I Have a Football Superpower

Chapter 003：Part-Time Bartender

Victor's superpower doesn't have the ability to print pounds, so life has to go on, and he continues to work part-time.

In order to reduce the burden on his family, he worked several jobs in his spare time, and his part-time schedule was full, because he could not support himself on the salary of an amateur team alone.

He got a job at The Reds bar on George Street and at the airport, with occasional casual jobs like handing out flyers and delivering couriers.

The bartender job at The Reds is one of his most important part-time jobs — at least in terms of total revenue.

The Reds is the nickname of FC United, which evolved from the nickname The Red Devils for Manchester United fans, and since the split, some fans also like to call themselves "Red Rebels", claiming to be the true Red Army spirit, while Manchester United has degenerated into a puppet army.

A lot of the team's fans have a name to call their own group.

For example, Liverpool fans call themselves "KOP", which is the name of the Anfield home fans' stands, and over time, Liverpool fans have also used this name to refer to themselves.

Wimbledon fans call themselves "dons", The Reds. This is taken from the last three letters of Wimbledon's English "imb1edon", and the s are in the plural, and the fans are never alone.

Another example is that Inter Milan fans call themselves "Nerazzurri", which means "blue and black" in Italian; Juventus fans call themselves "Juventini", which means "Juventini", which is a noun suffix, that is, "Juventin".

There are many more similar cases, all of which are part of the club's history and culture.

……

There are two strong professional clubs in the city of Manchester, one is Manchester United, and the other is Manchester City, the former is known as the Red Devils, the color is mainly red, and the latter is mainly blue, nicknamed Blue Moon, so the appearance of Manchester pubs is basically red and blue.

There is an FA Cup match in the evening, Manchester City, who have been promoted from the Premier League this season, away to Coventry City in League One.

There is no winter break in the English league, and the league has been crowded lately, and the pubs are full every day.

The nights of English fans cannot be separated from beer and peanuts, No Beer No Football!

Everyone gathers together, listens to energetic music, and drinks freely.

The fat boss of the bar, Boss George, was a good man and raised his hourly wage to £5 on the spot in light of Victor's meritorious performance in the competition.

The condition was to hang Victor's team jersey and game poster on the bar's Wall of Fame.

Yesterday's game was hugely important for Boss George, so it was only natural that he would have to be at Old Trafford to cheer on his team and hope that The Reds would beat the Red Devils.

He is one of the founding members of the FC United Supporters' Trust Association and is a die-hard member of the team, cheering on the team on the spot and never being absent.

£5 an hour is a lot of work, and the overall income is more than double that of the team.

This was a timely rain for Victor, who was worried that his appetite was growing and he was about to run out of food.

Especially now that I am on holiday, I work long hours and can earn more than 1,000 pounds a month.

Coupled with the team's salary, it is almost 1,500 pounds a month, which is enough to pay rent and living expenses, and can barely support himself without adding to the burden on his family.

Other part-time jobs, just quit! One has a lower income than the bar, and the other has to squeeze out time to practice well, otherwise he will waste such a superpower.

……

Manchester is a historic industrial city, and the entire city is built with a hard cement forest.

The city's chilly vibe, mismatched with the bars on the streets playing some buzzing rock songs, and the atmosphere is frenetic.

A strong steampunk vibe!

Of course, not everyone likes to go crazy, so there are also a few private rooms in the bar, and as soon as the door closes, the crazy music outside has nothing to do with the people in the box.

At the bar of the bar, Victor was constantly busy in a dark blue shirt and a black apron tied in front of him.

He's bartending to the bartenders, it's a technical job, but he's good at it.

There are a lot of people in the bar, and people come in from outside the door one after another, ask for a beer, find a familiar or unfamiliar table, get up, take three or two sip of beer, and immediately become a buddy.

From time to time, familiar fans came up to greet Victor, praising him for a good job and laughing at the gauze wound on the bridge of his nose.

