50: First loss

The aftershocks from Emirates Stadium were more intense than anyone imagined.

The next day, the sports pages across England were dominated by the same story.

On newsstands, the still-wet headlines boldly proclaimed:

“Emirates Stadium Miracle.”

“League Two Dark Horse Holds Gunners to a Draw.”

“Icelandic Magician’s Curved Moon Scythe: Sigurdsson Scores Twice, Shocks Wenger.”

Hartlepool United’s name appeared alongside the usually high-and-mighty giants like Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United on the front pages of Spain’s Marca and France’s L’Équipe.

For the first time, European football focused its attention on this unassuming small club from northeast England.

The team’s resilience and the performance of its young talents earned the admiration of the entire European football world.

On the television screen, Arsène Wenger, at the post-match press conference, pushed up his glasses, his refined face showing an undisguised hint of regret, yet also a genuine appreciation.

“Hartlepool United’s performance deserved this draw, perhaps even more.”

He paused, his tone filled with pure respect for football.

“Their defense was very disciplined, and their counter-attacks were extremely lethal.”

Wenger’s gaze seemed to pierce through the camera, seeing that Icelandic teenager.

“That young Icelander’s (Sigurdsson’s) free-kick technique is top-tier, even in the Premier League.”

He gently tapped the table, as if still savoring Vardy’s lightning-fast breakthrough.

“And their number nine striker (Vardy), his speed caused huge problems for our defense.”

Every one of Wenger’s comments was like a weighty medal, pinned to the chests of Hartlepool United’s young players, keeping them too excited to sleep on the bus ride home.

Vardy.

Schmeichel.

Sigurdsson.

These names, once unknown in the landscape of English football, were overnight circled in red by scouts from major clubs at the top of their watch lists.

Their calls almost blew up John Stone’s office.

Lin Feng’s response to this was just one word.

“Ignore for now.”

However, the pinnacle of glory often comes with unexpected dizziness.

Returning to Hartlepool from London, the team was immersed in a huge, unreal joy.

This joy, a few days later at Victoria Park, turned into a fatal complacency.

A League home match against Swindon Town.

In the stands at Victoria Park, the fans’ singing was louder than ever, anticipating a resounding victory to continue the glory of Emirates Stadium.

But the players on the field seemed to have heavy legs, a double fatigue of body and mind.

The weariness of competing on multiple fronts was like an invisible shackle around their ankles.

More critically, that earth-shattering draw had subtly changed the mindset of some young players.

They subconsciously began to believe that with their “invincible” momentum, any opponent would be easily defeated.

Their running was no longer as active, and their passes were a bit more casual.

The pressing in defense was completely gone.

In the VIP box, Lin Feng watched the team’s sleepwalking performance on the field, his face terribly grim.

He could feel that the belief that had once united the team was slowly dissipating.

In the seventieth minute, Swindon Town capitalized on a corner kick, with their center-back scoring a header.

Zero to one.

This score remained until the final whistle.

The moment the final whistle blew, Victoria Park fell into a deathly silence, the excitement and anticipation on the fans’ faces frozen into shock and disappointment.

Hartlepool United suffered their first League defeat of the season.

In the locker room after the match, Lin Feng did not fly into a rage; he simply stood calmly in front of the players, but his gaze made every player who met his eyes feel a chill deep inside.

He said, “One draw, and you’ve forgotten who you are?”

“The League is our foundation.”

“If you think you can waltz through the League just because of a lucky cup match, then you are sorely mistaken.”

He looked at each player, his tone serious.

“This defeat is a wake-up call. I hope every one of you hears it.”

His words, like an ice pick, stung every player who had been immersed in joy, jolting them awake from false glory.

With the arrival of January, the winter transfer window officially opened.

Lin Feng had long been prepared; this defeat only made him press a pre-set activation button.

On the first day of the transfer window, a seemingly insignificant piece of news popped up on Hartlepool United’s official website.

“The club has signed 17-year-old center-back Chris Smalling from amateur League team Maidstone United for a transfer fee of eighty thousand pounds.”

In the photo, a tall, fresh-faced Black teenager held up Hartlepool United’s blue and white striped jersey, his eyes showing a hint of shyness and excitement—the pure glow of a dream becoming reality.

This transfer, amidst the overwhelming cup news, made no waves; even local media only briefly mentioned it.

But Lin Feng knew he had signed a future defensive cornerstone for his “Northern Empire.”

[System Notification: Chris Smalling (Potential 86, Current Ability 68) has joined the team.]

At the same time, another difficult negotiation entered a fever pitch.

Sunderland Football Club.

Target: Jordan Henderson.

“They won’t let him go, boss.” John Stone’s voice on the phone was tinged with fatigue and helplessness. “They say Henderson is the gem of their youth academy, a future captain, and not for sale.”

Lin Feng’s tone remained calm, yet carried an undeniable decisiveness.

“Tell them, five hundred thousand pounds.”

“Plus twenty percent of any future sell-on fee.”

He paused, then continued.

“Also, clearly convey Henderson’s own desire to transfer to them.”

The lure of money, the talented player’s own persistence, and Lin Feng’s unwavering determination finally pried open Sunderland’s strong door.

A few days later, sixteen-year-old Jordan Henderson appeared at the entrance of Phoenix Training Center, carrying a simple backpack.

His face still showed a hint of youthfulness, but his eyes sparkled with a maturity and longing beyond his years, as if he had already seen the battlefield of the future.

[System Notification: Jordan Henderson (Potential 89, Current Ability 65) has joined the team.]

Chris Smalling.

Jordan Henderson.

The first rays of winter sun pierced through the clouds, shining on Hartlepool United’s training ground, and illuminating these two young and hopeful faces.

Old John looked at these two young men personally selected by Lin Feng, his eyes full of anticipation, as if he could see the future backbone of the team gradually taking shape.

Sophie Green reported on Hartlepool United’s two swift and mysterious winter signings in her column.

She praised Lin Feng’s efficiency and eye for transfers and began to delve into the background stories of the two new signings, attempting to uncover the secret behind Lin Feng’s selection process.

With the arrival of the new signings and the wake-up call from that League defeat, the entire Hartlepool United squad refocused its attention.

Victoria Park.

League Cup semi-final, second leg.

Opponent: Arsenal.

The entire town of Hartlepool was anticipating this decisive battle.

Tickets had long been sold out.