stamina recovery program was arranged for the first day of training, given that everyone had just had a month of vacation. As they were a little rusty skill wise, the training was not intense. Dunn was not in charge of fitness training as there was a special fitness coach in charge, so he did not have to worry much about anything.

However, he still had to be present because there was a matter he needed to attend to in addition to leading the team the training.

※※※

After one month of vacation, the players behaved as if they had just woken up from a dream. They were heavy-eyed and yawning. Their energy levels and bodies were not in best condition.

To Twain’s satisfaction, no one was absent after a wonderful vacation. Other than Arteta and Ashley Young, who had already announced their departures, even Anelka, who was at odds with Twain, drove there to train. He was still in discussion with Juventus about his personal contract as both sides were in dispute over some issues.

Still in vacation mode, the players were startled awake by the media lying in wait when they drove themselves to the Wilford training base mental.

Perhaps the word “startled” was an understatement. The Nottingham Forest players had never seen so many reporters at the training base on the first day of training before the start of the season.

Not only were the media there, but countless people who appeared to be the fans were also waiting. They were on both sides of the narrow alley, holding banners and shouting out chants energetically.

If they just looked at the media, they probably would not know why it was so lively. But when they looked at the enthusiastic fans, it became clear.

Some of them wore the red Manchester United jerseys and some wore the white Real Madrid jerseys. All of them were holding up posters of a man.

After Ribéry parked his darling car in the parking lot within the training base, he whistled at several of his teammates who arrived at the same time. “How was your vacation?”

“Luckily, I went to Hawaii.” Eastwood, who was tanned, pointed to his floral shirt. He had also arrived by car. Now that he was famous and successful, he no longer lived in the caravan at the training base compound. He had bought a small farm and lived there with his wife and children. Of course, he was still doing his warm ups by riding a horse on the morning of every home game. No one would think that he was obstructing the traffic by riding in his own farm.

Ribéry pointed to the gate of the training base, where hordes of media and fans could be seen.

“It’s really lively, isn’t it? Looks like a big shot is coming today.”

“Don’t you know who’s coming?” Eastwood was a little surprised.

“Tut, it’s not fun if I just say the name out loud.” Ribéry rolled his eyes at Eastwood.

The pair were not in a hurry to go to the locker room. They chatted as they looked in the direction of the gate. Soon, more cars stopped beside them, and more people stood alongside them to chat. This formed a strange sight. None of the Forest players first went to the locker room to change and head to the training ground. Instead, they greeted each other and chatted in the parking lot.

It looked like the feeling of the vacation was not over yet.

Wood did not drive. His house was very close to the training base. He usually ran here for the training, which he could do the most basic warm-up running here. No one thought it was strange for the eccentric person.

Albertini had already retired and now he was the team’s official captain. He had decided to get into the role as soon as possible. When Albertini was there, Wood just had to be a field captain, and did not have to take of things off the field. The real captain, Albertini took care of those trivial things. It was now a completely different and new experience.

Wood stood outside the crowd, hesitated for a moment, and coughed a few times to clear his throat.

His unusual move attracted some people’s attention.

“Hey, George, have you caught a cold?” Van Nistelrooy asked in concern. As he spoke, several of the Dutch men who had been chatting with him, turned their heads. The others followed suit and turned their attention to Wood.

“Ah, uh… No, I don’t have a cold,” Wood said awkwardly. “What are you all talking about?”

Ribéry pointed at the gate with a grin. “Talking about the big shot who’s coming today.”

Wood knew who they were talking about, but he was not interested in taking part in the topic. If it were before he had become captain, he would have turned around and left to change and start his warm-up on the training ground. But now, he was the captain, on and off the field. How could he be such an unsociable captain?

Wood remembered what Albertini said when he embraced him before he left, “it’s up to you next.”

This could be considered a kind of trust. Wood was not stupid. He understood.

He moved a few steps but did not retreat. Instead, he squeezed into the crowd.

“Do you guys…. want him to come?” After thinking, he asked a question that made everyone laugh.

“George, if you were a reporter, I’ll bet asking a question like that would get you a lot of closed doors.” Van Nistelrooy laughed. “We would take it as you trying to drive a wedge in the relationships within the locker room.”

“I can’t say if I like it or not. My previous understanding of him is through the media, but I basically do not believe what the media says, whether it’s good or bad. I don’t believe a word of it. Now I have the opportunity to personally interact with him. I’ll know whether I like or do not like after we have interacted.” Pepe’s words received nods of approval from most people.

This was probably the entire Forest team’s attitude towards this new teammate. If the media caught wind of it, how would they feel?

