Chapter 193: Slaying the Red Devils in the Snowstorm! What, You Thought I Was Hello Kitty Just Because the Tiger's Been Quiet?
Afternoon of January 10th, Wembley Stadium, London.
Matchday 21 of the Premier League — the Bayswater Chinese hosted Manchester United at home.
It coincided with the worst blizzard and cold snap in the last 30 years. During the match, local temperatures in London hovered around -4°C.
Though the under-soil heating kept the pitch playable, it was only effective on the turf itself. Around the field, snow had piled up in thick white layers, forming a frosty border between the pitch and the stands — as if the green grass had been wrapped in a white scarf. The visual contrast was striking.
In such frigid conditions, the biggest challenge for both teams was avoiding injuries.
How to win while minimizing the risk of injury — that was the real test for both sides.
Both the Bayswater Chinese and Manchester United were visibly affected by the extreme temperatures.
With the pitch conditions poor, both teams committed many unforced errors.
As a result, the match opened cautiously from both sides.
United, playing away, relied heavily on a defensive counterattack strategy.
In the first half alone, the Bayswater Chinese enjoyed 67% possession and fired 12 shots at goal.
United's defense was a solid iron wall, repelling every wave of attack from the hosts.
But in the 49th minute of the second half, the Bayswater Chinese finally broke the deadlock.
United committed a foul pressing high in attack, giving the hosts a free kick deep in their own half.
Manuel Neuer charged out past the 30-meter mark to take it and delivered a pinpoint long ball to the left flank.
Gareth Bale jumped ahead of Jonny Evans and flicked a header toward Lewandowski.
The Polish striker, stationed on the right edge of the six-yard box, chested the ball down, flicked it past Nemanja Vidić with his right foot, and smashed it in with his left.
1–0!
Despite the -4°C temperature, Wembley was packed with 90,000 fans.
The roar that erupted when the goal went in felt hot enough to melt the snow on the pitch.
After conceding, United began to ramp up their offense, bringing on Giggs and Robben to strengthen their flanks.
In the 61st minute, Robben carried the ball past midfield, cut inside past Marcelo, and swung a diagonal pass in behind the defense.
Rooney broke the offside trap and surged into the box one-on-one.
But Neuer came off his line like a rocket and blocked Rooney's shot out for a corner.
From the resulting corner, Vidić's header was blocked by Pepe.
But then Scholes fired a shot from outside the box — it deflected off Kompany's leg and flew into the net.
Own goal.
1–1.
All square again.
Neither Yang Cheng nor Ferguson could do much about the conditions. Player mistakes were inevitable in weather like this.
In the 74th minute, the Bayswater Chinese intercepted a pass near midfield.
Modrić surged forward with the ball, but Darren Fletcher — already on a yellow — brought him down with a tactical foul to stop the counterattack.
He was shown a straight red, and Modrić stayed down.
...
The snow continued falling, heavier than ever.
A thin layer began forming again on the pitch, quickly melting under the heating system.
But off-pitch, where there was no heating, the snow just kept piling up.
Yang Cheng wore a thick winter beanie, heavy down jacket, gloves, and leather shoes — but still couldn't stop shivering.
Even with thick socks, the icy cold crept up from the soles of his feet.
Standing still was unbearable.
So he kept pacing the technical area, walking back and forth to stay warm.
Each step crunched into the snow beneath him.
You could only imagine how difficult it must've been for the players on the pitch.
And the fans had it rough too.
With London's power grid strained and multiple underground lines out of commission due to mechanical failures, many fans had to walk long distances to reach Wembley.
The news said it was the worst winter since the great freeze of the 1960s, when matches and work across the country were suspended.
Hospitals were overcrowded — most cases were fractures and trauma-related injuries.
Worse still, forecasts predicted the blizzard would intensify by evening.
Yet despite it all, 90,000 fans showed up.
They braved the wind and snow, cheering from the stands.
The atmosphere might not have matched the usual roar of Wembley, but the effort and passion were still there.
As manager, all Yang Cheng could do was help his team secure the win — ideally without any serious injuries.
"How is it?"
Yang Cheng rushed over as club doctor David Fevre helped Modrić off the pitch on a stretcher.
"Got kicked in the calf. Looks like a muscle injury. Needs observation. Better sub him off."
