Soccer: I’m Building a Giant in the Premier League

Chapter 23 – Debut, Drop the Big Move!

In most leagues, once a transfer is agreed before Christmas, the player usually reports to their new club right after the holiday.

But England is different.

Because the week following Christmas is the most congested stretch of the season.

Jonathan Stead's transfer inevitably had an impact on the team.

Moreover, many of Bayswater Chinese FC's foreign players were experiencing England's festive schedule for the first time.

Especially for Modrić, Koscielny, Ribéry, and the other young talents—it was their first Christmas away from home, without their families.

And with the club's limited finances, Yang Cheng had done everything he could to soften the blow—but he couldn't compete with the Premier League giants.

All these factors combined, and on Boxing Day (December 26), when the team traveled away to Bournemouth, the performance was awful.

Just 16 minutes in, Roger Johnson was sent off with a red card.

It was his fault, yes, but the entire team was visibly off.

In the 17th minute, Bournemouth scored a penalty.

Then, in the 40th, they added a second.

Final score: 0–2, and Bayswater suffered an away defeat.

…

December 28, League Two Round 24:

Bayswater vs. Brentford, at home.

Before the match, the FA sent an official notice:

The FA Cup third-round match against Chelsea would be televised.

But Bayswater Stadium didn't meet broadcast standards.

So the FA asked Bayswater to move the match to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea had agreed—and even offered to hand over all ticket revenue to Bayswater.

Not because they were generous—this was a long-standing tradition in English football.

In the FA and League Cups, lower-league clubs that draw Premier League opponents often give up home advantage in exchange for gate revenue.

This time, it was a formal request from the FA.

Yang Cheng agreed—with one condition:

5,000 tickets at regular cup prices would be reserved for Bayswater fans.

With it being the holiday season, demand for tickets was through the roof.

Especially for a team like Chelsea, full of stars.

Yang set a purchase restriction: only fans who had previously bought tickets would get priority.

Still, all 5,000 tickets sold out in three days.

Chelsea priced their seats higher—multiple tiers, averaging about £25 per ticket.

They sold over 30,000.

Which meant, this one match alone would net Bayswater hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Yang Cheng wasn't particularly grateful to Chelsea.

In his past life as a Premier League coach, he'd done this plenty of times.

Still, this match would be a valuable test of his team's progress—crucial preparation for the Championship.

But before Chelsea came calling, more disappointment struck.

Bayswater drew 1–1 with Brentford at home.

They had led with a goal from Ribéry in the 42nd minute, but then Koscielny saw red for a second yellow.

Last match it was Johnson; this time, it was Koscielny.

Defense once again exposed.

Yang and Brian Kidd agreed—this was the holiday effect.

Already a fragile defense, paired with midfield errors and sloppy passing… and now, extra pressure—something had to give.

…

After the December 28 match, Stead said his goodbyes to the team and headed north to Blackburn.

Though the transfer wouldn't be official until January 1, there were no matches in the next few days.

At the same time, Dave Kitson, freshly signed from Cambridge United, arrived at the club.

Yang Cheng sat down for a long talk with him.

In Yang's past life, Kitson had joined Reading, performed well in the Championship and Premier League, and almost got a call-up to England's national team.

He was tall, powerful, great in the air, technically refined, and had good pace.

Best of all, ambidextrous.

This season in League Three, he had 10 goals in 17 matches.

Last season? 20 goals in 44 games.

For a mid-table League Three striker, that was excellent.

But to Yang Cheng, Kitson had one glaring weakness:

He was a pure finisher—a poacher, a spearhead.

In his first training session, he made that clear.

He led the line, and every time he got the ball, his first instinct was to shoot.

To his credit, his positioning, instincts, and finishing were excellent. Powerful with both feet, accurate, and clinical.

But in a 4-3-3, his tactical contribution was limited.

Yang had to adjust the system to accommodate him.

