The Greatest Manager of All time

James Cook parted ways with Daisy Rowan at 10:30 p.m. She had gone to work, and she promised James that she would only dance and would no longer provide any special services.

Even so, James Cook still felt a little melancholy and empty inside.

He rode his motorcycle home. Just as he stopped the bike, his phone rang. He picked it up and saw the caller ID: Boss.

Slightly surprised, he answered the call. Lynn's voice came through the receiver.

"James, I'm twenty meters east of your house. Let's talk."

Holding his phone, James Cook looked ahead and saw a car flash its headlights. He said into the phone, "All right, Boss. Wait a moment. I'll put my motorcycle away."

He parked the motorcycle in his small garage at home, then walked over to Lynn's Bentley. After opening the passenger-side door, he got in.

"Boss, why haven't you gone home this late? Is there something important?"

Lynn looked at James Cook calmly and said, "James, no matter what I say to you next, I hope you understand that my original intention is for your own good. I hope you won't think about it in an extreme way."

A look of surprise appeared on James Cook's face. He said, "Boss, I know you genuinely care about me, so no matter what you say, I won't misunderstand."

Lynn nodded. "Good. Then I'll be honest. Erin knows what Daisy Rowan does for work. She told me. Do you know?"

To Lynn's surprise, James Cook nodded immediately.

Lynn had thought Daisy had deceived James Cook and hidden her profession from him, but now it seemed the truth was not what Lynn had imagined.

James Cook lowered his head slightly, like a child who had done something wrong. He said quietly, "Boss, I know she does a job that outsiders look down on. And yes, if I think about it carefully now, I don't like her doing that kind of work either. But I like her. From the first time I saw her, I liked her. I'm really torn. On one hand, I know the reality. No one will bless me and her being together, and everyone will look at us with prejudice, including my family. But on the other hand, being with her gives me a completely new feeling. That feeling is wonderful, and I really enjoy it."

Lynn felt that James Cook was just a young man experiencing first love. There was nothing wrong with that, but he was still worried James would get hurt.

So he tried to guide him. "I won't look at Daisy with prejudice. I'll only tell you what I know and what I think. She has seen far too many men. She has seen all kinds of men, and that means she understands better than most how to use men. She is absolutely not innocent. Please believe that, because her working environment does not allow her to be innocent. The more innocent she is, the more harm she will suffer, so she has to protect herself.

"James, in my eyes, you are an outstanding young man. In truth, you can have a very good relationship. As long as you are willing, I dare say many girls prettier than Daisy and with better conditions would be willing to date you sincerely."

James Cook shook his head bitterly. "Boss, I understand everything you're saying. Everyone tells me the same kind of thing. But in my life, no one else appeared. The person who happened to make my heart move was Daisy Rowan. I don't want to lie to myself, and I don't want to ignore my real feelings. I like her. I want to be with her. Right now, that is the most important thing to me."

Lynn sighed deeply in his heart.

He knew he could not persuade him. Right now, James Cook was a devoted young fool completely fallen into love.

He said bluntly, "Fine, James. Then tell me, has she asked you for money?"

James Cook immediately shook his head. "No. She has even been late for work or taken leave just to go out with me. She also suggested that I stop going to find her there and said she would come out to meet me instead, just so I wouldn't waste money."

Hearing this, Lynn felt slightly reassured. However, with his experience, he still did not rule out the possibility that Daisy Rowan had bad intentions. Perhaps she was only "setting things up" and "laying the trap," first building up goodwill, and once James Cook sank deeper, then she would reach out for money. At that point, James Cook might bleed badly, and if he got hurt, the wound would be even deeper!

Lynn patted James Cook on the shoulder. "I'm a man too. I've also had moments when I would throw everything away for love, so I understand how you feel. Not caring about the world's gaze, not caring about the other person's background or circumstances. As long as you're sincerely together, nothing else matters. James, I wish you happiness. But I also hope you remember what I'm telling you: never wrong yourself! Understand? You are too kind. If this relationship becomes a burden to you, you must be decisive, absolute, even ruthless! You cannot hesitate at all, because that would be unfair to you, to her, and to everyone who loves you. Understand?"

