199: The cruise to the top of the list and the "big gift package" again

At Victoria Park on September 27th, autumn was deepening. Sunlight filtered through the clouds onto the pitch, and the fans in the stands were still enthusiastic. The afterglow of defeating Arsenal was still lingering, and everyone's faces were filled with pride.

“Today’s opponent is Leicester City,” Old John said, giving his final motivational speech in the locker room. “Don’t underestimate them because of previous victories.”

Vardy tied his shoelaces, his eyes focused and determined. Consecutive goals had boosted his confidence, but the deep-seated desire for victory never waned.

Henderson patted his teammates’ shoulders: “Guys, we need to prove that beating Arsenal wasn’t luck.”

The match was a stalemate from the first minute. Leicester City had clearly done their homework, using dense midfield defense to restrict Hartlepool United’s attack.

De Bruyne frequently dropped back in midfield, trying to find space for passes. Every time he received the ball, he was tightly marked by opponents, but the young Belgian talent displayed a calmness beyond his years.

In the sixty-eighth minute, the opportunity finally arrived. Coutinho completed a brilliant dribble on the wing, then delivered a precise cross. Vardy got to the ball in the penalty area and calmly slotted it into the net.

1-0.

Victoria Park erupted in thunderous cheers. This goal was not easy to come by, but it was precisely this difficulty that made the victory even more precious.

“This is the performance expected of a Championship team,” Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler exclaimed. “In the most difficult moments, they always find a way to win.”

Three days later, Nottingham Forest’s home stadium. The red stands were packed with local fans, who greeted the visiting team from the North with boos.

But Hartlepool United’s players were already used to this treatment. Vardy opened the scoring for his team with a brilliant long-range shot fifteen minutes into the match.

Henderson’s performance in midfield was perfect. His every interception was precise, and every pass was threatening. This young English midfielder was proving his worth with his actions.

In the second half, De Bruyne’s through ball once again tore apart the opponent’s defense. Vardy scored his second goal, sealing the score at 2-0.

The away victory made the entire Championship take notice. Hartlepool United’s dominance had reached a new height.

On October 4th, Norwich City came to Victoria Park. This team, known for its technical football, caused Hartlepool United quite a bit of trouble.

The match was exceptionally intense. Both sides engaged in fierce battles in midfield, with sparks flying in every tackle.

It wasn’t until the eighty-third minute that substitute Snodgrass broke the deadlock with a brilliant free-kick. The ball arced perfectly over the wall and into the top corner of the goal.

The 1-0 score was maintained until the final whistle. This victory further extended Hartlepool United’s lead in the League standings.

On October 7th, Derby County’s home stadium welcomed the unstoppable visiting team. The match was one-sided from the start.

Coutinho opened the scoring for his team with a long-range shot in the twentieth minute. Subsequently, Vardy and De Bruyne’s brilliant collaboration added two more goals.

Although Derby County pulled one goal back in the second half, the 3-1 score was enough to say it all.

The post-match statistics shocked everyone. Hartlepool United had established a huge twelve-point lead in the League standings.

The front-page headline of the Daily Mail was particularly striking: “Can the Northern Dragon set a Championship winning streak record?”

The media began to analyze the team’s performance with various data. De Bruyne and Coutinho’s assist statistics led the entire League, and Vardy’s goal-scoring efficiency was astonishing.

Even more impressive was the defensive line composed of Smalling and Shawcross. This young center-back pairing provided the most solid guarantee for the team’s offense with their steady performance.

At Phoenix Training Center, Lin Feng was guiding the team through new tactical training.

“We need more variations,” Lin Feng said, pointing to the diagrams on the tactics board. “Both the false nine and three-at-the-back systems need to be mastered.”

Old John diligently recorded every detail: “Boss, is this to prepare for stronger opponents?”

“Opponents in the Premier League and European competitions will be more cunning,” Lin Feng’s eyes were deep. “We must be prepared for everything.”

On the training ground, the players were adapting to the new tactical system. De Bruyne’s role in the false nine system was particularly important; he needed to take on more responsibility in attack.

Coutinho, meanwhile, found a new position in the three-at-the-back system. As a wing-back, his speed and skill were better utilized.

“These changes will make us more unpredictable,” Henderson said, wiping sweat after training. “Opponents will never know what formation we’ll use.”

On October 15th, the League Cup fourth-round draw ceremony was held in London. Countless fans in front of their televisions were watching this moment.

