The Greatest Manager of All time

With Villa, Cromwell, and Brunel all lying in hospital beds, the Welsh media were deeply worried about Swansea's progress in the Second Division. Fleet Street, meanwhile, directly talked down Swansea's future campaign.

In his pre-match preview before the weekend league fixtures, Mark Cady of the Daily Star wrote a concise and ruthless line:

Swansea's good days are over!

"With the Swans missing an absolute starter in attack, midfield, and defense at the same time, they will leave the warm sunshine and beaches behind and walk into the freezing Celtic Sea, where they will be swallowed by endless whirlpools!"

To deal with the shortage of players across all three lines, Lynn had no choice but to change the team's tactical style.

Ibrahimović happened to return to importance at exactly the right time.

Over three tense and busy days, Swansea's coaching staff drew up a new battle plan.

A simple and brutal style!

Two center forwards, Ibrahimović and Charisteas. Both wings would fly, and the team would play crossing football. In the middle, the two tough men, Poulsen and Pedretti, would ensure defensive quality, while Albutches and Friedrich formed the core of the back line.

After a brief round of practice and adjustment, Lynn led the team to prepare for their away challenge against Bury.

On the morning they headed north toward Greater Manchester, Lynn happened to run into Walter Raleigh while eating breakfast at a restaurant near the club.

Raleigh warmly sat down with Lynn to eat together, and they began talking about the impact of the club's injuries.

"Injuries will bring trouble, but this is a problem every club encounters. If we want to go further and become stronger, we have to overcome it. I'm not saying we have to completely avoid injuries. That's impossible. But first, we have to reduce the probability of injuries happening. Second, when the team is affected by injuries, how do we face it?

"As long as we handle this problem well and turn that response into a habit, a team can remain stable among the strong sides for a long time. Of course, right now Swansea still aren't a strong team recognized by everyone, but we must work in the direction of becoming stronger.

"Injuries? This is a difficulty we would have had to face sooner or later. Now is the time to test us."

After listening to Lynn, Raleigh sighed in admiration. "Lynn, I really admire your mentality. If it were another manager, he'd probably be overwhelmed by now, but you can see things so clearly. Brilliant. Oh, did you see the Daily Star article?"

Lynn nodded and said, "It's best not to mention that report right now. It's disgusting. Mark Cady is an idiot. He thinks belittling Swansea will make him famous. And yes, it will make him famous, because he'll prove to the world that he's a fool."

"Haha, can I write what you just said in the newspaper?"

"Do whatever you like. If you're going to include my photo..."

"I'll definitely find the most handsome one!"

"That's more like it."

On September 26, Swansea visited Bury's JD Stadium in Greater Manchester to challenge the home side.

Swansea changed from their previous delicate ground-attack style and began playing open, direct football on the pitch, using long balls and aerial bombardment as well!

One thing that pleased Lynn was that after Ibrahimović returned to training this season, he had begun focusing heavily on heading practice. Perhaps it was to impress Lynn and let him see his effort, or perhaps he simply wanted to make himself more complete.

Whatever the reason, Swansea now had two target men up front!

Ibrahimović and Charisteas' physicality and aerial superiority inside the box were too obvious. On top of that, Ibrahimović also had the advantage of agile footwork, which meant that although Swansea's style was simple and brutal, the effect it produced was extremely shocking!

In his first match back in the starting lineup, Ibrahimović scored a hat trick with his head and feet!

Charisteas also lived up to expectations and scored twice.

The two big center forwards combined for five goals, helping the team sweep Bury aside 5–1 away from home!

When Lynn led the team out of JD Stadium, Fleet Street reporters wanted to interview him, but he said without any politeness, "You should go interview Mark Cady of the Daily Star and Ian Clark of The Sun. Aren't they always saying Swansea's results will collapse? They even make it sound so reasonable and convincing. Now I just want to ask: do their faces hurt? Go interview them. What they say will be very interesting. Anyway, every time I read what they write about Swansea, I laugh. It's genuinely hilarious."

