176: No. 99's "provocation"

In the office at Phoenix Training Center, Lin Feng stared at the photo on the computer screen, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

Keira Knightley, wearing that custom-made No. 99 jersey, stood in the away stands at Goodison Park, her eyes exuding an almost provocative confidence.

This woman's level was indeed terrifyingly high.

Lin Feng slowly leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk.

This jersey, emblazoned with “Lin Feng99,” was no longer a simple gesture of goodwill or a hint, but an almost public declaration of war.

She was announcing to the world her interest in this mysterious “chess player.”

Even more terrifying was her perfectly timed choice.

Hartlepool United had just equaled their winning streak record, and media across England were paying attention to the team.

Once this photo circulated, it was bound to cause a huge stir.

Lin Feng did not reply to the email, but saved the photo to an encrypted folder.

He knew that this game outside the chessboard was becoming increasingly complex.

Every step required more cautious consideration.

But now was not the time to think about these things.

He closed the email and fully shifted his attention to the upcoming EFL Trophy Northern Section Quarter-Final.

The opponent was Port Vale, a team from League Two.

As usual, Lin Feng once again decided to field a full reserve and youth team lineup.

This time, he gave Old John and Pulis an even clearer task: not only to win, but also to focus on evaluating the practical abilities of several youth academy players.

Lin Feng opened the system interface and pulled up the detailed profiles of the youth academy players.

【John Walker】

Age: 17

Position: Goalkeeper

Current Ability: 65

Potential Rating: B+

Characteristics: Agile reactions, decisive in coming off his line, mental fortitude needs testing

This young goalkeeper would be making his first-team debut.

Lin Feng wanted to see if this youngster, rated with B+ potential by the system, could display the expected level under the pressure of a formal match.

Besides John Walker, Liam Jones and Oliver Baker, who performed excellently in the last match, would also continue to start.

Lin Feng wanted to accelerate the growth of these youngsters through continuous match opportunities.

Tactically, Lin Feng did not use the “false nine” experiment from last time, but returned to the club's most familiar 4-3-3 system.

He wanted to see if, without the first-team veterans leading them, these youngsters could independently execute the club's core tactical philosophy.

Lin Feng regarded this match as a small “midterm exam,” a comprehensive test of his entire youth academy system and the results of his tactical inheritance.

There was a soft knock on the office door.

“Come in.”

Richard Arnold pushed the door open, holding a technical report.

“Boss, the 'Northern Storm TV' platform build is largely complete.

The technical team is conducting the final internal testing, and it's expected to officially launch tomorrow.”

Lin Feng took the report, quickly scanning the technical parameters and feature descriptions.

This independently developed streaming platform would become an important window for the club to directly reach fans worldwide.

“Excellent.

Let this EFL Trophy match be the platform's first trial broadcast, open for free to all registered users.”

“Free?” Richard was a little surprised.

“Exactly.

We need to use this method to accumulate our first batch of core users, and at the same time, showcase the club's youth academy strength to the world.” Lin Feng closed the report, “Remember, we are not doing charity, but investing in the future.”

After Richard nodded and left, Lin Feng's phone rang.

The caller ID showed Sophie Green.

“Lin, I just heard the news, you're launching your own live streaming platform?” Sophie's voice carried clear excitement.

“News travels fast.” Lin Feng leaned back in his chair, “How do you plan to report it?”

“I want to do an in-depth report on Hartlepool United's 'blood-making ability.' From the youth academy system to a commercial empire, you are building not just a football team, but a complete ecosystem.”

Lin Feng was silent for a few seconds.

Sophie's astuteness sometimes surprised him; she always managed to accurately grasp the essence of things.

“Write whatever you want, but remember one thing—our goal has never been to build an empire, but to win Championships.”

After hanging up the phone, Lin Feng walked towards the training ground.

The afternoon sun streamed through the clouds onto the pitch, where the youth team players were engaged in small-sided training.

John Walker stood in front of the goal, intently observing every attack on the field.

His movements were still a bit unpolished, but that focused expression reminded Lin Feng of a young Schmeichel.

“Boss.” Old John walked up to Lin Feng, “The kids are all in good spirits, it's just John is a bit nervous.”

“Nervousness is normal.” Lin Feng looked at the young goalkeeper, “Give him some encouragement, but don't overprotect him.

True growth can only happen under pressure.”

After training, Lin Feng did not leave, but continued to work in the office until late at night.

He needed to prepare for the upcoming winter transfer window; the plans for signing Lallana and Clyne required more detailed proposals.

On the system interface, the profiles of the two players were clearly displayed:

【Adam Lallana】

Current Club: Southampton

Age: 19

Position: Attacking Midfielder / Winger

Current Ability: 72

Potential Rating: A-

Transfer Difficulty: Medium

Estimated Fee: £1.5-2 million

【Nathaniel Clyne】

Current Club: Crystal Palace

Age: 18

Position: Right-back

Current Ability: 68

Potential Rating: B+

Transfer Difficulty: Low

Estimated Fee: £800,000-1.2 million

These two players would be important reinforcements for the team's Championship campaign.