Yang Cheng nodded. "Alright. Get him back to the dressing room."
He walked with them, asking Modrić a few quick questions to make sure the Croatian wasn't in serious pain. Once reassured, he sent them off and turned back toward the pitch.
He glanced up at the scoreboard — still nearly 20 minutes to go including added time.
Fletcher was off. United were down to ten men.
Yang Cheng turned and walked to the bench.
"Andy."
Andy Carroll immediately leapt up and ran to the manager, eyes burning with hunger.
"You need to warm up?"
"No need. I already did."
Yang Cheng nodded. "Go in and fight for the first ball. Win the aerials."
The fire in Carroll's eyes dimmed, doused like snow thrown on a flame.
He was a striker, a goal-scorer.
But he still nodded firmly. "Understood."
"Remember, whether we win this match or not… it's up to you!" Yang Cheng gave him an encouraging pat.
Carroll nodded again, though his expression no longer held the same excitement.
In his heart, he believed he should be a goal-getter—an executioner in the box.
Not just a tactical tool.
But right now, he had no choice but to follow the coach's orders.
...
With Carroll on the pitch, the Bayswater Chinese now had two target men up front.
Add Gareth Bale on the left, who was easily overpowering the young Rafael — the hosts clearly had the edge in the final third.
The snow was relentless, and the turf was getting softer by the minute.
Even the air felt soggy and thick, like it had been wrung out of a washing machine.
Players would start sweating as they ran, but their shirts clung tightly to their bodies, making movement awkward and stiff.
So Yang Cheng adjusted his tactics accordingly — going for the simplest, most direct approach.
Long balls and crosses from wide areas.
In other words — aerial bombardment.
Ferguson knew what was coming.
But with a man down, United had no choice but to bunker in.
He used his final substitution: Anderson on for Scholes.
Now, United had a midfield trio of Anderson, Carrick, and De Rossi.
When play resumed, the Bayswater Chinese didn't hold back — just pounded United with high balls.
In weather like this, against an opponent like Manchester United, there was no point in playing pretty football.
The goal now?
Break them.
Win.
And as it turned out, Yang Cheng's decision was absolutely right.
The snow kept falling, the temperature kept dropping, and players on the pitch struggled to maintain their level—especially their stamina.
The Bayswater Chinese's trademark pass-and-move play became nearly impossible in this weather.
Every pass along the ground left a clearly visible trail in the snow-covered turf.
In such conditions, quick one-twos were basically unplayable.
Switching to aerial bombardment was the most practical tactic available.
But it also meant lower efficiency.
Players were panting on the pitch. Fans were breathless in the stands. Even Yang Cheng, pacing up and down the sideline, was visibly out of breath.
Everyone was struggling.
Time ticked away.
By the 85th minute, the stadium's public address system began urging fans to leave as soon as the match ended and to head directly for metro and bus stations.
The weather was deteriorating, and no one could guarantee that scheduled services wouldn't be suddenly cancelled.
The Bayswater Chinese's fan services team immediately went into action, sending out alerts to supporters—including those who had traveled down from Manchester—letting them know they could contact staff for assistance if they needed help.
The support staff were ready to offer whatever aid they could.
The stands grew restless. Many fans had already stood up, preparing to leave early.
1–1.
In weather like this, a draw wasn't a bad result at all.
Still, there was some regret—they hadn't yet avenged their loss from the first round of the league.
On the field, the pace of passing and movement was clearly slowing.
It felt like the game was already winding down.
But some die-hard fans stayed on their feet, jumping up and down, shouting and singing the team's anthem, calling out player names…
Even Sky Sports was moved by the scene.
"These fans braving the snow are truly touching."
"The Bayswater Chinese have cultivated a remarkably loyal fan base over the years."
"They've watched this club climb all the way from the lower divisions to the top tier of European football. That creates a deep emotional bond."
"And what's more, they're not alone. There are many fans like them."
"We also have to recognize the incredible work the Bayswater Chinese have done in fan engagement. They've invested a lot in this area."
"That's why they've become one of the most respected and beloved clubs in London."
"Look at how many fans are bouncing in the stands—not only to support the players but also to keep warm together."
The energy in the stands was rising.
More fans were still leaving, but—
In the 88th minute, just as an attacking move failed and Walcott played the ball back to Matić, who then laid it off to Pepe, the Portuguese center-back collected the ball near the halfway line on the right side.