Everyone chatted in groups of two or three. Some people talked about the players who were about to join. The others chatted to their friends about their vacations. A few people discussed Arteta and Ashley Young, the two teammates who had left.

They thought about how they had fought together to win the title just over a month ago and now they were about to become each other’s opponents. Other than that, no one expressed any outrage at the departure of the two players. They were professional players and had seen many comings and goings. It was not a big deal. If they were friends, they would still be friends no matter where they were. They could just set a date to hang out and have a meal together.

Anelka was the last to arrive. Instead of joining his teammates, he went straight to the locker room. No one tried to keep him. Everyone knew that the French striker was bound to leave. Since his heart was not there, they did not need to retain him.

※※※

Twain and Dunn walked to the training base, so they arrived a little later than the players.

Twain and Dunn were also a little surprised to see the media and enthusiastic fan groups along the way.

“Look, look. Things are definitely different for the king of popularity. Since when has it been this packed on the first day of pre-season training for Nottingham Forest?” Twain said to Dunn, pointing to the fans on both sides. He also waved to the crazed fans in greeting.

If those gathered were the diehard Nottingham Forest fans, Twain’s waving would have received a surge of responses, which would have greatly stroked Twain’s ego. But his waving did not get any reaction.

The people just held up posters and turned their gazes to the end of the alley, the direction the players drove in from. Twain and Dunn were completely invisible to them.

“Well… ” Under Dunn’s silent gaze, Twain was a little embarrassed. “At least it proves one thing. They’re not Nottingham Forest fans… But it’s okay!” He grinned and spoke louder. “They’ll soon be.”

When Twain and Dunn walked to the gate of the training base, they found that the iron gate, which used to be open, were closed.

The security guard inside the guard house hurried out to open the gate when he saw the manager and assistant manager.

“What’s going on?” Twain asked in puzzlement.

“Umm… ” The young security guard hesitated a moment before he pointed to the noisy crowd outside the gate and replied, “The reporters and fans were so enthusiastic that I was afraid they would rush in, so I closed the gate.”

Twain turned to look at them. He knew a few of the sports reporters. There were also completely unfamiliar faces. The reporters Twain knew turned around and waved to him when they saw him.

But Twain kept a straight face and did not respond. They were all snubbed.

The young security guard thought the serious-looking manager would admonish him and was so worried that he did not know whether to walk away or stay.

He did not expect that Twain turned to smile at him and pat him on the shoulder and say, “you did a good job.”

After the two men walked in, the quiet Dunn suddenly piped up, “it looks like he has perceived your principle of closed-door training.”

Twain crouched on the ground and unbecomingly burst into laughter in front of the media.

“Please… Come on, Dunn. Can you give a heads up the next time you tell a joke?”

※※※

When Twain managed to get up after a while, the pair continued to walk in, and saw the players gathered in the parking lot.

Twain and Dunn looked at each other and saw the doubtful expression in each other’s eyes.

This was a sight they had never seen before.

Could it be there was a fight?

Twain quickly marched over before he realized it was a false alarm. Ribéry waved and greeted him from afar. “Boss, long time no see!” How could there be a fight with such a bright smile?

“Hey, you guys are not changing in the locker room. What are you standing here for?” Twain asked as he stood in front of the crowd. Everyone stopped chatting.

“We all want to see with our own eyes the exciting sight outside when he arrives.” Ribéry pointed to the crowd behind him, and then pointed to the gate.

Turning to the side, Twain found George Wood standing in the crowd. He smiled inside.

“In that case, you might as well go to the gate to watch. What you can see here?”

“We can’t do that. If we go there, it make the media very happy. No, not going to happen.” Ribéry’s head shook like a rattle-drum.

“The media can also see you all standing here. You don’t think the reporters can’t see? All right, all right, there’s nothing to look at. Go and change. I don’t want this to be like a Queen’s inspection when he comes.” Twain shooed the group back to the locker room like a mother hen.

Watching Wood leave with the crowd, Twain turned his head and smiled at Dunn, “What a bunch of amusing boys. It’s not like they haven’t never seen a big star. They are all star players.”

“They probably gathered here for fun.” Dunn nodded.

With that group gone, it was now Twain’s and Dunn’s turn to stand outside the parking lot and wait.

The assistant manager, Kerslake, waited a long time on the training ground before he saw only Anelka. He found it strange because Anelka usually was not so proactive. He looked at his watch and discovered that it was not that Anelka had arrived early, but that no one else had come at all!

Leaving Anelka alone, Kerslake walked to the locker room. The locker room was empty. When he came back out, he saw a large crowd of players trotting in from.

