Chapter 192: A Downward Spiral! Brutal Fixture List! Want to Poach from the Bayswater Chinese? Pay Up!
After Matchday 19 of the Premier League, the Bayswater Chinese smashed Chelsea 4–1 at home.
It was a resounding victory, one that earned thunderous applause!
Across the world, the match sparked heated discussion among fans and the media alike.
Every home fan who attended the game at Wembley had been thoroughly entertained.
As L'Équipe put it, the Bayswater Chinese had ganged up on Chelsea!
But the rest of this Premier League round produced less consistent results.
Fulham drew 0–0 at home with Tottenham in a dull stalemate.
Manchester City, with goals from Robinho and Tévez, beat Stoke City 2–0 at home.
Liverpool, taking advantage of an early second-half red card for Wolves, won 2–0 thanks to goals from Gerrard and Benayoun.
Benítez's side had finally—barely—managed to stop the bleeding.
The following day, Arsenal cruised to a 3–0 win at home against Aston Villa, with Fàbregas scoring a brace and Gourcuff adding another.
Manchester United, meanwhile, narrowly edged Hull City 3–1 away.
With the first half of the Premier League season complete, the Bayswater Chinese had registered 13 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss in 19 matches.
They sat in fourth place with 41 points.
Arsenal topped the table with 46 points.
Manchester City followed with 44.
Manchester United were third with 43.
While the Bayswater Chinese trailed leaders Arsenal by 5 points, they had three games in hand, making them strong contenders for the title.
Chelsea, on the other hand, had 37 points and sat fifth.
In this high-stakes clash, everyone had seen how weak Chelsea looked.
Falling four points behind the top four would have serious consequences for the Blues.
Immediately after the match, news broke that Abramovich was prepared to invest £60 million in the winter transfer window to bring in reinforcements.
The top target? Liverpool—struggling with financial issues.
Chelsea hoped to seize the moment and sign Fernando Torres.
If that failed, Atlético Madrid's Agüero was also a strong candidate.
But Atleti demanded a hefty fee, and Agüero's wage demands were equally steep.
Next in line was Ajax's Luis Suárez.
The Uruguayan forward was valued at £20 million on the German transfer market.
But prying him away from Ajax for that fee wouldn't be easy.
Finally, there was Andy Carroll, who had dazzled in the first half of the season with the Bayswater Chinese.
The homegrown striker had impressed early on and earned the nickname "England's Drogba," hailed as the Ivorian's successor.
Though his form had dipped slightly with Lewandowski's rapid rise and opposing teams adjusting to defend him, Carroll's future was still widely acknowledged as bright.
And he was English.
Before Christmas, England manager Fabio Capello had even announced plans to call Carroll up in February.
There was even talk of bringing him to South Africa.
That was clear recognition of Carroll's talent.
...
The morning after the match, following recovery training, Yang Cheng and his coaching staff held a tactical review of the game.
There wasn't much to criticize from the Bayswater Chinese's perspective.
The focus turned instead to Chelsea.
Brian Kidd and the technical team had all studied Chelsea's situation this season.
And the outlook wasn't promising.
One big reason?
Drogba was aging.
In 2024 terms, his decline was fully exposed.
Of course, the old tiger still had his fangs.
But Yang Cheng was thinking about something else entirely.
He wondered if he himself had triggered Drogba's decline.
Or rather—the butterfly effect.
This was the same Drogba. So why had he scored freely in Yang Cheng's past life, but now seemed a shadow of that player?
The answer: Chelsea's tactics were different.
Hiddink was still sticking with the counterattacking style inherited from Mourinho.
Watch Chelsea's attacking play closely, and it was obvious—they still relied heavily on Drogba's role in their system.
They wanted him to pin back defenders and bully center-backs.
But he was about to turn 32. That wasn't old, per se.
But asking him to continue throwing his body around, grinding through physical battles—was that still realistic?
In Yang Cheng's past life, under Ancelotti, Chelsea played with a diamond midfield focused on creating chances from the middle.
Everyone worked to feed Drogba.
It wasn't the old system, where the striker worked to serve the midfield.
That season, Chelsea's attack exploded, scoring over 100 goals.
But they also conceded 32—more than in any other season since Abramovich bought the club.
And that Ancelotti team had clear weaknesses: no powerful wingers.
Malouda was one of the most active players that season.