Through the broadcast cameras, snowflakes were clearly visible falling from the sky.
Pepe took one touch, scanned the field, then launched a long diagonal ball.
It soared across half the pitch, dropping outside Manchester United's penalty area.
Andy Carroll tracked back, drawing Evans out of position, then leapt high and flicked the ball backward with a glancing header.
The ball dropped into United's box.
Lewandowski darted forward, using his head start to chest the ball down near the penalty spot.
Vidić was right in front of him, cutting off his shooting angle and tracking every movement.
Young right-back Rafael, covering for Evans, tucked in to help Vidić double up.
But Lewandowski quickly swept a pass across the box.
The ball rolled in a straight line, carving a path through the snowy turf toward the left side of the area.
Rafael reacted instantly, turning to chase.
But a red blur shot past him first.
Gareth Bale.
The snow had slowed Lewandowski's pass just enough—it rolled perfectly into Bale's stride.
The Welshman planted his right foot, then swung his left with full force—driving a low rocket through the snow.
Slush and ice sprayed up from the ground, mixing with the falling snow—it was breathtaking.
The ball tore across the surface and slammed into the bottom right corner of United's goal.
Bale was never missing from that angle.
"GOOOOOAAAL!!!!"
The stadium's PA system erupted.
Fans who were still dancing, those already at the exits, and even those who had left the stands—everyone heard the roar of celebration.
"The Bayswater Chinese take the lead again!"
"A goal from Gareth Bale!"
"In the 88th minute, under extreme conditions, Bale scored from his favorite spot on the left side of the box—smashing it past Manchester United's defense!"
"2–1!"
"My God, this match has been unbelievable!"
"Just look at the snow covering the Wembley turf!"
"But the Bayswater Chinese held strong—and found a way to score again!"
"No doubt about it—Yang Cheng's second-half adjustments were key. Bringing on Andy Carroll was absolutely the right call."
"If they'd kept playing their usual passing game, there's no way it would've worked in this weather."
"Unlucky for United."
"They were incredibly resilient—but they ran into an even tougher, even better-prepared Bayswater Chinese!"
"Congratulations to them!"
...
Although most Premier League clubs were well-prepared, the weather still took a toll.
Two of the ten matches on Matchday 21 had to be postponed due to the storm.
Thankfully, most of the top clubs managed to play before conditions worsened in the evening.
But it was a mixed bag of results.
The Bayswater Chinese's 2–1 win over Manchester United earned them widespread praise from both the media and fans.
Especially Bale's final goal—it became the headline image across the world.
The moment was simply too beautiful.
Many fans even said they wanted that image as their new desktop wallpaper.
Everyone agreed—the match showcased the Bayswater Chinese's grit and tenacity.
As The Times put it, "These have long been United's signature qualities."
"But this afternoon at Wembley, Ferguson's side was outdone in both."
More importantly, the match shifted the league landscape.
Arsenal drew 2–2 at home against Everton.
Interestingly, Wenger's side didn't equalize until the 92nd minute.
It was Rosický, coming off the bench, who found the net.
Manchester City thrashed Blackburn 4–1 at home, with Tévez netting a hat trick.
Liverpool beat Tottenham 2–0 at Anfield, thanks to a brace from Kuyt.
But Chelsea, short five AFCON players and battling the brutal weather, were held to a 1–1 draw away at Hull City.
Hiddink admitted afterward that getting even a point was good enough, given the circumstances.
With 21 rounds now completed, the Bayswater Chinese stood third in the table with a record of 15 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss, collecting 47 points.
Arsenal and Manchester City both had 50 points, but Arsenal retained top spot thanks to a superior goal difference.
Manchester United were also on 47 points but dropped to fourth due to an inferior goal difference compared to the Bayswater Chinese.
Chelsea, with just 42 points, sat fifth.
After this round, the entire Premier League was abuzz.
Who said spending big didn't pay off?
For years, everyone had called Arsenal the kings of "Top Four Security."
But after two summers of heavy investment, the Gunners now topped the league and were serious title contenders.
Manchester City? Same story.
Two years of major spending had transformed them from a mid-table side into genuine title challengers.
Meanwhile, clubs like United and Chelsea, who had tightened their wallets in recent seasons, were seeing their positions steadily decline.
