Prem sides to 'use ROBOTS in training' – and they'll look like LUKAKU

FOOTBALL robots will revolutionise the role of the manager by changing the way teams train for key fixtures, an expert believes.

Posted Sunday, December 03, 2017 by Dailystar.co.uk

Prem sides to 'use ROBOTS in training' – and they'll look like LUKAKU
REVOLUTIONARY: Teams are to train with AI footballers

By 2045 technology will allow us to clone robots, it was previously claimed, with the skill and physical attributes of any footballer in the world.

As Arsenal prepare to face Manchester United this afternoon, Dr Ian Pearson told Daily Star Online Arsene Wenger could in future practice defending against a robot with the same skills as Red Devils danger man Romelu Lukaku.

He believes the AI monster could be just as tall, fast and strong as the Belgium international to make defenders ready to take him on.

And their introduction to the beautiful game would completely change the sport, he says, because it would drastically evolve training methods ahead of key fixtures.

Dr Pearson, 57, told Daily Star Online: "That is what will bring out the difference between a good manager and a bad manager.

"That would be just another element of training they can differentiate on.

"There are a lot of different things the manager can choose, that is why a manager is so important.

"The manager can use that to bring out the best, providing they are really good and they understand what they are doing."

Prem sides to 'use ROBOTS in training' – and they'll look like LUKAKU
BREAKTHROUGH: An expert believes robots will look and play like Romelu Lukaku by 2045

For instance, with the use of robots Wenger could programme the Lukaku-bot to run to the front post to head in a corner taken by another robot designed with the crossing ability of fellow Man Utd forward Marcus Rashford.

That way, defenders Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny could spend the entire week practicing and figuring out how to stifle the threat of the ex-Everton target man.

But who gains the advantage if Man Utd manager Jose Mourinho is practicing in the exact same way, with a robot designed to mimic the ability of Arsenal's star man Alexis Sanchez?

And if teams programme robots to train against based on the footballer's past moves, could that player then shock the opposition by trying something he's never done before?

It is at this point, Dr Pearson argues, that the sport will sift the good managers from the great.

Advantages will be gained, he says, by managers using their intuition to outfox rival gaffers on the training pitch.

Dr Pearson continued: "It might be better to play against another team who thrashes that other team who you are playing at the weekend, so you could actually play their way and you would have an even better chance of thrashing them.

"So that would be part of your routine manager choice. That then brings out another element for the training regime where the manager has to decide which (robot) players to use in that training.

"You have thousands of professional players in the world, some of them play in different styles, you might learn an awful lot more this one than that one if you have this particular deficiency.

"So if you identify skills and deficiencies in your team, because you are a first class manager, then you would be able to pick perfect teams for your team to practice against, when you know they are going up against a particular team at the weekend."