‘This type of punditry’ – Andy Halliday called out for Arne Engels comments amid Reo Hatate comparison

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Transfer fees can sometimes skew the minds of supporters, pundits and media alike about how certain players are viewed.

That seems to be the case with Celtic’s club-record transfer Arne Engels and how he has performed during his debut campaign in Scotland.

It needs to be remembered that Celtic parted ways with Matt O’Riley last summer, and used that big chunk of money to pay German side, Augsburg, £11 million for Engels’ talents.

Throughout the campaign, the 21-year-old has been a regular starter under Brendan Rodgers, including over the weekend when the 2024/25 Premiership title was secured at Dundee United.

But the debate still seems to rage on around Engels, his quality and what he is bringing to the table, including by the Open Goal panel.

• READ MORE: ‘I don’t care’ – What Arne Engels’ parents tell him about what his Celtic critics are saying

Andy Halliday called out for comments on Celtic midfielder Arne Engels

One man who has played up against Engels is Motherwell midfielder Andy Halliday, and he has been pretty honest about what he thinks of the player.

Whilst Halliday appreciates the quality in the Celtic star’s game, he feels ‘he hasn’t justified’ the money his club have paid for him.

But former youth product and Celtic-mad Paul Slane was quick to defend Engels, including a blunt message for his fellow pundits on the matter.

“He was outstanding,” said Slane about Engels, before Halliday added: “Just relax with the outstanding.”

Slane continued: “I would like to see that from you two because you have been very heavily critical of the boy. Just come into the country for the first time. Surprised actually. When you are a young player yourself, you know how hard it is to make it in the game.

“But he was outstanding the other day. Everything about his game on the ball. His intensity, off the ball as well, exceptional. Did you see him?”

Halliday responded: “Aye, I watched it. It was good. He was good, but I don’t think we have ever said that ‘he is a bad player’.”

Slane then added: “See that with the both of you. That, to me, is the type of punditry that we don’t want here on Open Goal. We don’t want it, and we will speak to you about it if it’s going to continue, becaue it’s the type, next season, if Engels goes one way or the other, if he goes and does brilliant, you go, well, we said ‘he is a good player’.

“If he is bad, then you will say, ‘we said it’. We don’t want it. We want you to put your balls on the line and say what you really think.”

Halliday stated: “I have always said, ‘I think he will come good’, but as it stands right now, he hasn’t justified £11 million.”

Reo Hatate and Engels are treated differently at Celtic

When you are playing alongside an all-action maverick like Reo Hatate and the ever-consistent captain, Callum McGregor, then the bar is going to be stupidly high.

That’s what Engels has been up against all season long, with Luke McCowan and Paulo Bernardo the other stars behind them.

But Halliday thinks that, when the Celtic Park faithful talk about Engels and Hatate, they are viewed and judged differently.

“Here is one for you,” stated Halliday. “This will test it right. You said, ‘he was brilliant’. Do you think he was better than Hatate at the weekend?”

Slane added: “Andy. Probably, Andy, on Saturday, aye. I will say that Hatate is brilliant.”

Halliday then claimed: “My thing with Engels is that I think he gets judged differently. Usually, when players get signed for that money, you hold the transfer fee against them.

“I think the Celtic fans have done the opposite. I think they have actually said, ‘he has been better’ when he hasn’t been. Whereas Hatate gets judged as he was the one who bought for £11 million.”