Thread by @nonewthing

Just realized that England would have been more dangerous in that 1st half if they'd ran the game more through Saka. He simply makes better (micro) decisions than Sterling on the ball (which makes him an equal or better ball carrier) and better suited to receiving and carrying.

So many times Saka took up good positions to receive but the ball never arrived. It looked like someone in the England squad had seen the media attention for Saka and wanted to hog it all for themselves by showing off. It's good in a certain way because it's Raheem Sterling and

not a bum. Saka has to earn his respects in that English super squad and just a few MOTM displays will not do it. It's just how things work in reality when you have quality everywhere like that.

However, tactically, Saka being a primary ball handler would have allowed Sterling

to do the role he's best at doing. Off-the-ball movement, runs in behinds, etc. The moment Grealish came on and Sterling could focus more on his real job. Good carry from him for the goal, though.

Saka could have done that for Sterling, though, but the trust is not yet there.

It is a testament to Saka's quality that despite not being a primary ball receiver/user for England in the first half, he still popped up in dangerous situations (Harry Kane miscontrol, Sterling shot from outside the box that Neuer palmed away) ready to take advantage.

This is what sets Saka apart as a talent: he is also inclined to attack space and make dangerous runs without the ball. He can fulfill the Raheem Sterling role as well. So, today, for instance, had the ball come loose differently, he could have scored an easy goal for the team.

Saka is not yet fully developed as a primary creator from RW and he is already good enough to start for England there. Saka is not yet fully developed as a runner off the ball, and yet he is already good enough to be a considerable threat in that role. Unbelievable quality.

Basically, Saka has not fully developed two primary aspects of his football and yet he already is a top player for club and country. That's the biggest testament of his quality. When you are already a top player halfway through your evolution. It's exciting to project his future.

He probably hits something close to Sancho's numbers for Arsenal in the Premier League at his peak.

Sancho is a terrifying talent on his own. He should have a better peak than Saka if he has the right cast around him but it would be close.

The Bundesliga tax is real and if you closely watch most of Sancho's goals or assists, a majority of them happened in transition play. That's not a bad thing at all, however, almost all of Saka's goals or assists have been against settled EPL defenses. And settled EPL defenses

are incredible. The spaces are so tight and the defenders are so strong. Sancho is going to be a massive success in the EPL nevertheless. However, don't expect him to put up the same silly numbers as in the German league. He can still do it, though, but probably at his peak.

In any case, Sancho or not, Saka will be a world-class winger in his own rights. Problem is that Sancho is a better talent (has all of Saka's qualities + a slightly better creative brain). Saka's super asset is his general mentality, though, and no young talent equals him there.

Pedri is the closest thing to Saka mentality-wise and he is not even at the same level. Saka has every aspect of the head game locked down. That's primarily why he's bound to shock even people who already rate him. His development likely goes supernova because of that head.