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Hello! Could a computer be running your club’s next transfer window?
On the way:
💻 AI Soccer Revolution
🏫 Isaac School Havertz
🗣️ Rashford in talks with Milan
👓Cunya’s glasses apology
The future of AI: Technology could impact scouting and team selection
One of Marcelo Bielsa’s famous quotes is: “If soccer were played by robots, I would win everything.” It’s an expression of faith and fallibility. Acceptance of human failure and trust in his tactics.
Soccer players will never be robots, and they are not robots in any physical sense. But what if robots are in charge of scouting and signing players in future transfer windows? What if the power of machines extends beyond recruitment to determining head coaching lineups? Could that happen?
This doesn’t sound far-fetched, as the sport has adapted to new forms of technology over the years, but if Jordan Campbell’s ability pays off, the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution is upon us. It will be. And while human touch cannot be completely replaced in soccer, AI will influence existing feet on the ground.
Jordan chronicled how Premier League side Brighton weeded out most of their full-time scouts two months ago. Brighton owner Tony Bloom (below) has been at the forefront of the growth of data and analytics, so it’s no surprise that they are moving in the direction of AI, but this means that algorithms will This is an example of making eyes and ears unnecessary.
benefits of evolution
(Stephen Paston/PA Image via Getty Images)
In 2019, I interviewed Victor Orta, then Leeds United’s director of football. His scouting database contains 6,591 reports, which took a lot of effort. All reports were compiled by our staff.
Matchday analysis also requires human resources, but one of the people Jordan spoke to, Lee Mooney, a former Manchester City employee who founded MUD Analytics, explained how AI systems can explained how it is possible to analyze thousands of matches. Spend days or hours creating the best tactical plan to counter any opponent or individual player.
Many in football know that AI is coming. The team is implementing language software that scans recruitment reports. The Barça Innovation Hub in Barcelona is fully committed to using AI to support the body, with the aim of reducing injuries through things such as blood cell analysis. Over time, based on this number, managers will be able to decide who to select and exclude for optimal results.
A recent survey by The Athletic found that 65% of scouts working for England teams expect AI to impact their role over the next two years. One Premier League source told Jordan this could be a “cost-cutting measure” to reduce staff costs. The temptation to accept that would be great. In Mooney’s words, “If I don’t accept it, someone else will. Then we’ll be in an arms race of bringing knives to gunfights.”
A place for humans?
Mooney doesn’t think AI will render human input meaningless. He expects a “healthy tension” and “codependency” to develop over time, but there is little doubt that advances in technology are occurring every day. Omniscope, the scientific company behind Barça’s medical work, believes AI has the potential to take hold in global performance monitoring. for the next five years. Mooney’s team built a computer model that can identify trends in recruiting teams from the appearance records of 25 million players. Club transfer windows will never be completely run by machines, but technology will increasingly drive them.
News summary
Striker-right? Isak shows Arsenal what they’re missing
Almost every deal sheet published by The Athletic mentions the fact that Mikel Arteta will soon sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United. He’s a number nine that Arsenal don’t really have and they can’t afford that at the moment.
This (above) is why Arteta likes him. In the Carabao Cup semi-final at the Emirates yesterday, Isak did his job by converting a chance inside the six-yard box to give Newcastle the lead. The Swede did not miss from that distance and it was his 50th goal for the club. He hasn’t even reached 100 games yet.
Meanwhile, in the second half of the tie, Kai Havertz headed a shot like a man without a head. That’s where Arteta needed Isak. Arsenal suffered a 2-0 defeat and have a long way to go back with the second leg coming up in a month.
Yes, Isaac used a touch of the dark arts with a bit of a push before the attack, but that night belonged to Newcastle from quite a distance and was a masterclass on away days. If I were Arteta, I wouldn’t have bothered to blame the ball…
A collapsing city? Guardiola’s team will be active in the transfer market
In the latest edition of the TAFC Podcast, The Athletic’s David Ornstein clearly predicted that Manchester City would be as active as other European teams in the transfer market.
That’s natural. Their Premier League season has been a test. And looking at Sam Lee’s audit of the team, some kind of rebuild would have been essential in the near future anyway.
I was surprised to see so many of City’s biggest players past their prime (more information on Kevin De Bruyne’s potential move to MLS and San Diego FC in the near future can be found here); It’s strange how a club can be so successful and so strategic. It would be so blinding.
On second thought, they would be glad that Pep Guardiola agreed to a two-year contract extension instead of one. he has a job to do.
Around Athletic FC
(Getty; Design: Dan Goldfarb)
Catch a Match (Times ET/UK)
Carabao Cup semi-final first leg: Tottenham vs Liverpool, 3pm/8pm — Paramount+/Sky Sports.
Spanish Supercopa Semi-Finals: Athletic Club vs Barcelona, 2pm/7pm — ESPN, Fubo (U.S. only).
And finally…
Wolves forward Matheus Cunha has been suspended for two games and fined £80,000 (about $100,000) for a post-match collision that left Wolverhampton Wanderers defeated by Ipswich Town last month. Ta.
Cunha was caught on camera ripping glasses off an Ipswich staff member’s face (above), possibly breaking them in the process. It has now emerged that Cunha’s punishment has been reduced after he wrote to an Ipswich employee offering to buy a replacement spec. Please bless me.
(Top photo: Yagiz Gurtug/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
