Chapter 837 Saints' Black Technology

"Mr. Reid, is your technical analysis of the game videos all done manually?"

Alexander Otto's family is engaged in B2C e-commerce, which is somewhat related to this kind of data analysis, so he was also shocked, because he could not imagine how this could be done?

The big data of Internet companies is collected through the background of user behavior.

But Southampton is now using match videos. If we really watch them manually, and just watch Southampton's matches and players, then it might be possible. But if we want to accumulate a database of players from all over the world, we would not be able to collect such a huge amount of data even if we go blind, right?

"No, Mr. Otto, we have a set of specialized analysis algorithms, and after years of accumulation and improvement, our accuracy is no less than that of data companies such as OPTA."

Alexander Otto was stunned.

Isn’t this too outrageous?

In the past few years, data analysis has become popular in professional football, and companies such as OPTA have become popular.

Although these companies have their own supporting software, it is more of an auxiliary function.

Their most important analytical method, after all, still relies on manual labor.

But it is incredible that Southampton can use a special analysis algorithm to analyze game videos by computer.

"Speaking of which, this has a lot to do with Master Huan's game company."

Les Reed was afraid that everyone would not believe him, so he explained it.

"Back then, Master Huan vigorously promoted data analysis in the game company and even developed a set of algorithms to capture and analyze every action of the characters in the game and every behavior of the users."

This was originally intended to make money, for example, to study in which situations users are most likely to recharge and spend money to buy props, and then use this to design props, or provide other supporting services for game users.

Later, when Southampton's data analysis developed to a certain extent, it encountered a bottleneck.

Because as Alexander Otto said, human labor would never be able to handle such a huge workload.

Yang Huan remembered the algorithm of the game company, so he asked someone to study it to see if he could go a step further and develop an algorithm that could automatically analyze the game video data based on this algorithm.

Later, the famous artificial intelligence expert Demis Hassabis and his team joined in, and recruited experts in statistics, machine learning and other fields from all over the world to form a research and development team.

After two years, countless amounts of money were spent, and countless human, financial and material resources were invested to finally have the data analysis and research system that Southampton has today.

But the gains were also rich. Demis Hassabis' research in artificial intelligence also made breakthrough progress during this period.

For example, the test he conducted not long ago that shocked the whole world.

He used a software he developed to play games, including some unpopular but relatively simple games.

At first, the software performed poorly, but after several failures, it performed better and better, and finally even got the highest score of 100,000, which shocked everyone.

Because they found that this software can actually learn and improve on its own.

This also means that they have made a major breakthrough in artificial intelligence.

Demis Hassabis also applied this algorithm to Southampton's data analysis and research system.

The final result is reflected in the data report in front of Alexander Otto.

They not only analysed the accuracy of each of Fabregas' passes.

The so-called accuracy refers to whether Fabregas' pass hits his teammate's dominant foot and pace, so that his teammate can proceed to the next step without adjustment.

At the same time, relevant data such as the error rate will also be given.

This is really crazy!

If you scroll down further, you can see even more incredible analysis.

For example, the system will analyze the route of each pass of Fabregas to see if it is consistent with the running intention of his teammates, whether it matches the team's advancement and intention in this attack, and whether this pass is the best choice.

The analyzed data is so rich and in-depth that not only a pass or an attack, but even an entire game can be divided into countless extremely subtle processes, and then a player's route in the whole process and the team's overall advancement process can be constructed.

It is said that Southampton is able to deduce the game before the game, and the results are very accurate.

Before, Alexander Otto thought it was media hype, but now, after seeing Southampton's analysis system with his own eyes, he had to admit that it was indeed quite possible.

Moreover, it is entirely foreseeable that as Southampton's system continues to improve and upgrade, its performance will definitely get better and better, its accuracy will become higher and higher, and it may even be able to completely predict the outcome and process of the game.

This is really outrageous!

But Les Reid's mission is to shock people with his words and keep throwing Southampton's black technology to the people in front of him.

In Yang Huan's words, they don't have to worry about Kuhn and others leaking the secret.

Because these people are all well-known wealthy people. Even if they say a few words in media interviews, they are definitely endorsing the Saints. They don’t know how the system works, so what can they leak?

"The effect of this system is not only in the first-team games, but also in daily training."

Les Reed pointed to the opposite side of the office, where there were many independent rooms similar to those in a hospital's CT scan room. All the doors were now closed, and each door had a number plate hanging above it.

