章 36: Battle for the top spot!
In England, one measure of a football fan's loyalty is their willingness to travel away to support their team. Unlike the so-called "football hooligans" who attend games just to vent their violence, genuine fan organizations actively organize trips for supporters to cheer on their beloved teams.
Though the "Lion's Roar" fan organization is relatively new, Brady managed to rally a group of over 200 supporters to journey to North Yorkshire. Following a significant home victory over Luton, the organization welcomed more fans, and Brady quickly established himself as a prominent figure among the supporters. He ensured that behavior standards were upheld within the fan organization, strictly prohibiting fighting and excessive drinking.
After the Taylor report was released, Middlesbrough began constructing a new stadium, Riverside Stadium, which is set to open next summer. The 1994-95 season marks Middlesbrough's last at Ayresome Park, a venue that, once reconfigured for seating, can accommodate just over 20,000 fans. Nevertheless, this stadium holds significant historical relevance, having hosted games during the 1966 World Cup, alongside Sunderland's Roker Park as the two main venues in the Northeast region.
Brady and the group of over 200 fans arrived outside Ayresome Park, donned in Millwall's deep blue kits. They entered through the visiting team's entrance and stood orderly in the stands. As is customary in such matches, the home and away supporters were separated, and the Middlesbrough fans watched nervously as Brady and his followers prepared for the encounter.
The Millwall hooligans had arrived!
Last season, Millwall's fans had caused trouble here, engaging in verbal taunts, provocations, and even throwing items at each other during matches with Middlesbrough fans.
Across the UK, very few clubs welcomed Millwall supporters.
It was no surprise that the home fans felt on guard, ready to retaliate against any provocation from Millwall.
However, today they were bewildered to see these young fans standing proudly in the away section, singing their team songs with an infectious rock rhythm.
"No matter where you go, we will follow you to the end!"
"Nobody likes us, we don't care!"
The echoes of their voices easily resonated throughout the old-fashioned Ayresome Park.
The Middlesbrough fans began to relax.
Let them sing— as long as they didn't cause trouble and watched the match peacefully, everything would be fine.
Before long, the Middlesbrough fans started singing back, the pre-game banter between the two fan bases clearly kicking off.
As the players prepared to take the field, Aldrich was already at the sidelines, listening intently to the Millwall fan chants, especially the defiant tune of "Nobody likes us, we don't care." From a musical perspective, it was a catchy number, but the message carried a somewhat extreme tone, blending stubbornness with an unyielding spirit. This stood in stark contrast to their rivals, West Ham, whose fans frequently sang cheerful songs about blowing bubbles—a far more optimistic and uplifting attitude.
Perhaps this was the allure that transcended football.
East London had been in decline since World War II; in contrast to the thriving atmosphere of West and North London, the people of Southeast London tended to be either fiercely resilient or eternally optimistic.
As the Middlesbrough head coach, Bryan Robson, stepped out, he clearly had no intention of playing in the match. Dressed sharply, he walked steadily towards the away team's bench.
It was not unusual for a head coach to greet the opposing team's head coach, as it was a common courtesy in football. Friendly exchanges between coaches who shared a rapport were entirely normal.
Middlesbrough and Millwall were simply engaged in a standard match, so a mutual greeting was entirely appropriate.
"Mr. Hall, Ferguson has warned me to be cautious about you," Robson smiled and extended his hand.
Aldrich smiled back, grasping Robson's firm handshake, leaning in to whisper, "Is that old fox interested in my players?"
Aldrich didn't believe Ferguson would suddenly take an interest in his team. While Aldrich did have two players on loan from Manchester United, neither David Beckham nor Gary Neville made the starting lineup for his squad. With only five substitutes allowed in the English game, their absence was notable.
Additionally, with Manchester United's current struggles, Aldrich was aware from following Premier League news that the club was undergoing a transition. Ferguson's remarks to Robson likely stemmed from watching a few promising talents on the Millwall squad rather than a direct interest.
Robson appeared surprised but nodded with a smile. "Yes, the old man is particularly interested in Henrik Larsson from Millwall."
Aldrich raised his eyebrows, understanding immediately. Manchester United's current striking partnership featured Eric Cantona and Mark Hughes; however, Hughes was over thirty and was not the player he once was. Manchester United certainly needed a new forward, a widely accepted truth.
