Merson had criticised Tottenham signing Moussa Sissoko over his Newcastle form last season.
Newcastle United v Arsenal – Barclays Premier League
Former Tottenham Hotspur star Graham Roberts has hit back at pundit Paul Merson over his criticism of new signing Moussa Sissoko.
Sissoko clinched a transfer deadline day move to Spurs from Newcastle United on the back of an impressive Euro 2016, but his poor club performances from last season have come under fire.
Among the detractors was Paul Merson, who told SkySports News HQ’s live deadline day coverage: “I watched him at Newcastle last year and he watched the team get relegated, he stood out on the wing.
“He never give enough to what he could have done. If he played like that [how he did at Euro 2016] they could have stayed up.”
Paul Merson
Minutes before the deal was announced, Merson also told the channel he hoped the deal fell through, saying he was disappointed with the player’s treatment of Everton, who had hoped to conclude a deal.
Roberts took to Twitter yesterday to express his annoyance at Merson’s comments – recommending he looked in the mirror at his own career, suggesting he had his fair share of poor displays as well as the good ones.
A lot of the criticism of Sissoko is a reflection of his big price tag, and the player could use it as a positive energy to motivate himself a prove a point.
Having finally clinched a move to a club playing Champions League football, Sissoko has an opportunity on the stage on which he has wanted to thrive on – and needs to make the most of it.
France’s Moussa Sissoko and referee Mark Clattenburg
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