I understand your position but I do not agree that presenting data that potentially demonstrates a recent correlation between Rodri’s absence and increased negative defensive outcomes is “lazy analysis”. Especially one that gets stronger over time. The stronger it gets the less likely it can be reasonably and adequately explained by other mitigating factors. If it gets weaker over time then it is still important and I may change my assessment of the necessity of his involvement.
I tend to trust data analysis more than observational analysis for obvious reasons, particularly because trends in quantifiable aspects of life are abundantly useful in establishing and testing hypothesises outside of personal bias. Whereas, for instance, someone that has always disliked Rodri will usually only ever observe the negative aspects of his game and argue against his positive contributions, citing their qualitative analysis of his contributions (or lack there of) as support. Observational bias and misattribution can be broken with data.
I have many times in the past posted data-driven analysis of players and their performances but do not have the energy nor time these days to do so. However, my earlier post regarding Rodri’s general contribution to our success is based on my review of other data-driven analysis that I have stumbled upon over the last year.
See above.
By the way, I am a data scientist (or was before I was forced to retire recently), so I know in excruciatingly boring detail that correlation does not imply causation and I never seriously claimed our lacklustre defensive display was solely because Rodri’s absence. I made a slightly tongue-in-cheek comment on the match thread and you decide to take umberage, then create a much more hardline argument on my behalf to argue against.
I decided against responding in earnest to your retort later because I remembered—as I was reading your post—that you’ve always been a Rodri detractor, so there wasn’t much point to debating you on the merits. I am never going to change your mind, regardless of the evidence I could present now or in the future supporting my stance.
