Bunkermagnet
Journeyman Pro
Is that as good as the TMS commentary, "The bowlers Holding the batsmen Willey"..........
Don Barzini
Assistant Pro
Interestingly, there's a lot of debate over whether this bit of cricket folklore ever actually happened...
(From Wikipedia, but other sources are available)
Johnston is reputed to have said "The bowler's Holding; the batsman's Willey" while commentating, which supposedly occurred when Michael Holding of the West Indies was bowling to Peter Willey of England in a Test Match at The Oval in 1976. This is now considered apocryphal; Johnston claimed not to have noticed saying anything odd during the match, and that he was only alerted to his gaffe by a letter from "a lady" named "Miss Mainpiece". According to Christopher Martin-Jenkins, Johnston never actually made the remark. Barry Johnston says "It was too good a pun to resist ... but Brian never actually said that he had spoken the words on air." Holding himself has expressed his doubt about the phrase ever being said, pointing out that no recording of it exists. Henry Blofeld and former TMS Producer Peter Baxter have also said that Johnston is unlikely to have said it, noting that attempts were made to find the recording to play at Johnston's funeral, but these were unsuccessful.
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
A lot of money for him
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
Disgusting
Bdill93
Undisputed King of FOMO
Could be the next Isak, could be the next Hojland/ Nunez...
Lot of risk but as I think you said earlier in the thread, there's so few top Strikers in world football, its a risk you need to take. Someone has to replace Salah's output at some stage over the next couple of years.
Pin-seeker
Well-known member
Can’t understand how his value as gone up so much in 12 month.
15 goals in 33 isn’t anything special.
And before that his goal per game ratio has been poor.
No senior international caps either.
Pin-seeker
Well-known member
How has Rashford got a move to Barca? 
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
Lot of risks now - but if we end up paying the full fee it’s because we have been successful and he has played his part in it
Pin-seeker
Well-known member
Imagine comparing the 2 & not putting goals scored
Bdill93
Undisputed King of FOMO
That's football, they're paying for potential.
Proven products cost about 2x as much as this deal will be.
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
We are hopefully getting an “Isak” before he becomes a top player and then costs double that
Prices are silly now
Orikoru
Tour Winner
When I was young, only the very best players went to Barca, or so it seemed. In recent years we've seen them sign the likes of Adama Traore and Martin Braithwaite, so god knows anymore.How has Rashford got a move to Barca?
Bdill93
Undisputed King of FOMO
Prices aren't just silly, they're insane.
Pin-Seeker is right, the price inflations we are seeing over a season for some players are just crazy, look at the guys Brighton keep bringing in and selling on - its absolutely mad money. (Caicaido went from 2.5m to 115m in 2 years)
But while the money is there and clubs want to pay it, nothing will change and its nothing we have any control over - so really, who cares?
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
Despite Rashford having issues at Man Utd he has shown to be a very very good player - it’s all gone wrong at Man Utd for prob multiple reasons
Every chance he goes to Barcelona and has a very good season
Every chance he goes to Barcelona and has a very good season
They have financial issues, have sold their future. They are picking players up on the cheap now, mixing it with regular teams. The allure of Barcelona is still there, they won the league last year as well but their big spending days are on hold.
road2ruin
Q-School Graduate
How has Rashford got a move to Barca?
I think it's a good move from Barca to be honest. There's a good player in there somewhere and if they get unlock Rashford from 2022 (ish) and go for the buy option of £30m then it's a great bit of business especially if you look at the prices that unproven players are going for. Worst case they send him back after a year.
How has Rashford got a move to Barca?
Are you Teddy Sheringham in disguise?
Absolutely agree, Teddy.
Swango1980
Well-known member
Just had a look at the Top 10 ever highest transfer windows, in terms of money spent by any club. As expected, PSG, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Al-Hilal all appear on the list. Real Madrid are on it twice, the other clubs mentioned only once.
Only one Premier League club is on that list. Chelsea. However, they appear on the list FOUR times, including having the honour of being first on the list. I appreciate only the last few years really count, because of inflation. But that is some going. Their entries are:
1. Summer 23/24 - £391 million
5. Winter 22/23 - £278 million
6. Summer 22/23 - £254 million
10. Summer 25/26 £210.6 million (and counting)
I know they've sold women's teams, convinced Man Utd and Arsenal to buy their rejects for silly money, etc. But despite that, it really does feel like PSR rules don't apply to them. You almost have to admire it, if they get away with it. They could risk £100 million on a player, and if they end up being the worst player in history, they don't really care. They can just sort of hide behind the other 20 players they bought for silly money.
With Liverpool buying Ekitike for £69 million, that puts them on just over £280 million I think, which would put them 4th on the all time list (unless others go higher as well). I think Chelsea's top spot is safe for now, unless Liverpool buy Isak as well.
Only one Premier League club is on that list. Chelsea. However, they appear on the list FOUR times, including having the honour of being first on the list. I appreciate only the last few years really count, because of inflation. But that is some going. Their entries are:
1. Summer 23/24 - £391 million
5. Winter 22/23 - £278 million
6. Summer 22/23 - £254 million
10. Summer 25/26 £210.6 million (and counting)
I know they've sold women's teams, convinced Man Utd and Arsenal to buy their rejects for silly money, etc. But despite that, it really does feel like PSR rules don't apply to them. You almost have to admire it, if they get away with it. They could risk £100 million on a player, and if they end up being the worst player in history, they don't really care. They can just sort of hide behind the other 20 players they bought for silly money.
With Liverpool buying Ekitike for £69 million, that puts them on just over £280 million I think, which would put them 4th on the all time list (unless others go higher as well). I think Chelsea's top spot is safe for now, unless Liverpool buy Isak as well.
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
road2ruin
Q-School Graduate
You cannot talk to Chelsea fans about their spending as they just revert to 'net spend, net spend!!'. I must admit though, what they do seem to do well is sell players for decent amounts, if we could do that we'd be laughing although I guess they didn't offer those players £350,000 a week in the first place and then wonder why it's a struggle to shift.