"Song, you're in the wrong place, you should wear a one-eyed patch diagonally like a pirate, that is fierce enough to scare Manchester United's David to death!"

"Well done, Song! You are a real dragon slayer, and if it weren't for the black-hearted referee who saved that evil dragon, Manchester United would be a dead dragon now! ”

"Sir Freud, I'm afraid my heart attack has worsened! This old man has been shouting for several seasons that he is going to retire, and he can't run this time! ”

……

"Two pints of stout." A voice at the counter said aloud.

Victor lifted his head and the voice exclaimed in surprise, "Hey, Song, you're Song!"

Victor saw two people in front of the bar, one tall and one short. Before he could speak, the two men approached and introduced themselves.

"My name is Connor Robert," said the little man, pointing to his companion standing next to him, "and this is Hal Robert. Lipiath: We're teammates! ”

Hearing them say this, Victor felt that the two people in front of him were somewhat familiar...... Listen to their names, I've really seen them in the squad.

FC United's squad of players is more than 50 men.

Amateur teams are highly mobile, and people have to quit at any time due to changes in work or life.

If there are only 25 players in the first team, as is the case with the professional teams, then they are likely to not be able to make even 11 for the game and the usual training.

Today Tony has something, tomorrow John has something, the day after tomorrow Sam has to go to repair the gas pipe, the day after tomorrow the game is halfway through, the main goalkeeper may be called back to the hospital for surgery by a phone call......

The roster of 50 people looks scary, but in fact, there are only about 20 people who can train on time consistently.

Often unable to match the number of people in training matches, Clough had to pick up his beloved Nokia Shaker.

"Hey, Jim hurry over and get some help, there's no way Clough is back to the hospital, there's an emergency surgery waiting for him...... Without a goalkeeper, the game can still be a fart training effect! ”

……

Connor Robert is a familiar man and has a lot of cheerful words: "We play as strikers, so we don't need to play Manchester United this time, and the coach is not on the game list!" Well done this time, brother! ”

"We just just found a random place to watch the game...... Ha, it's nice to be able to meet your teammates! I think of a joke told by the manager about a player who played for a season and didn't know that his neighbor was also a team-mate! Ha ha! ”

Victor was also happy to meet his teammates.

"I didn't expect me to cover my face like Zorro and you would still be able to recognize it. Sure enough, it's a striker, sharp-eyed! He also joked, putting two glasses of dark beer in front of the two of them, "Count me in, I got a salary increase today!" ”

Connor Robert and Howl. Lippiat was delighted.

The best way to socialize with an Englishman in a pub without causing disgust and vigilance is to invite them for a drink.

"Thank you then! You're such a nice guy, Song! Robert took the beer and said cheerfully.

A few people were busy and chatted about a few interesting things in the team.

After the game began, the noise in the bar gradually subsided, and I could finally hear the commentary on TV.

Everyone was watching the game with their heads up, and no one cared about the beer in their glasses.

Thirty minutes into the first half, midfielder Berkovic headed in a free-kick and striker Hakby scored to give Coventry a one-goal lead.

After seeing the goal, there was a huge cheer in the bar.

"Well done, Huckle!"

"Aha! I knew there was a play in this ball! ”

"Berkovic's pass is too second!"

"Coventry to death! Ha ha! ”

The people at the front table sang the Manchester City anthem aloud.

It is only at this time that everyone will raise their glasses to each other and take a very pleasant sip of the beer that has been neglected for a long time.

After Manchester City took the lead, the excitement quickly precipitated, and as time went on, some people began to worry that a one-goal lead was too unsafe.

Although they said that Coventry and Keegan's Manchester City were not at the same level at all, there was an irrepressible nervousness in their hearts, for fear that Coventry would score.

Every time there was a loud sigh in the bar for the City players, there would be complaints that Kevin Keegan was too conservative and should have been more aggressive and bold to try to get a two-goal lead in the first half. These spectators have turned into managers and advised the Manchester City team on the pitch.