Ian Clark and Mark Cady were not at the scene, but colleagues from their newspapers were there, which made them feel somewhat awkward.

The other reporters quickly recorded Lynn's comments attacking those two journalists. Clearly, this was news!

The bored reporters of Fleet Street even specifically went to find Mark Cady and Ian Clark for interviews, asking them how they would respond to Lynn's mockery.

What else could they do?

They continued firing at Lynn and the Swans in their columns.

...

Swansea, BBC office building.

Catherine Carter knocked on the office door of the sports channel's program director.

The director was a white man in his forties, mature, capable, and full of passion. He was good at promoting newcomers and was also very warm toward his subordinates. His name was Craig Banks.

When Banks saw Carter knock and enter, he smiled and said, "Catherine, a few days ago you seemed down the whole time, but these past two days you've been glowing again. Looks like you handled your personal matters?"

Carter sighed helplessly. "Driven mad by a man. In the end, I still became a slave to love. Compromise, compromise, and more compromise."

Banks laughed loudly. "Nothing in this world is perfect. While enjoying something, there will definitely be times when things don't go your way too, won't there?"

Carter continued sighing. "Yes. If you do the simplest arithmetic, if the happiness outweighs the pain, then you keep going."

"If everything were that simple, life would be much easier. Anyway, what did you come to see me about?"

Carter sat down in front of the desk and said, "Have you heard about the recent war of words between Swansea manager Lynn and two Fleet Street media outlets?"

"Of course. What about it? Do you have an idea? Tell me. I sometimes really like your creativity."

Banks looked at Carter expectantly.

After a moment of silence, Carter said, "I have a proposal. We make one program and invite Swansea fans to the studio as guests. The interview subjects will be Ian Clark and Mark Cady. When the time comes, there'll be a verbal battle. The ratings should be very good. Clark and Cady probably won't refuse. They'll want to become famous. For journalists who run around chasing news, there aren't many chances to appear on a program like this."

The moment Craig Banks heard this, his eyes lit up. He clapped and praised her. "That's a very good idea! Swansea are the main character of our football programs on the sports channel, and they're also the focus of Welsh fans. A program like this will definitely attract a lot of Welsh viewers. If we can invite Lynn to appear on set, that would be best."

Carter smiled bitterly and shook her head. "He definitely won't come. A man as proud as him hates being together with Clark and Cady. He wouldn't even want to talk to them. If he came to the studio, it'd be best if they didn't start fighting."

"If he were willing to come and then fight them live on the program, I wouldn't object. That would definitely make the ratings explode!"

Banks burst into laughter, then continued, "I'm only joking. Still, it would be best if a representative from Swansea Football Club could appear on the program. If not, forget it. When the time comes, I'll let Brian play a bigger role."

"Brian? You're going to let the sports channel's gold-standard host present this program?"

Carter asked in surprise.

Banks nodded. "Of course. Your proposal is excellent, so naturally we have to bring out the best. The best preparation, the best host, the best audience, and the best possible effect!"

Carter was genuinely convinced by this superior of hers. As long as something was beneficial for work, he always gave it his full support. Although this was also part of his job, it still made his subordinates feel very happy.

"All right. Then I'll also try to contact Swansea Football Club and hope we can invite a Swansea representative."

"Good. You go ahead. As for Ian Clark and Mark Cady, I'll contact them. I'll make sure they attend this program."

It only took one day for BBC Wales to confirm Ian Clark and Mark Cady's appearance on the program. Apart from the £5,000 appearance fee, Clark and Cady also hoped to use the program as a chance to make a name for themselves.

In every industry in Britain, as long as someone became famous, they could make money. Everyone knew that.

At noon, Lynn ate lunch in the club's cafeteria.

Under normal circumstances, the club's coaches and administrative staff would sit together while eating.

Lynn did not want to put pressure on the players, so the players sat together by themselves.

During lunch, Lynn sat at the head of the table. Once he had more or less finished eating, he told everyone about BBC Wales wanting to invite someone to appear on the program.