But while the system worked in the Premier League, in the Champions League—especially the knockouts—players like Malouda and Kalou were ineffective.
In the round of 16, Chelsea were knocked out by Mourinho's Inter Milan over two legs.
Yes, Inter played a defensive counterattacking style.
But that series also showed Chelsea's lack of creativity in tight matches.
In the second leg, Drogba lost his cool under Lucio's marking and was sent off.
He used to be the one breaking other players—now he was the one losing his head.
Now, under Hiddink, Chelsea were still using Mourinho's blueprint—expecting the striker to feed the midfield.
And that just exposed Drogba's flaws.
The 32-year-old Ivorian simply couldn't handle that level of physical demand anymore.
That's why speculation about Chelsea bringing in reinforcements in January was heating up—especially with five players heading off to the Africa Cup of Nations.
"Actually, if you just look at the schedule, Chelsea's opponents during the AFCON aren't that strong. Hull, Sunderland…"
Brian Kidd grinned mid-sentence.
"And Matchday 23… when they play us again."
Everyone in the room burst into laughter.
Home to Chelsea in Matchday 19, away to Chelsea in Matchday 23.
What could you do? The Premier League's fixture list could be a real mess sometimes.
"I don't think they'll make big moves. Winter signings? That's just asking to get ripped off!" Brian Kidd believed Chelsea's front office wouldn't be that rash.
After all, the players they were eyeing weren't cheap.
"I heard the Saudis are back in talks with Liverpool," Yang Cheng said with a smile.
Adam Crozier had received a call—they were planning to return to London in early January.
As sponsors, Crozier would of course be hosting them.
"If Liverpool really do sell to the Saudis, there's no way they'll let Torres go," Brian Kidd said confidently.
He was, after all, Liverpool's most valuable asset.
"The Africa Cup's impact on Chelsea may not be quite as bad as some are making it out to be—but it's still significant."
At that, Yang Cheng chuckled twice.
"So in the end, it all comes down to whether Abramovich has the determination to keep investing."
"If Chelsea want to break back into the top four, strengthening the squad is absolutely necessary."
Especially given how badly the Blues are aging.
Another squad suffering from aging issues? Manchester United.
But United had one thing Chelsea didn't—Ferguson, still holding the line.
...
The day before the Bayswater Chinese's 20th Premier League match, Rickie Lambert knocked on the door of Yang Cheng's office.
The 28-year-old English striker got straight to the point—he had received an offer.
From League One side Southampton.
The Saints were willing to pay a transfer fee to sign him.
Lambert and his agent had already had contact with the club.
Back in July 2009, the Liebherr family acquired Southampton, significantly improving the club's finances.
And they were ambitious—willing to offer Lambert a higher salary.
"They want me to help them get back to the Premier League."
Lambert laid everything out for Yang Cheng, hiding nothing.
He also explained his own considerations.
He'd been very happy during his years at the Bayswater Chinese.
Following the team through the divisions, he'd practically collected a dream haul of medals just by being along for the ride.
But his playing time was becoming increasingly limited.
Lewandowski and Carroll were both in top form and, crucially, staying healthy.
Even in the youth team, Harry Kane—personally favored by Yang Cheng and even written into the club anthem—was maturing fast and had already appeared for the first team.
It was a different story from José Fonte.
The Portuguese defender was the vice-captain and still got plenty of minutes each season.
Lambert, on the other hand, sometimes went long stretches without playing a single match.
But he still felt he had something left in the tank. He still wanted to play.
He'd been with the club since 2003—over six years.
How many six-year stints does a footballer get in a career?
Yang Cheng wasn't upset. Lambert had clearly thought things through.
If he stayed, his situation would remain awkward, his chances few and far between.
Now that Southampton were offering him a better salary and guaranteed playing time, why say no?
"Alright, I'll speak to them. And you tell your agent to ask for a little more in wages," Yang Cheng said cheerfully.
Lambert was surprised.
"You've been with us since the lower leagues. You're one of the heroes of our rise. We're not asking for a single penny. You can leave on a free transfer!"
Lambert hadn't expected Yang Cheng to be so generous.
But he understood—it was Yang Cheng's way of helping him secure a better contract.
"Remember, Rickie, Southampton's not far from London. Don't forget to come back and visit old friends when you can."
As he spoke, Yang Cheng stood up and extended his hand.
