Matthew Le God

So that's a no then. More of my opinions on Saints related things are publicly available than any other person in history, so you had a lot to choose from! 😇

He prefers to watch Ali Dia in training and then play him in a Premier League game.

Can you give an example?

Saying someone's 'knowledge of the game is superficial' by the way they post is disrespectful and condescending. Putting 'I'm not being disrespectful' in front of it doesn't remove the disrespect or condescending nature of what follows.

I vote pony! You also didn't answer the second question! Are you not aware data from the game is used and paid for by many clubs, including Premier League clubs?

Why is it a 'silly game'? Are you not aware data from the game is used and paid for by many clubs, including Premier League clubs? Bizarre you remain so dismissive of it.

Bizarre how some people think saying 'no disrespect' allows them to then say something disrespectful straight afterwards! 🙄

No, because of my work for the 'silly little game' I've been approached by independent scouting companies and professional clubs to do work for them.

This isn't the 1980s Turkish, statistics in combination with attending games is how recruitment works in 2021. The small amount of professional scouting work I've had has come from working for SI for 14 years, so for you to dismiss FM as an irrelevant computer game not based on reality is bollocks.

Sure if you rely solely on broad stats it can be flawed. But you can get stats that break that down further which then do make them relevant and useful. The 'key passes' stat for example.

Depends what you consider 'decent' and why is that relevant anyway? I've been paid to scout for professional teams... how about you?

You clearly haven't had access to modern scouting databases then.

What about it in particular have you enjoyed?

@Turkish Are you enjoying it?

Stats are based on real life actions! 🙄 Many football opinions are not based on reality of what happened in games.

Ward-Prowse out did Phillips last season for... - goals - assists - shots per game - aerial duels won per game - key passes per game - fewer bad controls - total passes per game - crosses per game - pass completion

Removing it doesn't alter your statement in a meaningful way. So the rebuttal is still valid.

That is a complete red herring of a statement, the same can be said of any team that gets to a European final!

1) So Gareth Southgate's opinion is the footballing authority and is infallible? 🤔 2) What area is he limited in that Phillips is superior to him?

Because Southgate didn't pick him doesn't mean he is correct.

Their teams are the best in Europe so you'd have to be exceptional to be their very best player. England have a striker in Kane who'd be first choice for the vast majority of teams in the world at club and international level.

Do you not think... Foden Sterling Maguire Henderson James Rashford Stones Chilwell Walker Shaw Mount ...played an important part in their respective clubs making European finals in the last 3 years? That is quite a large list, bigger than many other nations.

Guardiola and Klopp aren't picking them for shits and giggles.

It wasn't merely a case of Le Tissier vs Scholes for a place in the squad. Hoddle had Paul Merson in the squad, even though he was playing in the 2nd tier for Middlesbrough.

A large number of the England squad have been in the Champions League or Europa League final in the last few years. The big issue last night was the ineptitude of the manager... not the quality of English players.