Especially Chelsea.
Given the current trajectory, a top-four finish this season would be extremely difficult.
As for Liverpool — no need to even mention them. They'd fallen to eighth, clearly a mid-table side now.
Among all the Premier League's so-called "super-rich" clubs, the Bayswater Chinese stood out like a crane among chickens.
They hadn't spent like Arsenal or City. In fact, they sold players almost every year.
And yet their competitiveness remained elite.
Yang Cheng's handling of the team was causing a stir across European football.
Many in the media were saying that if Yang Cheng weren't the owner of the Bayswater Chinese, other top clubs would've already poached him long ago.
...
January 13, evening — Stamford Bridge, London.
League Cup semifinal, first leg. The Bayswater Chinese traveled to face Chelsea.
The blizzard that had blanketed the UK since January 4 had finally eased up.
Match rhythm, public transport, and daily life were all gradually returning to normal.
London was regaining its usual energy and hustle.
But Chelsea's problems had yet to ease.
Their five African Cup of Nations players were still away, which had left a big hole in their squad.
Yang Cheng knew where the weaknesses were and struck accordingly.
Even as the away team, his side took the initiative and attacked aggressively.
In the 23rd minute, Hazard broke down the left and whipped in a cross.
Aaron Ramsey made a front-post run and slotted home from close range to give the Bayswater Chinese the lead.
1–0!
Chelsea had no real answers and remained passive on the pitch.
In the second half, in the 55th minute, former Chelsea left-back Ryan Bertrand sent in a cross from the wing.
Carroll met it at the back post with a powerful header that crashed off the right post — a huge chance gone begging.
Still, the effort had Chelsea sweating.
In the 65th minute, Piszczek delivered a cross from the right. This time Carroll made no mistake — a thundering header that beat Čech.
2–0!
That scoreline held until the final whistle.
The Bayswater Chinese beat Chelsea 2–0 at Stamford Bridge!
...
January 16 — Matchday 22 of the Premier League.
The Bayswater Chinese faced bottom-of-the-table Portsmouth away.
Though the blizzard had passed, the recent stretch of brutal weather still weighed heavily on all teams — especially the overworked Bayswater Chinese.
Yang Cheng's side relied on two first-half goals from Lewandowski — in the 16th and 42nd minutes — to edge Portsmouth 2–1.
But they looked sluggish for long stretches of the second half.
Fatigue and physical wear were clearly taking a toll.
Still, they came away with a precious three points.
Elsewhere, all the other top teams picked up wins — except Liverpool, who drew 1–1 away at Stoke City.
Chelsea scraped a 3–2 win at home over Sunderland.
Manchester United beat Burnley 3–0 at Old Trafford.
Manchester City edged Everton 1–0 away, thanks to a goal from Kaká.
Arsenal beat Bolton 2–0 on the road.
After the round, the standings among the top clubs remained largely unchanged.
...
January 20 — League Cup Semifinal, Second Leg.
The Bayswater Chinese hosted Chelsea at home.
Facing a depleted Blues squad, Hiddink surprised everyone by starting aggressively, and in the 10th minute, Anelka scored to put Chelsea ahead.
But from the 30th minute on, the hosts took over.
Carroll and José Fonte both scored, turning the game on its head.
In the 50th minute of the second half, Carvalho picked up a second yellow for fouling Carroll and was sent off.
From that point on, Chelsea were unable to create any real threat.
The Bayswater Chinese won 2–1 at home and, with their 2–0 away win in the first leg, advanced to the League Cup final with a 4–1 aggregate.
In the other semifinal, Ancelotti's Manchester City beat United 2–1 at home in the first leg.
The return match at Old Trafford ended 2–2.
City advanced to the final with a 4–3 aggregate win over their local rivals.
Though the League Cup is often dismissed as a "lesser" competition, a final between the Bayswater Chinese and Manchester City added real star power to the event.
The only problem?
The final had been scheduled for February 28 — adding more congestion to the Bayswater Chinese's already brutal calendar.
...
January 23 — A day of humiliation for Ferguson and Manchester United.
While other Premier League giants were preparing for the FA Cup Fourth Round, United were focused on Matchday 23 — a home clash against Hull City.
Reports claimed Ferguson had been in a foul mood for days.
