England's Greatest

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As England prepared for their friendly and group qualifiers, the summer transfer window had just come to a dramatic close, marking one of the most active and expensive periods in Premier League history.

A staggering £1 billion was splashed collectively across the 20 Premier League clubs, solidifying the league's status as the undisputed leader in the global football transfer market. The gap between England's top tier and the rest of Europe had never seemed so wide, with Serie A, La Liga, and Bundesliga combined failing to match the Premier League's jaw-dropping spending spree.

Every club, from newly promoted sides fighting to avoid relegation to title contenders with Champions League ambitions, had their sights set on transformative signings. But it was Manchester United that grabbed global headlines. With Louis van Gaal at the helm and tasked with rejuvenating a faltering squad, the Red Devils had shattered their previous spending records, dropping over £150 million on reinforcements.

Despite the financial fireworks, United's start to the season had been less than explosive. Three games in, and they were still searching for their first win, with two draws and a loss leaving fans restless. Goals were scarce, with only two scored across the opening fixtures. 

The marquee arrivals of Ángel Di María from Real Madrid and Radamel Falcao on loan from Monaco had brought renewed hope, though it remained to be seen if these stars would help form the deadly attacking quartet—Di María, Falcao, Rooney, and Van Persie—that fans were dreaming of.

pundits from across the footballing world weighed in on the Premier League's unprecedented spending. On ESPN FC, a fiery debate unfolded. Host Dan Thomas posed the question to the panel:

"Has the Premier League's spending gone too far? Or is this just the natural evolution of the modern game?"

Former player Shaka Hislop chimed in:

"It's unsustainable. Clubs in other leagues simply can't keep up. You're creating a financial arms race that only the Premier League can win. What happens to the smaller leagues in Europe? What happens to the clubs in Portugal, Belgium, or the Netherlands that rely on selling talent? They're being priced out."

Meanwhile, on Spanish sports show El Chiringuito, pundits expressed outrage. Host Josep Pedrerol declared:

"This is madness! The Premier League is ruining football. Real Madrid and Barcelona can't compete with clubs like Aston Villa or Everton in terms of spending anymore. Is this what football is supposed to be? A race to see who has the deepest pockets?"

In France, L'Équipe TV featured a discussion about the impact on Ligue 1. Journalist Pierre Ménès lamented:

"This isn't just bad for Europe—it's bad for the world. The Premier League's money comes from billionaires and TV rights deals that dwarf anything we can imagine here. It's creating a football monopoly."

Back in England, the tone was far different. On Sky Sports, the focus was on the league's appeal. Journalist Kaveh Solhekol argued:

"The Premier League's spending reflects its global reach. Clubs are investing because they know the value of this league. Look at the TV deals, the worldwide audience—this is football's biggest stage."

TalkSPORT's Simon Jordan, always outspoken, countered the European criticism:

"Let's be honest: the Spanish and Italian leagues dominated for years, and now it's England's turn. It's not the Premier League's fault that these clubs can't keep up. They need to look at their own structures instead of blaming us."

On Twitter, fans joined the fray. Some backed the spending, while others raised concerns about its implications.

@Tefo Bolaane23: "United spending £150m and still can't win a game? Only in the Premier League. 😂"

@Brandon88: "People complaining about PL spending should look at how La Liga used to operate. What goes around comes around!"

@kendrickStan: "£1 billion spent, and how many minutes for academy players this season? None of this is good for the game."

On the streets of Manchester, Sky Sports News sent a reporter to gather fans' thoughts. Reactions were mixed.

"I think it's great," said Raj, a lifelong United supporter. "It shows how serious we are about getting back to the top. Di María and Falcao—these are world-class players. Who wouldn't be excited?"

But another fan,Lucas, was less enthusiastic. "It's ridiculous. We've spent all this money, and we're still playing like a mid-table side. We need a proper plan, not just throwing cash at the problem."

Outside Anfield, Liverpool fans had their own opinions. "The league is more competitive than ever," said Gabriel. "But you've got to wonder—how long can this last? Are we building something sustainable, or is this all going to come crashing down?"

...

In St. George's Park, where the England squad had gathered for international duty. The Premier League's spending was all anyone could talk about, and the players were no exception.

In his first life, Tristan had watched firsthand how Manchester United's empire crumbled after the glory days of Sir Alex Ferguson. Star signings came and went, but the cracks in the foundation remained. Building a team wasn't just about buying big names—it was about fostering the kind of unity, tactics, and morale that money simply couldn't buy.