“Did you all take the same bus? Why are you all coming in together?” Kerslake did not say it as nicely as Twain. He asked with knitted brows.

“So sorry, sorry, sir. We were outside talking for a while…” Since it was initially Ribéry’s idea to wait outside, it was now up to him to bear the coach’s wrath. It was fair and square.

“Stop the crap, hurry up and get dressed. Go to the training ground and wait for me, you all know the punishment of being late!” Kerslake waved impatiently.

Once they heard “the punishment of being late,” the large crowd rushed towards the locker room. This was not a joke. Even if they were the European champions, it was still a special tradition of the Forest team to run laps as the punishment for lateness.

Ribéry ran at the front, but was stopped by Kerslake. “Where are Tony and Dunn?”

“They’re outside… ” Ribéry hurriedly pointed to the exit and nimbly leapt away from Kerslake like he was a skipping mud fish.

Kerslake did not have time to take care of this lad. He went against the current and walked towards the exit.

Kerslake continued to walk until he came to the parking lot and finally found Twain and Dunn, leaning together to chat leisurely.

“What are you doing here?” Kerslake’s loud voice startled a flock of birds in the tree.

“Ah, David, you’re here.” Twain turned his head to see him and beckoned to him.

“What are you doing here? Did you just get here? Why didn’t you go to the training ground? All the other coaches have arrived.”

Twain patted his forehead. It appeared not only the players had not entered a working state yet. He nudged Dunn. “I forgot. It’s enough for me to be here alone to welcome the new players. You go ahead, Dunn.”

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Dunn dutifully left with Kerslake. Twain no longer waited in the parking lot. He walked to his office and began to prepare.

Arshavin and Akinfeev did not come to the team today because they did not have to. The Forest team was travelling to Russia for the pre-season training in four days. They would join the team in Moscow.

As for why Russia was chosen for training, when asked, Twain said something all his opponents felt was arrogant. “We are there to adapt to and do our warm-up in the field in advance for this season’s Champions League final.” The 07-08 season’s UEFA Champions League final would be held at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.

In reality, the reason was that the Forest team had been invited to participate in the Russian Railways Cup. As the newly minted European champion, the invitations for various pre-season friendlies piled up on Twain’s desk. Twain eventually picked this friendly. The reason was simple. Twain was particular about the quality of the friendly rather than focus on where to play. Even if the friendly was in Moscow in the distant Russia. The participating teams for the Russian Railways Cup were strong. Other than the host team, FC Lokomotiv Moscow, which was weaker in terms of strength, the two other participating teams in the Railways Cup that were invited were the gold medaled Real Madrid, who had raised its spirits to take the pragmatic route, as well as AC Milan, who had just lost to Nottingham Forest in the final.

What a coincidence!

※※※

Twain did not wait too long in his office. He received a call from the guard at the gate about ten minutes later.

“Sir, he’s here!” The young security guard sounded a little excited. Twain could even hear the clamor outside through the telephone line, which was filled with female screams.

He was still young after all and was unable to remain calm.

Twain grunted in reply and hung up the phone. He did not get up to go the gate to meet him. He did not want everyone to think this man was special, so he even requested that Evan and Allan not to leave their offices to join in the crowd.

Twain turned his chair around and looked at the training ground outside the massive floor-to-ceiling window. The players were running laps in training, or rather, punishment. They were penalized with running because the entire team was late.

However, since the training program these days was to recover their stamina, it was not wrong to say it was training.

Twain had long had a plan in mind on how to introduce this new striking teammate to the team.

Five minutes later, there was a knock on the door behind him.

Twain stood up and turned to look at the door. “Come in.”

That man, who was much adored by many, came in with an apologetic expression. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry… I’m not familiar with Nottingham’s roads and I almost got lost…” Next to him was his agent, Simon Fuller, a well-dressed and seemingly shrewd middle-aged man.

“You just had to drive your own car. It’s all right if you call the club to pick you up, David,” Twain said to Beckham in front of him, and then he briefly shook hands with Fuller, the agent. They did not engage in a conversation as he only knew the agent because they discussed a series of things during the contract negotiation six months ago. They did not need friendly greetings or chat about the weather. The agent was not the protagonist in his office.

“Ha, having lived in Spain for four years, I thought the UK was the same… How should I address you from now on?

“In private, Tony. In front of your teammates, better call me boss. It’s more familiar.” Twain walked around the desk and stepped forward. “Come on, I’ll take you to meet them.” He pointed to the window behind him.

Beckham glanced over and nodded. He followed Twain out. Fuller followed the pair in silence and deliberately kept a distance to allow Beckham to freely communicate with Twain and not to worry about the awkwardness of a presence of a third party.