With the match at Old Trafford, he reportedly warned that if they didn't win, his players would pay the price.
In the end, United smashed Hull 4–0.
Rooney scored four.
When it mattered most, Ferguson's golden boy stepped up.
Meanwhile, the Bayswater Chinese faced Leeds United in their FA Cup Fourth Round match.
Leeds, emboldened after knocking out Manchester United in the previous round, played tough and physical.
The Bayswater Chinese, battling fatigue and injuries, fielded a heavily rotated squad.
Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kanté both started.
In the 42nd minute, Lewandowski scored with an assist from Walcott to make it 1–0.
But in first-half stoppage time, Leeds equalized.
In the 63rd minute, Gareth Bale put the hosts ahead again.
And in injury time, Bale sealed it with another goal.
3–1. The Bayswater Chinese advanced to the Fifth Round.
Notably, in the last half-hour, Yang Cheng brought on Harry Kane for Lewandowski.
Performance-wise, Pogba and Kane still looked quite raw and inexperienced.
Kanté, on the other hand, covered ground well and defended solidly — but was still clearly a work in progress.
That was expected, given how little first-team action he'd had.
Ironically, in this FA Cup round, both Arsenal and Liverpool were eliminated.
Chelsea and Manchester City advanced smoothly.
The lingering effects of the blizzard had disrupted training schedules, match rhythms, and player form across the board.
With matches piling up, the pressure was rising fast.
On top of it all, the harsh weather had led to an increase in injuries across the league—including within the Bayswater Chinese squad.
And that inevitably brought a string of setbacks.
Everyone expected Liverpool to lose, and sure enough, they were knocked out by Championship side Reading.
Arsenal, meanwhile, lost away to Premier League opposition Stoke City.
All things considered, those weren't exactly unjust results.
...
January 27, evening — Stamford Bridge, London.
When referee Steve Bennett blew the final whistle, Yang Cheng could only shake his head in resignation.
The scoreboard at Stamford Bridge read:
1–0
Chelsea had struck early, scoring just four minutes into the game, and held on stubbornly to hand the Bayswater Chinese a tough defeat away from home.
It came from a corner.
Sneijder whipped it in, and Terry rose high to head it home.
After conceding, the Bayswater Chinese launched wave after wave of attacks, but never managed to breach Čech's goal.
Yang Cheng was sure Čech would be named Man of the Match—and likely Player of the Week.
He had saved at least five clear scoring chances.
But this match also exposed some problems within the Bayswater Chinese squad.
For instance, the absence of Modrić.
"Aaron Ramsey is still too raw. Rakitić wasn't great either. Once Modrić is out, our midfield just doesn't function the same," Brian Kidd said, frustrated.
And to be fair, it also depended on the opponent.
Chelsea had lined up with a defensive-minded triple-pivot in midfield, clearly aiming to score early and then sit back on the counter.
Aside from their goal, Hiddink's side created no other real scoring chances.
Meanwhile, the Bayswater Chinese generated plenty of shots.
Lewandowski was in good form, but between Terry and Alex—and with Čech's heroics—he simply couldn't convert.
Yang Cheng made multiple substitutions to increase the team's attacking power, but it didn't break through.
Hiddink's defensive setup was simply too solid.
Ironically, this round saw Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City all draw their matches—only United and Chelsea picked up wins.
Liverpool drew 0–0 away to Wolves.
Arsenal drew 0–0 away to Aston Villa.
City drew 1–1 away to Stoke.
Clearly, all the big teams were struggling with form during this brutal stretch.
The fatigue was real.
...
Over the past few weeks, Yang Cheng had been overwhelmed.
Bad weather. Endless matches. A growing injury list. A nightmarish schedule...
Everything was piling up at once, leaving him little time to breathe.
So much so, he couldn't even remember when Andy Carroll's attitude had begun to change.
But change it had.
The signs were everywhere—whether starting or coming off the bench, Carroll no longer had the energy or sharpness he once brought.
He looked mechanical, even disinterested.
His training attitude had become passive, and his rapport with teammates had deteriorated.
Yang Cheng and the coaching staff could clearly see it.
He had a brief chat with Carroll, who promised to adjust—but nothing changed.
It gave Yang Cheng the distinct feeling: Carroll no longer wanted to be there.
It was as if he had already found a new job and was just coasting until his departure.