"Isn't he interested in Andy Cole as well? Why target my player?"
Robson shrugged, offering a wry smile. "Newcastle's asking price is too high, and Keegan won't make things easy for the old man."
Aldrich nodded in understanding; the historical rivalry between Kevin Keegan and Ferguson was well known, especially since Keegan had a background with Liverpool.
Larsson's goal-scoring efficiency in the Championship was remarkable. His performances on the pitch were not just meeting expectations; after all, his transfer in the summer had been significant. Was Ferguson really taking notice?
Aldrich winked at Robson and whispered softly, "Let's see how things unfold at the end of this season. Larsson could be a free agent by then."
Robson's eyes widened in surprise, clearly taken aback.
Millwall had spent a considerable sum to bring in such a high-efficiency forward, only to let him go after one season?
However, he refrained from further pressing the matter. After sharing knowing smiles, Robson turned back to his home bench.
Aldrich couldn't help but grin. He couldn't stop United from trying to poach his players, but he could create barriers, including salary negotiations.
As long as Millwall earned promotion this season, Larsson's weekly wage would exceed ten thousand. Aldrich planned to have all players sign renewed contracts next summer, especially with the Bosman ruling set to take effect at the end of the year. He wanted to secure his players firmly.
As for Manchester United's payment structure—well, they were now a publicly traded company, navigating an era of corporate management. Football clubs needed to be accountable to shareholders, and wage expenditures were closely monitored. Rumor had it that Eric Cantona's retirement was partly due to dissatisfaction with his salary negotiations.
Tonight's match was the spotlight event for the top of the Championship, with live television coverage set to draw a significant audience.
As the players took the field, the commentator enthusiastically began to introduce the starting lineups.
"Welcome to Ayresome Park! Tonight, we feature an anticipated Clash of the Titans in the Championship. We have two teams that have exceeded expectations this season before us. Last season's ninth-placed Middlesbrough, under the guidance of new head coach Bryan Robson, has achieved a commendable record of six wins, two draws, and one loss over the first nine matches. Meanwhile, facing them is Millwall, a team that was forecasted as a relegation candidate prior to the season. Surprisingly, Millwall sits at the top of the table after nine rounds, matching Middlesbrough with only a single loss and two draws. They've scored the second-most goals in the Championship, just one goal shy of the league-leading Wolves, with a stellar defensive record—having conceded only two goals across nine matches. How will eighteen-year-old head coach Aldrich Hall lead his young squad to create history this season? Tonight's match will present a true test for Millwall!"
Aldrich surveyed the Middlesbrough starting eleven, noting it was identical to his pre-match predictions.
This was the limitation of Robson's tactic—he could only make the best of what he had, making it difficult to introduce surprises in formation or lineup.
Middlesbrough lacked strong midfield players but had a solid defense, which forced Robson to field a five-defender setup. He shifted his wingers into more central roles, granting them freedom to maneuver in the attacking third.
Regardless, such an arrangement was both a necessity and a reasonable tactic. Aldrich himself would likely struggle to implement a better strategy, especially considering this squad's age made it challenging to alter their typical playstyle or habits.
"The home side, Middlesbrough, is wearing their traditional red kits. Their starting lineup includes goalkeeper Allan Miller; defenders Curtis Fleming, Durek White, Nigel Pearson, Steve Wicks, and Neil Cox; midfielders Clayton Blackmore, Robbie Mustoe, and Craig Hignett; and forwards John Hendry, thirty years old, partnering with twenty-year-old Graham Cavana."
"Now, let's take a look at Millwall in their blue kits. This lineup is, on average, about four years younger than Middlesbrough's. In goal: Kasey Keller; defenders Lilian Thuram, Gareth Southgate, Jaap Stam, and Lucas Neil; midfielders Bernd Schneider, Claude Makelele, and Pavel Nedved; and forwards Henrik Larsson and David Trezeguet. Notably, the attacking pairing of Larsson and Trezeguet holds the record for the most goals scored in the Championship and, being young, we'll see what challenges they can pose against Middlesbrough's staunch defense today. Football fans, the Championship Clash of the Titans is about to commence! Millwall will take the kickoff."
As the referee blew his whistle, Trezeguet flicked the ball under his feet, and Larsson kicked the ball into the backcourt.
In the tenth round of English League One, the battle for the top spot begins!
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