Chapter 872 Kick-off at noon
After Leeds City won the match against Manchester United, the pressure was on Stan Park Rangers.
But even if it is an away game, it is not too difficult for Stan Park Rangers to play against a team like Burley.
In the end, they defeated Burley 2:1 in the drizzle and continued to maintain a four-point advantage over Leeds City.
With four rounds left in the league, Stan Park Rangers are getting closer and closer to successfully defending their title.
Of course, they first have to beat Manchester United away from home.
Manchester United, who lost in this round, may not let them go so easily.
At the same time, because Tramed, who is fourth in the league, defeated Holt 3:0 in this round of the league, Manchester United is now only two points ahead of its local rival Tramed.
Although Manchester United has already locked in qualifications for next season's Champions League in advance, if they are eventually overtaken by Tramed and fall from third to fourth in the league, then their Champions League next season will have to start from the qualifying rounds. The preparation time is shorter than the third in the league, which has a great impact on the team's pre-season training.
At the same time, being overtaken by the sworn enemy in the same city does not look good in terms of face...
Therefore, Manchester Athletic, who lost to Leeds City in an away game, will definitely go all out when returning home.
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In the thirty-fifth round of the league, Leeds City still plays first.
They challenged Boscombe away, which is a relegation team - so far, Boscombe is ranked 18th with 28 points, third from the bottom, just in the relegation zone.
At the same time, they are three points behind the two teams ranked 17th and 16th in the league.
Just a game.
This means that Boscombe will definitely fight Leeds City at his home court.
Generally speaking, the closer to the final stage of the league, the more difficult it is for such relegation teams to beat, often more difficult to beat than the championship teams.
After all, people are fighting for survival.
Leeds City must know this better than anyone else, because they were also such a relegation team last season.
Stan Park Rangers also hope that Boscombe can stop Leeds City's progress.
And there is one good thing that is good, that is, the game kicks off at 12:30 noon.
Although it has become a habit to have games played at noon in almost every round of the Premier League, no head coach of any team would think that playing at this time is a good idea.
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In the live broadcast, strong sunlight shines on the seats in the stands opposite the camera. In the overexposed shot, the stands originally filled with Boscombe fans wearing red jerseys turned pale.
Seeing this scene, Xie Lan pointed to the TV screen and asked her husband Hu Lixin next to her: "What time is it over in the UK?"
Hu Lixin glanced at the clock hanging on the wall: nineteen forty-four.
"Twelve forty-four."
"At noon?" Xie Lan frowned, "Doesn't that mean we just play the game without eating?"
"You still have to eat, but I definitely don't eat much. After all, being full is not conducive to competition..." Hu Lixin explained.
"What should I do if I get hungry in the middle?"
"The half-time break will replenish energy."
"It always feels like this is not the time for a serious competition..." Xie Lan muttered with a frown.
Hu Lixin was happy when he heard her say this: "You are right, it is really not the time for serious competition. After all, it is lunch time."
"Then why do you want to arrange it at this time?"
"It's not just to take care of Asian audiences like us." Hu Lixin explained. "Although Premier League games are earlier than La Liga, they are not that early. It is because of the TV broadcast. In order to facilitate the audience in Asia to watch the games, a large number of games are arranged at noon and afternoon..."
Xie Lan interrupted Hu Lixin: "Then why do you have to take care of Asian audiences?"
"Because Britain used to have many colonies here and had a great influence. So of course we have to take care of the audience here - football is also a way to deepen Britain's influence on the colonies, and it is a very good way. Look at 12 noon Half of the games here are at 7:30 pm, which is prime time. You don’t have to stay up late to watch the game, and of course it can attract more people to watch. The reason why La Liga has not been able to gain influence before is not because of their game time. It’s too late, it’s always two or three in the morning..."
Xie Lan nodded, she felt her husband was right. Over the past year or so, she has rarely had the experience of watching her son play in the middle of the night. Most of the time, like today, it was during prime time in the evening.
But I enjoy watching the football, but what will it be like for my son to play?
They definitely have to eat very early, and they are still not full after eating, and noon is the hottest time of the day... How good can they perform during the competition at such a time period?
She turned her attention back to the TV screen. The game had lasted fourteen minutes and the score was 0:0.
I don’t know if it’s an illusion, but Xie Lan always feels that the players are listless when playing on the court, like crops that have been wilted in the sun...
Hu Lixin knew what his wife was worried about, and comforted him: "Actually, there is nothing to worry about. Think of it this way - playing at noon is not good for Leeds City, but Boscombe may not be able to adapt. So the game Time has the same impact on both teams.”
