Save 31. The Prodigal Son Returns
Before long, the first half ended and the second half began.
Everton made no substitutions, but they slightly adjusted their tactics.
They moved the winger McGeady just below the lone striker, changing things so that he supported Lukaku.
Of course, the Leeds players weren't about to sit idly by and watch. One defensive midfielder was assigned to mark McGeady man-to-man, blocking their attacking buildup.
“As expected.”
“These guys are nothing special.”
Adding to the fact that they were leading, the Leeds players regained confidence watching the struggling Everton players.
Confidence soon became a virtuous cycle leading to performance.
Comparing themselves to star players.
The Leeds players who had been intimidated by the level difference with the Premier League had disappeared.
But.
The more the situation was like this, the more they had to be careful.
Because confidence could soon lead to complacency.
-Everton circulating the ball in the midfield.
-Ah, McCarthy plays a pass.
McCarthy's pass went toward McGeady.
McGeady, having received the ball, exchanged a one-two pass with Lukaku, and Miley glared at the two with sharp eyes.
It was when Lukaku, having laid the ball off to McGeady, quickly moved between the defenders.
Miley instantly read their movements.
If he chased Lukaku, McGeady would be freed up. Since it was a good position to shoot from, that was all the more dangerous.
Therefore.
Instead of chasing Lukaku, Miley stepped up to block McGeady.
That was a mistake.
-McGeady, McGeady shaking with the ball!
McGeady started throwing Miley off with flashy skills.
And then he twisted his body widely.
In the middle of his turning motion, he suddenly broke through in an unexpected direction, shaking off Miley.
His patented move.
It was the McGeady Spin.
-McGeady Spin! It's the McGeady Spin!
-Truly, he lives up to his reputation!
That's right. It was a skill named after none other than McGeady himself.
Most flashy skills lacked practicality.
But this McGeady Spin was as effective as it was difficult.
“H-huh?”
Miley was flustered for a moment. But by the time he realized, it was too late.
McGeady had already secured a good passing lane, and by the time Miley went in for a tackle, McGeady had already poked the ball to Lukaku one step ahead.
-And Lukaku catches the ensuing through pass!
Waaah!
Cheers erupted.
The cries bursting from the Everton fans held two emotions.
Admiration felt watching McGeady's flashy skill.
And anticipation that they would soon score the equalizer.
-It's a chance to score the equalizer!
-Lukaku! Lukakuuu!
“Shit.”
Miley, realizing he had been beaten, watched Lukaku's back with a defeated expression.
Were they going to concede a goal like this?
And because of his own mistake, at that.
While he was thinking that.
-Aaaah!
-He saved itttt!
“What?”
Miley hadn't heard the commentators' words.
Instead, he could hear the cheers of the home fans gathered at Goodison Park change to groans.
What happened? Miley raised his head to check, his eyes flying wide open.
The goal hadn't gone in.
-Sin Uisoooon!
-It was an incredible save!
The fact that Lukaku's shot was stopped was thanks to the goalkeeper's great save. To be exact, it was Sin Uison's super save.
“Phew!”
Sin Uison, who had thrown his body, checked that he had blocked the ball and exhaled the breath he had been holding.
'I'm glad I raised my Intuition by one level.'
Had it been before, he would have definitely conceded. Fortunately, his Intuition had activated right when McGeady was doing his turn move.
[Everyone looks surprised.]
'Right.'
Sin Uison looked at the people with wide eyes.
Lukaku, who had been preparing his goal celebration, soon covered his face with his hands as if screaming.
McGeady, who had threaded a rare good pass, stood there with his mouth open in a blank face.
And Miley, too.
[He isn't glaring this time.]
'He'd be crazy if he glared after that.'
Sin Uison's cover this time wasn't team play.
Rather, it was closer to cleaning up the mess Miley had made.
“......”
“Whatever.”
Sin Uison shrugged with an indifferent face.
It also meant, If you have nothing to say, go back to your position.
“No, it's nothing.”
It was when Miley had said that and turned his body.
He had taken but a few steps.
Soon, the guy let out a sigh and turned back around.
“Hey!”
“......?”
“Thanks for that, bastard.”
“Don't mention it.”
Sin Uison roughly raised his hand in response.
The match continued to flow.
Afterwards, there were few instances for Sin Uison to shine.
Perhaps because of the one threatening shot, Capello sent two defensive midfielders deep to help with defense.
“Kekeke.”
“Kkeuk.”
Meanwhile, as the match drew to an end, the atmosphere on the bench became completely opposite.
Capello sneering at Martinez.
And Martinez, his face bright red, looking at such a Capello.
Provocation through interviews made for excellent mind games. However, if the intended results didn't come out, what returned was nothing but mockery.
Beep!
And so.
The match ended.
It was Leeds' return match to the Premier League, and.
Their first victory of the season.
***
[BBC] Capello Smiles at Victory!
[Sky Sports] Martinez Refuses Interview!
Leeds' return match became quite a topic.
A team that once reigned as a powerhouse in the Premier League had returned after a long time.
And they had even succeeded in beating Everton, who were looking to become a new powerhouse.
-Serves him right for running his mouth. That's what makes you go bald.
-Since when is baldness a punishment?
-Hey, guy above, could you be...?
-Grow, hair, grow.
On SNS and internet communities, everyone was mocking Martinez.
The reaction was entirely expected. If you're going to run your mouth like that, you have to win no matter what.
[Sky Sports] Players Who Made Their Premier League Debut.
Meanwhile, articles collecting players who had made their debut in this round and showed special performances also came out.
