The next day, at Abbey Stadium, Cambridge United would host Kidderminster.
In the home team's locker room, players were either quietly listening to music or chatting in twos and threes, awaiting the start of the match.
Darren and Huang Hao walked into the locker room one after another, having suddenly decided to change the roster for this match at the last minute.
Holding the roster in his hand, Darren didn't rush to announce it, but instead looked at Huang Hao again, as if confirming something.
Seeing Huang Hao expressionless and showing no reaction, Darren shrugged helplessly, then cleared his throat twice to get the players' attention.
"Uh, it's like this, for this match, we're making some adjustments to our starting lineup."
Darren's words surprised the players; after all, the League had already played 4 rounds, and Huang Hao's starting lineup basically hadn't changed much. Everyone also knew their position in Huang Hao's tactics.
But today, the Head Coach actually decided to make adjustments before the match started.
Under everyone's puzzled gazes, Darren began to announce the roster: "Goalkeeper, Stevens. Right-back, Watts."
After saying those two names, Darren paused, as if considering something, then finally made up his mind.
"Left-back, David Tutanda; center-back, Longolo; midfielders, Aaron Cole, MacKenzie, McConnell, Nate Hinton; right-winger, Pasquel; left-winger...Mason Clark; striker, Sager!"
"Alright, everyone get ready!"
Darren, having read the roster, felt a sense of relief.
Everyone in the crowd sensed a hint of something unusual. After hearing the roster, Iliat and Brophy both looked up, staring directly at Huang Hao.
Huang Hao ignored their gazes and walked directly to the tactics board, setting up the tactics for this match.
"Tutanda performed very well in training, and I hope you can also play well in this match. In midfield, MacKenzie will primarily be responsible for defense. Cole and Hinton will assist MacKenzie in controlling the midfield. McConnell will still be responsible for offense. Pasquel and Clark, you two are responsible for the two wings. I demand that you spare no effort, you must grip the midfield like mad dogs. At our level, no one is inherently stronger than anyone else. Whoever performs well is a starter. Although everyone is very young, we are going to use unconventional methods to defeat the old masters. Alright, everyone go warm up."
Iliat rushed forward, wanting to argue with Huang Hao, but was directly pulled back by Brophy.
The two ultimately followed behind the team and entered the stadium.
After the match, although Cambridge United replaced three starters, the mad dog tactics were very successful. Kidderminster couldn't organize any decent attacks, and ultimately, with two goals scored by Sager and substitute youngster Harry Taylor, they defeated visiting Kidderminster 2-0. The stadium erupted with enthusiastic applause from the fans.
Iliat and Brophy were kept on the bench by Huang Hao for a full 90 minutes, given no opportunities.
Clearly, their bets with Bennett for this match all went down the drain.
As they were leaving, Iliat no longer held back and stood directly in front of Huang Hao.
"I think we need an explanation."
Iliat, thinking Huang Hao knew nothing, acted very calmly.
"I have no responsibility to explain anything to you, Iliat. If you insist, I can only say that I am the Head Coach."
Huang Hao had no intention of getting entangled with him and turned to leave.
"By the way, Iliat, in my team, I only want to see pure football."
Iliat stood there, deep in thought.
Seeing Huang Hao's reaction, he must have known about their actions, although he didn't know how they were exposed. Someone must have reported them.
But he didn't want to delve into that matter. The most important thing now was how to get himself on the field; otherwise, it would be equivalent to cutting off his source of income.
He had joined Cambridge United for free from Aldershot precisely because he saw the coach's mediocrity and his teammates' immaturity. There was no team more suitable for match-fixing than one he could easily control!
Unexpectedly, as the season approached, Cambridge United suddenly became unstable. Louis directly left, and then this unyielding Easterner arrived.
The news, of course, quickly reached Bennett.
However, Bennett wasn't flustered. After all, his own strength was there, and with Iliat and Brophy, winning the last match might have been because the opponent was too weak. If they were truly kept off the field, it would mean Cambridge United's left flank was completely useless, and their performance would inevitably plummet!
At that point, it would be Huang Hao who would be anxious.
Thinking this, Bennett also relaxed a lot, thinking, 'Kid, let's see how long your good luck lasts! I'll just consider this a vacation!'
Soon, Cambridge United faced their next opponent, this time an away challenge against York City.
This time, Qiao Zhuoyan was even more ruthless, directly excluding Bennett and others from the 18-man squad; they didn't even need to travel.