In the players' lounge, the conversation inevitably turned to Manchester United and their extravagant spending spree. Tristan sat at the edge of the room, sipping a protein shake, as the banter continued around him.

"United, man... £150 million, and they're still a mess, three games and no win, I can't imagine how much stress Rooney is under" said Ross his voice tinged with disbelief. "It's like they're just throwing cash around."

Tristan on the side finally spoke up once he saw no United Players were coming in the lounge, "Money doesn't win you titles. You can have the most expensive players in the world, but if they don't fit into the system, it doesn't matter But that's the Glazers for you."

Sterling, who had been silent up until now, leaned forward with interest. "Yeah you guys reckon they will ever sell the team?" 

The players laughed hearing Sterling say that.

....

Match Day: September 3, 2014 - Wembley Stadium

"And we're underway here at Wembley," Guy Mowbray's voice rang out as England and Norway took their places on the pitch. The crowd roared as the teams lined up, their mascots by their sides, each player shaking hands with the young children before turning to their positions.

Mark Lawrenson followed, "England kick off against Norway in this international friendly. England in their white kits, Norway in red."

As the teams continued their final preparations, Guy spoke up again. "And all eyes are on the young players tonight, they have been given a chance to proof themselves to the coaches, to the fans, and to the whole of England that they deserve a position in this team."

 Mark nodded, watching as Tristan, the 19-year-old midfielder, stood with his teammates, his focus intense. "Yes, Guy, and I'm sure most of those eyes will be on Tristan Hale. 2 goals and 4 assists in just three games, I dare say he has been the best player in the league so far,"

The camera shifted to England's other attacking players—Wayne Rooney and Gary Cahill —chatting briefly as the teams lined up for the anthems. "All eyes will be those two as well, Wayne Rooney's first game as England's Captain." Guy added.

Mark's voice followed as the teams were now facing the stands, "Absolutely, I can't imagine how much pressure he's under as both United and England's Captain. And neither Gerrad or Lampard are here now to guide the team."

The players' hands clasped for a final shake as the Norwegian squad walked into position. "Norway will look to frustrate England early on," Guy said. 

"And that's the thing, Guy," Mark added, as the players took their final spots on the pitch, "England have to set the tempo. Get control of this match early on—there's no better chance to get the fans behind them than with a fast start."

The sound of the anthems began to rise over the stadium, and the camera focused on each player with their hand over their hearts. 

...…..

The opening minutes saw England immediately take control of the ball, dominating possession with ease. Norway, in their 4-3-3 attacking formation whilst England were lining up in a 4-2-2-2 formation with Rooney, and Sturridge on the front. On the wings were Sterling and Oxlade.

Tristan and Henderson were in the midfield tasked with controlling the tempo and feeding the front whilst Tristan was given the orders to fire rockets or shot whenever he saw fit. 

Hodgson had no intentions of limiting Tristan's attacking prowess. With two goals in just three games, he was doing better than a lot of strikers. 

"The way England are starting, they're certainly looking to dominate the ball," Guy noted as the action unfolded. "Norway's midfield is compact, but they're sitting far too deep, giving England all the time they need to dictate play."

Tristan movements were already catching the eye. As the ball was passed to him in the center circle, he shifted it effortlessly to Henderson, before sprinting forward to receive the return pass. His touch was sharp, his vision flawless. He scanned the field like a seasoned pro, opening up space for Sterling on the right wing. The Liverpool winger took the ball and whipped in a dangerous cross, which Rooney was poised to attack. His header, though, was just over the bar.

"Look at that ball from Tristan," Mark said, clearly impressed. "He's just so calm under pressure, and look at that quick release to Sterling. His awareness of the game is well beyond his years."

Norway, in contrast, seemed content to soak up the pressure. They were content to let England have the ball with their striker King, staying isolated, looking to catch England on the counter.

"You have to give credit to Norway," Guy commented, "they're making it tough for England to break them down. But they're not really offering much in attack at the moment."

England's attack was relentless, and it didn't take long for them to break the deadlock. In the 17th minute, the ball was worked out wide to Sterling. He cut inside, beating his marker with ease, and played a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Rooney. The captain took the ball first time, sliding it past Norway's goalkeeper, Nyland, into the bottom corner.

"And there it is!" Guy exclaimed. "Wayne Rooney opens the scoring in his first match as England's captain. What a finish, and what a way to mark this milestone."