The draw guest was England football legend Gary Lineker. When he drew Hartlepool United’s name from the pot, the entire studio fell silent.

“Hartlepool United’s opponent is…” Lineker paused, “Everton!”

A gasp erupted in the studio. This was another head-on clash between a lower-League team and a Premier League powerhouse.

“Goodison Park will host a wonderful showdown,” Lineker smiled at the camera. “Everton against Hartlepool United, this will be a very interesting match.”

When the news reached Hartlepool, the entire town erupted. Fans flocked to pubs and cafes, discussing the upcoming big match.

The Liverpool Echo’s reaction was the most intense. They ran a striking headline on their front page: “The Toffees will end the Boy Scouts’ fantasy journey!”

The report was full of doubts about Hartlepool United: “Their performance in the Championship is indeed excellent, but Goodison Park is a completely different battlefield. Tim Cahill’s headers, Mikel Arteta’s passes, these are not something Championship players can handle.”

But in Hartlepool United’s locker room, the atmosphere was completely different.

“Everton?” Vardy’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “I’ve always wanted to compete against Cahill.”

Henderson clapped his hands: “Guys, this is our best chance to prove ourselves. Arteta, Fellaini, these are world-class players.”

De Bruyne and Coutinho exchanged smiles. For these two young talents, the opportunity to showcase their skills at Goodison Park was a dream come true.

After learning the draw results, Lin Feng immediately returned to his office. This draw was not a challenge for him, but an excellent opportunity to “prove them wrong.”

He activated the system’s [Opponent Deep Analysis] module, and all of Everton’s data instantly appeared on the holographic interface.

David Moyes’ tactical system was fully displayed. The Scottish coach’s preferred 4-4-1-1 formation, his tactical philosophy emphasizing midfield control and wing attacks, every detail was thoroughly analyzed by the system.

Arteta’s passing route map particularly caught Lin Feng’s attention. The Spanish midfielder’s passing accuracy and vision were world-class, and every one of his passes could be a deadly threat.

Cahill’s late runs were also marked as “deadly threats” by the system. The Australian midfielder’s heading ability and timing of late runs were the most important aspects of Everton’s offensive system.

“Interesting opponent,” Lin Feng said, looking at the dense data on the screen, a slight smile on his lips.

The system also provided more detailed information. Everton’s home winning rate, their tactical choices when facing lower-League teams, and even the psychological characteristics and technical attributes of each player.

This information gave Lin Feng a clearer understanding of the upcoming match. Everton was indeed a strong team, but they were not invincible.

Just as Lin Feng was analyzing the data, Moyes’ pre-match interview was being broadcast on television.

The Scottish coach sat in the Goodison Park press conference room, facing questions from numerous reporters. His expression was cautious yet confident, every answer carefully considered.

“We respect any team on a winning streak,” Moyes said with a heavy Scottish accent. “Hartlepool United’s performance in the Championship has indeed been excellent, and they have some very talented young players.”

The reporters were clearly not satisfied with such pleasantries. A journalist from The Times directly asked: “Do you think they have a chance to cause trouble at Goodison Park?”

Moyes paused, then offered a meaningful smile: “Goodison Park on Tuesday will make them understand that there is an insurmountable chasm between the Premier League and the Championship.”

This statement immediately became a headline for major media outlets. Moyes’ confidence and slight arrogance angered Hartlepool United fans.

In the pubs near Victoria Park, fans were heatedly discussing the upcoming match.

“Moyes is too arrogant!” an elderly fan exclaimed, angrily pounding the table. “He will pay for his words.”

“We’ve already beaten Arsenal, why would we be afraid of Everton?” another fan raised his glass. “Mr. Lin will show them what real football is.”

The atmosphere in the pub grew increasingly lively. Everyone was preparing for the impending battle.

At Phoenix Training Center, Lin Feng was formulating a detailed tactical plan. The data provided by the system gave him a comprehensive understanding of Everton; now, he needed to translate this information into specific tactical arrangements.

“Moyes’ confidence comes from experience and strength,” Lin Feng muttered to himself. “But sometimes, experience can also be a restraint.”

He began drawing various lines and arrows on the tactics board. The plan to restrict Arteta, the defensive deployment to counter Cahill’s late runs—every detail had to be carefully considered.

This was not just a match, but an opportunity to prove Hartlepool United’s strength to the whole world. Goodison Park would be their first step in conquering the Premier League.

As night fell, the training center remained brightly lit. Lin Feng knew that the real challenge was about to begin.