Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions-Chapter 756 - 545: A Half-field Throw-in Connection! Manchester City’s New Tactical Setup, Tang Long’s One-hit Kill!

Nowadays, Tang Long has reached a level of mastery in his observation of the field.

Not only does he always stay one step ahead in predicting the situation, whether it's passing, positioning, or shooting, he always secures the advantage;

He also has unique insights into observing individual players.

During this round of shooting training, the reason he quietly slipped from the front of the line to the last was not due to fear of Onana's goalkeeping skills, but to wait for other teammates to take about twenty shots. This was to use that time to scan Onana's goalkeeping moves into the AI system for real-time data analysis.

"There's an issue with his hand positioning."

Before Onana joined Manchester City, Tang Long didn't know this young black goalkeeper and had never fed the AI system any of his goalkeeping videos.

Therefore, the twenty-something shots recorded on-site during the shooting training provided limited material and couldn't fully reflect Onana's true abilities.

However, the AI system still made an intuitive judgment based on existing material; Onana's hand positioning in goalkeeping has significant flaws!

Although when dealing with tricky shots from Agüero, Bonazzoli, Gundogan, and others, Onana managed miraculous saves that left people in awe due to his physical prowess, reflexes, and incredible reach;

He actually exposed the issue with his hand positioning when he blocked that bounce shot from Ranocchia last, by merely hitting the ball randomly.

It's just that this unexpected save concealed the flaw in Onana's goalkeeping hand positioning.

But it didn't escape Tang Long's observation.

When it was his turn in the limelight, he executed a powerful, subtly floating shot whose angle wasn't overly cunning.

The ball swayed at the last moment in front of Onana, causing Onana's balance to falter, and his footwork became erratic!

If the ball had been met by Bravo or Caballero, either would likely have saved it;

After all, although the ball floated erratically, the distance was really too close, and it wasn't a wide-range sway, with a swing radius of only about half a meter, well within the goalkeeper's control.

But precisely due to the deficiency in his basic hand positioning skills during saves, Onana's subsequent hurried save was not solid, merely striking the ball with the side of his palm and failing to prevent it from entering the net.

"Damn, still couldn't hold it!" Onana sighed regretfully.

He then looked at Tang Long with admiration in his eyes, raising a thumb towards Tang Long, "Good shot, Tang, this strike was truly amazing!"

Before coming to Manchester City, Onana had heard of Tang Long's shooting prowess while at Ajax and watched a lot of his highlights on the Champions League stage.

Truly standing on the training ground at Manchester City and having his goal broken by Tang Long, Onana genuinely felt Tang Long's strength, feeling utterly convinced.

Faced with Onana's praise, Tang Long merely nodded slightly, "Mm."

Onana still thought the goal was entirely due to Tang Long's excellent shot and didn't realize his own hand positioning was the issue.

Tang Long found it hard to explain much because he wasn't a goalkeeper himself; on the soccer field, there's a world of difference between goalkeepers and players in any other position—they're entirely different concepts.

These issues would have to be resolved by Manchester City's goalkeeping coach.

...

London, rainy day.

January 6, 2017, FA Cup 3rd round. Manchester City traveled to London to compete against West Ham United.

"So cold!"

Tang Long couldn't quite remember how many times he had traveled to London since joining Manchester City, given the multitude of teams there.

"This damn weather again, cold as it is, now it's raining, really driving me crazy." Ranocchia, in recent years, had been constantly nostalgic for the sunny and warm Mediterranean climate of his Italian hometown.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Onana, joining the trip, gazed up at London's sky covered with clouds, taking a deep breath, feeling refreshed, and seeing everything as novel and curious.

This was his first time coming to London, arriving at the United Kingdom's largest metropolitan area.

In this game, he would start as Manchester City's primary goalkeeper in the FA Cup match against West Ham United.

Starting as soon as he joined, even if it was just an FA Cup match, Onana knew the FA Cup was one of the three titles Manchester City aimed to claim this season as well.

