It was a Big Shout with a difference this week on the FIFA 10 podcast as my cohort Romily Broad hosted it from Canada, surrounded by a bevy of FIFA 10 producers, whilst I remained in dear old Blighty.

But I just had to call in and join the boys for the Big Shout after Gary Neville further enhanced his reputation as the best loved man in English football after he said Premier League footballers deserve every penny they earn.

According to Red Nev: “Others earn billions selling rights and 75,000 come to watch us every week. There’s a product here that people love. Fans are crucial but without the player you have nothing.”

And forget loyalty, Gary reckons players are entitled to defect to rival clubs for a bigger pay packet:: “Architects leave their business, caterers move restaurants - this is life. People want a better wage.”

Now don’t get me wrong, if someone is prepared to pay you vast amounts of money for kicking a ball about then you would be stupid, or a communist, to refuse. And if someone offers you an increase in salary to do the same thing elsewhere then you certainly have to consider it. But not every footballer is as gifted as Rooney, Torres or Beckham, and there are an unbelievable amount of average footballers earning a wage that their talent doesn’t deserve.

But then again, football isn’t the only industry guilty of this.

No one can tell me a newsreader deserves their inflated salary, after all they just read for a living and don’t have the threat of career ending injury looming above them each time they sit in front of the camera. And we’ve all seen how politicians are partial to a pound note from their expense forms, whilst their constituents are forced to survive on their basic salary.

But my main problem with Gary Neville’s comment is that he said it at a time when the economy is in free fall, the unemployment rate is rising and the fans that pay to watch the game are alienated even further from the players on the pitch whose millions they subsidise.

But what do you think? Feel free to listen to the thoughts of FIFA 10 producers David Rutter and Mike Takla in the podcast and have your say below.

Get involved with the podcast’s Big Shout every Thursday. Follow EARom on Twitter.