※※※

“We’re no match for Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training complex, but the facilities are complete and everything we need.” Along the way, Twain introduced the situation at the Wilford training base to Beckham.

Naturally, Beckham graciously paid a few compliments such as Manager Twain had to be amazing and so on to have created a European champion team at such a training base.

When the Forest team finally finished running laps, the players were tired and out of breath. While they took a break on the sidelines, a few sharp-eyed people saw the three men walk in from the outside, one was the boss they were all familiar with, Tony Twain, and the other middle-aged man was unfamiliar to them, so they automatically ignored him. Everyone’s attention was quickly focused on the one person who walked beside Twain as they talked and laughed — David Beckham.

He was no longer dressed in his casual attire. Twain had taken him to the locker room in the training base and assigned him a locker. He changed into his training attire and came straight there.

Resting on the sidelines, the players did not stand up in a line. They took their break as they were, seated or lying down. Those who stood and chatted just turned around and stopped chatting as they looked at their new teammate.

Twain was pleased with the conduct of the players. It looked like his men were not ignorant groupies.

Only Wood purposefully walked out of the crowd and stood at the front, which was an indication of his identity. He learned from Albertini, who used to receive the Forest team’s new teammates after Twain brought them over.

Beckham knew Wood. He remembered the lovely boy who comforted him when he was brought off the field and wept on the sidelines in the World Cup against Portugal. He smiled kindly at Wood.

When Twain saw that everyone’s attention was focused on them, he pointed to Beckham next to him.

“Your new teammate and the professional footballer, David Beckham.” He purposely stressed the words “professional footballer.”

This was the introduction he came up with. He did not say this was the famous star player or the apple of advertisers’ eyes. He did not care about the players’ status and accomplishments outside of the field. Once they entered Wilford, they were on his turf, which meant that they were all his men and professional players.

With that, he turned his head to observe Beckham’s reaction. Beckham did not show the slightest displeasure. He smiled and greeted the crowd, “Hi, guys, I’m glad we can play together in the future.”

He was grateful that Twain had introduced him like that. Why had he come to the Forest team? It was to prove to the world that his real identity was a player first and not an endorsement model or an actor or anything else.

Everyone, including the players and coaches on the training ground gathered on this spot around Beckham.

Kerslake introduced the Forest team coaches to Beckham one by one to help him get to know the team and know who to look for regarding specific questions.

Following that…

“George.” Twain prompted a somewhat hesitant Wood standing next to him.

Wood finally stepped forward. He tried his best to speak to Beckham with his usual tone. “Let me introduce you… to your teammates.” It came out a little stiff in the end.

Fortunately, Beckham and Wood spent a summer with the England national team, so he knew his character and temperament. He did not mind letting Wood take him around to get to know the Forest players.

Everyone was friendly and did not show any displeasure.

After the mutual familiarizing was over, Twain spoke. “The break is over, guys. Back to the training ground.”

The players got up one by one and made their way to the training ground.

Beckham also had to follow, but he was stopped by Twain. “Wait, David.”

“Yes? What’s the matter, boss?” Beckham quickly got into the role as one of Twain’s men.

“Well… ” Twain scratched his head. He had been mulling over the next thing he had to say while Beckham was introduced to the coaches. He was a little worried, but he had to say it, because it was part of the team’s discipline. Discipline was important to Twain. He could not ignore it just because the offender was Beckham. If not, he would have no respect and authority on the team.

He looked up and saw most of the players had not gone far. Apparently these people knew too and were waiting to watch the show. These cunning bastards!

“That’s the thing, David. The Forest team has a tradition that has been established since I became the manager of this team. That is, any player who’s late for training has to be disciplined with running laps.” Twain looked at Beckham in the eye to make the expression in his eyes looked sincere. “Did you see that they were tired and breathless?” He pointed to the players. “They just completed their laps after their punishment and were resting here. They were collectively late because they waited for you in the parking lot.”

He spoke the truth. Anelka was the only person who escaped since he was indifferent to Beckham and was determined to leave.

Beckham turned his head to look at the players and then he turned back to Twain.

“You’re late too, so… you have to run laps. Eight laps.” When Twain finished, he quietly looked at Beckham.

The agent, Fuller, was a little displeased with the remark. His player was the famous David Beckham. Besides, he was not late on purpose. They had no prior knowledge. He thought Twain had gone a little too far. What’s this about? Giving my player an initial show of strength?

As soon as he took a step forward, he saw Beckham give him a meaningful look.

“No problem, boss.” Beckham shrugged. “I had this rule as well when I played at Real Madrid, but we did not run laps.”