Lambert rose, deeply moved, and clasped it with both hands.
He had been calm and rational before making the decision.
But once it was final, he suddenly felt reluctant to leave.
Six years—he'd grown used to playing at the Bayswater Chinese.
Used to the teammates. Used to the coaching staff.
But he'd already won more silverware than most players could dream of. He was satisfied.
Now, he just wanted to enjoy the pure joy of playing again.
"Boss… thank you."
...
The Bayswater Chinese quickly made the announcement official, sending Rickie Lambert off with their blessings.
Fans completely understood both the club's and Lambert's decisions.
The club had done right by him—asking for no transfer fee.
Lambert had been honest, and over the years had given everything, never complaining.
There was nothing controversial about the move.
In fact, when the club's media team released a documentary on Lambert on YouTube and other platforms, including farewell messages from players, countless fans left emotional comments.
It was a testament to the heart and warmth of the Bayswater Chinese as a club.
However, the transfer wouldn't take effect until January 1, 2010, when the winter transfer window opened.
Until then, Lambert was still a Bayswater Chinese player.
On December 28th, for Matchday 20 of the Premier League, Yang Cheng specifically named Lambert in the squad for the away trip to Stoke City.
In a rare move, Yang Cheng rolled out a 4-4-2 formation, starting both Lambert and Carroll up top as a strike pair.
Stoke City, playing at home, also lined up in a 4-4-2.
Tony Pulis's side looked to capitalize on their home turf with a defensive counterattacking approach to frustrate the Bayswater Chinese.
But Yang Cheng's team started strong, pressing hard and forcing the physically tough Stoke City side onto the back foot.
In the first 20 minutes, the Bayswater Chinese laid siege to the Stoke penalty area.
Their possession rate soared to 77%.
Still, the home side held firm.
Until the 22nd minute.
Walcott whipped in a through ball down the right. Lambert pulled wide to receive near the edge of the box and delivered a pinpoint cross.
Carroll rose in the six-yard box and headed it home. 1–0!
Then in the 30th minute, Rakitić fired a shot from outside the box. Sorensen parried it, but Carroll pounced on the rebound and smashed it in.
2–0!
A brace!
The Bayswater Chinese didn't stop.
In the 44th minute, Hazard cut in from the left and pulled the ball back to the top of the box.
Rakitić blasted a shot past Sorensen once again.
3–0!
At halftime, the Bayswater Chinese had 73% possession—a dominant performance.
In the second half, the tempo eased slightly.
With the match wrapped up, the players began trying to set up Lambert.
In the 67th minute, after a slick exchange between Rakitić and Walcott, Lambert fired a rocket from the right side of the box—only for Sorensen to parry it away.
Hazard was in the right spot to slot home the rebound.
4–0!
Then in the 74th minute, Walcott delivered a cross from the right, and Carroll muscled past his marker at the far post to head in his third.
5–0!
A hat trick!
Another stunning performance from the young English striker.
In the 81st minute, Lambert dropped deep to collect the ball and threaded a brilliant through pass.
Walcott burst into the box, rounded Sorensen, and tapped it into an empty net.
6–0!
In the final ten minutes, the Bayswater Chinese pushed hard to score again.
But Stoke City dug in defensively.
Lambert had a few good chances, but for one reason or another, just couldn't put the ball in the net.
Yang Cheng could only shake his head.
He and the players had all wanted Lambert to score—but it just wasn't meant to be.
Maybe that was fate.
Lambert himself, though, was unfazed.
After the match, back in the dressing room, he went around thanking all his teammates, as well as Yang Cheng and the coaching staff.
He hadn't scored—but he felt fulfilled.
A side note: Stoke City still had two former Bayswater Chinese players—Dave Kitson and Danny Collins.
Kitson played 60 minutes, while Collins completed the full match.
After the game, both players made a point of seeking out Lambert, Yang Cheng, and their former teammates to say hello.
...
After Matchday 20 of the Premier League, Chelsea came from behind to beat Fulham 2–1 at home.
Manchester City, with a brace from Tévez, thrashed Wolves 3–0 away.
Torres scored a stoppage-time winner in the 93rd minute to help Liverpool edge Aston Villa 1–0 on the road.
Arsenal dismantled Portsmouth 4–1 away.
Manchester United demolished Wigan Athletic 5–0 at Old Trafford.
All of this once again showcased Ferguson's magic.
