TOM ENGLISH likes to be controversial on all sporting subjects except when it comes to upsetting the Rangers supporters.
His latest tweet questions the assumption that Celtic’s French Under 21 midfielder Olivier Ntcham is really worth the £14million that Porto are reported to be offering for the Celtic star.
Indeed Porto are actually reported as being prepared to offer £14million PLUS a player – ex-Newcastle defender Chancel Mbemba. That last bit is ignored by English who appears to be suggesting that £14million is way above the player’s actual valuation.
He also ignores the fact that Celtic knocked back Porto last summer when they bid around £12million for the Frenchman and also he takes no account of the fact that Celtic have strengthened their hand by signing Ntcham up on a new long term contract at the club at the end of last year.
“£14m for Ntcham? Really??” was English’s remark.
£14m for Ntcham? Really??
— Tom English (@TEnglishSport) January 15, 2019
Bhoys were quick to point out English’s track record at judging Celtic players and quoted one of English’s previous tweets regarding the valuation of former Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk, who is now regarded as one of the best defenders in World football.
“We all know you can spot a player,” one supporter noted.
English reckoned that Van Dijk was just over-rated, but was actually ‘VASTLY over-rated’ and that the Dutchman ‘too often gets found out by decent strikers’- funny that there seems to be plenty of ‘decent strikers’ in the English Premier League and the Champions League who have been struggling to ‘find out’ Van Dijk since his move to Liverpool, currently sitting well clear at the top the league.
Indeed being reminded of this embarrassing remark had English on the defensive as he’s tried to use humour to laugh off his assessment on Van Dijk.
“Er, uhm, I was hacked, I was on heavy medication, I was drunk. Was that tweet sent after the Legia games?” English asked.
At the weekend one of the tabloids had a story that Liverpool were interested in signing Celtic winger James Forrest and quoted a price of £8million. BT SPORT presenter Darrell Currie commented on this story and provided a more accurate valuation that Celtic would have for Forrest should they decide to sell him.
Remarkable this ????. 1st of all – he wants to stay at Celtic… 2nd – if someone was bidding they should probably start at £20M! https://t.co/iT7CTEA8MK
— Darrell Currie (@darrellcurrietv) January 13, 2019
This £20million valuation upset the Zombies and the Currie had to make a further post to explain his stance.
“Massive split in opinion over my last tweet… regardless, I believe clubs in Scotland should get higher fees for their players. There’s plenty of talent in our game and we should talk it up. The success of guys like Van Dijk and Robertson shows our league can produce top stars.”
Massive split in opinion over my last tweet… regardless, I believe clubs in Scotland should get higher fees for their players. There’s plenty of talent in our game and we should talk it up. The success of guys like Van Dijk and Robertson shows our league can produce top stars.
— Darrell Currie (@darrellcurrietv) January 13, 2019
Hypothetically if Liverpool were determined to sign James Forrest they would have to meet Celtic’s valuation for the player or they would be left disappointed. Same goes with Porto for Ntcham, and the Portuguese club already know that Celtic have knocked back their previous bid last summer.
If you don’t meet the selling club’s valuation you don’t sign the player, as Celtic found out last summer with the John McGinn saga.
None of that matter to English though. Never let the facts get in the way of a we dig at Celtic eh Tom? Darrell Currie, talks up the Scottish game and gets pelters from you know who. English knows how to avoid this type of aggravation, in fact he’s made a career out of it.
Also on The Celtic Star…
‘Things might be a bit tighter, but we’re in a very strong position,’ Celtic coach
Scottish football? Where ‘striking an opponent with excessive force’ is not a problem
Yaya? ‘Over to You, Celtic FC’, Kolo? ‘He’s great with players,’ Rodgers
