Chapter 287 – King Joe (1)
287
Now that the league has progressed to the 5th round, Newcastle are in second place with 4 wins and 1 loss and 12 points.
Man City is running first in the league with five consecutive wins, but given that it is still in the early stages of the league, the gap is enough to catch up.
Is that why?
The faces of fans gathering at the stadium ahead of the match against Leicester City in the 6th round of the league were full of anticipation.
“We are the defending champions! You are a favorite for the championship!”
“Has anyone already forgotten how strong and overwhelming they were last year? The Newcastle blast starts now!!”
“You lost the last game? It’s a bit unfortunate. It’s okay though. You only lost 1 game, right? Well, I coveted the undefeated championship title, but unfortunately this season has passed.”
“Are you confident of victory? Isn’t that obvious? Reason? Why?”
Fans expressing their confidence through pre-match spectator interviews.
And the biggest reason for that is, after all—
“Because Mr. Almighty has finally returned!!”
“Red!! Hong is back!!! Treasure from the East!!”
“Lord of Newcastle! Minjun Hong will lead us to the top once again!!”
The return of the team ace, who was absent at the beginning of the season due to being selected for the Olympics.
The trust in the team ace went beyond belief, to the point where one wondered if it was religious passion.
“I have great faith in Hong Min-jun. But these days, Hong Min-joon is making a fuss about his promiscuous personal life. What do you think of this?”
Is it a reaction against him?
Fans paused at the interviewer’s question and answered bluntly.
“So what do you mean?”
“A guy who looks like Hong is good at soccer, so what’s wrong with dating a girl?”
“Red!! If you see this, contact me!! I can provide for you anytime!!”
The interviewer, stunned by the bold remarks of a girl who looked like a teenager to anyone, quickly pulled out the microphone, but the onlookers erupted in cheers.
Home of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Here in Newcastle upon Tyne, where soccer is a hobby, specialty, daily life, and life itself, Hong Min-joon was a god.
* * *
『England is suffering from Hong Min-joon!』
『Syndrome spreading in Newcastle upon Tyne』
『The secret to my growth is because of XX, and the reporters were swayed by rude comments』
『The Pope of Newcastle!! Believers who are enthusiastic about the return of Hong Min-joon』
Is it because of the support of the zealous believers?
In the match against Leicester City in the 6th round of the league, which was Hong Min-joon’s comeback match after being completely defeated by Chelsea, Newcastle completely overwhelmed the opponent.
“Baum Johan catches the ball. To Rock Woody. Locke Woody, overlapping Smith Paul connects exactly. Smith Paul Cross! Shakum Shaky! Drop it with your head, Hong Min-joon Shuuuuu!! Goal!! In the 4th minute of the first half, Minjun Hong scores his first goal of the season!!”
Immediately after the start of the game, Newcastle, who continued to pass lightly, suddenly raised the gear.
While exchanging passes in the third line, the players rushed into the opponent’s camp all at once, and the ball was accurately connected to the overlapping left fullback while the opponent’s camp was confused.
A cross without delay followed by a header pass from the front striker.
As if proving that it was part of the promised play, at the end of a natural attack pattern like flowing water, Hong Min-joon caught the ball in the final third, and that was it.
You can see what happens when you let the ‘Living Legend’ goalscorer, who has scored 40 league goals for two consecutive years, catch the ball freely in a dangerous area by looking at the ball rolling in the net.
Because Hong Min-joon, who connected his first touch with a straight shot, became the player who recorded ‘a goal with the first touch and first shot in the first game of the league’.
“Ah, an amazing goal was scored. Minjun Hong’s first goal of the season! The first touch directly leads to the goal. This is Hong Min-joon, who shows off his peak sense of goal even before his comeback!”
“This goal shows how much Newcastle have improved. Look at this. When it comes to Hong Min-jun’s goals we remember, weren’t there many goals that always accompanied great scenes and showed off individual skills? However, this goal was created as the team came together well!”
An excited commentary raised his voice as he watched the replayed goal scene.
“Hasn’t it been well proven how outstanding Hong Min-joon’s individual skills are? For one thing, it was pointed out that the team movement was weak, but Newcastle shows a good team from the start of this season.”
“Hong Min-joon is always, always, a constantly growing player. He really surprises people by growing up every time, and this time, too, he seems to have made great progress in areas that were pointed out as his weaknesses.”
No one doubts Hong Min-joon’s personal skills anymore.
Whether it’s an Asian or a failure in Barcelona, how much have you already proven?
However, his individual skills and team movements were separate, so some argued that he was a player with certain skills but difficult to use.
And in reality, from the manager’s point of view, Hong Min-joon was not an easy player to use.
