Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions

After dinner, Tang Long's wife tidied up the dishes in the kitchen, while their little daughter played with the LEGO set Tang Long had given her outside the yard. Tang Long and Ranocchia started chatting idly in the living room.

Being professional players, the conversation quickly turned from life in general to football.

"I feel like during today's training, that Bony was always giving me weird looks, and during the match, he deliberately bumped into me hard," Tang Long said.

Ranocchia hummed in agreement, and they delved into the topic.

"I can understand Bony's feelings. He was supposed to be the team's second striker, but with Agüero injured and Iheanacho not in form, Pellegrini pushed you to the frontline for goals, leaving Bony on the bench. Who wouldn't be upset?"

Tang Long said that Bony seemed similar to the past Milner, both of whom were unfriendly to him because their positions were threatened.

Ranocchia nodded slightly but then shook his head gently.

"In general, it's the same idea, but Bony's situation is somewhat different from Milner's."

"Milner is a native of England, although born in an ordinary working-class family, he enjoyed the UK's high welfare policies, growing up without financial worries. Bony is different; he's Ivorian, and like many African players, they changed their fate through football. If not for football, he might still be living in the slums."

Ranocchia talked to Tang Long about his understanding of many African players.

He said that many African families have many children and especially love having sons.

If one of them succeeds in their career, they become the pillar and locomotive for the entire family, taking on the mission to support the whole family.

So, for Africans, football is not just a sport; it's an "ATM" for dozens or even a hundred people in the family.

"So don't be fooled by Bony only being with the team for less than a year and having no foundation within the team, unable to be as brash as Milner. But if he truly becomes ruthless, he would definitely not be worse than Milner, and perhaps even more so."

"However, Africans generally have simpler thoughts, without as much cunning as the English. When dealing with Bony, you could use a different approach than with Milner, even using him as a bridge to establish friendships with the French Language Gang."

Tang Long listened seriously to Ranocchia's advice, and they continued to chat deeply.

The former Inter captain indeed had deep insights from managing the locker room.

They chatted until nearly ten o'clock when Ranocchia's little daughter had to go to bed, and Tang Long bid farewell to the family.

...

In the 7th round of the Premier League, Manchester City returned home to face the visiting Everton.

It was quite coincidental that after just returning from Liverpool in the last round, another team from Liverpool visited the Etihad, but this time it was not Liverpool, but Everton.

The day before the match, Tang Long received a text message from his former Inter teammate, Everton goalkeeper Handanovic.

[What are you doing playing forward? Go back to midfield and let that Bony from your team play forward; he's better than you!]

Tang Long chuckled, thinking that this Handanovic, who always had a stern face at Inter, seemed to have become more cheerful in the Premier League, even joking around with him.

[You better be careful, our Bony could also give you a run for your money; you better start thinking about how many times you'll be fetching the ball from the net tomorrow!]

Although Agüero and Joe Hart were still serving the last match of their suspension.

However, due to their hardworking community service of 50 hours over the past two weeks, they had arrived early at the Etihad Stadium to watch the match.

When the Etihad Stadium DJ passionately announced the starting players' names.

Tang Long, wearing number 9, received the biggest applause and cheers from the crowd!

"With you not around, Tang is the main man at Manchester City," Hart said jokingly to Agüero, staring intently at his reaction.

Agüero nodded with a face of relief, "Exactly, when I'm not around, he scored twice to overturn Liverpool; he deserves the fans' cheers!"

However, when both teams were standing on the field, Agüero looked puzzled.

"What's going on, 442 switched back to 4231? And Bony is starting? Oh man, can this guy really do it?"

Starting Lineups:

Home Team Manchester City 4231

Bony

Sterling/Tang Long/Navas

Yaya Toure/Fernando

Klarov/Kompany/Ranocchia/Sagna

Caballero

Away Team Everton 4231

Lukaku

Cleverley/Barkley/Kone

Barry/McCarthy

Galloway/Jiang Guangtai/Stones/Coleman

Handanovic

Agüero in the stands didn't understand why Pellegrini opted for a single striker again in this match.

He just felt anxious because Bony's poor performance against Southampton left everyone disappointed.

However, Agüero reconsidered and thought, this is my last game of the three-match suspension, just wait, when I return to the starting lineup, Manchester City's forward line will no longer have problems.

...

Due to Manchester City overcoming Anfield under very difficult circumstances in the last match, coming back home this time, the fans at the Etihad were very enthusiastic at the start!