Meanwhile, Rickie Lambert was showing more tactical flexibility than both Kitson and even Stead.

…

January 1, League Two Round 25:

Bayswater vs. Chesterfield, at home.

Despite a draw and a loss in their last two, Yang Cheng rested starters for the January 3rd clash at Stamford Bridge.

Even so, Bayswater came out flying.

4th minute: Lee Williamson smashed in a long-range strike—1–0.

11th minute: Capaldi scored—2–0.

12th minute: Ribéry added another—3–0.

15th minute: Dave Kitson, from the penalty spot—4–0.

18th minute: Ribéry again—5–0.

By then, the match was over.

Then in the 36th and 88th minutes, Kitson scored twice more, completing his hat trick.

Over 4,000 fans at the stadium were stunned.

Many had worried that losing Stead would cripple the team.

But now, this unknown striker had arrived—and dropped a bomb.

A hat trick on debut.

Even Stead had only managed one in the first half of the season.

Unbelievable!

Even the coaching staff beside Yang Cheng were in disbelief.

Brian Kidd's jaw nearly hit the floor.

Three goals—one with the left, one with the head, one with the right.

Was this guy for real?

Are League Three strikers this good now?

And when exactly had Yang Cheng discovered Dave Kitson?

Few knew, but Brian Kidd did.

Bayswater didn't even have full-time scouts, let alone a scouting network.

Which meant: Yang Cheng had found him himself.

Incredible.

…

"Your transfer work is absolutely brilliant!"

The next day, after the 7–0 demolition of Chesterfield, Chris Hunter from Elvino arrived at Yang Cheng's office again.

Last time, he'd delivered an ultimatum.

This time, Yang Cheng had invited him.

As soon as the £8 million from Blackburn hit the account, Yang Cheng called him to arrange paperwork.

"You have no idea—my boss is kicking himself."

Hunter laughed in admiration.

He'd disagreed with the plan from the start.

Yang Cheng smiled, modestly.

They tried to play him. Now they were the ones who'd lost big.

Elvino had bet Bayswater couldn't repay the £2 million loan. That's why they used contract clauses to pressure them into selling the stadium to Chelsea.

They thought they could eat the fish, the bones, and the head too.

Now?

No fish, no meal.

"£2 million will be in your account today," Yang said. "Tell your boss—I'm not paying a penny in interest. If he wants to sue, let him. I'll pay whatever the court decides."

He was blunt, unapologetic.

The power was now in his hands.

Hunter nodded. He was prepared.

"I've got to say, Yang—Kitson looks even better than Stead. No wonder you were willing to sell."

"And your selling skills… honestly, I don't even understand how you did it."

Even though his company had lost out, as an individual, Hunter couldn't help but admire Yang Cheng.

He had turned crisis into triumph—brilliantly.

"Oh right—Chris, remember that thing you mentioned before?"

"What thing?"

"Those bankrupt football, rugby, and golf clubs you told me about," Yang said with a grin.

"You're thinking of buying land?" Hunter was surprised, but intrigued.

This was his area—insolvency and restructuring. He had files on dozens of clubs and assets, and plenty of contacts.

"You know the Premier League has strict academy requirements—we need to meet them."

Yang sighed. "And you were right—our facilities are crap. Just one pitch, bad drainage when it rains, and no training in the snow."

"If we want to grow, we need a professional training base."

"Any specific requirements?"

"Big land. Enough for 11 full-size pitches, two buildings, good transportation links."

Remote plots were cheap, but commuting was a nightmare.

In his past life, Yang had often discussed this with players: it needed to be near a highway or major road, with a max 30-minute commute.

"And nothing in East London—it's too far."

Bayswater's home was in West London, so the base had to be west too.

Arsenal trained in Colney, north of London.

Chelsea's base was in Cobham, southwest.

Hunter nodded with a smile.

"Don't worry. I'll make a few calls. I'll get back to you soon."

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