On paper, United's squad wasn't even as strong as Chelsea's.
But Ferguson somehow managed to piece together a team capable of steamrolling opponents.
That kind of ability was one-of-a-kind in European football.
This round marked the end of the festive fixture period, and apart from Chelsea's loss to the Bayswater Chinese, all the traditional powerhouses ended with two straight wins.
...
January 1st — New Year's Day.
Tourists from all over the world flooded London, crowding Knightsbridge and the surrounding Soho district.
People from all walks of life speaking every language imaginable turned London's central streets into a buzzing, bustling hub.
In a modest, inconspicuous hotel on the border between Knightsbridge and Soho, a little-known football agent walked into the lobby.
He made a phone call first and got a room number, then approached the front desk concierge.
The concierge, instantly respectful, escorted him to the elevator and sent him up.
On the designated floor, he quickly found the room.
When he knocked, a young assistant opened the door.
Inside, a man and a woman were already waiting.
Most British sports reporters walking into that room probably wouldn't have recognized them.
They would've found the pair unfamiliar—even unknown.
But not Mark Curtis.
As an agent, this was his world.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Gourlay, Ms. Granovskaia," Mark Curtis greeted them with a smile and extended his hand.
The man and woman were none other than Ron Gourlay, Chelsea's newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, and Marina Granovskaia, personal assistant to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
The young assistant took a seat off to the side. The three sat on the couch in the hotel room.
The conversation began with small talk about bustling London.
Mark Curtis was from the north, after all.
He joked that nowhere up north could match London's crowds—not even Manchester or Liverpool.
Certainly not lesser-known places like Blackburn or Newcastle.
As an agent, most of his business was in the North.
"Before you say anything, let me guess."
Curtis smiled playfully at Gourlay and Granovskaia, trying to show his charm and wit to leave a good impression on Chelsea's senior brass.
"You're here for Roque Santa Cruz, aren't you?"
Both Gourlay and Granovskaia froze slightly, exchanging a look—as if to ask, Did we tip our hand?
But to Mark Curtis, that reaction only confirmed his suspicion.
"Ha! Then you've definitely found the right guy!"
"Now, I'm not Santa Cruz's agent, but I'm very well-connected with Blackburn's board. I know they're in deep financial trouble and can't find a buyer for the club."
"So, if you're interested in Santa Cruz, now is the perfect time to make your move. I could help facilitate things—but you might run into some issues with Big Sam…"
Curtis paused meaningfully, then added, "There might be a bit of trouble."
"You know, Santa Cruz is Blackburn's key player. Manchester City already tried to sign him, but you've seen how that turned out—Allardyce refused to let go of his top striker."
In Curtis's view, Chelsea were clearly in desperate need of a center-forward.
Everyone in the football world was saying the Blues would bring in a powerhouse striker during the winter window.
So eyeing Santa Cruz? That was just common sense.
But to Marina Granovskaia, Curtis's words meant something very different.
Back in 2006, while Italy was rocked by the infamous Calciopoli scandal, England was hit by its own corruption scandal—"Bung-gate."
"Bung-gate" referred to shady dealings where managers, agents, or even club executives took illegal payments during player transfers.
It had been rumored for years in England and implicated many big names—Ferguson included.
The biggest issue was the lack of transparency in transfers, especially with agents involved. Often, not all of the transfer fee reached the selling club.
Some of it was diverted into "grey areas."
Sometimes it was kickbacks for the manager.
For instance, when deciding which player to sign, some coaches might be incentivized to pick one over another.
And if a club wanted to poach a player but feared the other side's coach would block the move, they'd simply "grease the wheels."
Not all of this money was technically illegal—it could be disguised as other random "expenses."
But the result was always the same: murky finances and unclear accounts.
In 2006, several major outlets—including the BBC, The Independent, The Guardian, and The Times—exposed the scandal. And they all pointed fingers at English managers like Sam Allardyce and Harry Redknapp.
An agent named Charles Harrison told the BBC that at least six Premier League managers had taken kickbacks from him.
One of those names? Sam Allardyce, then long-time manager of Charlton Athletic.
But in a twist, after the exposé, Harrison changed his tune.
He claimed he never bribed anyone.
Bribe Allardyce? Nonsense.
No, he said—it wasn't Sam Allardyce. It was his son, Craig Allardyce, a registered FIFA agent.
This kind of thing was actually common in English football.
