Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 80

< 079 – Trophy Obsessed Man >

“Alright, we’ve reviewed all 24 rounds of matches so far. It seems the most important match was between West Ham and Chelsea, right?”

“That’s right. It was a crucial match in the title race. It was a watershed moment for Chelsea. If they had won, they would have continued to have a chance at the title, but they lost. Conversely, for West Ham, they succeeded in maintaining the points gap with Manchester City.”

“Let’s take a look at the current league table at this point.”

A Premier League review show broadcasted late at night.

As the host points to the screen, the current league standings appear.

1st: Man City – 20 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses – 62 points

2nd: West Ham – 19 wins, 2 draws, 3 losses – 59 points

3rd: Liverpool – 18 wins, 3 draws, 3 losses – 57 points

4th: Chelsea – 15 wins, 5 draws, 4 losses – 50 points

5th: Arsenal – 13 wins, 6 draws, 5 losses – 45 points

6th: Man Utd – 13 wins, 5 draws, 6 losses – 44 points

“The point difference between 1st place Man City and 2nd place West Ham is 3 points, and the difference between West Ham and 3rd place Liverpool is 2 points. It’s a pretty narrow gap.”

“It’s an incredibly competitive season. It’s true that Man City is leading the way, but they can’t be seen as an overwhelming powerhouse. The difference with 4th place Chelsea is only 12 points. The teams in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place are all fighting within about 10 points of each other.”

“It seems the title race is even more intense because of West Ham. Now, there’s talk that West Ham’s chances of winning the title are quite possible, right?”

“That’s right. Now, we can’t even call it a temporary sensation. As time goes on, West Ham is showing stronger aspects. What we should pay attention to in particular is their head-to-head record against the Big Six teams [the top six teams in the Premier League]. West Ham has won against the Big Six teams in all but one match. In particular, they did the double against Chelsea [won both matches against them], and they are tied with Man City with 1 win and 1 loss.”

This season is particularly competitive at the top of the league.

In the first place, the competition between the Big Six teams alone is fierce, but with West Ham joining in, it’s a natural occurrence.

Moreover, it wasn’t just that West Ham was racking up points by only beating the lower-ranked teams.

Rather, they are even stronger against strong teams.

7 wins and 1 loss against the Big Six teams.

West Ham has won all but one match against Man City.

Because of this, no one could dismiss West Ham being in 2nd place.

It wasn’t just a flash in the pan at the beginning of the season, or that they were temporarily ahead due to an easy schedule.

Thanks to that, there was a lot of talk about whether West Ham might actually win the title.

Of course, it won’t be easy because of Man City.

“Speaking of the schedule, West Ham is actually in a more advantageous position.”

“Why is that?”

“West Ham is the only team among the top 5 teams that is not in the Champions League [an annual continental club football competition]. Of course, the group stage is over now, so there are no matches being played, but anyway, there were Champions League matches until last month. Soon, in February, the round of 16 tournament will begin.”

“If we limit it to the league, West Ham has an easier schedule afterwards.”

“That’s right. Many people are talking about West Ham’s thin depth, that is, their stamina. Well, I wonder if it’s a double-edged sword. It will be tough, but it’s not just West Ham that’s having a hard time.”

Recording an unsatisfactory ranking last season is helpful in times like these.

The meaning of the Champions League is very significant.

The status of the Big Ear trophy [nickname for the Champions League trophy] is, frankly speaking, not at all lacking compared to the Premier League trophy.

No, it’s much higher.

It can’t be helped. Winning the league means being the champion of England, but winning the Champions League means being the champion of Europe.

Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal are all currently in the Champions League round of 16.

The start of the tournament is in mid-February.

Mid-February is around the time when the league is heading towards the 30th round.

This will be the worst crisis for them.

However, West Ham has no such worries.

They only have to look at the league.

There’s also the FA Cup [an annual knockout football competition in England], but that can’t be seen as a problem.

Compared to the Champions League tournament, where they have to travel back and forth between home and abroad for two matches, the FA Cup, which is decided in a single match, is a light schedule.

Moreover, except for Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, and Chelsea are also in the upper rounds of the FA Cup, so they are not at all disadvantaged compared to them.

