Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions

Lowering the center of gravity is something that many players can do; it's the basic start-up technique.

However, the two points Martin mentioned were ones Tang Long had not paid attention to before, nor were they taught by coaches.

Keep eyes firmly on the direction of the target, allowing for pre-judgment of the next actions post-sprint.

And the first step should be as large as possible, even jumping a step, which is Martins' unique technique based on his own conditions.

Tang Long practiced a few times following Martins and initially started feeling the concept.

Compared to former Inter player Martins, Caniggia, who had long tenures at Atlanta and Rome, spoke more mystically!

He had the nickname "Son of Wind," and in speed teaching, he also mentioned the impact of wind direction on player starts.

"I have a technique that I've never told anyone before, which is at the start moment, you must learn to feel the wind's flow, making wind your aid rather than resistance."

Tang Long was slightly confused and asked back, can I even control the wind direction of the field?

"Of course, you can't," Caniggia smiled, "but you can align with the wind direction."

Caniggia further explained that if, in a match, you face the opponent in a downwind setting, sprint as much as possible, you have the aid of downwind and the opponent's center of gravity will be affected by the headwind during turning.

Conversely, if you're headwind facing the opponent, try to dash sideways to minimize the impact of wind resistance.

"What about crosswind?"

"If it's crosswind, you should flexibly swing your body and keep your hands switching between headwind and downwind, making wind a distraction for their attention."

"Understood, this is harnessing the weather."

Martins and Caniggia provided Tang Long with new ideas for speed training and deepened his understanding of football.

However, compared to these two, Tang Long preferred practicing with Henry and Kaka.

Maybe because Martins is 170 cm tall and Caniggia is 172 cm tall, both are typical small and agile players.

Meanwhile, Tang Long, who is 182 cm tall, has physical conditions closer to Henry, who is 188 cm, and Kaka, who is 186 cm.

Physique will affect a player's playing style.

Though both are about speed, the characteristics of small-agile players and those with long legs differ greatly!

Henry made Tang Long do a stationary start-up action and then pointed out:

"Tang, although your height is 6 cm shorter than mine, your body proportion is great, with long legs. For players like us with long legs, when bypassing those small stature side backs with speed, you shouldn't compete on who keeps the center lower. Even if you lie down, your opponent's center will still be lower than you, and this way you'd lose your strength."

"Therefore, you need to adjust your start-up posture, the angle of body leaning can be slightly less, but the degree of leg bending needs to be enough to unleash strong power at the start moment."

From Henry's guidance, Tang Long found a completely different viewpoint compared to Martins'.

Martins said the start-up center should be lower, and the body should press forward.

But Henry said, the angle of body leaning can be smaller, but leg bending should be sufficient.

This is the personal experience derived from different body-conditioned players based on their practical understanding of football.

Henry, a striker by origin, once won the Golden Boot thrice in the Premier League.

Even later moving to Barça as a winger, he was active at the forefront of the attacking line.

Among the four mentors, Kaka, who is close to Tang Long in physique and also a midfield commander, provided advice that was most useful for Tang Long!

Though debuting in Brazil, Kaka's playing style was almost European, with no traces of flamboyant samba football, emphasizing practicality and utility first.

Kaka is a master of long-distance sprints, while Tang Long recently had opportunities to sprint from a midfield position to the box in recent matches. He also consulted Kaka on techniques for long-distance sprinting.

This sparring tool allowed Tang Long to sprint carrying the ball while acting as a defensive player who retreats without pressing.

When swapping positions, Tang Long could extend his foot to challenge while Kaka dribbled; however, after seven or eight rounds, Tang Long only managed to reclaim the ball once.

After a series of sprints, observing Tang Long sweating profusely, Kaka contemplated and provided his suggestions.

"Tang, leg length is both an advantage and a challenge. For players like us with long thighs, stride rhythm and magnitude while running should be emphasized."

"Sometimes small steps to confuse defenders aren't necessary. The strides shouldn't be too small; they should be wide apart. Each step needs to cross farther; this way, leveraging leg length's superiority covers wider distances with the same number of steps."

"Especially in the first few steps after starting, finding your stride quickly is essential. Once the rhythm is identified, you can rapidly pull away from opponents; once misstepping early, it'd throw everything off later."

He demonstrated the wide-stepped dribbling once again for Tang Long.

Tang Long noticed that Kaka's wide stride isn't like some players who dribble excessively large once and then impulsively chase.

Kaka's stride appeared large, but actually, the steps adhered to rhythm tightly.

Tang Long recalled that in once-watched Kaka's highlight reels, a recurring scenario was Kaka dribbling in burst; midway, the defending player thought Kaka's dribble was too large and attempted interception with a foot, but this very action was circumvented by Kaka's next touch.

In retrospect, Kaka wasn't just reaching the ball in a 50-50 scenario only due to foot speed.

(Kaka breaking through while dribbling amidst the crowd)

Observing the Brazilian's elegant sprint stance, Tang Long thought:

"Speed is not just pure running; it must combine with technical actions. Unarmed start-ups are important, but dribbling running is paramount for midfielders. Ball-person unity isn't just rhetoric; it requires combining one's physical conditions and extensive practice."

Tang Long practiced an entire afternoon on speed training.

Before leaving, remembering the upcoming Premier League's 11th round derby against Manchester United, he entered passing training to summon De Bruyne.

Looking at this sparring tool he painstakingly modeled for learning ground strike curveball, Tang Long stepped forward, pinching De Bruyne's cheek.

"See you on the weekend, Belgian."

De Bruyne stared blankly, expressionless.

"Give me a smile, young man."

Tang Long lifted De Bruyne's mouth corners upward, De Bruyne squeezed out a semblance of a smile.

"Let's see you cry instead."

Tang Long pulled up De Bruyne's eye corners, De Bruyne's face darkened.

...

After exiting the AI Cloud Training Ground, the evening sunset had already illuminated Tang Long's desk.

In front of him appeared four speed mentors.

Martins, Caniggia, Henry, Kaka.

The four switched from jerseys and boots into suits and leather shoes, standing on stage summarizing the training course's key points for Tang Long one by one.

[Keep eyes firmly on the direction of the target, without any hesitation or distraction]

[First step at start-up should be as large and forceful as possible, you may try jumping a step]

[During the start moment, learn to feel the flow of wind, making wind your aid rather than resistance]

[The angle of body leaning can be smaller, but leg bending should be sufficient]

[Leverage leg length's superiority, expand sprint stride fully]

"Ding!"

"Congratulations to the host for completing the weekly phase of speed training course!"

"Start-up speed improved!"

"80——86!"

"Absolute speed improved!"

"80——86!"

With both start-up and absolute speed rising to 86, coupled with dribbling already at 90, Tang Long's threat level enhanced significantly whether in midfield or forward.

Especially in speed aspects, 86 speeds in the Premier League field is already quite rapid.

"Congratulations to the host for obtaining 'Soccer Fast Horse' medal!"

"Medal bonus: when competing speed with opponents having a speed value below 80, you can skip value comparisons and directly defeat them, helping reduce host's stamina consumption."