Chapter 22: What's behind the draft

When Allen looked for Don, when he and Evan Adams were going to participate in the Champions League group stage draw ceremony, he was strangely finding that there was an extra person in the car.

In the past, the head coach and the club chairman went to draw lots. Some teams didn't even go to the club chairman, but Evan insisted on going, so he must have something to do. Unexpectedly, Allen also wanted to go with him.

"I'm not going to find them, Tony." In the car to London Heathrow Airport, Allen smiled at Donn. "I want to talk to you about something."

"And with me?" Tang En was a little surprised.

"Yes.  " Allen nodded.

Evan, who was sitting in the front row, has not said anything since the conversation began.

Tang En's eyes rolled, and he roughly knew why.

"Because of that Chinese football draft?"

Allen smiled: "You are very smart, Tony. Yes, it's because of that. I heard that a Chinese journalist came to you and wanted to talk to you about the cooperation in that talent show, but you directly refused?"

Don Eun turned his head and looked outside, then turned back and said to Allen, "Has she gone to find you again?" He did not answer directly, but he admitted it.

"No, I heard it from others, not from Chinese." Allen added, "It was told by people from the Kick_world_wide that they said they were planning and organizing a TV talent show that no one in the world had ever done before..."

Tang En was a little stunned: "Isn't it organized by the Chinese media on a whim?"

"It is jointly organized by both countries. In addition to the two Premier League clubs, there are also Freemantle_media and GroupM Group to participate in this program."

Tang En is very unfamiliar with these names. Whether after or before, he never studies anything about the economy. Perhaps some names are well-known in the economic world. But in Tang En, he is like an unknown person.

Allen obviously saw the confused expression on Don En's face, so he further explained: "You should know about the British International Sports Information Company, right? The famous British sports brokerage company."

Tang En nodded and said that he knew, and he knew what was related to sports.

"Fremantu Media Communications is an Australian media company, but they also have a very famous influence in the English-speaking world. They are experts in reality shows, and the production rights of talent shows such as American talents in Australia are in their hands. As for GroupM, this is a giant in the British communications industry. A subsidiary of WPP, the world's second largest advertising group."

Tang En nodded: "You mean I rudely rejected a seemingly attractive business and a large number of distinguished guests, right?"

Allen smiled and shook his head: "I didn't say that, Tony."

Evan, who had not spoken at this time, spoke: "Alan just felt a pity. Tony. This is a good opportunity to enter the Chinese market, and it is a good opportunity to continue to expand and consolidate our position in the minds of Chinese fans."

"Chinese market?" Tang En said habitually disdainfully, "If you don't know where, 99% of the fans there will not buy your authentic clothing and souvenirs..." Tang En thought to himself, I was like this. An authentic jersey costs more than 700 yuan, how many fans can afford it? Football is not a noble sports like golf. Those who like football are all kinds of ordinary people and students. Think about it. How many of these people are willing to pay a thousand yuan to buy jerseys?

"Okay, Allen. Although I don't know much about economics, I can give you an example I know. It happened recently. Didn't I sign a new broadcasting rights contract before the new Premier League season? There are signings at home and abroad, among which China won the bid for a company called... Tiansheng. They bought the mainland Chinese broadcasting rights for three seasons in the Premier League and the broadcasting rights for some Serie A events. Then they decided to promote paid services. Paid TV... This is normal, right? In the UK. But in China, Tiansheng was unanimously boycotted. Do you know why?"

Allen and Evan shook their heads at the same time.  In Europe and the United States, pay TV has long become a tradition and routine.   But in China, everyone is still used to watching free football games.   But this is not the key to the problem.

"The key to the problem is that Tiansheng's company ordered the paid TV site too high, which costs 188 yuan per month! This money is undoubtedly a big burden for most ordinary Chinese fans. Although the Premier League is wonderful, in order to protest Tiansheng's unreasonable approach, many Chinese fans chose to watch it or watch free live broadcasts through online cracking tools... I would not doubt Tiansheng's final failure at all, because that is China's national conditions. The price is too expensive, football is a civilian sport, but in China. It makes some people do similar to aristocratic sports. A pirated jersey only costs 35 yuan. Allen, you are studying economics, you should know the exchange rate between the RMB and the pound. "

Allen nodded, "It's about two and a half pounds."

Evan took a breath of air conditioning, it was really cheap.

"But how much does it cost to get the authentic product from the authorized place? More than 1,000 yuan. This price is already higher than the home ticket price of two-thirds of Premier League teams. "Tang En said, "How much does it cost to sell our jerseys in China?"

Allen replied: "Forty to forty-five pounds."