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"Kick-off is at half past twelve, and the team meeting will be held at ten o'clock... I really want to thank the Premier League for not scheduling the game in the morning, otherwise our team meeting would have been moved to early in the morning..." Sam Randhir looked at the game in front of him and said sarcastically.
Clark smiled when he heard what he said: "I thought you were used to it. We are often scheduled in the afternoon this season."
He is right. Because of Hu Lai's presence, Leeds City does have many games scheduled for the afternoon this season, including games that kick off at 12:30 noon.
Everyone knows that this is to take care of the Chinese audience and make it easier for them to see the performances of their country's football heroes. Television broadcasts strive for maximum ratings, so of course it is impossible to leave such a huge piece of cake uneaten.
"That's different, Tony." Randall shook his head. "The previous games don't matter. But now is the critical moment for us to compete for the championship. I don't want some off-field factors to affect the team..."
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"I don't think it matters, Sam. Thanks to Hu, we have many afternoon games this season, and the players will definitely be more adaptable to this time period than the Boscombe players. Look at Hu's performance Are you very positive?" Clark said looking at Hu Lai on the court.
In his eyes, Hu Lai was actively running back and forth under the scorching sun, raising his hand to ask for the ball from his teammates.
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Hu Lai seems to be very adaptable to playing games at noon, because he is still running on the court during this time, which reminds him of his high school years.
During that time, he would receive special training from coach Li Ziqiang in the empty stadium of the school at noon every day.
Under the scorching sun, I poured tap water over my head, and my wet hair dried quickly. The artificial turf on the school field is hot to the touch. If you fall to the ground, you have to get up quickly, otherwise you will feel uncomfortable.
At first there was no one on the court, just him and the coach.
Later, as more and more teammates joined in, it became a scale. By the end the whole team was gathered on the field for training. This was originally just a special training period for Hu Lai, but it has become a tradition for the entire Dongchuan Middle School...
It is said that the Dongchuan Middle School football team still practices at noon.
So what’s wrong with kick-off at 12:30 noon?
No, that’s so right!
Playing football during this time period, Hu Lai felt like he was revisiting his old hometown and returning to his high school days.
His body has developed muscle memory for this time period.
Speaking of which, I really have to thank his high school team coach Li Ziqiang again...
Many of the trainings he conducted on himself have become valuable assets, which have benefited Hulay himself from high school to the professional era.
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When Leeds City's right back Josh Lawler picked up the ball on the wing, Boscombe's center back Roy McCardley noticed Hulay suddenly accelerating and rushed towards the goal, so he immediately He also started to pounce forward and got stuck between Hu Lai's and the goal.
Josh Lawler passed the football to Charlie Porter who cut in along the sideline.
McCardley quickly turned around to look for Hu Lai, and sure enough, he saw Hu Lai turning around and pulling to the outside. He was trying to get rid of himself!
McCardley immediately moved outside and got stuck in the path of the football towards Hulay.
At the same time, he looked to the side again, and Charlie Porter made a pass.
The Northern Ireland player looked back for the third time to confirm Hulay's position, but this time he saw nothing!
Hu Lai disappeared from under his nose!
McCardley was startled, and then turned to look in another direction - inside!
I saw the leaping Hu Lai spread his arms to maintain balance, shook his head and pushed the flying football towards the goal!
"Hu Lai header!!"
A little outside of Hulay, McCardrey turned his head and watched his goalkeeper teammate Pierce Thompson soar into the air, stretched his arm backwards, and tried to fish the football out...
But he didn't do it!
He didn't touch the ball!
Amidst the huge noise, the football flew into the goal!
"HUUUUUUUUUUU - He scored goals in four consecutive games. When the team needed goals most, Hu Lai, who was full of firepower in the first half, was back!!"
Amid Matthew Cox's call, Hulay, who scored the goal, turned back to confirm after landing, and then opened his arms and ran towards Charlie Porter who passed the ball for him.
"The Eastern spell has worked again, Charlie! Congratulations on reaching double figures in assists in the league!" He hugged Porter hard.
Potter smiled very happily.
"Fortunately, I listened to you, Hu! I didn't wash off the tattoo... Haha! Be myself!"
"That's right, be yourself, Charlie!"
Williams, who was running up to celebrate the goal, heard the conversation between the two people and hesitated for a moment, and finally slowed down and did not jump on the two people immediately - he did not want to be associated with these two idiots...< br>
But behind him, his excited teammates rushed up and knocked him into Charlie and Hu Lai. Then they stuck tightly together and huddled together, making it impossible for Williams to escape even if he wanted to.
He can only be forced to be with these two "idiots" and celebrate the goal together... (End of chapter)