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The Footage Of A Sky Journalist Trying To Convince A Celtic Player To Leave Is Shocking.

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Yesterday when I wrote my piece on the freefall situation at Sevco I mentioned that the media reaction to the contract extension gave us the credit it deserved. As an aside, I happened to mention that there had been one press moment which got to me over the last couple of days and that was the abysmal effort, by Charles Paterson of Sky, to suggest that our midfielder Stuart Armstrong should consider leaving the club after only a couple of years here.

I would insist that everyone watch that piece of footage.

It really is shocking.

You can see it by clicking on this Twitter link.

Armstrong handles it well, or as well as a footballer at our club can to being asked if he realises there is a life beyond Celtic and Scotland. I mean, what in God’s name is that all about? What kind of question is that? Isn’t our media supposed to want our best players to stay here? This might be the most blatant plea I’ve ever seen for a player to actually chuck the SPL and go somewhere else. Paterson is a disgrace for asking him such a thing.

This is not a one-off moment, sadly.

Paterson has spent so much time hovering outside Ibrox and Murray Park over the last few years, and gushing over events at Ibrox on which he has put the most ridiculous spin, I used to joke that he was actually he head of the outside broadcasting unit which had set up a semi-permanent camp outside the Blue Room.

Regular readers will know that in my articles dedicated to the media that I more and more come to write about Sky Sports Scotland, who’s coverage of our game here is laced with contempt. Last month I did a piece on David Tanner, and his incredibly unprofessional personal attack on Mark Warburton, in a sycophantic love-letter to Caixinha.

Which is to say nothing for Neil McCann and Andy Walker, two of the most abysmal commentators and “experts” in the business.

But Paterson has plumbed a new depth with this.

I know Celtic won’t ban him; our club takes the view that it is the right of every hack to embarrass himself as much as he likes, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be shamed for it.

This doesn’t come across as probing or insightful.

It comes across as spiteful and bitter and jealous and mournful.

Paterson doesn’t sound like a journalist at all, but a kid asking his mum and dad to confirm that Santa really is coming this year although he knows the man in red isn’t red. Did he really think Armstrong was going to sit there and say “You know what? You’re right. I’m off”?

No, but he hoped.

What a pleasure it is to realise that a lot of daydreams and fantasies ended yesterday when Brendan signed his new deal.

Wait until Stuart signs his.

I hope we can see Paterson’s reaction to the news, live on the air.

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