Scoring goals the only statistic that really matters, insists John Giles

If you want to see John Giles roll his eyes, then just mention stats.

“Stats are one of the worst things that has happened to football,” he says. “Stats? If I started my career again I think I could go through it with 100% possession by passing sideways and backwards. It’s a myth. You shouldn’t have any stats except goalscoring.”

And if you really want to tip the great man over the edge, try raising the subject of the holding midfielder. “I don’t believe in the defensive midfielder, I think it’s a myth,” he snorts.