Chapter 43 - Noisy neighbor
The morning light is shining, and there is a sunny morning in London in winter.
Aldridge was standing next to the training ground in the club’s winter sportswear, and wearing warm gloves, he casually chatted with his coaching staff.
Soon, the players also came to the training ground one by one on time. Aldridge was very grateful for the decision he made six months ago to make Southgate, Nedved, and Larson the three captains of the team. These three are now the mainstay of Millwall. The strength on the court is nothing to say. At the same time, professional ethics is also obvious to everyone. There are three of them as role models. Other players can’t afford to play big names, and they are late for training. Never happened.
“Have you been happy in the past few days?”
Aldridge is more and more a leader. He asked the question. Most of the young and old players laughed and did not speak, and the other young and cheerful ones talked about it.
Compared with other clubs still training, Millwall suddenly gave the players a holiday. Such a good thing made them feel very happy.
The team needs to take a breather. Since October, they have been fighting nonstop non-stop and have to step on the brakes when appropriate.
The short holiday made the players happy, and when they returned to the training ground after their physical and mental relaxation, perhaps none of them remembered the previous three rounds of victory, Aldridge minimized the negative impact of morale.
Because Schneider was injured, for the sake of insurance, Aldridge let him cultivate for a month, and Beckham temporarily entered the main lineup.
Five days later, they went north and south to Yorkshire to challenge Sheffield United in the top of the league table.
For Millwall’s previous three rounds of victory, the outside world is concerned about the result of this game. Whether Millwall can withstand the pressure and reverse the decline is likely to be the watershed for the league champion.
After all, if Middlesbrough wins, the gap between the two teams will be shortened to within two games, and after six rounds, the two teams competing for the championship will usher in the second round of the league.
In the context of widespread concern outside the world, Aldridge led the team to easily win at 2:0 away, without blood.
Middlesbrough failed to win Greensby at home on the same day, which widened the gap between the two teams to 10 points.
Millwall won the game and continued to follow this momentum. The Champions League suspense is likely to be ended at the end of February. At the end of February, can Middlesbrough suppress Milwall’s momentum at the Lion’s Cave Stadium Going on, will determine the fate of the two teams.
After all, who is going to play a cruel play-off game to get tickets for the promotion? !
Returning to London happily, Aldridge had just returned home and the phone in the study rang.
“It’s done, I’ll find someone who specializes in divorce lawsuits to take over, help her rent a new apartment, pay three years of rent, hire a babysitter, pay the salary automatically from my company, and give her back 30,000 pounds.”
Andrew’s slightly tired voice came from the telephone receiver.
Aldridge breathed a sigh of relief, and said with a chuckle: “How long have you not been in the gym? You shouldn’t do any physical work? How can you seem tired?”
“Uh, running back and forth is also tiring. Aldrich, I’m a little confused.”
“What do you mean?”
“What do you understand?”
“do not understand.”
“Okay, why would you help her? Even if you like mature women, she, IMHO, I can’t see her charm.”
Aldridge laughed dumbly, and sighed after a while: “Andrew, you have changed.”
“What does it have to do with me?”
“Why can’t you just look at this matter? Maybe your souvenirs to give fashion to famous watches and bags are just flattering for women to give you a hug, but it doesn’t mean me too. Ms. Rowling has the talent we don’t envy , She just encountered a difficult situation in life, nothing more, help her I have nothing to ask for, just hope she can cheer up, and not be disturbed by the trivial things in life, carefree to show her unparalleled to the world Talent.”
Andrew fell into silence and sighed quietly after a long time: “Aldrich, you are right, I have changed. Obviously very simple question, but I am a jerk. Won’t you hate me?”
Aldridge laughed: “How come? Everyone’s lifestyle is different. Besides, will I become an **** in the future? I can’t guarantee it myself. Why should I criticize others with a clear eye. Talk about other things. .”
The two brothers talked about some career topics. In addition to holding the contracts of most Millwall players, Andrew’s agent company is now trying to sign in several Premier League players.
But in general, Andrew’s company is still undisclosed, and it has not yet set off a big storm in the brokerage industry. This industry needs fame, long-sleeved dance in the transfer market, and a broad network of players in commercial development. In fact, the core It is to “generate income” for players.
As soon as he talked about football-related topics, Aldridge’s mouth could not stop the car. Under his indoctrination, Andrew’s idea of ”signing players to go to Millwall” was completely changed. Now his agent The company has just started, Mo said that it is a famous star. Even ordinary players may be difficult to sign, but it doesn’t matter. At this stage, he only needs to sweep young players on a large scale. Even if he can’t sign, establishing a good relationship is also a foundation for the future. The broker contract is not a lifetime. A lot of them are signed every three years. After a transfer that can operate several stars, Andrew’s company has started the brand.
The following day, Aldridge received a courier from Rowling from Edinburgh.
There is a thick copy of the manuscript in the courier and a letter.
