"Is your information accurate?"
In the head coach's office at Everton's training base in Liverpool, Moyes held the opposition scouting report that assistant coach Stephen Round had just handed him. After reading through it, he asked the question.
"It's absolutely reliable," Stephen Round replied with confidence. "This report was compiled by Jim Barron and Clive Middlemas. They both went to Carrington to observe Manchester City's training and also gathered intelligence through various other channels. Their findings have been cross-verified."
Jim Barron was Everton's chief scout, while Clive Middlemas was the team's opposition analyst. Both were seasoned professionals with extensive experience in intelligence gathering and match analysis.
Jim Barron had been with the club for many years, while Middlemas, who had previously worked with several Premier League and Championship clubs, had only joined Everton this summer. Both were in their early sixties and highly experienced in their roles.
Hearing that the report had been corroborated by two trusted scouts, Moyes had no reason to doubt its accuracy.
According to the intelligence, Gao Shen had specifically focused on set-piece training at Manchester City, implementing targeted drills and offensive patterns designed around center forward Giroud. This was already a clear signal of their tactical approach.
"Stephen, what do you think?" Moyes asked, closing the report and placing it on his desk.
Stephen Round had been part of Moyes' coaching staff since 2007, but before that, he had worked with several renowned Premier League managers, including Keegan. He had known Moyes for many years.
"My guess is that they're preparing for the possibility that we'll set up defensively," Round said.
Moyes smirked. It wasn't hard to figure out.
Even from Everton's perspective, it made sense for Manchester City to make these preparations.
The 6-1 defeat to Arsenal in the first round was a devastating blow, but it had been the result of multiple factors, something Moyes had not anticipated.
First, Everton's squad was incomplete. The absence of Arteta and Jagielka, two key players, had significantly weakened the team.
Second, Everton had been slow to get going in their first game, struggling to find their rhythm.
On the other hand, Arsenal, who were preparing for a crucial Champions League qualifier, had fine-tuned their form much earlier. Wenger placed immense importance on the Champions League, given the financial implications of qualification, so his team was sharp and ready from the start.
As a result, Everton found themselves overwhelmed from the opening whistle.
Arsenal's passing was fast and precise, catching Everton completely off guard.
It was an anomaly—one that wouldn't happen again.
Moyes was determined to ensure that the disaster of the first round wouldn't be repeated.
More importantly, the second round would be Gao Shen's first home game as a Premier League manager, and the pressure on him was just as intense as it was on Moyes.
It was only natural for Manchester City to anticipate Everton's tactics, prepare for a difficult match, and prioritize set-piece strategies and a target man approach.
Moyes even felt a hint of satisfaction. After all, Everton had finished fifth in the Premier League last season. They were no pushovers. Even Gao Shen's Manchester City had to take them seriously.
He was confident in that.
Stephen Round noticed Moyes deep in thought and asked, "So… you're not planning to defend?"
Moyes looked at his assistant and grinned. "You know, Ferguson once said that playing too conservatively has no future in a league like the Premier League."
Round hesitated. Had Ferguson really said that?
Well, it sounded like something he could have said.
"But that's a risky approach," the assistant coach warned.
"It's not about going all-out in attack," Moyes explained. "We're simply sticking to our usual offensive level. We're just not going to sit back and defend passively. Besides, Manchester City is preparing for us to park the bus, so..."
There was an opportunity.
Moyes could see it.
Stephen Round had to admit, his manager's idea was tempting.
Manchester City had spent over €200 million this summer alone, bringing their total expenditure to nearly €400 million over the last few years.
And yet, despite all that money, what had Gao Shen really proven?
In professional coaching circles, Gao Shen is now a truly world-class manager, and no one can match his spotlight. His rise to prominence is undisputed—he has earned his status through results, and his tactical acumen is widely recognized.
Even after leaving Serie A, the Coverciano training center in Italy still invites him to give lectures. Every session he teaches is packed, a testament to his expertise.
However, whether due to jealousy among his peers or the competitive nature of professional football, the more recognition Gao Shen receives, the more he is targeted. Many managers dream of being the one to defeat him.
Everyone knows that beating Gao Shen is a statement—it's a shortcut to fame and credibility in the industry.
Did Allardyce not think about this after his crushing defeat in the first round?
Moyes is certainly thinking about it now.
A coach like Gao Shen is a measuring stick. Everyone wants to test themselves against him, to see if they can succeed.
And in a league as competitive as the Premier League, who doesn't want to win?
...
Midweek, the Premier League kicked off its second round of fixtures.