“So, in many ways, West Ham’s prospects are surprisingly bright. Besides, there’s also news related to the winter transfer market that fans will be happy about, isn’t there?”

“West Ham had already surprised football fans with the signing of Capello. It seems there are still noteworthy signings left. There have already been many articles, so those who are watching will all know who that player is.”

“In fact, that’s why it’s strange, the fans’ reactions to that player’s joining are split in half, right?”

The ‘player’ they are talking about is Harry Kane.

There were already several articles that West Ham had reached an agreement with Kane, and there was talk that he would join London as soon as the Turkish league transfer market opened.

However, West Ham’s reaction to Kane’s joining was split in half.

“According to the information, Kane is said to be joining on a short-term loan. This season, Kane has played in 15 games, scoring 7 goals and 3 assists, showing a decent form.”

“A striker of Kane’s caliber would be welcome. What’s the reason for the split reaction?”

“It’s probably because of the jinx. Kane has a nickname, doesn’t he? It’s not appropriate to say it in a place like this, but.”

“You mean the nickname about trophies. Certainly, it’s a jinx that fans would be worried about. A player who has scored over 200 goals in the Premier League doesn’t have a single trophy. If that’s not a jinx, what is it?”

“Of course, one of the reasons is that he’s from a rival club, Tottenham.”

It’s a welcome fact that a striker of Harry Kane’s caliber is joining the squad.

There would be no backup striker as reliable as him.

However, the reason why opinions are divided on him is that he is from Tottenham, but also because of the no-trophy jinx.

To have a no-trophy ghost come to the team in the first season since the Premier League’s inception that they are closest to winning.

They can’t help but be anxious.

“It’s an interesting situation. If Kane joins West Ham, an interesting picture will unfold in many ways. There’s also the game against Tottenham, and what will happen to the title race after Kane joins.”

“Fans are saying this: that Johan van, who it’s not an exaggeration to say is leading West Ham single-handedly, may face the biggest ordeal.”

“An ordeal?”

“Everyone knows Johan’s goal: the league title and retirement. They are saying that the one who can stop Johan’s retirement is not Man City or Liverpool, but Harry Kane.”

“That’s interesting. If it becomes a reality, it would be praised as a great achievement. If Johan breaks Kane’s long no-trophy jinx.”

“I’m already looking forward to next week.”

The Turkish league’s transfer market opens on the 17th.

Many football fans’ attention was once again focused on West Ham.

ㆍㆍㆍ

-[Official] West Ham announces the loan of Harry Kane··· Short-term loan for half a season, including a full transfer option

└ㅅㅂ He really came

└Tottenham’s legend is returning to the PL [Premier League] as West Ham ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└Does he want to become a legend of a rival team?

└What are you talking about? He went to West Ham because he’s a Tottenham legend

└He went to put the no-trophy ghost on the rival team ㅋㅋㅋ

└We’re fucked!

└Kane is more than satisfactory as a backup ㅇㅇ

└Congratulations to Man City on winning the title

-Harry Kane, determination to join West Ham “I want to contribute to lifting the championship trophy.”

└Not wanting to interfere with lifting the trophy?

└I’m so anxious because he’s talking about the trophy ㅅㅂ

└Trophy obsessed man ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└Johan vs Kane My heart is getting bigger··· Whose power will be stronger

└Johan, please help your national team senior to rest in peace···

└It’s already hard to win the West Ham championship, but now we have a no-trophy ghost ㅋㅋㅋ

└It seems like retirement this season is out of the question Johan, please take good care of me until next season

└If you think about it, it might not be bad to fully acquire Kane and keep him for a long time. If you want to see Johan for a long time

└Maybe··· Is it a recruitment for us?

└Oh oh, are the club owners looking that far ahead!

└Johan, was football too easy for you all this time?

└Did you think you could retire in a year ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└But is Kane that good? He still seems to be doing well

└It’s not a matter of skill ㅋㅋ You have to defy the will of the sky

└Premier League 224 goals, 2nd in all-time scoring, 3-time top scorer, 1-time assist king, World Cup top scorer, 0 championship trophies, does that look like a joke to you??

