178: The invitation to "war" and the FA Cup

In the Phoenix Training Center office, Lin Feng stared at the message from "K.K." on the computer screen.

The online viewership of 100,000 was still fluctuating, but his attention was completely drawn to that sentence.

"Next match, I want to see a real 'war'."

Lin Feng lightly tapped the desk, a playful smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Keira Knightley, this woman, always appeared at the most opportune moment, expressing her presence in the most ingenious way.

The "war" she spoke of clearly pointed to the upcoming FA Cup.

This is England's oldest and most prestigious competition.

Since its establishment in 1871, the FA Cup has witnessed the birth of countless legends. For any English team, this is the true Holy Grail.

Lin Feng got up and walked to the window, looking at the players sweating profusely on the training ground. The FA Cup is different from the League Cup; its significance is far more than just a trophy.

The champion means qualification for the Europa League.

"European competition" is the key stepping stone Lin Feng planned for the club. Only by stepping onto the European stage can Hartlepool United truly join the ranks of the giants.

Richard Arnold knocked on the door and entered, holding a document in his hand.

"Boss, the FA Cup first-round draw results are out."

Lin Feng took the document and glanced at the opponent's information. Mansfield Town, a team from League Two. Their strength is not strong, but the FA Cup has never lacked upsets.

"Arrange it; I need to talk to Old John about the tactical arrangements."

Lin Feng sat back at his desk and opened the system interface. The [Player Radar] module showed that after continuous high-intensity matches, the fatigue values of several key players were approaching the warning line.

Vardy's value was 78%, Henderson's was 82%, and Sigurdsson's was 75%.

These numbers reminded Lin Feng that he must rotate the squad reasonably. Fortunately, after a season of construction, the club already had sufficient squad depth.

In the 30-plus-man roster, almost everyone had the ability to start in League One. This confidence in "full rotation" was one of Lin Feng's proudest achievements.

He began to sketch the lineup on paper. Shawcross, Maloney, Walker, these strong players could start, paired with some substitutes and youth team players. This would ensure victory and allow key players to rest.

The office door was knocked on again, and Old John walked in.

"Boss, you called for me?"

Lin Feng motioned for him to sit down and briefly explained his lineup ideas. Old John nodded repeatedly, agreeing with this rotation strategy.

"The FA Cup is different from other competitions," Lin Feng's tone became serious. "Every round could encounter a strong opponent; we must be fully prepared."

Old John took out his notebook and diligently recorded every word of Lin Feng's. After such a long period of cooperation, he completely trusted the judgment of this young boss.

"Oh, and one more thing."

Lin Feng took out a slip of paper from the drawer, on which were written two names: Adam Lallana (Southampton), Nathaniel Clyne (Crystal Palace).

"John, the winter transfer window is approaching, and this is our new 'shopping list'."

Old John took the slip of paper, his brows slightly furrowed. He was not familiar with these two names, and they were not well-known players in English football.

"Boss, these two people..."

"Soon, you will know that they will become our new secret weapons for conquering the Championship."

Lin Feng's tone was full of confidence. The system's [Player Radar] function had already conducted a detailed analysis of these two. Lallana's creativity and technique, and Clyne's speed and breakthrough ability, would all be elements the team urgently needed after promotion.

Old John carefully put away the slip of paper. Although he didn't quite understand, he chose to trust Lin Feng's judgment. After all, this man had never disappointed him.

"Then I'll go arrange training."

Old John got up to leave, but Lin Feng called out to him.

"John, remember one thing. Every FA Cup match must be played like a final. Our goal is not to participate, but to conquer."

Old John nodded heavily, his eyes gleaming with firm resolve.

The office returned to quiet, and Lin Feng continued to handle other matters. The successful trial broadcast of "Northern Storm TV" made him see huge commercial potential. The online viewership of 100,000 far exceeded expectations.

He immediately sent an email to the business team, requesting them to design a paid membership system as soon as possible. In the future, value-added services such as match betting and exclusive documentaries would also be introduced.

This ahead-of-its-time streaming platform would become an important pillar of the club's commercial empire.

On the other side, the "Northern Eye" data company was also establishing a global "wonderkid database" as per Lin Feng's requirements. This database would cover the U15 age group, complementing the system's [Player Radar] function.

Lin Feng's ambition went far beyond this. He wanted to build a complete football ecosystem, forming a closed loop from player discovery and development to commercial exploitation.

His phone rang; it was Sophie Green.

"Lin, I just finished an in-depth report about the club," Sophie's voice was excited. "I compared Hartlepool United to a 'football arsenal.' What do you think of that analogy?"

Lin Feng smiled. Sophie always found the most appropriate words to describe complex things.

"Very apt. We are indeed producing 'weapons'."

"Not just these top-tier 'weapons' in the first team, but also a continuous supply of 'reserves' and the most advanced 'research and development center,'" Sophie continued to elaborate on her point. "This comprehensive construction model is unprecedented in English football."

The two chatted for more than ten minutes, mainly about the club's development philosophy and future plans. Sophie's professionalism impressed Lin Feng; she always interpreted complex issues from a unique perspective.

After hanging up the phone, Lin Feng left the office and went to the training ground to observe the players' condition.

On the training ground, the players were engaged in small-sided games. The players who were about to be rotated in were particularly diligent, hoping to prove themselves in limited opportunities.

Maloney showed excellent off-the-ball movement in the front, creating threats with several receptions. Walker's breakthroughs on the wing were sharp, with a clear speed advantage. Shawcross commanded the defense with composure, demonstrating leadership.

Although these players were not absolute starters, their strength was not to be underestimated. Lin Feng was full of confidence for the upcoming first round of the FA Cup.

"Boss!"

Bridcutt ran over, sweat beading on his face. This young midfielder had performed well in the EFL Trophy, earning more playing opportunities.

"I heard we might rotate for the FA Cup?"

Lin Feng nodded. "You young people will get more opportunities. Seize them well and let everyone see your strength."

Bridcutt's eyes sparkled with excitement. For young players, every appearance is a valuable opportunity for growth.

After training, Lin Feng returned to the office to continue working. On the computer screen, the backend data of "Northern Storm TV" was still updating.

The number of registered users had exceeded 50,000, spread across various countries worldwide. In the comment section, fans expressed their support and expectations for the club in various languages.

One comment from a Chinese fan caught Lin Feng's attention: "Boss Lin Feng, we are all following your team. We hope to see Chinese players join Hartlepool United one day."

Lin Feng was thoughtful. As the club's influence expanded, more and more attention came from all over the world. This global influence was precisely the goal he had been striving for.

As night fell, the Phoenix Training Center gradually quieted down. Lin Feng tidied the documents on his desk, preparing to leave the office.

Tomorrow, the team would officially begin its FA Cup journey. This ancient competition carried too many legends and dreams, and would also witness a new chapter for Hartlepool United.

As he walked out of the office building, Lin Feng looked up at the starry sky. Victoria Park Stadium in the distance appeared particularly solemn under the night lights.

There, it would be their stage for writing history.

The FA Cup was not just a competition, but also a key to the European stage. Lin Feng's ambition had never been so clear: he wanted to lead this team from a small town in England to the pinnacle of Europe.

Keira Knightley wants to see "war"?

Then let her see enough.