Famous managers' family members acting as agents—it happened all the time.
And with the FA unwilling to dig deeper, the case was quietly dropped.
But Mark Curtis's earlier comment had triggered all the wrong associations in Marina Granovskaia's mind.
Because Mark Curtis was Sam Allardyce's agent.
"You understand, Mr. Gourlay—Blackburn might be short on cash, but if you want to buy Santa Cruz, the transfer fee won't be cheap. I'd estimate at least £30 million. What do you think?"
Curtis, a seasoned operator, didn't seem to think anything was off about what he'd just said.
Gourlay glanced at Granovskaia.
She, clearly annoyed, gave a subtle nod.
It was obvious she didn't want to deal with a wheeler-dealer like this.
That was when Curtis realized—Granovskaia was the one really in charge.
"Mark, we didn't ask you here today because of Santa Cruz," Gourlay said calmly. "And this has nothing to do with Blackburn or Big Sam."
Curtis froze.
Nothing to do with that?
"Then… what is it about?"
As he spoke, he naturally began rifling through the mental catalogue of players under his management.
He had a decent number, though few were well-known. Currently, there were only two big names.
One was Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn. The other was...
Mark Curtis's eyes widened. Could it be...?
"Andy Carroll from the Bayswater Chinese?" Curtis asked, his voice laced with urgency.
The young center forward had been discovered and promoted from the youth ranks back when Sam Allardyce was managing Newcastle.
Of all the players in Newcastle's academy, why was he the one promoted?
Not just because of his exceptional potential—but also because Andy Carroll's agent was none other than Mark Curtis.
Ron Gourlay's lips finally curled into a faint smile. He nodded.
Curtis wasn't a big-name agent, but he was certainly sharp.
Then again, everyone in this line of work had to be razor-sharp.
"That's unlikely, Mr. Gourlay. Chelsea and the Bayswater Chinese are mortal enemies. They're never going to sell a player to you," Curtis said, shaking his head.
"We might be rivals, but it's not that hostile. Just last summer, we sold a youth player to them—Ryan Bertrand," Gourlay replied with a grin.
"But Yang Cheng rates Carroll very highly. He's even tailored tactics specifically around him. That's why Carroll's been doing so well."
Gourlay scoffed with a cold chuckle.
"Oh come on, Mark. Don't tell me you haven't noticed—Yang Cheng's number one center forward is the Pole. Every important match, Carroll is second choice."
"You can't tell me Carroll has no complaints about that."
"Look at the Stoke City match—another hat-trick. Carroll was fantastic. You think he's content playing second fiddle to Lewandowski?"
"If you say he's happy about it, I'm just not buying it."
With that, Gourlay burst into laughter, staring Curtis down.
The agent's expression said it all.
Carroll had definitely vented about this before.
Of course, frustration didn't mean Carroll would fall out with the Bayswater Chinese.
But then again, he'd only been with the club for six months. How deep could those ties really be?
"Chelsea are going through a generational shift. Drogba is aging and will soon retire. Andy Carroll, with his aerial dominance, is exactly what we need—and he's still so young."
"Tell me honestly—how many chances will he get if he stays at the Bayswater Chinese?"
"Don't forget why Lambert wanted to leave. And there's Harry Kane in the youth team. His goal stats for the U-21s and reserves are incredible. He's their homegrown golden boy!"
Curtis couldn't refute any of that.
Everything Gourlay said was objectively true.
Anyone with eyes could see it.
But that didn't mean Carroll was going to leave the Bayswater Chinese.
"Yang Cheng will never agree. The fans would never accept him joining a rival!"
Gourlay chuckled. "You'll figure something out, won't you?"
Agents had a million ways to sway their clients.
And Andy Carroll trusted his agent more than the club.
Curtis wore a deeply conflicted look and shook his head. "It's going to be really difficult."
Gourlay smirked inwardly. As expected...
Difficult means it'll cost more.
"Don't worry. If you can convince Carroll to join Chelsea, we'll guarantee he's groomed to replace Drogba as our future number one striker."
"And when the deal goes through, we'll make sure your commission is very generous."
Gourlay was confident—this agent, the same man who shielded Allardyce, had definitely pulled this kind of thing before.
People like Pini Zahavi and Jonathan Barnett? They wouldn't get involved.
Both had players at the Bayswater Chinese—Zahavi represented Lewandowski, and Barnett had Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott, and others.
