Ewan Murray, a sports journalist with a reputation for provoking controversy with his outlandish perspectives, has just ignited another firestorm with his latest piece.
This time, the subject of his unmerited criticism is the former Celtic winger, Jota, who recently moved to Saudi Arabia.
In his column, Murray disparagingly wrote, “The Portuguese winger flattered to deceive in the Hoops.” [The Guardian]
Such a comment, however, seems more reflective of Murray’s own inherent bias rather than an accurate portrayal of Jota’s performance during his time with Celtic.
It’s imperative to debunk such a misguided assertion.
Jota, during his tenure at Celtic, was nothing short of remarkable. The Portuguese winger showcased dazzling displays of footwork, speed, and an uncanny ability to find the back of the net. His performances not only delighted the Celtic Park faithful but also drew admiration from rival supporters and neutral spectators alike.
Claiming Jota ‘flattered to deceive’ implies a player who, despite appearing skillful, did not contribute meaningfully to his team’s success. Such a narrative is quite laughable when applied to Jota. Let’s not forget his pivotal role in numerous victories, his vital contributions to the Celtic’s attacking play, or the multitude of goals and assists he accrued while wearing the Hoops jersey, nevermind his crucial goal in cup competitions, with one against Rangers all but securing the treble for Celtic last season.
The essence of quality sports journalism lies in objective analysis, insightful commentary, and a fair assessment of players’ contributions. Unfortunately, Murray’s latest comment on Jota misses these marks, reflecting more on his preconceived notions than on the actual performances on the pitch.
It’s indeed a peculiar phenomenon that Murray, with all his experience in sports journalism, can miss the mark so significantly on a player of Jota’s calibre. Perhaps it’s high time he revisits some of the past Celtic matches to get a more accurate depiction of Jota’s brilliance on the field.
Instead of indulging in misguided criticism, it would be far more constructive for Murray to appreciate the skill, talent, and excitement that players like Jota bring to the Scottish football scene.
Murray (the wee bigot) should look at his own team the Ragers to see elbuffalo, someone who is flattered to deceive. JOTA was a brilliant winger and his move and fee paid proves that. Remind me, what did ragers get for moreorless??? NOW’T.