"That is our virtual training ground. We will analyze the characteristics of the players through the game and training data collected on weekdays, and then let them go to the virtual training ground for special training to help them recover as soon as possible, or integrate into the team, or even improve their shortcomings and enhance their own strength."

"All the equipment used is customized for us by WeChat, and the materials are also from real game scenes, so as to make the players feel as if they are in the game!"

WeChat's virtual reality and augmented reality technologies are well-known all over the world.

Previously, the mass-produced developer version has been on sale, causing a frenzy around the world, and the effect is said to be lifelike.

If the mass-produced version can achieve this level, it is conceivable that the customized version will definitely be even better.

Kuhn, Otto and others were no longer shocked.

Because I'm starting to feel numb.

They discovered that there was a lot of black technology in Southampton's training base.

There were so many that they were a little bit unbelievable.

They even wondered how much manpower, material resources and financial resources Yang Huan had invested in this team and this training base over the past four years.

If you add all the numbers together, it would probably be a pretty staggering number, right?

He is simply a madman!

He is probably the only one in the world who would do this!

Of course, he is probably the only one in the world who can make money as easily as he does!

After Les Reed waited until everyone laughed at what he had just said, he smiled and led everyone to the second floor.

And this time, Kuhn and others finally saw a player.

It turned out to be Di Maria, the Argentine player who just transferred from Real Madrid to Southampton this season!

Looking in from the window of a room on the second floor, Di Maria was talking to a middle-aged British man inside. The atmosphere seemed to be very good and the Argentine was laughing non-stop.

“That’s our sports psychology area and inside is Dan Abraham, a famous European sports psychologist.”

Les Reid introduced with a smile.

"Di Maria was somewhat reluctant to join the Premier League, mainly because he was worried that his physical condition could not adapt to the Premier League. Therefore, after Dan Abraham conducted a psychological assessment on Di Maria, he believed that he did not have the psychological quality to play in the game for the time being and needed further psychological counseling."

"Oh!" Everyone suddenly realized.

No wonder Di Maria is not seen in the Community Shield.

It turns out that it was not because he was frozen out by Bielsa, or because he had a conflict with the team, but because his psychological quality was not up to standard.

"But, Rice, how can you be sure that Di Maria's psychological quality is not up to standard?" Otto asked curiously.

Isn’t it?

Even if he was asked, the player could just lie.

Les Reid nodded and said, "Yes, you are right, this is indeed a problem, and in fact, Dan Abraham noticed that Di Maria was very wary when he first talked to him."

"A completely new environment, a family that doesn't speak English, and a strange city where you can't fit in at all, can make people feel fearful and insecure. This is something that everyone will experience, no matter what profession or person they are in. It is inevitable."

Everyone nodded in agreement, this was indeed the truth.

"Although Di Maria was reluctant to admit it at first, he was convinced after several exchanges with Dan. From his open letter to Real Madrid fans, clarifying that he did not leave the team voluntarily, it is not difficult to see that he has deep feelings for Real Madrid. Perhaps that is his dream, which is also the dream of many South American players."

Everyone nodded again.

South American players like Barcelona and Real Madrid very much because of their similar culture and language.

"We studied the same case with Ozil at Arsenal."

At this point, Les Reed smiled somewhat awkwardly.

"Although Ozil has been with Arsenal for a season, we still believe that he has not played to his true level. The main reason is not physical, but psychological."

"So, we are not in a rush to get Di Maria on the field, even though we need a player of his level, but we are more concerned about whether he can get rid of his inner demons and perform at his highest level in our glory stadium."

When Les Reed said this, Kuhn, Otto and others were all full of admiration.

They have seen many teams, even giants like Bayern Munich, but when it comes to truly valuing talent and putting people first, only Southampton can make them admire it.

Yang Huan once said in an interview with the media that the most important thing about Southampton is that it has gathered a group of talents.

This is true for management and players alike.

From Yang Huan’s philosophy of running Southampton, it is not difficult to understand why people including Les Reid, Bielsa, Andris Jonker and others are willing to stay in Southampton.

As for the players in the first team, despite the fierce competition, they are all willing to stay in Southampton, and some even gave up high-salary recruitment offers from other teams.

Ultimately, it's because there are things in Southampton that they are willing to sacrifice financial interests for.

For example, the club has shown them great attention and help.