Emlyn Hughes immediately said, "Boss, then you should go. Slap those two bastards Clark and Cady in the face in person."

As soon as Hughes finished speaking, everyone laughed.

Lynn smiled and let it pass, then shook his head. "Me, sit with them? That would be lowering my own status. What are they? I'm definitely not going!"

Carter did understand this part of Lynn. Lynn had his own "reserve."

Biwan also disagreed with Lynn going. He said, "The Boss can't go. Swansea have so many people. They're just small-time reporters. What right do they have to sit on equal footing with the Boss and talk to him? Unless their editor-in-chief came, maybe that would be different. If you ask me, let William or Eric go."

Goalkeeping coach William Tyndall and tactical coach Eric Morecambe immediately shook their heads hard.

Tyndall said, "I'm not good at talking. If I get nervous after going there, I'll embarrass myself instead."

Morecambe used a very strange reason to refuse.

"I have to work during the day, and at night I have to go home to look after my family and my three dogs. I don't have time."

"You have three dogs? I always thought you only had one!"

"Because every time I walk the dog, I only walk the one I like. The other two are my wife's favorites. Those two dogs even bully my dog, so of course I don't take them out to play."

Lynn rested his chin in his hand and did not know whether to laugh or cry. He said, "All right, then I'll tell BBC Wales that we're not interested in participating in that boring program."

"Eh, wait, don't! How can we miss such a fun program? If none of you are going, I'll go!"

Someone at the table suddenly volunteered to participate.

Everyone followed the voice and saw Joseph Levin looking eager and excited.

Lynn liked Levin more and more. Not only could the kid play along with him, but he also handled his work thoroughly. Whether with the players, coaches, or any staff member in the club, he got along harmoniously with everyone. He could be called smooth in every direction. Especially the contributions he made for the club in private—he did not say it, but that did not mean Lynn did not know.

Lynn smiled at Levin and asked, "Are you sure you want to go? Don't go there and talk nonsense, then completely embarrass Swansea. I don't want you to enjoy yourself on the program, only for me to face a reporter siege the next day and clean up your mess."

Joseph Levin smiled and said, "Oh, how big a deal can it be? Isn't it just dealing with two small-time reporters? What's there to worry about? I grew up in London, after all. What storms haven't I seen?"

"See? Damn Englishmen really are this arrogant!"

"I'm one of the good Englishmen!"

"Yes, yes, yes, you're one of the good Englishmen. In the future, I'll beg the fans to add an extra note when they sing songs insulting England: Joseph Levin excluded."

"Hahahahaha!"

...

In the previous league round, Swansea had traveled away to Greater Manchester. For their final league match in September, Oldham came from Greater Manchester to visit Swansea.

After Swansea achieved eight wins and one defeat in the first nine rounds and ranked second in the table, many Second Division clubs had already begun taking them seriously!

Oldham sat in mid-table. Their start to the league was not especially ideal. They had enough to eat and wear, but they could not rest easy.

After arriving at the Liberty Stadium, they adopted a defensive posture. By actively weakening their own attack, they ensured Swansea did not suffer too much pressure defensively.

Swansea's current attacking style was relatively one-dimensional, but continuous waves of wing attacks could still produce good results.

Throughout the first half, Swansea pressed their opponent back and bombarded them wildly, but failed to score.

In the second half, however, James Cook's precise crosses from the right created excellent chances for Swansea.

In the 69th minute, one of his curling crosses directly found Charisteas in front of goal, assisting him for a headed finish.

Ten minutes later, it was again James Cook. In a counterattack, he delivered a long pass from the wing, sending an over-the-top through ball to Ibrahimović, who beat the offside trap. Ibrahimović went through one-on-one and scored to seal the victory!

Swansea beat Oldham 2–0 at home.

After the first ten rounds of the Second Division, Swansea had nine wins and one defeat!

Before this round began, Brighton had led the table by one point, but they were held to a draw by Stoke City in this round. That allowed Swansea to overtake Brighton by one point and climb to the top of the Second Division table!