Farke looked at the *Carolo Sports News* and then at the local sports channel's interviews with fans, as well as the evaluations of some professional and non-professional commentators.

He was a little worried.

Although the fans were just as enthusiastic as before, many were cursing angrily. Now it was different. Most of the fans were actually full of confidence.

"We have a strong midfield and a solid defense, and the goalkeeper is top-notch!

"More importantly, we have Zhao! We will beat Fulham so badly they'll be crawling on the ground!"

Not to mention that Norwich's lineup was incomplete, even when they miraculously won the FA Cup last season, they were not necessarily Fulham's opponents.

Fans are not rational.

One victory is enough for them to ignore all the shortcomings.

As a coach, Farke certainly considers things more comprehensively.

The fans' praise of the team, of him, and of Zhao Gang, could very easily turn into cursing again because of this one defeat.

If Zhao Gang doesn't perform well, those fans who previously regarded him as a god will ruthlessly trample him to death.

This is also why Farke didn't want Wright to say what the two of them thought of Zhao Gang in front of the reporters before.

Zhao Gang is too young. One game could cause a huge change in his mentality, and if he loses, it could cause him psychological problems.

"Sigh!" Farke scratched his head.

He still can't let Zhao Gang start.

This is to protect him. If he gets anxious on the field and his mentality changes, he will only play worse and worse.

Moreover, his stamina and physical resistance are a big problem. The opponent will definitely formulate tactics to target him.

If he comes on as a substitute, when the opposing defenders are physically exhausted and mentally unfocused, he should have more opportunities.

"If Ospina could provide enough support for Zhao in the front, that would be great." That way, Zhao Gang wouldn't be completely locked down by the defenders.

Saturday, three o'clock in the afternoon, Norwich hosts Fulham.

Championship games are usually early so the prime time can be given to the Premier League.

And this time is usually ten o'clock in the evening in Long Country, so it is considered Long Country's prime time.

When the team's starting lineup was announced, as Farke expected, the fans were already in an uproar.

These fans only know that whoever performs well should play.

They don't consider Zhao Gang's own condition at all, or whether it will be counterproductive to push him too hard.

Only truly rational fans will think of these things.

"What does Farke mean, taking the initiative to show weakness? Changed to a 541 formation, leaving Ospina alone up front? Why isn't Zhao playing??"

"We want Zhao! Let Zhao play soon!"

"We want goals, even if we lose, we want goals! We can't be turtles!"

Rhodes introduced the starting lineup and analyzed, "This should be a conservative way of playing. After all, Fulham's attack is too strong. The coach and the fans have different ideas. Farke is thinking more about getting points. After all, Norwich is still in the relegation zone."

"As for why he didn't let Zhao start, he must have considered many aspects. Zhao's integration with the team is not yet perfect. In addition, Zhao is too young, and Farke may not want him to attract too much attention. Moreover, Zhao's own physical resistance and stamina are also a problem."

"Bullshit! Do we shrink back when we meet a strong team? That's right, Farke relied on shrinking back to win the FA Cup. The scene was extremely ugly.

"He doesn't let Zhao start, he's just telling everyone that he doesn't want to win this game! Utilitarian, trash! No fighting spirit!"

The fans in front of the TV felt that Brooke was simply a kindred spirit, and he was absolutely right.

Farke is too conservative. Norwich shouldn't have this kind of coach at all!

Zhao Gang sat on the bench, his face calm.

His mental age has long passed eighteen. If he had this kind of operation in his debut at eighteen in his previous life and was pressed on the bench, he would have mobilized the masses and fought the coach head-on!

But now, he has calmed down.

Listening to the fans in the stands shouting his name, Zhao Gang was unmoved. The starting lineup is not far away.

Now, he just needs to improve himself and do his job well.

Toss a coin.

Beep!

The referee's whistle sounded.

The first half of the match begins!

Unlike Norwich, Fulham adopted a 343 formation.

This formation is almost obsolete, but its attacking ability is extremely strong, and the scene is very entertaining.

And Fulham's players are slightly stronger than their Championship opponents, so they can use it with confidence.

Leading the attack are the attacking trident from last season: center forward Ittihad, left winger Shipson, and right winger Hart.

After fifteen rounds of matches, the trident has already scored 32 goals, averaging more than two goals per game!

The wingers' superb dribbling and breakthrough ability, combined with Ittihad's scoring, are almost unstoppable.

Less than ten minutes into the game, the fans in the stands noticed the problem.

This is a real attack and defense drill!

The 343 formation, because it lacks defenders, will start pressing in the midfield and frontcourt to reduce the pressure on the defense. It is a representative formation of total attack and total defense.

So all of Norwich's players were pushed back into their own half, and they were instantly pressed as soon as they got the ball.