James Cook looked at Lynn with gratitude in his eyes and nodded hard.

Lynn said to him, "All right. Go back. Even though you're not starting tomorrow's match, you still need to make sure you have enough energy. After getting a girlfriend, you need to arrange your free time more reasonably. You must never let it affect your career. Remember, if a man has no career, women will look down on him. A man without a career has no right to love anyone!"

James Cook nodded hard again. Before getting out of the car, he took the initiative and hugged Lynn, expressing his gratitude.

After driving away, Lynn did not go home. Instead, he went to the Grand Hotel and waited in Erin's room for her to return.

At one in the morning, Erin came back. She entered the room looking tired. Lynn smiled at her and said, "You worked hard. I already ran the bathwater."

As Erin took off her fitted coat, she said to Lynn, "Bathe with me."

A few minutes later, the two lay together in the bathtub. Erin rested in Lynn's arms with her eyes closed and said, "I went to the place where Daisy Rowan works and found the person in charge. I specifically had someone ask around about her motive for dating James. It looks like there shouldn't be any problem, but her background really is worrying.

"She got pregnant when she was sixteen. The child's father ran off long ago, and she has been raising the child alone. The child is seven now. She has worked as a stripper all these years. I guess she's tired inside and also wants someone to rely on. Meeting an outstanding man like James, whether or not it's a dream, wanting to fight for it is human instinct.

"She really is good to James. Recently, she has only been dancing full-time and has stopped all other services. The manager even planned to make things difficult for her, so I sent word over there. They won't trouble her."

Lynn looked up at the bathroom ceiling, his eyes hazy. He murmured, "Can James and Daisy really make it to the end?"

Perhaps, in Lynn's eyes, the two of them truly lasting together would be no less miraculous than a Third Division club beating a Premier League powerhouse!

But for some reason, deep in his heart, he actually hoped such a miracle could happen.

Erin suddenly said again, "Aren't you curious why James went to a strip club in the first place?"

Lynn's eyes suddenly widened, and he said in surprise, "Right. With James' character, he definitely wouldn't go there on his own. Someone must have encouraged him to go to that kind of place."

Erin still did not open her eyes. After shifting into a more comfortable position in Lynn's arms, she said lightly, "The first time he went to 'Kiss the Night,' there was someone with him."

"Who? Do I know him?"

"Know him? He's your player. The Frenchman, Evra!"

After hearing that, Lynn's mood became somewhat poor.

He could not demand every player be a saint, nor could he force everyone to have Cromwell's level of self-discipline and awareness. Naturally, some people would have messy private lives, and they would infect and influence their teammates.

Perhaps Evra had not done anything wrong. In English football, teammates going out to have fun together was simply too normal!

Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle United, and so on — which team did not have groups of three or five bad friends who went out to chase women together outside football?

There were far too many. This had already become a norm.

But from this moment on, Lynn's impression of Evra fell straight off a cliff.

Players could go have fun on their own. Even if they occasionally paid to sleep with a woman, Lynn did not think there was a problem. But they should not encourage teammates to go with them!

Just as Lynn himself sometimes indulged in nightlife, but he would never drag the club's coaches or other staff members who had girlfriends along with him.

People like Mo Yuan and Joseph Levin were guys who loved playing around themselves.

Birds of a feather having fun together.

Lynn let out a long sigh. For some reason, his mood became a little irritated.

The next day, he led the team into the first leg of the Football League Trophy semi-final. At home, they easily defeated Queens Park Rangers 2–0. The young players and substitutes all performed well. Even though Lynn now had some dissatisfaction toward Evra, he would still use him when needed, and Evra repaid the team with an excellent performance.