But he is just ‘hard to write’, Hong Min-joon was never a single-minded general.
It’s already been 3 years in Newcastle.
Two years was enough time for Hong Min-jun and his team to get used to the tactically flexible Loren Boatman’s ‘drive’ tactic. Additionally, Newcastle’s starting lineup has hardly changed over the past two years.
After playing countless matches with Hong Min-jun, the squad, now accustomed to his unique sudden play, has grown to the point where he often tries to predict the match, thanks to—
“Unbelievable!! Hong Min-jun’s amazing pass connection that pierced 3 people in an instant!! Hong Min-Jun’s pass and Nicolas Hossman score!!”
“With this, Minjun Hong reports his first goal and first assist in the first game of the season!”
Hong Min-joon’s number of assists is bound to increase day by day.
In the third year, ‘teamwork’, which has now reached maturity, combined with Hong Min-joon’s overwhelming individual skills began to create a tremendous synergistic effect.
『3 goals, 2 assists against Leicester City!』
『Newcastle won an overwhelming 5:0 victory』
As a result, starting with Leicester City in the 6th round,
『Pleasant 2nd win in a row! Against Brighton, show off your performance and win!』
『Arsenal, who was confident that “I will stop Newcastle’s 3rd win in a row,” Suffered a disastrous defeat』
『Goal, Goal again!! Newcastle made 29 “Shower shots” Against Reading!!
『Newcastle showing off peak performance after the return of the ace! How long will the winning streak last?”
From the 7th, 8th and 9th rounds, Newcastle won 4 consecutive victories in an exhilarating and pleasant manner, and at the same time showed ‘perfect’ performance with 16 goals and 2 runs in 4 games.
Of course, Hong Min-jun is the center of such perfect performance.
Newcastle was directly involved in as many as 15 of the 16 goals recorded in 4 games, achieving 10 goals and 5 assists, and ranked 3rd in the scoring ranking and 3rd in assist ranking in just 4 games.
For Hong Min-jun, who has an overwhelming scorer and 10-10 record for two consecutive years, third place in the points/assist rankings is not very satisfactory, but considering that his competitors have twice as many games, it is a very impressive record.
Above all, considering Newcastle’s performance, which is gaining momentum day by day, and Hong Min-jun’s performance, the top scorer seemed to be in Hong Min-jun’s hands again this time.
“Hmm, well, he’s a good player. Yes, he is a good player.”
The day before the match against Manchester City in the 10th round.
Man City manager Gaspar shrugged his shoulders with his signature sullen expression.
“Whoever said it was the top scorer for two years in a row. That’s an undeniable fact. His breakthrough and scoring prowess are impressive. Yes, what.”
Director Gaspar, who showed a variety of distracting gestures, such as moving his eyebrows up and down, pouting by lowering the ends of his lips, and waving his hands,
“Yes. That’s it. He’s the top scorer, and who knows he’s good? That’s just it.”
Finally, he squinted his eyes, pursed his lips, and shook his shoulders.
It was definitely an interview in which he acknowledged the other person’s skills, but with his unique gestures and intonation, compliments sounded like they weren’t compliments.
That obvious ‘non-verbal’ expression was clearly speaking.
Hong Min-joon is good, but he is just that.
In the end, the interview is like an expression of confidence that we can bring victory regardless of the performance.
Hong Min-joon’s bored expression, as he watched the interview while waiting for his turn as an away team member, changed to a bright smile by the end of the interview.
“Well… Minjun Hong. You started laughing while listening to Manchester City manager Gaspar’s interview. What is the reason? Why are you laughing?”
“Why are you laughing?”
The face of the woman who was puzzled by that laugh, which seemed to be mocking and fun, turned red.
“That’s fun.”
“Fun… Yo. This?”
“Yeah, fun. Isn’t this a provocation?”
“Oh, what a provocation. Hmm… Did you hear that? I didn’t mean that… Well, if that sounds like it, I can’t help it.”
Director Gaspard, who had been watching with a smile, responded again with his signature exaggerated expression and gesture.
Stares staring at each other.
The youthful smile on Min-Jun Hong’s face disappeared little by little, and soon he leaned back on his chair with an expressionless face.
“It’s not a provocation… Like. Then I will do it.”
“Hmm?”
“Reporter over there. You asked why I was laughing earlier? The reason why it’s funny is that it’s so funny that the director, who is not a big deal, evaluates me.”
Cold silence.
“I bet there are still people who don’t know. I should take this opportunity to let you know.”
Looking at Director Gaspard, who had a smile on his face,
“That a conqueror has entered England.”
Hong Min-joon spoke calmly, as if he were saying a very obvious fact.
“That the Newcastle dynasty is already complete.”