Lin Feng had already instructed the scouting department to initiate preliminary contact with both clubs to explore the possibility of transfers.

It was late, and the training base gradually quieted down.

Lin Feng tidied his documents, preparing to leave the office.

Soft footsteps echoed in the corridor.

Lin Feng turned and saw John Walker coming from the dormitory area.

The young goalkeeper was clearly not asleep, his face etched with nervousness and unease.

“Walker? Not resting so late?”

John Walker was visibly surprised to see Lin Feng.

He hesitated for a moment, then mustered the courage to speak:

“Boss, I... I'm a little worried about tomorrow's match.”

Lin Feng stopped and carefully observed the young man.

John Walker was tall, but his face still carried the boyish innocence unique to his age.

“Worried about what?”

“I'm afraid I'll mess up.” John's voice was soft, “This is my first time playing for the first team, if I make a mistake...”

“Do you know what happened when Schmeichel first played for the club?” Lin Feng did not directly answer his question.

John shook his head.

“He conceded a goal in the 15th minute.

A basic error, a shot that could have been easily saved.” Lin Feng's voice was calm, “But do you know the final result of the match?

We won 4-1, and Kasper performed like a world-class goalkeeper for the remaining 75 minutes.”

John's eyes lit up.

“Remember, John, making mistakes isn't scary; what's scary is being afraid to try because you're afraid of making mistakes.” Lin Feng patted his shoulder, “I chose you to start, not because you're perfect, but because I believe you have the potential to become a top goalkeeper.”

“Thank you, Boss.” John's voice became a bit more resolute.

“Get some rest early.

Tomorrow, show everyone the standard of goalkeepers coming out of Hartlepool United's youth academy.”

When Lin Feng left the training base, he felt unusually lighthearted.

The innocence and eagerness in these young people always reminded him of his original intention when he first took over the club.

The next morning, Phoenix Training Center buzzed with activity.

Northern Storm TV's technical team was conducting the final debugging work, ensuring the stability of the live broadcast signal.

When Lin Feng arrived at the training ground, the youth team players were already warming up.

John Walker's mental state was noticeably much better than last night, and his movements were more confident.

“Boss.” Smalling walked up to Lin Feng, “John talked to me for a long time last night, and he seems much better now.”

“What did you tell him?”

“I told him to trust the Boss's judgment.” Smalling grinned, “You've never been wrong about people.”

Lin Feng nodded.

This kind of mutual support and trust within the team was precisely the quality a successful team must possess.

The morning training primarily focused on tactical coordination.

Lin Feng required the players to strictly practice according to the 4-3-3 system, emphasizing the midfield passing rhythm and the attacking movement coordination.

Liam Jones and Oliver Baker, the two attackers, showed good chemistry.

Their overlapping runs and passing combinations in the attacking third already had the quality of a first-team level.

“Good.” Pulis nodded from the sidelines, “These two kids are improving very quickly.”

“Talent is just the foundation; the key is that they have the right attitude.” Lin Feng observed every detail on the field, “Give them more match opportunities, and they will grow even faster.”

After training, Lin Feng gathered all the participating players.

“Tonight's match will be watched by the whole world through our platform.

This is not just an EFL Trophy match, but a stage to showcase Hartlepool United's youth academy strength to the world.”

Lin Feng's gaze swept across each young face.

“I don't demand that you play perfectly, but I demand that you play with your own style.

Let everyone see the standard of players developed by Hartlepool United.”

“Yes, Boss!” The youngsters replied in unison, their voices full of fighting spirit.

In the afternoon, Northern Storm TV officially launched.

The technical team monitored various data in the backend, and the number of registered users was steadily increasing.

Lin Feng checked the platform's operation status in his office.

The interface design was simple and elegant, with full functionality, and the user experience was quite good.

“Boss, over fifty thousand users have already registered accounts.” The technical director reported excitedly, “Many of them are from overseas.”

“Excellent.

Remember, tonight's live broadcast quality is crucial; it affects the platform's reputation and future development.”

In the evening, the players began their final preparations for the match.

When John Walker put on his goalkeeper's kit, his hands trembled slightly, but his eyes had become firm.

Old John walked up to Lin Feng, lowering his voice:

“Boss, the kids are all ready.

Tonight will be a fantastic match.”

“I believe in them.” Lin Feng looked at those young faces, “These kids represent the future of the club.”

An hour before the match, all the lights at Victoria Park Stadium were illuminated.

Although it was an EFL Trophy match, the atmosphere inside the stadium was still enthusiastic.

More importantly, fans worldwide could watch the match through Northern Storm TV.

This was Hartlepool United's excellent opportunity to showcase itself to the world.

Lin Feng took one last look at the team sheet, then walked towards the executive box.

Tonight, these youngsters would face the challenge alone, and he could only offer silent support from the sidelines.

But he believed that these kids, who had come out of Phoenix Training Center, would prove the success of Hartlepool United's youth academy system with their performance.

As night fell, Victoria Park Stadium looked exceptionally beautiful under the lights.

A battle belonging to the youngsters was about to begin.