At first, Yang Cheng couldn't figure out why.
But after the League Cup victory over Chelsea on January 20, the truth became clear.
Chelsea had submitted an official bid for Andy Carroll.
£15 million.
That was their opening offer.
Carroll's agent, Mark Curtis, confirmed in an interview that his player was tired of "waiting around for chances" at the Bayswater Chinese.
"He wants to play somewhere that better suits his strengths," Curtis said.
Yang Cheng rejected the offer without hesitation.
He went straight to Carroll and personally promised him more minutes.
He also warned him that a move to Chelsea, especially in his current condition, wouldn't work out.
Even someone like Drogba was struggling—what made him think he could survive?
But Carroll no longer trusted Yang Cheng.
He flatly said he believed he could establish himself at Chelsea.
And Chelsea had guaranteed him the chance to be Drogba's successor.
Yang Cheng countered that such promises meant nothing.
The moment he struggled, Chelsea would have no problem benching him.
Trust, once broken, couldn't be restored by words alone.
But Carroll trusted his agent more than his manager.
Adam Crozier had spoken to Curtis and delivered a blunt message to Yang Cheng:
Carroll was determined to leave.
Everyone—Yang Cheng, Crozier, the entire backroom staff—knew Curtis was behind all this.
But it didn't matter.
Carroll had only been with the Bayswater Chinese for six months, but he'd worked with Mark Curtis for years.
It was Curtis who had helped him break into the Newcastle academy system.
In terms of loyalty, the Bayswater Chinese couldn't compete.
Still, Yang Cheng refused to sell.
As a result, Carroll was excluded from both the January 23 and January 27 matchday squads.
That decision arguably cost them the goal against Čech at Stamford Bridge.
The plan was to outwait him—drag things out until the January transfer window closed and Carroll had no choice but to stay.
Even as Chelsea increased their offer to £20 million, the Bayswater Chinese held firm.
But on the morning of January 28, as Yang Cheng arrived at the Brent Training Centre, he got a call from Mark Curtis.
Carroll wouldn't be attending training due to "personal matters."
"What matters?" Yang Cheng asked on the phone.
Curtis didn't answer.
After training, Yang Cheng found out the truth.
Accompanied by Curtis, Andy Carroll had gone to the club's rented offices in West London and formally submitted a written transfer request.
Chelsea had also raised their bid once again:
£25 million.
The Bayswater Chinese still refused.
But that afternoon, Carroll skipped training again.
The message couldn't have been clearer.
...
"In light of all the intel we've gathered and Mark Curtis's own comments, it's clear—Andy Carroll is set on leaving for Chelsea."
In the Brent Training Centre meeting room, Chief Talent Officer Mike Rigg sighed.
"I've got reliable sources telling me Chelsea are offering him £90,000 per week."
Gasps filled the room.
£90,000?!
Outrageous.
The Bayswater Chinese's top salary was only £120,000—and that was for their very best.
There was no way they could offer Carroll even half that.
"Also, I've heard something else—Chelsea has been in close contact with Mark Curtis all along. Supposedly, they're offering a very generous agent commission—possibly as much as two to three million pounds."
Mike Rigg's words once again caused an uproar in the meeting room.
If that was true, then everything made sense.
With a commission of that size, Mark Curtis would absolutely be willing to go to war with the Bayswater Chinese.
Big-name agents wouldn't risk their long-term credibility for such money, but Mark Curtis?
He was Sam Allardyce's agent—some even called him his white glove.
Yang Cheng believed no football fan in 2024 would have forgotten the scandal during Allardyce's brief stint as England manager, when he was caught in a sting operation by undercover journalists.
Allardyce's salary as England manager had been £3 million a year. Yet he risked everything over just £400,000.
And the one handling the contact and negotiation? None other than Mark Curtis.
Even back when Yang Cheng signed Andy Carroll, several people had warned him to be careful of that agent.
He just never expected Mark Curtis to get so desperate, so fast.
Only six months into Carroll's time at the club!
Even worse, the Bayswater Chinese were in the middle of an intense, congested fixture schedule. Carroll's betrayal at such a time was a blatant backstab.
"What do we do now?" Brian Kidd asked, bitterly.
He was deeply disappointed with Carroll and his agent's behavior—maybe even heartbroken.
He'd truly believed in Andy Carroll.