Either lose possession or be fouled and turn into a free kick.

They simply couldn't break through the halfway line.

And Fulham's two wingers' super solo combat ability turned Norwich's defense upside down.

The five defenders were about to become nine defenders!

Ten minutes, just ten minutes, Fulham's two wingers shot six times outside the penalty area!

Even a fool could see that there was going to be big trouble if this continued.

"Fulham's individual ability is still much stronger than Norwich's, which means Norwich can't organize an effective counterattack at all. I'm afraid this is not something that Zhao alone can solve," Rhodes analyzed the situation.

"No, why are they being compressed like this? It's because Fulham's players know that Norwich has no finishing ability at all! Even if Zhao is just standing on the halfway line, doing nothing, Fulham wouldn't dare to press their formation past the midfield like this.

"If Zhao is on the field, Fulham needs at least two people to focus on him!

"Our midfielders will be completely liberated. Midfielders not only have organizational ability, but also finishing ability!

"When the midfielders are liberated and can easily dribble the ball, Fulham's players can only retreat their formation, instead of this, the forwards are about to stand in Norwich's goal!"

"Zhao!"

"Zhao! Zhao!!"

The fans in the stands were initially just a small group shouting, but soon, it became a chorus.

Farke shook his head. These fans don't understand anything, they just know how to make a fuss.

Putting Zhao Gang, a striker with no dribbling, no passing, and no defense, on the field at this time is useless.

No wonder Brooke, that soccer illiterate, can get along with the fans.

Now Fulham's offensive is in full swing, their morale is high, and their stamina is abundant. Zhao Gang won't be able to get the ball even if he comes on.

Defend in the first half, and when these players' stamina declines in the second half, Wright only needs one kick to break through the defense of the 343 formation, which is a big sieve.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to steal one goal and then defend to the death?

For nearly thirty minutes, even if Norwich's midfielders could get the ball, it was difficult to find Ospina in front.

Ospina was completely restricted.

And Wright is good at passing. Relying on him alone to dribble the ball from the backcourt into the opponent's dangerous area is a bit difficult.

The fans couldn't wait any longer. The possession rate reached an astonishing 75% to 25%, and some of that was the goalkeeper's possession time after the goal kick!

The shots were even more terrible, 16 to 1!

Shots on target were 7 to 0!

Even a championship team can't play like this!

Is this the Championship leader or the La Liga leader!

"Defense, defense!" Farke stood on the sidelines, shouting non-stop. Ospina was doing the work of a center back under the guise of being a center forward.

Farke clenched his fists, enduring the boos from the fans, and nervously watched the game.

"Hoo..."

Ittihad jumped high, pressed down on the defender, and headed the ball onto the crossbar, slapping his forehead in annoyance.

Norwich fans booed loudly.

Farke gasped for breath, scared to death.

At this moment, a turning point suddenly occurred. After Norwich's other midfielder, Phillip, got the ball, he quickly broke through on the right. His speed was extremely fast, and he went straight through the halfway line. The entire Carolo Stadium erupted with loud cheers.

Amidst the cheers, Phillip was like a chicken blood, passing two people in a row, and passing the ball to Wright, who was responding.

Then Phillip continued to rush forward, on the edge of offside, Wright passed the ball directly, and Phillip directly snatched the position, passing the left back who was marking him.

The central defender in front of the penalty area had not yet come back to fill the position, and there was a gap in front of the goal!

There was no defender in front of the goal, and of course, there was no Norwich forward to respond...

Ospina has been used as a center back all the time, how could he run faster than Phillip.

Seeing that there was no one to respond, all of Fulham's central defenders pounced on Phillip.

Phillip was quick-witted and passed the ball backwards to Wright, who was no longer marked.

Wright was on the right side of the penalty area, and he volleyed a shot at the goal!

Then he hugged his head and knelt on the ground.

The shot flew over the crossbar.

The fans who had already stood up to cheer sighed regretfully.

"This should be Norwich's best chance in the half. Wright has the ability to shoot from long range, but he didn't seize it this time."

"If this was Zhao, I would have cheered! It would be over if we put Zhao on earlier, Farke!" Brooke was excited for five seconds in vain.

Wright sighed on his knees. How good would it be if Zhao Gang was in this position?

Phillip shook his head. It was normal for this kind of ball to be off target. After all, it was quite far away, and he shot from outside the penalty area.

He couldn't continue to dribble the ball. The opponent's midfielder had already rushed back, and if he continued to dribble, he would likely be interfered with.

He might not even get a chance to shoot.

Wright had seized the best opportunity, but he was just one kick away.

The 343 formation has a lot of attacking power, but that's the drawback. The defensive gaps are too big, and once the midfield is broken through, they are likely to lose the ball!