Aldrich opened the letter to read first. In the letter, Rowling expressed her gratitude to him, and the manuscript was a copy of the work she was creating. Although it was not completed, she hoped to let Aldrich see it first. And give some comments on her works.
Aldrich accidentally discovered that the manuscript in his hand turned out to be the unfinished Harry Potter and the Magic Stone.
As for what to evaluate, Aldridge considers himself unqualified. He is just a lively one. If Rowling is a football player, Aldridge is at best a fan who cheers off the court. If he is allowed to play on the field, then he will definitely be on the sidelines.
However, for the manuscript that could read Harry Potter, Aldridge was overjoyed, but he also knew the importance of the manuscript, so he never took the manuscript out of the study and lay quietly in the study at night On the sofa, listening to soothing light music, read it with interest.
In the past, he was unable to understand the original English books, even if he could understand it, it would be a realm of unsatisfactory words.
It is different now. He can at least understand everything depicted in the manuscript without any obstacles, and naturally imagine the wonderful world in his mind.
Interestingly, Rowling is not without intersection with football. She feels boring about the football game, but the football flying in the sky gives her creativity. The Quidditch World Cup in Harry Potter is actually the source football match.
After reading the manuscript, Aldridge wrote a reply to Rowling. Since then, although the two rarely meet, they will always keep in touch by correspondence. This relationship has been until “Harry Potter and the Magic Stone” officially The day of publication.
At the end of January 1995, Millwall ushered in a highlight game: the FA Cup.
From the third round of the FA Cup, the teams of the Premier League and the Premier League joined the battle group to form a knockout match between 64 teams to catch the fight.
Millwall was very unlucky, drawing directly to his opponent Arsenal.
If there is anything to be thanked for, it is probably the increase in ticket income at home. In addition, the opponent is Arsenal, and the broadcast income is not cheap.
There are many enemies of Millwall in history, including Liverpool, Manchester City, Leeds United, Jilinham, etc., but half of the ways these teams have hostility and even grudges against Millwall are because of At a certain period of time, the other half is caused by the fierce conflict between the fans of both sides.
Premier League giants like Liverpool will not take Millwall in their eyes at all, but more of Millwall’s strength and unilateral grudge.
In the hatred of these non-Derby relations, football hooligans played a key role behind the scenes.
In general, Millwall has three enemies because of its geographic location in London, West Ham United and Crystal Palace, and Charlton.
If expressed in terms of hatred, West Ham United is full value, Crystal Palace 80, Charlton 60.
Not all teams in London are enduring with Millwall, and the strength gap also makes those strong teams look down on Millwall, the strong always disdain the weak, just like Tottenham to Arsenal. The hatred value is 100, but Arsenal is only 80 against Tottenham at best, and Millwall, Tottenham and Arsenal have the potential to avoid the river.
With the exception of West Ham United, a foe that will probably endless from generation to generation, Millwall’s second hatred is not Crystal Palace, but Chelsea in West London.
This is probably also a factor for fans. Chelsea is in West London. As West London has become invaluable in the past few decades, the loyal fans of the traditional working class can only move away from West London, where prices and land prices have skyrocketed, and the consumption level is relatively low. Moved to London, poor in the east and rich in the west, rich in the south and rich in the north, most of the Chelsea fans have come to the Millwall area, and therefore, from the war between fans naturally rose to the club, so a strange The phenomenon.
The more powerful Chelsea hate Millwall to a greater extent than Millwall hates Chelsea!
One can imagine that in the Millwall area where football hooligans are famous, can Chelsea fans get a bargain here? Therefore, Chelsea hated Millwall even more, but Millwall just hated each other in return.
Located in the Greater London area, in a general sense, there is a derby relationship between all clubs, and among those teams with no history of hatred, some are just the simplest city derby meaning: who is the boss of this city !
Because of his strength, Millwall could not participate in the competition of the “King of London” of Arsenal, so the atmosphere of Derby would not be very strong.
But Arsenal is an annoying club, especially the London team is very disgusted.
Because Arsenal used to move from South London North to North London, on the Seven Sisters Street, they almost moved to Tottenham’s doorstep, grabbing sites with others. This kind of behavior is disgusted by any team and fans, similar Manchester United, a foreign household, simply does not get the hearts of a wide range of local fans in Manchester. Manchester City’s fan base is more solid than Manchester United, and Arsenal fans are more from the neighboring counties in the north, but with London’s International diversification has become more open. Many neutral fans have become fans of Manchester United or Arsenal in later history.
The FA Cup playing Arsenal, at best, can create some sparks in London, but it can not set off too much passion, if it is Millwall against West Ham United or Chelsea, it will be lively.
Aldridge only faced the FA Cup with his ordinary heart, but unexpectedly, some people were restless and insisted on blocking him.
On the morning of the game, the cover title of The Times was: George Graham: Arsenal will teach Millwall to respect football, and Aldridge is a cancer in English football!