But who could've seen this coming?
Kidd had led teams for years, and players who pulled stunts like this usually ended up destroying their careers.
Of course, maybe Carroll didn't care. Chelsea were offering £90,000 a week—why worry?
"Dan, what's the technical team's take?" Yang Cheng turned to Sporting Director Dan Ashworth.
"We all feel that over the past few years, we've been too soft in the transfer market. So much so that even small-time agents like Mark Curtis dare to challenge us now. It's time we made an example."
"But of course, while issuing a warning, the club also shouldn't suffer a loss."
Ashworth then shared the technical staff's proposed response.
Yang Cheng nodded silently—exactly what he had been thinking.
Over the years, the Bayswater Chinese had built a reputation for being "too nice." Not like a proper powerhouse.
That had to change.
If clowns like Mark Curtis could walk all over them, Yang Cheng wasn't going to keep turning the other cheek.
If there wasn't a lesson now, worse was sure to come.
"What's Ajax asking for Luis Suárez?" Yang Cheng asked.
"Chelsea already made an inquiry. Ajax quoted €30 million."
That was beyond the Bayswater Chinese's budget.
Winter transfers always meant paying a premium—especially now.
If Chelsea succeeded in poaching Carroll, everyone would know the Bayswater Chinese were in urgent need of a striker.
When better to gouge a desperate buyer?
And anyway, if you let Chelsea take your player, well—that's your own failure.
Yang Cheng sighed.
He really liked Suárez. But the Uruguayan was too expensive.
Not that he wasn't worth the money—but there were better-value options elsewhere.
"Any other targets?" he asked.
"There's one—Luca Toni from Bayern. He's had a falling out with Van Gaal. Bayern are looking to loan him out, and Roma are interested. But the problem is, he's ineligible for the Champions League."
Toni had already played in the Champions League for Bayern.
"There's also a striker from Dinamo Zagreb—Mario Mandžukić."
"He's 23, valued at around €7 million. But like Toni, he can't play in the Champions League."
Dinamo were regulars in European competition. If Mandžukić played in the first half, he was cup-tied for the second.
Yang Cheng nodded in satisfaction.
Toni and Mandžukić were both solid options.
It showed the technical team was doing their job.
Still, none of Suárez, Toni, or Mandžukić was quite the ideal value-for-money candidate in Yang Cheng's eyes.
"Last time, our French scout submitted a report on a 23-year-old French striker named Olivier Giroud. Do you remember him?"
Dan Ashworth furrowed his brow, then nodded.
"Yes, the striker from Tours in Ligue 2. I looked into him recently—15 goals and 5 assists in 22 games. Impressive numbers."
"But Ligue 2 isn't the strongest competition. We're unsure if he can adapt to the Premier League."
He was cheap though. One or two million pounds might seal the deal.
But his actual ability? That was the big question mark.
Given the club's current situation, signings needed to be made carefully. Stability was everything.
"I've watched him play. For what we need from a striker—his tactical presence, physical strength, aerial ability—I think he checks all the boxes."
"Yes, Ligue 2 isn't the toughest league, but the physical battles there are no joke. It's full of strong African players."
A player who excelled in that environment wouldn't be weak physically.
Besides, Yang Cheng knew something no one else did.
After becoming top scorer and player of the year in Ligue 2, Giroud would move to Montpellier in 2010, win the Ligue 1 Golden Boot, and then transfer to Arsenal.
The key reason Yang Cheng wanted Giroud was that he was sick of all the drama.
Giroud had a great temperament—humble, hardworking, and willing to be a backup without complaints.
And the Bayswater Chinese badly needed a striker with that exact profile.
From Yang Cheng's previous life, he knew Giroud was an intelligent player—someone who played with his head.
At 23, he was already mature.
His only limitation had been the lack of a suitable tactical environment.
"Dan, go to Tours and get him signed!" Yang Cheng said without hesitation.
Inside the Bayswater Chinese organization, Yang Cheng's judgment on players was held in extremely high regard.
You could even call it blind faith.
Can you blame them? Over the years, almost every player Yang Cheng personally picked had turned out to be a hit.
"Once we sign Giroud, we'll show them how we really play this game."
A cold glint flashed in Yang Cheng's eyes.
What, just because the tiger's been quiet…
You really thought I was Hello Kitty?
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