At the end of the first half, City were still one goal ahead. The fans who had howled for half the game warmed their throats with beer, and then they got together to discuss the first half that had just ended, and then look forward to the second half.

Robert and Lippiat didn't know anyone here, so they got up to talk to Victor.

As they chatted, the three of them talked about their own club again.

'We came in because we were Red Devils fans. Are you too? Robert asked curiously.

Most of FC United's players are originally fans of Manchester United, and there are basically no people here who want to use the team as a springboard and then go to a higher league.

Because the young FC United is really not a qualified springboard.

"Me? Frankly...... I'm not yet. Rather than pretending to be a Red Devils fan, Victor felt that he should simply admit that he had no special feelings for the team.

That's where he came to play, and after graduating from university, he left Manchester. Between life and FC United, he did not hesitate to choose the former.

Robert patted him on the shoulder: "Trust me, you will soon be a real Red Rebel!" The charm of football is unstoppable! ”

Victor feels that he has lived in China for a long time, and the worldview of his previous life is slowly fading, and the long history, broad and profound Chinese culture, morality, power, self-denial, and philistine, he has been slowly assimilated, become rational, and lose his original passion.

After staying in this country of football desert for a long time, the obsession with team football became a little incomprehensible, and asked: "When I was in China, everyone liked those teams that could continue to win and bring championship honors, so those big teams had a lot of fans in our China." I'm sorry I can't understand why a team that hasn't won the title for a long time and has been fighting for relegation for many years should be liked by you? ”

Robert wasn't offended by the question, he was just a little surprised: "Because it's our own team...... Hometown team, who do we support if we don't support her? I also like teams like Arsenal, uh, Manchester United doesn't count now! But it's 'like', it's 'love' for FC United. It is love that comes, love that has no reason and cannot be extricated! ”

Lippiat nodded in agreement.

Victor thought of Chinese football, even if it was a football desert, there was a golden age for her. It was the golden age of football in China.

Disappointment after failure again and again, and expectation again and again! They need a hero like a ball king too much to save the sport that has been sinking for too long.

Whenever the Asian Cup and World Cup qualifiers fail, it is always a little bit worse, and then the TV station will always kindly comfort us with "There is not much time left for us"

In the Korea-Japan World Cup not long ago, Coach Milu led the Chinese team to the World Cup for the first time.

I still remember that moment, the whole of China was boiling, and the whole country became a sea of joy, bringing a national football boom!

After a long silence, he nodded to Robert and Lipiatsu: "I think I understand a little." ”

Robert held out his hand to him: "Dear teammates, welcome to FC United again!" I'm sure you'll love this team too! Incorrigible! ”

Victor Grasped his hand.

Lipia handed it over again: "Me too." Welcome, Song! ”

At this moment, Victor felt that he was no longer a lonely outsider in the team, he had real teammates.

……

The noisy environment of the bar did not affect the conversation of the several of them in the slightest.

"What kind of country is China?" Lippiat asked suddenly. The conversation shifted away from football again.

"China? I know Chinese restaurants! Robert replied preemptively, "Chinese food is amazing, with two small sticks, you can pick up quail eggs and stuff them into your mouth, so they won't fall off; Do you know how they put the meat in the dumplings......"

"Shut up, Connor. I didn't ask you! "Howl. Lippiat, with some annoyance, interrupted the companion who had become a curious baby.

Victor laughed.

"China...... It's huge! To understand China, you must first understand history! China's recorded history is 5,000 years, 50 centuries long, which is incomparable to any country in the world! The history books are thicker, and there are more burdens......"