The Football League Trophy final was within sight, and Lynn began aiming the team's second-half-season target at the FA Cup.

In terms of difficulty, the League Cup should actually have been slightly easier, because strong teams did not pay too much attention to the League Cup and valued the FA Cup more. Unfortunately, Swansea had been knocked out of the League Cup early this season. In the second half of the season, while holding onto their position at the top of the table, their focus would be placed on the FA Cup. Even the Football League Trophy was not worth mentioning.

At the weekend, Swansea played in the third round of the FA Cup. Although their opponent was the little-known Oxford United, Lynn still treated them seriously and sent out a full-strength lineup. Away from home, they cut through the opponent like slicing melons and vegetables, winning 4–0 with ease.

Brunel returned from injury, and Swansea's squad became complete again.

Many media outlets, including Welsh media, worried that Swansea would become complacent during their continuous victories, because their lead was too large!

But before the FA Cup fourth round arrived at the end of January, Swansea maintained terrifying momentum.

In the second leg of the Football League Trophy semi-final, they won 1–0 away against Queens Park Rangers and advanced to the final.

In the league, they thrashed Swindon 4–1 at home and defeated Port Vale 2–1 away. Only in the league match before the FA Cup fourth round did Swansea send out a substitute lineup at home and get held to a 1–1 draw by Stoke City.

But even so, Swansea's lead over second-placed Brighton in the table had expanded to fifteen points!

Their lead over third-placed Reading had expanded to seventeen points!

Swansea, winning match after match, looked unbeatable in the Second Division!

Lynn had monopolized the Second Division Manager of the Month award for several months, while Swansea players also took turns collecting the Player of the Month award.

Against this roaring background, Swansea's commercial promotion was also taking place at the same time.

Before the end of January, Mo Yuan held a press conference, and the club's official website also opened the reservation and pre-order campaign for next season's season tickets.

At the press conference, Mo Yuan announced with high spirits, "Starting from February 1 this year, Swansea will begin pre-selling season tickets for next season. As long as fans pay a £20 reservation fee before May and obtain season-ticket reservation eligibility, then when season tickets officially go on sale in July, eligible fans will enjoy a 10% discount on season tickets until the start of the new season!

"Swansea fans, if you want to buy season tickets for next season, act now. This will save you a considerable amount of money. At the same time, we will issue club membership cards to season-ticket members. All club merchandise, including shirts, will be available with a 15% discount!

"Now is the time to act!"

Once Swansea announced this promotional campaign, fans enthusiastically reserved season tickets!

Especially those fans who had earned a lot of money by betting on Swansea to win the title after last season ended. They were even more willing to give back to the club. Season tickets were absolutely something they would not miss!

Perhaps before season tickets truly went on sale in the summer, Swansea's season tickets would already be completely snapped up!

Especially after gaining season-ticket eligibility, they would also receive membership discounts on club products. For fans, this was another major benefit!

Mo Yuan's marketing strategy brought extremely considerable benefits to the club. Especially for a club that would need large amounts of money in the summer, the earlier cash income entered the pocket, the more benefits it would bring.

On January 30, the second-to-last day of January, after Lynn finished holding the pre-match preparation meeting at the training base, he came to the club's press conference hall.

More than twenty reporters had arrived. Welsh football media had gathered here, and Fleet Street had also sent reporters from both major newspapers and tabloids.

The outside world was focused on Swansea's FA Cup journey. In the fourth-round draw, Swansea had drawn a life-and-death tie.

The Second Division leaders had drawn the First Division leaders!

Swansea versus Manchester City!

The reason this match attracted attention was not only because two league leaders separated by one division were meeting. Naturally, there was also the transfer-market soap opera Swansea and Manchester City had staged last summer, and the war of words between Kevin Keegan and Lynn after Ibrahimović failed to transfer to Manchester City.

It could truly be called enemies meeting on a narrow road!