└If West Ham wins the championship with Kane, Johan is truly a god

└If you do those two things, you’ll be in the top 10 of all time ㅇㅇ

└ㄴㄴ Even if Pelmama returns, it’s difficult, so you have to recognize him as GOAT [Greatest Of All Time]

-Kane, who has been without a title for 17 years since his debut, can he win the championship at West Ham

└But what happens if you win the championship at Weham? Is he a Tottenham legend, a West Ham legend?

└West Ham legend

└Tottenham is losing even one of the few legends they have ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└Legend robbed ㄷㄷ

└I’m a Tottenham fan passing by. I can’t win anyway ㅋ I couldn’t do it at Tottenham, what West Ham ㅋ

└Yeah, 7th place is silent

└Look at them trembling already because they’re going to lose their legend

As soon as it was the 17th, West Ham officially announced the loan signing of Harry Kane.

The loan period is until this summer.

A full acquisition option is also included, so they can be together until next season depending on his performance.

As expected, the fans’ reactions were split in half.

Half welcomed it.

Half were reluctant.

Of course, that half is somewhat of a joke, a drip [sarcastic online comment].

The main reaction was that the biggest obstacle to Johan’s retirement journey had appeared.

Winning the championship with West Ham itself is close to impossible, and on top of that, Kane, the symbol of no trophies, is added.

Johan’s retirement, which already seemed difficult, seems even more difficult.

A joke is no longer a joke if you keep making it for 10 years.

There are so many fans who are seriously angry because Kane is unlucky.

Can Johan overcome those adversities and retire?

With another strange spectacle created.

News was coming that Harry Kane had arrived in London.

ㆍㆍㆍ

“Nice to meet you.”

“···”

“What are you doing? Clap.”

Clap clap clap.

The sound of somewhat weak applause echoes through the West Ham training ground.

Harry Kane has joined the training.

He had just finished giving a simple self-introduction to the players and expressing his determination for the future.

But,

The expressions of the existing players looking at Kane are a bit subtle.

I can’t help but think so.

Well, except for players who haven’t been wearing the West Ham uniform for long, including Capello.

Most of the players have grown up supporting West Ham since they were young, and even if they didn’t, they are players who have naturally blended into this team while playing for West Ham.

In other words, they are West Ham players who burn with fighting spirit whenever they meet Tottenham.

To those eyes, it was a very foreign feeling to have Kane, Tottenham’s legend, here.

He’s wearing West Ham’s training kit.

To be honest, I don’t really like it.

Of course, Kane was a great player.

Even if Tottenham doesn’t admit it, they would admit Kane.

However, it was natural to hate him even more because of that.

Isn’t it perfectly natural to hate the ace of a rival team?

“Hey. Do you remember the old days? When we were in the youth team, we went to see the game against Tottenham together.”

“I remember. I shouted so much to break that bastard’s ankle. Now he’s a colleague···”

West Ham’s sacred bones [long-time dedicated players], Tim Gordon and Lucas Simone, are whispering to each other.

It was a particularly strange feeling for these two.

Until a few years ago, Tottenham’s Kane was the number one object of hatred, but now he has to wear the same uniform and play.

What should I say?

I feel a little embarrassed.

“···”

An awkward atmosphere flows.

Kane’s expression is not bright either.

Of course, there are not many players who are so sociable that they can live comfortably in their own home from the first day.

In particular, Kane is far from that kind of personality.

However, there was a more uncomfortable feeling for Kane than that awkwardness.

He knew it well too.

He was a player who had been with a rival club for a long time, and the memory of burning with great fighting spirit when playing against West Ham was still vivid.

That was the same for the West Ham players, and that’s why he could have expected that they wouldn’t like his joining.

Therefore, he didn’t expect a welcome in the first place.

Instead, there was a reason why he chose West Ham even at the risk of this discomfort.

That reason is just one.

“Um, coach.”

“Huh?”

“When is Johan coming?”

“Hmm. He’ll be here soon.”

That was because there was a noble person here who would solve his lifelong resentment.

“Ah, he’s coming.”

“···!”

Kane’s eyes widened as he looked in the direction Schmidt pointed.