"The price is expensive in the UK, let alone China." Tang En grinned. "Go to China. The import tariffs are even higher... In fact, many genuine jerseys are just made in China. Nike, Adidas, Enbao, and Puma have factories in mainland China."

Hearing Tang En say this, Allen pondered: "Our jersey costs only seven to ten pounds per piece..." He suddenly raised his head and held Tang En's hand. "Thank you, Tony!"

Don was confused by Allen's actions: "Ah?"

"Thank you for giving me such a vivid lesson and letting me know what the Chinese market is like."

Tang En began to feel something was wrong. He originally wanted to convince Allen to give up his unrealistic fantasy of the Chinese market. Now it seems that it has also aroused the other party's interest...

"As you said, Tony, the key to the problem lies in the price. We cannot simply and roughly copy everything in the UK to China. Compared with the UK, China is still a developing country, and their consumption capacity is not high. If you directly move the price here, people there will feel that things are too expensive and they cannot raise their desire to consume. "Allen told the idea that the other two in the mainland to listen to.

"If we look for factories in China to process our jerseys and other souvenirs around, and then sell them at prices that meet local consumption levels... to be honest, I don't think it will be successful. The materials, labor, are all from China, we only provide one brand - the Nottingham Forest brand..."

Don Eun interrupted him: "Sorry, Allen. But before us, other clubs have done this, such as Manchester United..."

Allen smiled gently, without any dissatisfaction with Tang En interrupting his words: "That is because they can't put down the airs of wealthy clubs, and they have not really entered this huge market. They thought they opened several restaurants, several specialty stores, or some official Chinese websites. Even if they entered the Chinese market, it was not actually, it was just an appearance. They don't understand this country, people in this country, and people in this country, and they directly copied the set in other countries and regions. But this set doesn't work in China. And we are very lucky, there is an assistant coach from China and a head coach who is so proficient in Chinese culture."

Allen looked at Tang En smiled. “What you said made me think you were Chinese.”

Tang En became alert. He was too proficient in Chinese culture. So he scratched his head: "Well, most of them were told by Tang. And... that Chinese female reporter, we sometimes talk about such topics."

"No matter who tells you, Tony. In short, I don't think there are other clubs in the world that are more suitable for entering the Chinese market than our forest." Allen gave Tang En a few fingers, "A Chinese player who is well-known in China, a newly rising Chinese assistant coach, and a head coach of the 'China Tong' who is very interested in Chinese culture. We have an advantage of affinity over other teams."

Tang En remembered that he defeated the teams that also enjoyed great reputation in China and humiliated their coaches and fans. Will those Chinese fans feel that they are very friendly? A genius knows...

"So, Tony." Evan turned his head and said, "We still hope to talk to the people in the talent show team and try to cooperate with them. I think this is a key, a key to help us open the door to China."

"And, I believe they are happy to ask them to cooperate with each other." Allen added, "The two clubs they are looking for have no big influence. If we join, it will be different."

Tang En agreed with this. The news he heard from Tang was that Tang Jing was a little dissatisfied with finding only Everton and Bolton to cooperate.

He is actually not an idiot who knows nothing. He knows that when it comes to interests, it is best to put aside his personal emotional tendencies. For example, he hates drafts, but if drafts can bring benefits to the team and the club, he must agree. What's more, if the club can make more money, will he not benefit? After the construction of the new stadium has sufficient funds, won't he be stretched in the transfer market?

Evan and Allen were looking at him, the two of them didn't speak, they just looked at him, but what they meant was already obvious.

Tang En raised his hands and surrendered: "Okay, I'll give up. I have no objection to what draft to cooperate with them. Anyway, I'm only responsible for leading the team training and playing games. Alan is responsible for commercial development or opening up the Chinese market. You can do whatever you want."

The other two looked at each other and smiled. "Then let it be decided, leave this matter to Allen to take charge." Evan Dogerty gave the final order as the club chairman.

When he arrived at London Heathrow Airport, Allen did not board the plane with the two. He refunded the ticket in front of Donn. Donn was a little surprised: "Aren't you going to follow us to Zurich?"

Allen smiled and shook his head: "I plan to follow you to Switzerland if I can't convince you in the car and continue to convince you. But now there is no need."

Don't grinned.

Afterwards, the three broke up at the airport. Donn and Evan flew to Switzerland together. Participated in the Champions League group stage draw ceremony, while Allen returned to Nottingham to find the relevant person in charge to discuss the possibility of cooperation now.

As the defending champion, Nottingham Forest has attracted widespread attention from the media. From the time Don Enru draws the lottery to when he leaves Switzerland and returns to the UK, the media follows along the way. He is no longer the first time he participated in the lottery and sits in the corner without anyone’s attention.