There was no way they'd risk upsetting the club.
But Mark Curtis? He had no such ties and a reputation for doing this kind of business. He was perfect for the job.
...
On the afternoon of January 2nd, the FA Cup third round kicked off.
The Bayswater Chinese hosted Peterborough United.
Although the Championship side wasn't a major threat, Yang Cheng's team still approached the match with full focus.
According to the schedule, after the FA Cup, they would face Chelsea again—this time in the League Cup semifinals.
So Yang Cheng sent out a rotated and backup-heavy lineup for this match, keeping the main squad fresh for the coming trip to Stamford Bridge.
Still, the Bayswater Chinese cruised to a clean 4–0 win at home over Peterborough.
Andy Carroll bagged a brace and played brilliantly.
In the second half, Harry Kane came on as a substitute.
The biggest upset of the round? Manchester United.
Ferguson fielded a mix of starters and bench players against Leeds United, now a League One side.
Rooney, Berbatov, Anderson, Wes Brown, Gary Neville—all started.
Giggs and Michael Owen came off the bench. Youth prospects like Welbeck, Gibson, Evans, and Fabio were also involved.
Ferguson was confident this lineup would dispatch Leeds.
But in front of over 74,000 fans at Old Trafford, United shockingly lost 0–1.
Ferguson was furious, raging in the post-match press conference and vowing to stop playing certain youngsters.
After the match, United's die-hard fans were livid.
Some even went to the media, demanding Ferguson's resignation.
Why the outrage?
Because every other major club—Bayswater Chinese, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal—had all advanced. United's early exit was a humiliation.
The very next day, while the media was still abuzz with fans calling for Ferguson's head, another bombshell story dropped.
Andy Carroll, fresh off a two-goal performance in the FA Cup, was making headlines—through his agent, Mark Curtis.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Curtis revealed that his client was dissatisfied with the current situation at the club.
"There's no doubt Andy is an excellent professional, and he's on the verge of a call-up to the England national team. Everyone has high hopes for him and believes he'll succeed."
"But the key is—he needs more trust and support. He needs to play more important matches!"
"We're concerned. Over the past six months, Andy has felt increasingly sidelined. He's worried that he hasn't earned the manager's full trust."
"He wants to prove himself through his performances—to show everyone he can be a key player for the team."
"But everything so far… just hasn't lived up to expectations."
"No matter how many goals he scores, it never seems to change anything!"
"I'll find an opportunity to talk with the Bayswater Chinese."
Poised to be called up to the England national team and in excellent form, Andy Carroll was unquestionably drawing attention.
And at a time like this, for his agent to publicly blast the Bayswater Chinese triggered a massive shockwave across the UK—and even Europe.
Many fans and media outlets sided with agent Mark Curtis, believing Andy Carroll deserved more playing time and should be starting in more important matches.
When the Bayswater Chinese got wind of the news, their first reaction was genuine surprise.
They hadn't expected Mark Curtis to say something like that in an interview.
When Carroll joined the club, Yang Cheng had made it clear his role would be that of a substitute. There was never any promise of a guaranteed starting spot.
In fact, the amount of playing time he'd gotten so far was already pretty substantial.
Sporting director Dan Ashworth immediately reached out to Mark Curtis to get a better understanding of the situation.
In his report to Yang Cheng, Ashworth noted that Curtis's primary demand seemed to be more playing time.
"But it's also possible he's angling for a new, higher-paying contract."
It was a classic tactic used by players and agents.
Yang Cheng had a one-on-one talk with Andy Carroll and discovered that the striker had no idea his agent had done the interview.
In their meeting, Carroll repeatedly stressed that he wanted to stay with the Bayswater Chinese and that he was happy at the club.
Of course, he added, if he could play more, that would be even better.
Yang Cheng was reassured and decided not to take the matter too seriously.
Everyone—from the technical staff to the analysts—agreed. Carroll had only joined the team six months ago, and was still in the fast lane of his professional development. It made no sense to push for a transfer now.
After all, switching clubs always came with high risks.
As for a new contract, Yang Cheng wasn't planning on giving in to Curtis's demands.
Agents were notoriously greedy—if you gave in every time they made noise, the Bayswater Chinese would become a charity.
And frankly, Yang Cheng didn't have the time to keep bickering with agents.
