Former Arsenal and England defender has questioned why the talk about new Newcastle United duo Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser has orientated around their stats from two seasons ago.
The pair have both moved to Tyneside from Bournemouth, where they combined for a total of 12 goal contributions two seasons ago - the second-highest ever in the Premier League.
However, Merson was left unimpressed by the discussion as he pointed out that they didn't follow that up last season, where the pair ultimately suffered relegation with the Cherries.
"Two years ago? They got relegated last season! You have to go by last season, they got relegated and it wasn't good enough," he told Sky Sports.
"Fraser was starting to believe in all the accolades he was receiving the year before. I like Callum Wilson, I think he's a good centre-forward who makes really good runs.
"But if you make good runs, you're only as good as the people who are going to provide you in midfield so, for me, that's going to be important.
"Two years ago, they were good, of course they were, but they got relegated last season."