No matter where he goes, the flash will follow closely.

In the end, Nottingham Forest, the defending champion, drew a bad draw. They were in the group A with Porto in Portugal, Marseille in France and Besiktas in Turkey.

The first game will be held on the evening of September 18, Nottingham Forest will challenge the 2004 European Champions League champion Porto away.

This is a championship vs. champion confrontation. I believe there will be a good show.

When Don and Evan returned to Nottingham, something was waiting for them, and it would take three people to decide together.

Allen is a person who will take action immediately once he decides. Taking advantage of the day of the Champions League group stage draw, he has settled all the organizers and co-organizers of this talent show.

The other party agreed to Nottingham Forest join the talent show. But now there is a problem. The organizer of the program has agreed with Everton and Bolton. The senior group draft champion will enter Everton Club for a one-year trial, while the runner-up will enter Bolton Club for a one-year trial. As for the third place in the final, he can naturally accept the cruel reality - he is lucky than those eliminated and has the power to look forward to the top two. In the end, he can only leave empty-handedly.

Originally, the top three could be rewarded, and the ending would be a happy ending. But with Nottingham Forest rejection, they had to revise the final results. Of course, both China and the UK thought the result was also good. It was cruel enough, suspense enough, and exciting enough. In the end, it could still stir up a fight.

So the plan has informed Everton and Bolton clubs.

At this time, Nottingham Forest suddenly wanted to join again... The champion was originally arranged to go to Nottingham Forest. In this way, would Everton give up this seat? Obviously not, this is disrespect for Everton Club.

Therefore, if the Forest team decides to join now, they can only accept the condition of receiving the third place trial.

Allen didn't agree very much, he believed that European champions should have the status of European champions.

After hearing the whole story, Tang En laughed: "It's okay. Allen. We want the third place. Anyway, you want the Chinese market, not a Chinese genius player. Besides, according to... Tang, in Chinese talent shows, the most powerful one is not the champion."

Evan also felt that it was boring to compete for the false reputation with Everton, and it didn't matter who got the first, second and third.

This matter was settled.

The organizer finally came up with an idea, and at the beginning, he did not inform Nottingham Forest football team that he would join, but said that Nottingham Forest Club officially supported the program. As for the treatment of the three first, second and third place winners in the older group. It is still based on the previous promotional plan - after the cruel and fierce finals, only two lucky people can get the treatment of a year of trial training at a British club.

Then.    Until the final, when the third place was crying in public and burst into tears, the representative of the "mysterious guest" Nottingham Forest will appear at the scene and announce the decision of the third place to go to the European champion Nottingham Forest Club for a year to try out.    Let the audience, the TV audience and the third place themselves feel the joy and sorrow of life, so that there will be a dramatic effect.

Everyone thinks this idea is very good, but just thinking about it is enough to excite a group of foreigners and Chinese people. This is a real "reality show", a true love show without any performance elements.

Tang En cursed these people all over his heart - isn't this fooling others? If anyone dares to use it on his own, please make sure he can make a living!

Not to mention the final three lucky ones who have already been arranged for their fate, this is good or bad.

Anyway, for Tang Jing, who was determined to achieve results, it was definitely a great thing for Nottingham Forest to decide to join at the last moment. So the next day, Tang En saw her among the crowd of reporters outside the Wilford training base.

"Mr. Tang En!" She waved to Tang En happily, then squeezed up with a bright smile on her face.

"What are you doing so happy? Are you going to get married?" Tang En teased her with a stern face.

"Where is it!" Tang Jing smiled and retorted, for the first time he did not sing a stage scene with Tang En.

"I want to interview me? I'm so sorry, I won't accept interviews during working hours." In fact, Tang En just entered the training base gate, and the team's local people have not come yet. Where does "working hours" come from?

Unexpectedly, no matter how hard Tang En said, Tang Jing's face was still filled with smiles.

Tang En felt that this woman had a nerve problem today and didn't want to pay attention to her anymore and planned to leave quickly. Just as he turned around, he heard Tang Jing say in Chinese behind: "Thank you, Mr. Tang En!"

Tang En didn't look back, and a smile appeared on his stern face. This little girl is quite interesting...

He pretended not to hear it and walked away.

Tang Jing was still looking at his background and was silly happy. Tang, who had been beside Tang En, looked at her and asked strangely: "Are you so happy?"

So Tang Jing looked at him and smiled and said, "Thank you too, Tang."

Tang finally muttered and left. Now, like Tang En, he felt something was wrong with the woman in front of him today.
Chapter completed!