Mark was quick to praise the buildup. "Sterling's run was brilliant, and that ball to Rooney was inch-perfect. The captain did the rest—first time, no mistake. England's off to a great start here."

The England fans erupted in celebration, waving flags and singing songs of praise for their captain. 

As the first half continued, England maintained their dominance, but Norway managed to break forward on a couple of occasions. Elyounoussi came close to equalizing in the 25th minute when his shot from the edge of the box tested Joe Hart, but the England goalkeeper was equal to it, diving to his left to push it wide.

"Norway haven't been totally ineffective in attack," Mark noted. "That was a good save from Hart, but they need more of that from Elyounoussi, and King if they're to get anything from this game."

England responded almost immediately, doubling their lead in the 30th minute. This time, it was Tristan who was at the heart of it. He collected the ball in midfield, driving forward and splitting the Norwegian defense with a perfectly through ball for Rooney. The captain made no mistake, calmly finishing past Nyland for his second goal of the night.

"Look at that ball from Tristan!" Guy shouted. "A stunning pass right through the heart of Norway's defense. It's 2-0, and that's Rooney's second. What a performance from England so far."

Mark continued "It's his vision that sets him apart, Guy. That ball was simply outstanding—Rooney had all the time in the world to finish, but it was Tristan's creativity that made the chance happen."

The crowd were in full voice now, chanting Rooney and Tristan name.

But it was Tristan's influence that was taking center stage. The young midfielder was everywhere, not just linking up play but also making timely tackles to disrupt any Norwegian attacks. As the first half came to a close, England had been dominant, with 70% possession and 12 shots on goal to Norway's single attempt. The stats reflected the overwhelming nature of England's performance.

"England's dominance is clear for all to see," Guy remarked, as the players made their way down the tunnel for halftime. "But it's Tristan who has really caught the eye, and if he keeps playing like this, we could be seeing a player better than even Rooney appear.

Mark nodded. "The kid's got something special. He's making everything look so effortless.Of course that's to be expected but still just seeing it just continues to amaze me"

As the second half began, Norway came out with a little more purpose, perhaps encouraged by the halftime team talk. But England were still in control, moving the ball with confidence. In the 53rd minute, it was Henderson who won the ball back deep in his own half, before playing a quick one-two with Tristan and launching a counter-attack down the right wing. He surged forward, and with a perfectly timed pass, he put Sterling into space. The winger's cross found Rooney, but that header was well saved by Nyland.

"England are really pushing for the third goal," Guy said, impressed by England's pace. 

As the game wore on, England's control of the match remained unchallenged. In the 60th minute, manager Roy Hodgson made his first substitution, bringing on Jack Wilshere for Tristan Hale, who had earned a well-deserved rest after another masterclass performance.

"Tristan Hale's performance today has been nothing short of sensational," Guy said. "He's been involved in nearly every England attack and defensively he's been a rock. A fantastic display from the young midfielder."

"Of course I'm sure Roy Hodgson has his reasons for subbing off Tristan, that kid doesn't look pissed or anything and neither do the England players seem surprise." 

Hodgson's decision to substitute Tristan wasn't arbitrary—it was based on a well-thought-out strategy. Pearson had made it clear to Hodgson that Tristan's workload needed careful management.

 With the midfielder being such a crucial figure for both Leicester and England, Pearson had emphasized the importance of pacing him through a demanding season. Before the match, both Hodgson and Pearson had a conversation with Tristan, explaining the situation.

Tristan understood the rationale behind the decision. While he would have loved to stay on the field and continued, but end of the day he was still "19".

As he jogged off the pitch, he could feel the eyes of the crowd on him probably watching for his reaction.

Hodgson was already waiting for him at the sideline. As Tristan reached him, the England manager opened his arms and pulled him into a brief, yet heartfelt hug. "Good work out there," Hodgson said, his voice steady but warm. "You've been brilliant. Now, take a good rest and stay sharp. We need you for the long run."

"Understood, boss," Tristan replied before sitting down next to Vardy.

The final whistle blew with England securing a 2-0 victory. Wayne Rooney's brace was the headline, but it was Tristan's performance that would leave the fans talking long after the final whistle.

"England have been outstanding tonight," Guy concluded. "A real statement performance, with Rooney and Hale leading the charge. The future looks bright for this team."

Mark, as always, was quick to praise the young star. "Tristan is the real deal. He's only going to get better, and today, he showed he's got the talent to be a mainstay in this England team for years to come."

.....

God damn, I'm tired writing this chapter after finishing all my assignments.