When Hu Lai sat in the car driven by Yong Jun and arrived at the gate of the Leeds City training base, the Leeds City fans waiting there shouted his name: "Hu! Hu!!"
Hulai lowered the car window and waved to the fans.
This scene was all recorded in the camera of the photographer.
This is the first training session after Hulay scored in the game.
Obviously, his status in the hearts of Leeds City fans is changing now compared to when he didn't play and score.
“That’s how the football world is...”
The Chinese reporters outside expressed emotion at this scene.
"Winners and losers. If you can win and score goals, everyone will like you. If you can't..."
“Hulay’s goal was so crucial. He scored in his first appearance, which really paved the way for him. In any case, his life in Leeds City will be much better..."
“Yes, yes. He should still be able to play in the next away game against Chaberlis, Lancashire, it depends on whether he is a starter or a substitute..."
Hu Lai’s car has already driven into the training base, and Chinese reporters are still discussing Hu Lai’s prospects.
The goal on his debut sparked a new interest in the Premier League in the country, and reporters like them were tasked with reporting everything that happened here back to the country.
Just the scene at the entrance of the training base just now was enough for them to write a report.
No matter big or small, Chinese fans are concerned about it.
Soon, I believe news similar to "Hu Lai's debut goal conquered Leeds City fans" will appear on the Chinese Internet...
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David Miller pushed open the White Rose Bar on the corner of the street, where many people were already sitting.
He squeezed to the bar: "A glass of dark beer."
After the bartender handed him the beer, he left the money in his hand on the bar, picked up the glass and turned towards his friends. Most of them were having a heated discussion. Someone saw David Miller
, and raised his hand to greet him.
“Hi, David, you’re here!”
“What are you guys talking about?” David Miller held a wine glass and sat astride an empty chair given to him by his friends.
“What else can we talk about? Yesterday’s game of course.” The person greeting him pursed his lips to the side, and the heated discussion continued.
“...His luck is so good. When Pete passed the ball, he just ran into the space!"
“Tom, do you think it was just luck? I think he found that opening on purpose.”
"Isn't it? Just when Peter passed the ball, Sydenham's defenders were taken away..."
“Then why didn’t someone else appear in the space?”
David Miller couldn't listen anymore. He knocked on the table lightly with his wine glass: "Okay, what you are arguing about is meaningless. It's just a game and a goal. No one can tell whether it's strength or luck.
…”
Others noticed David and laughed: "David, your son went to watch the game again?"
“I can’t control him...” David said angrily and helplessly.
Everyone knows that David Miller has a talented young son who is the main player of the Leeds City youth team. This young son is David's pride and will always show it off in front of the old guys.
What "My son scored a hat-trick in yesterday's game" "My son skipped the next level and entered Leeds City U16"...
Although everyone always makes fun of David, they still envy David in their hearts. They also hope that little Matthew can one day play in the Leeds City first team. That would be the glory of their neighborhood.
But since that incident, the tense relationship between father and son has made David no longer take the initiative to mention his former pride in front of others.
On the one hand, the guys feel sorry for the two of them, but on the other hand, they actually hope that they can get back together.
It just seems now that it may be difficult to go back to the past.
Someone raised his hand: "I said... guys, I have a question..."
After attracting everyone's attention, he continued: "How long are we going to continue like this? Will we... never return to the stands in Flanders?"
His question silenced the crowd, and many people were silent.
In this embarrassing silence, David said: "How is it possible, John? As long as Hodge and the others bow to us..."
Seeing this, the middle-aged man named John asked David again: "How can David, Hodge and the others bow to us?"
David Miller didn’t know how to answer this time.
John continued: "Is it when the team is relegated that the club can realize that they have done wrong? They should not fire 'Dad', and they should not sell Sean... But even if the club is willing to admit its mistake,
It can’t change the reality that we fell back to the Championship, right? So, by then, will we...have we won?”
He looked at David Miller, who didn't answer him.
He looked at the others again. Under his gaze, everyone lowered their heads. Some people even picked up their wine glasses and pretended to drink, even though the glasses were empty.
No one can answer his question.
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For Leeds City, the next two games are very crucial.
Just as crucial as the game that just ended.
Because their opponents in these three games are direct competitors for relegation.
Sydenham have been pulled down from fourteenth by them. After Leeds City won this game, they had the same points as Sydenham, and their ranking rose from eighteenth to sixteenth, while Sydenham moved from eighteenth to sixteenth.
Fourteenth fell to fifteen.
In the next round of the league, Leeds City will challenge Lancashire Bury away. This team is ranked 17th, just below Leeds City, with exactly the same points as Leeds City.
In the next round of the league, Leeds City will face Glamorgan at home, who are currently ranked 18th in the league.
If Leeds City cannot leave behind its competitors in these two rounds of league games, the relegation situation will become even more confusing.
Chinese fans have not yet recovered from the joy of Hu Lai's first goal in his debut. CCTV Sports Channel's documentary "Hu Lai's Journey" about Hu Lai joining Leeds City has just finished broadcasting, and the discussion on the Internet has not yet begun.