He felt trusted and relied on, his body and mind brimming with motivation.

"Yahhoo!"

During field training, Onana's performance remained steady, executing several stunning saves, shouting after each block to encourage himself.

...

"Onana!"

"Onana makes a move!"

"Sliding tackle!"

"He deflected the ball to the sideline!"

"West Ham United forward Carroll is in pain!"

"Not only was his solo effort thwarted, but he was also taken down by Onana's sliding tackle!"

"Huh, Onana stands up, he doesn't seem to feel any pain..."

The rain in London continues to fall lightly, fine water droplets continuously splashing onto the grass, enveloping the entire pitch in a wet atmosphere.

Carroll, the Premier League tough guy standing 1.93 meters tall, his figure is like a towering mountain.

Every move he makes on the field seems to stir the air around him vibrating together.

At this moment, in the recent physical confrontation with Onana, he unexpectedly came out on the losing end, leaving his always proud heart full of unwillingness.

In the penalty area, Carroll's shorts have turned dirty green, stained with mud and rain.

He glared at Onana, his eyes could shoot fire;

Onana, not to be outdone, glared back at him, confronting each other.

West Ham United's full-back Nordved stands at the sideline, constantly wiping off the rainwater on the football with his jersey.

He takes a deep breath, starts his runup, his steps quickly alternating on the slippery surface, splashing water everywhere.

After four steps, he uses all his strength to throw the football like a grenade, high into the penalty area.

Whoosh—

The football arcs through the wind and rain, carrying the sound of the wind, precisely landing towards Carroll's position in the penalty area!

Although Carroll's career at Liverpool hasn't gone smoothly, failing to shine as expected, his heading ability in the Premier League is exceptional.

His physical condition is outstanding, strong physique combined with incredible jumping, giving him a significant advantage facing aerial balls.

Now, standing back to the goal in the penalty area, he focuses intently on the football flying high, thinking to himself:

"Hmph, lost to this little dude earlier, just because I'm not fast enough. Now this static header doesn't rely on speed, but on physique. Watch how I teach him a lesson, and never let this silly big black goalkeeper look down on me!"

Meanwhile, Manchester City's Stones and Kompany have sensed the danger, they also jump high, forming a tense and fierce contest for the ball in the air.

Carroll jumps!

Stones jumps!

Kompany jumps!

In an instant, Carroll, Stones, and Kompany feel a darkness over their heads, as if a massive cloud suddenly oppresses them, making their hearts tighten, a sense of inexplicable pressure arises.

Before they can react, Onana has already leaped high, his slender arms drawing a graceful arc in the air, securely taking the ball!

Swish—

Almost at the same moment Onana grabs the ball, a blue flash rapidly shoots out from the sideline, it's Tang Long.

He keenly captures this perfect counterattack opportunity, and as soon as Onana gets the ball, initiates his sprint like an arrow shot from a bow.

His speed is extreme, each step covering a large distance, the splashing water from his boots rustling loudly.

Tang Long was about to raise his hand and call for the ball, but it has already sped towards him with fierce pace, perfectly aligned with his running direction. Without needing any deceleration or adjustment, he simply pulls back with the outside of his right foot to gently settle the ball.

"Nice pass!"

Bang bang bang—

Tang Long charges towards the penalty area like a battle tank at full speed!

"Onana outpowered Carroll, snatching the ball above his head!"

"Followed by a long-distance thrown ball!"

"My God, the football has instantly traversed half the field, that's too far!"

"Tang Long gets the ball!"

"He's accelerating!"

"Dodged Obiang's tackle!"

"Feguri's arm tangles with him!"

"Feguri falls!"

"Tang Long escapes two players continuously, getting closer to the penalty area!"

"Tang Long shoots—"

"Goal!"

"West Ham United's goalkeeper Adrian is fuming, he's pounding the ground on his knees!"

"Haha, Tang Long aims right for your big gap!"

"This was a perfect counterattack, from Onana's throw to Tang Long's goal, it must have taken less than five seconds!"