The first match saw Ancelotti's Chelsea travel to face Sunderland.
Last season, Chelsea was the best away team in the league. The Blues had been dominant on the road, and for this match, Ancelotti made major rotations across all three lines.
This surprised Gao Shen because in Serie A, Ancelotti was famous for his reluctance to rotate—he was known for sticking to the same lineup no matter what. Yet, in the Premier League, he had already started making adjustments. A sign of growth, perhaps.
However, the downside of rotation is defensive instability.
Sunderland capitalized early, with Darren Bent scoring on a counterattack to put the home side ahead.
But in the second half, Chelsea slowly took control. After 50 minutes, they began to turn up the pressure.
Ancelotti continued using a high-pressing midfield system, setting up in a diamond formation with Deco at the tip.
Drogba and Kalou partnered up front.
This structure allowed Chelsea's midfield to fully assert itself. Ballack got the equalizer, then Drogba assisted Lampard to take the lead, and finally, Bosingwa set up Deco to seal a 3-1 victory.
Two consecutive league comebacks, both in the second half, Chelsea showed clear signs of improvement compared to last season, not just in overall strength but also in mentality.
Under Ancelotti, the Blues' midfield control had noticeably improved, with even Essien taking on more of a playmaking role.
This was a key aspect of Ancelotti's transformation of Chelsea.
...
Elsewhere, Manchester United faced newly promoted Burnley away from home.
Burnley hadn't played in the top flight for 33 years and hadn't beaten Manchester United in 41. Going into the match, United were brimming with confidence—it wasn't about whether they would win, but by how many goals.
Ferguson rotated his squad, resting several starters, including Valencia.
But then, in the 19th minute, veteran midfielder Robbie Blake produced a stunning long-range strike. Foster, standing in for the injured Van der Sar, had no chance.
What was even more surprising was that, despite conceding early, United's response lacked energy. Their midfield and attack looked sluggish. Then, just before halftime, they won a penalty, only for Carrick to miss it.
That moment shattered their morale.
No matter how much they attacked after that, they couldn't find a way through. Even when Ferguson brought on Berbatov and Valencia, United remained toothless.
In the end, they suffered a shocking 1-0 defeat to newly promoted Burnley, the first major upset of the new Premier League season.
Ferguson must have been furious. The hairdryer treatment was inevitable.
Gao Shen also watched the match, and it confirmed his earlier assessment of Manchester United.
Their midfield struggled to progress the ball, forcing them to rely on their forwards to drop deep and help build up play. The biggest issue was that their attacking players weren't in form.
Ferguson had rotated his squad, replacing the underperforming Berbatov with Owen, but the change made little difference. Owen was no longer the "boy who chased the wind"—he was now an opportunist, lacking the pace and sharpness of his younger years.
With only Rooney carrying the attack, United found themselves helpless against a tightly packed Burnley defense.
This match also served as a reminder to Gao Shen—even newly promoted teams could upset top clubs.
...
Tottenham Hotspur responded to their first-round loss by thrashing Hull City 5-1 away from home. Redknapp's team got their revenge.
Benítez's Liverpool also impressed, dismantling Stoke City 4-0 at Anfield.
It was evident that, after restructuring their midfield, Liverpool had regained control of matches.
Benítez's tactical hallmark has always been the double defensive midfielders. With Biglia's arrival, Liverpool's midfield had regained its balance, and the results were showing.
Arsenal, who had demolished Everton in the first round, hosted Bolton. They fell behind in the seventh minute but responded strongly, equalizing before halftime and then scoring three more in the second half. The match ended in a 4-1 comeback win.
...
After nine matches in the second round, five teams had won both of their opening games: Arsenal sat top of the table, followed by Liverpool, Fulham, Chelsea, and West Ham United.
Manchester City, having played one game less, was eighth, while Manchester United dropped to ninth.
From the early signs, United had clear problems, while Arsenal once again looked explosive at the start of the season.
Of course, the Gunners were always dominant in the first half of the campaign, the real test would come after the winter break.
The final match of the round was Manchester City's home game against Everton.
This would be City's first home match of the season and Gao Shen's first-ever Premier League home game.
The entire Etihad Stadium had prepared a grand welcome for him.
The match would be broadcast live, with Sky Sports' iconic commentary duo, Andy Gray and Martin Tyler, calling the game.
Looking at the sea of fans in the stands, both commentators couldn't help but admire the scene.
"Tonight," Andy Gray said, his voice full of conviction, "Gao Shen is the king of Etihad!"
(To be continued.)
***
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