Before retreating, Leeds City had already gone to play Chaberlis Lancashire away.
Double matches a week.
This time when Leeds City announced the squad for the match, Hulay was among them without any doubt.
The majority of fans are no longer as excited as when Hulay was selected into the squad for the first time. After all, Hulay scored a goal in his debut. Doesn't this performance still allow him to occupy a place in the game squad?
The key is whether he can play, and if so, in what manner.
Starting or substitute?
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Xie Lan was sitting on the sofa, brushing his cell phone with his head down. The TV in front of him was on, but the volume was turned down very low.
Her husband Hu Lixin was also smoking and scrolling through his mobile phone on the balcony outside.
The couple are waiting for the game to start at 11pm.
At this moment, there was a sound of footsteps coming from the master bedroom, and then the bedroom door was opened.
Xie Lan looked up and saw his old father walking out wearing a homely cotton-padded jacket.
She quickly put down her phone and stood up to greet her. At the same time, she said: "Dad, I just looked and there is no Hu Lai in the starting lineup. Why don't you go back and sleep for a while? I'll call you when he comes on the field..."
The father waved his hand: "It's okay. Old people don't sleep much. I'm already awake. I can't fall asleep again."
As he spoke, he moved to the sofa step by step with the support of his daughter, and waited with his daughter for the start of Leeds City's away game against Lancashire Burleigh.
Hu Lixin on the balcony stood up when he saw this, but when his father-in-law waved his hand, he sat down again and continued to smoke his unfinished cigarette.
On the TV in the living room, the picture has been cut to the front of the game. What is displayed in front of the audience is the players' tunnel of Woodmoor, the home ground of Bury Lancashire. Players from both sides began to come out of the corner of the tunnel outside the camera and stood in the players' tunnel.
Next to the little caddy, waiting to appear.
Looking around, there is indeed no Hu Lai.
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Hulai was on the bench, watching the game with his teammates.
Leeds City, who played away from home, were suppressed by Lancashire Bury.
The stands were full of Burley fans shouting, creating huge psychological pressure on the away team.
Putting aside the relationship between being relegation competitors, this game is not easy for Leeds City.
It can be seen from the name of the opponent that Burley is a team located in Lancashire. Their team emblem also has the red rose, the identity symbol representing Lancashire.
Leeds City is a West Yorkshire football team.
Lancashire and York, a pair of mortal enemies in British history.
Any two teams from these two regions clash, and the scene will be very heated.
This is the case between Leeds City and Lancashire Bury. Although the last confrontation between the two teams was eight years ago, there will always be some passionate memories in the long history.
Let fans from both sides never forget each other's identities.
They greeted each other's ancestors with bad words and opened fire on the map.
“Lancashire bastard!”
“The jackass of West York!”
“Your mother slept with me yesterday! It was so fucking exciting!”
“Kneel down and call me dad! You unworthy descendant!”
Fans from the two teams exchanged greetings in the stands, and players from both teams also fought fiercely on the court.
Burley, playing at home, took the lead and took a one-goal lead. They took advantage of their home court advantage and launched a ferocious attack on Leeds City's players. Anyway, they were already in the lead and didn't mind fragmenting the game any more.
Hence it is difficult for Leeds City players to continuously control the ball and launch an attack.
Burley fans in the stands were still laughing mercilessly at every goal they conceded.
Under a double blow, Leeds City played a very difficult game.
Pete Williams, who performed well in the last game, was restricted by the opponent and had no room to perform.
He fell to the ground again and again and lost possession of the ball.
Although sometimes the referee would call a Burley player for a foul, Leeds City's offense was interrupted because of this.
After adjustments at halftime, the situation did not improve.
Clark has strengthened the midfield to compete with opponents, but has been unable to score on the front line, so such a small improvement in the midfield will not help at all.
Still have to score...
Thinking of this, Tony Clark sighed.
He did not start Hu Lai in this game because he considered that the opponent would be very tough in physical confrontation. Even if Hu Lai's core strength has been strengthened after special training, it is of no use in such a game environment.
In order to prevent Hu Lai from consuming all his energy in endless physical confrontations, he was placed on the bench.
Now it seems that no matter what the situation is on the field, Hu Lai must be played.
Thinking of this, he asked assistant coach Sam Landill to ask Hulay to warm up.
※※※
The TV broadcast of the game suddenly cut to Leeds City's bench, and Hulay, who was originally sitting watching the game, got up and ran out of the bench.
Commentator He Feng’s voice trembled: “Hu Lai is going to come on as a substitute!”
Xie Lan, who was in front of the TV, suppressed her inner excitement and did not dare to shout loudly for fear of disturbing her mother who was still sleeping in the back room. Instead, she just waved her fist.
Her father, who was sitting next to her, also straightened up on the sofa and stared at the TV more intently.
Hullet came on as a substitute in the 62nd minute of the game. This was his second Premier League game.
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