He had to focus entirely on preparing for the midweek League Cup semifinal.
The League Cup might be considered a lesser competition, but with Chelsea as the opponent, Yang Cheng was determined to win.
What he didn't anticipate, however, was that a heavy snowstorm hit on the evening of January 5, the night before the scheduled match on the 6th.
By morning, all of London was blanketed in white.
But once the sun came up, meteorologists forecasted that no more severe weather was expected that day.
So the team continued with their preparations.
All morning, Yang Cheng oversaw training and match planning.
The club stayed in close contact with Chelsea, checking on the pitch conditions at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea confirmed there was no serious snow buildup and that the match could go ahead as scheduled.
But man proposes, and heaven disposes.
At 2 PM, the snow returned.
Chelsea reported that the pitch at Stamford Bridge was still in good condition—just a light layer of snow that their under-pitch heating system could easily melt.
But then came an emergency weather alert from the meteorological office: the worst blizzard and cold snap in 30 years was about to hit.
The Metropolitan Police advised that the match be suspended.
Chelsea promptly informed the Bayswater Chinese that, after careful consideration, they had officially requested a postponement from the FA, citing Stamford Bridge as unfit to host the game.
The pitch wasn't the main concern.
It was the stadium facilities—like the parking lots—and the risks fans might face traveling to and from the venue.
There had been previous incidents where fans sued clubs for injuries sustained in such conditions.
To protect their public image, clubs had been forced to pay compensation—a huge loss.
So Chelsea decided to postpone the League Cup semifinal.
The FA approved the request.
But for the Bayswater Chinese, this made their situation much more difficult.
The new date for the League Cup semifinal was set for January 13.
Which meant:
January 10: Premier League Matchday 21, home vs Manchester UnitedJanuary 13: League Cup semifinal first leg, away vs ChelseaJanuary 16: Premier League Matchday 22, away vs PortsmouthJanuary 20: League Cup semifinal second leg, home vs ChelseaJanuary 23: FA Cup Fourth Round, home vs Leeds UnitedJanuary 27: Premier League Matchday 23, away vs ChelseaJanuary 30: Premier League Matchday 24, home vs TottenhamFebruary 3: If neither the Bayswater Chinese nor Spurs have an FA Cup replay, then away vs Tottenham in a rescheduled league matchFebruary 7: Premier League Matchday 25, home vs WolvesFebruary 10: Premier League Matchday 26, away vs West HamFebruary 13: If qualified, FA Cup Fifth RoundFebruary 17: Champions League Round of 16 first leg, away vs Lyon
When Yang Cheng and Brian Kidd reexamined the schedule, they realized the knock-on effects were massive.
Originally, they had hoped to play at least two of their three rescheduled league matches before the Champions League restarted.
But now, it seemed impossible.
From January 10 to February 17—a mere 39 days—the Bayswater Chinese would have to play 12 matches.
That's a game every three days on average.
And with the league and Champions League still to come, this two-matches-per-week rhythm would continue even longer.
When the two postponed league fixtures would eventually be played was anyone's guess.
And don't forget—March 3 was another international matchday.
This ultra-packed schedule, combined with competing on multiple fronts, was going to place immense pressure on the squad.
And to make matters worse, they were dealing with the worst blizzard and cold snap in 30 years.
Would the January 10 match even kick off on time?
If that got delayed too, the three rescheduled league games might not be played until who-knows-when.
By the time the season entered its critical final stretch, would the Bayswater Chinese still be standing under all that pressure?
Faced with this, Yang Cheng didn't hesitate.
He immediately called an emergency meeting at the Brent Training Centre, summoning all department heads and laying out the fixture list and situation.
"Two things," Yang Cheng said, holding up two fingers.
"First, everyone needs to be on full alert. Daily player fitness updates are mandatory. Injured players get two reports a day. I want full transparency on every player's condition—no detail too small."
The staff took notes quickly and seriously.
"Second, cancel all youth and reserve team matches for N'Golo Kanté, Paul Pogba, and Harry Kane. For the time being, they're full-time with the first team."
"Tell the reserve and youth teams to be on standby. They might need to step up at any moment."
"From this moment on, we are entering the most grueling fixture run we've ever faced."
"I need every one of you to mentally prepare for the battle ahead!"
Everyone nodded in agreement.
This wasn't just a test for the players—it was a test for the entire Bayswater Chinese organization.
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