Cambridge United couldn't continue their good luck this time, losing 0-1 in the 53rd minute due to a mistake that the opponent capitalized on.
This time, the local media couldn't sit still. Cambridge United had just started to improve, but then self-destructed their lineup, so they all aimed their criticism at Huang Hao.
"Tanking Confirmed! Huang Hao Loses Under the Leadership of the Easterner!"
"Cambridge United Locker Room Full of Conflicts, Several Key Players Suddenly Disappear from Starting Lineup!"
But what dropped everyone's jaws was that Cambridge United's board of directors remained as steady as Mount Tai, incredibly stable. They debunked the rumors, saying there were no internal problems at Cambridge United and that everyone should trust Huang Hao.
Barry's move, it must be said, was incredibly clever!
On one hand, using Huang Hao fully achieved the intended goal; in fact, the speed of Huang Hao's collapse even brought him some pleasant surprises!
On the other hand, it also showed the board's tolerance and support for such a young coach, truly a win-win for both fame and fortune.
And all the pressure was now concentrated on Huang Hao.
The atmosphere within Cambridge United had become somewhat oppressive.
Today, their home opponent was Exeter City, a team also ranked in the middle of the League.
In the meeting room, Huang Hao and the coaching staff were discussing today's tactical arrangements.
Bennett suddenly burst in with Iliat and Brophy. Huang Hao looked at the uninvited guests who had suddenly intruded and asked coldly:
"Liam, did you forget the way to the training ground?"
"I just want to know if the three of us are in your plans today," Bennett asked with a dark expression.
"Sorry, you're not."
Huang Hao showed no pretense or politeness.
"I think you need to give us an explanation today, otherwise we might just go ask Mr. Barry, the Chairman."
"That's right, we have no injuries, and we've always been starters for the team, starters!"
Brophy also refused to be outdone, yelling at Huang Hao.
"Do you all think so too?" Huang Hao ignored them and turned to ask the coaching staff.
"Uh... Hao, I think at this stage, they are indeed our best option."
The speaker was Lee Akmici, the team's fitness coach.
"Thank you for speaking fairly for us, Mr. Akmici."
Bennett nodded to Akmici.
"So, Easterner, if you insist on doing this, I'm afraid we'll have to suggest to the Chairman to change the Head Coach."
"Liam Bennett, weekly salary 1500 pounds, an excellent center-back, good at heading, very fierce on the field, strong in defense..."
Bennett was very strange as to why Huang Hao would suddenly praise him.
But he had to admit, hearing Huang Hao's descriptions, he was very pleased, even narrowing his eyes, showing a hint of a smug expression.
"Slow starting speed, delayed turning back to defend, 4 starts this season, 9 times lost his man, directly leading to 2 goals conceded. Last season at Aldershot, 39 starts, lost his man a staggering 97 times, directly leading to 40 goals conceded, accounting for 75% of the team's total goals conceded."
When Bennett heard this, the smug expression on his face vanished without a trace.
But Huang Hao didn't stop his descriptions.
"Iliat Johnson, weekly salary 1200 pounds, starting left-winger. Almost always outrun by opponents when tracking back, tackle success rate below 30%..."
"Medy Brophy, striker, weekly salary 1800 pounds, offensive terminator. Often shoots wildly in matches, not good at any tough battles, low passing success rate, dislikes tracking back..."
For the other two, Huang Hao didn't even bother to praise them, directly listing their shortcomings. These words also directly shocked the coaching staff.
After all, they had only worked with Huang Hao for a little over 2 months and hadn't realized that this young Head Coach had such a thorough grasp of player data.
"Leaving aside those unsavory off-field matters, in the team, you're earning the highest salaries, yet your performance is only this. I'm sorry, I cannot accept it."
"Perhaps your replacements are not excellent, but they are diligent and hardworking. I can give them a chance, and I can bear the consequences that come with it."
"As for you, I am very sorry, from now on, you will not be in my plans."
Huang Hao laid out his cards to them unequivocally.
"Hao, I believe that as a professional coach, you do have some skill."
"But you surely know the capabilities of the other players in these positions on the team."
Bennett believed that Huang Hao's current demeanor was just a form of threat and deterrence, so he was still trying.
"Give us one more chance, we won't disappoint you."
"But if you insist on getting rid of us, and the team's performance goes to hell, maybe we won't have left yet, but your career as Head Coach will be over first."
Bennett used both carrot and stick, trying to keep the few of them in the team and directly challenge Huang Hao.