The most notable was Ross McCormack.
The Championship's top scorer.
Making his Premier League debut, he succeeded in scoring a wonderful debut goal, garnering public attention.
[Leeds Live] Sin Uison's Super Save That Kept the Points.
Of course, Sin Uison's great save blocking Lukaku's very good shot also became a hot topic among Leeds fans.
-It was amazing.
Sin Uison checked the message and gave a small smile.
It was a message from Olivia Katie.
It seemed she had watched the match too.
-Thank you.
Sin Uison, having sent that reply, put down his smartphone.
He had come to exchange messages like this with Olivia Katie from time to time. According to her, she was Sin Uison's first fan.
“Having someone who cheers for you isn't a bad feeling.”
[My. I always cheer for you too, don't I?]
“Then show it a little. Your cheering only hurts.”
[Good medicine tastes bitter, after all.]
“What nonsense.”
Sin Uison burst into a chuckle.
Perhaps because he had been stuck with the Helper Voice the whole time.
He was gradually getting to the point where he could tell which of her words were jokes and which were serious.
'In the end, she's still a bitch with a bad personality though.'
[What did you say.]
***
[BBC] Leeds Draw with Aston Villa!
[Sky Sports] Leeds United Draw with Tottenham at Home!
Afterwards, Leeds played a few more matches.
Unlike the first match, they only managed draws, but they showed relatively stable form to the point that it was visible they were gaining momentum.
[Football London] Austin, Can't Go!
[Leeds Live] El Hadji Diouf to Leave Team on Loan.
However, with not much time left in the transfer window, the persistent links to Charlie Austin's signing looked virtually impossible.
Because an agreement between the two teams had still not been reached.
Perhaps the only positive news was that El Hadji Diouf, the team's headache, was leaving Leeds on loan, if nothing else.
[Yorkshire Evening] United Positive About Capello.
Meanwhile, in a survey conducted by the Yorkshire Evening, reactions to the new manager were surprisingly not bad.
Fabio Capello had been criticized for his tactics being too defensive until now.
For Leeds, evaluated as a weak team, this was a tactic that wasn't particularly a problem.
Rather, some even praised Capello for the fact that they were still undefeated.
In many ways.
It was a positive start for Leeds.
[Leeds Live] Leeds United Finish Preparations to Depart for London.
And this time their opponent was a team based in London.
West Ham.
To keep this momentum from breaking, it was most important not to lose.
[Football London] Sin Uison Returns to the Boleyn Ground!
-Don't pretend you don't know me just because it's been a while.
“This guy, really.”
Sin Uison let out a hollow laugh after checking the message.
It was a message from Bob.
“It's been a while, huh.”
This match was also one with new emotions for Sin Uison.
West Ham.
The club that had raised him.
Now he was going to the Boleyn Ground, his old home, as the returned prodigal son.
'I feel somehow restless.'
[Do you miss that place?]
'No way.'
There had been good people there too, but there were no memories he could call happy.
At West Ham, Sin Uison had been treated like a child they had cast aside.
When he showed improved form in training and reserve matches, he was sold off so they could collect even a small transfer fee.
Of course, he didn't particularly resent them for that.
Because he had become a professional footballer too, and had come to understand a little how the professional football world worked.
But.
A little.
It was enough to serve as motivation in the upcoming match.
***
Finally, match day.
Sin Uison stood stock-still in the tunnel.
He looked at Miley standing in front of him.
Thanks to a few matches since the season started, the awkwardness from the preseason was gradually disappearing, which was fortunate if nothing else.
Well, it wasn't like they had become close, but.
“Yo, Shin.”
“Adrian.”
At that moment, someone spoke to Sin Uison. It was Adrian, who had now become West Ham's immovable first-choice goalkeeper.
“I never thought we'd meet like this.”
“Me neither.”
The two looked at each other and smiled bitterly.
Perhaps because they had once trained together in West Ham's reserves, the atmosphere wasn't bad even meeting as opponents.
“How about Jussi?”
Sin Uison asked about Jussi Jääskeläinen.
He had heard that his contract had been extended this season, but hadn't seen him yet.
“He sat on the bench first. He's getting to the age where his knees ache.”
“Haha.”
While they were talking, a few more people greeted Sin Uison.
“Long time no see.”
“It's been a while.”
They were all people he had become acquainted with during first team training.
Especially West Ham captain Kevin Nolan, who had been very kind even at the training ground, was someone Sin Uison was grateful to.
“But you can let in at least one goal, right?”
“Haha. We'll see.”
“Shiiin!”
“Eek.”
As they were chatting, someone barked from behind the tunnel.
It was Leeds manager Fabio Capello.
He walked over with a fearsome face.
'I'm going to get scolded.'
Just as he was bracing himself for a nagging about whether he had a screw loose.
Capello approached Sin Uison and whispered in his ear.
“Today, do as you please.”
“......As ordered.”
If it was the manager's order, and if it was an order he liked, he was always ready to carry it out with pleasure.
The players of both teams entered the ground.
The Boleyn Ground.
West Ham's home stadium.
This place was famous for spewing out enormous soap bubbles before the match started.
Sin Uison was immersed in emotion watching those soap bubbles. There was a time he had wanted to make his debut here wearing a West Ham uniform.
Now, that was a thing of the past.
That was why he wanted to shout to the people gathered here. Wanted to let them know.
That once upon a time here.
There was a goalkeeper called Sin Uison.
“Let's go.”
Sin Uison adjusted his gloves and his eyes gleamed.