“What’s the penalty?” Kerslake, who was interested in the behind the scenes at the powerhouse club, asked first.

“By doing free kicks.” Beckham winked and smiled slyly.

Everyone roared with laughter, and the somewhat awkward atmosphere dissipated.

In the sounds of laughter, Beckham turned to run the laps. His agent waited for Beckham to run far before he walked up to Twain to question him.

Twain spoke first. “I know what you’re going to ask me, Mr. Fuller. But I hope you can understand that David is still a professional footballer and he wants people to think so too. I’m just doing what a manager is supposed to do to a professional player. Do you want the negative news that ‘David Beckham plays the big shot and receives special treatment’ to appear in the media tomorrow?”

“Er… ”

“Of course, I’m not going to blab to the press, but you can’t guarantee that no one among these people will be okay with everything David Beckham has got… ” He pursed his lips. “You need to know, Mr. Fuller, that I’m helping David Beckham. If David were smart, he’d understand… And obviously he’s a smart guy. He did well by not letting people pick faults and winning the support and trust of his teammates as well. What else do you need to worry about, Mr. Fuller?”

His speech made Simon Fuller speechless. He had to admit that it made sense for Twain to do so.

※※※

Beckham ran around the perimeter of the training ground. Eastwood followed, pretending to run with him and then approached him.

“David?”

“Ah, you are… Freddy Eastwood?” Beckham’s memory was quite good. Wood only ran through everyone’s name once and he could remember the names and faces by heart.

“Just call me Freddy.” Eastwood winked. “They still call me the Romani kid, but I’m never angry!”

Beckham smiled.

“Are you free tonight, David?”

“Yes… I am.” Beckham thought about it. Indeed, there was really nothing else he needed to do, and even if he were busy, he would have rescheduled. He was smart and knew what this implied.

“That’s good.” Eastwood snapped his fingers. “The guys prepared a welcome party for you. We’ll have drinks, hang out, and have a good time.”

“For me?”

“Just like running laps as a penalty, it is our tradition.” Eastwood laughed happily. “Any new player who joins will have one. Of course, that new player has to be recognized by all of us.”

This was the truth. Such a welcome party had to have been prepared earlier. But the Forest team normally would not bring in any new players before the closing of the summer transfer market during the training ahead of the season. After a period of time of interaction and familiarization with each other, they would then consider holding a welcome party. If the new arrivals were not welcomed, they would not be invited to participate. Fortunately, for the last several years, only Anelka was not invited. He really was not well-like when he first arrived.

“Would boss and the others go?” Beckham glanced at Twain, who was talking to his agent on the other side.

“No, neither the manager nor the staff will go. If we don’t invite them, they won’t be allowed to attend. This is this a party for players only. Why would we ask the heads to dampen the mood?”

Beckham nodded. “Very well! I’m happy to be invited to attend. Does that mean I’m… accepted? Like in the Merry Men?”

“Yes! We’re a gang now!”

Both of them laughed.

Kerslake’s loud voice boomed in the distance. “Freddy Eastwood! What are you doing? Training’s over here, come over here!” He waved his arms hard and looked aggressive.

Eastwood was not afraid of him, and responded with a shrill voice, “Ah! I just remembered that I got lazy and ran one less circle during the penalty run just now! I’m making it up now! David is not the only one. I’m also a professional player!”

Everyone on and off the training ground laughed. Even the fierce-looking Kerslake was unable to restrain a smile as he muttered, “this little bastard!”

Watching the laughing players, Beckham remembered that on his way to the Forest team training base, his agent Simon Fuller had asked him if he knew the situation inside the Forest team. He could only say he did not know. Truthfully, he did not know a lot about the inside of this team. His impression of the team came from his good friend Tony Twain. And before he officially became a member of the Forest team, Twain never told him. He could only imagine his life in Nottingham for the next two years using his four years of experience in Real Madrid, which was, after all, the most recent portion of his life.

Now he thought this interaction definitely felt completely different as compared to Real Madrid.

※※※

Twain was still talking to Fuller. He wanted the agent to understand his thinking and made certain that there was no misunderstanding. After all, the agent could influence not just David Beckham, but also Beckham’s wife and the unstable factor, Victoria Beckham. He had a good personal relationship with Victoria Because he used to be an agent for the Spice Girls.

“Mr. Fuller, I know you’ve all just come back from Spain. But this is not Real Madrid, full of noble air. This is Nottingham, the Sherwood Forest of Robin Hood and the Merry Men.” Twain gave the agent a wide toothed grin. “When you’re capable and plain dealing with people, you will get true support. Strength and generosity go a long way.”