"They have been exposed to it since childhood, and they know that it has never been smooth sailing in the past 5,000 years, and every time the soldiers are suffering, how many heroes and heroes have come forward to save the nation from peril, which is their belief. Go down in history! Integrity! ”

"During the Song Dynasty - yes is my surname, a powerful Han dynasty - the Great Song Dynasty was destroyed by the Mengyuan nomads, there was a national hero who knew that he would die, but he resolutely chose to die generously, he wrote a poem and passed it down, to the effect that people who can escape death, as long as they uphold benevolence and national integrity and are recorded by future generations, shine on history, and why fear life and death! Faith is higher than life and death! ”

"I don't go to hell, who goes to hell! There are always heroes who choose purgatory, leaving only faith and history behind! ”

"Every China grew up with history on their shoulders, so they are self-denying, low-key, hardworking, and can always be as great as a mountain at critical moments!"

"If you have the chance, go and have fun in China. Don't believe the nonsense of the media, none of them really understand Chinese history. ”

……

Victor was once asked by a drinker if everyone in China now wears a book with a red cover and a blue or green outfit.

When Victor told him that China was growing fast and that McDonald's chains were no longer common in China, the Englishman's eyes widened and he thought he was lying to him.

After so many years, the West's p********a against China is still influenced by stereotypes. Nothing new. Fortunately, there aren't many people here who are as rude as that person.

The three of them chatted for a while, and the second half began, with Robert and Lippiat ditching Victor and turning their heads to watch TV.

Coventry City in the second half and they were two teams in the first half and launched a counter-attack.

In the 59th minute, the Coventry City striker took advantage of a mistake by Manchester City's right-back to score a goal to level the score.

Seeing this result, the drinkers lost their souls.

"That i***t at right-back! Damn, I'm better than him when I go up! ”

"I think we might still concede goals......

"Don't talk nonsense! The game isn't over yet! ”

'It's the FA Cup, it's so hard to play a League One team! Manchester City is finished, and the promoted horses will come to the Premier League this season, is it the fate of relegation? ”

"Manchester City continues to take the original defensive lineup, and it must be transformed to gain a foothold in the Premier League, which is difficult! Must be transformed! ”

Manchester City have just been promoted to the Premier League this season and are now 18th in the table, which is not a safe place, so now they have reached a crucial stage in their league schedule and every point counts.

……

In the second half, Manchester City's Chinese foreign player Sun Jihai came off the bench and replaced the poor right-back.

Last year, Victor watched sports news in China, and Sun Jihai joined Manchester City for a transfer fee of £2 million.

originally thought it was just a commercial show to develop China's huge market, but he didn't expect Sun Jihai to quickly gain a firm foothold with his strength. Contributed to Manchester City's success last season!

“Jihai· Sun, the Chinese Sun, he's on the court. The biggest feature of this player is 'panacea', which position of the team is short of people, where there are loopholes, the Chinese sun is on top! Except for the goalkeeper and a few other positions, there are no positions that he can't play, and the performance is not bad! ”

"Coach Keegan is very serious about him and uses him very easily."

In this game, Sun Jihai's courage stabilized Manchester City's backline, especially the right side that was beaten into a sieve in the second half.

A team, the defense determines the number of losses, and the offense determines the number of goals! Defensive ability determines the team's lower limit, and offensive ability determines the team's height!

Without a strong defensive line, every game is like a penalty shootout, even Manchester United and Arsenal may not be able to gain a foothold in the Premier League!

In the end, Manchester City defeated Coventry City 2-1 to advance to the fourth round of the FA Cup, where Victor's Chinese compatriot Sun Jihai performed brilliantly.

At the end of the game, the bar was full of jubilant drinkers, and many people sat around to discuss the Manchester City team's wins and losses in the game, and the interest was high.

Robert and Lippiat bid farewell to Victor and went away together.

"Thank you for the beer, Song," Lipiat waved to Victor.

"I'll come back next time I'm free." Victor replied.

After seeing them leave, Victor continued to deal with the drinkers.

At the end of the match, the drinkers were a little emotional if they didn't get the result they wanted, but Victor was able to deal with them with ease.