Spend Spend Spend!

A week before ‘Transfer Deadline Day’, the following exchange took place prior to the billionaire Chelsea owner, Todd Boehly, being interviewed on the radio.

Reporter: What impact has austerity had in football?

Boehly: Austerity, never heard of him. Who’s he?

Reporter: I mean –

Boehly: Is he available? Let’s get him quick!

By the time the September 1st deadline clock chimed and chequebooks were closed, Chelsea had coughed up around £900 million for players over the last year. That’s a staggering amount of cash in any business deal and it had the Blues hit top spot as the biggest-spending club in the world.

Next day, they faced Forest, now famous for late flurries in the transfer market. A disciplined, tenacious team effort earned the Reds a priceless 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge. Given their far more modest outlay for new players (significantly offset by the sale of Brennan Johnson), was that result a victory for prudence over profligacy? Only time will tell (the end of the season to be precise) but it’s an encouraging – and impressive – result to bring back from the capital.

Money alone, we all know, doesn’t bring happiness … or success. My Chelsea friend recently reminded me that for all their spending last season, they only managed twelfth position in the Premiership. And, anyway, a player can never be reduced to a price-tag alone. We frequently witness those who never quite live up to their promise or star-rating and those bargain-buys who defy all expectations. To become a serial spender in the transfer market guarantees nothing.

(It reminds me of the story of Viv Nicholson who gained fame when her husband won over £150,000 on the football pools in 1961. Asked by a reporter what they would do with the money, she replied, ‘Spend, spend, spend!’. Before the decade was out, he’d been killed in a car crash and she’d been declared bankrupt. A sobering tale of lives ruined by the sudden abundance of money.)

Of course, for clubs to compete and maintain their status at the highest level – that would be in the Premiership – they need to complement squads with as much talent as they can afford and there are plenty of players wishing to ply their trade in the higher English leagues. But ‘affordability’ sounds a quaint concept in these days of spiralling fees that test the pocket size of even the wealthiest clubs. It means inflated prices and unsustainable growth. The Premiership has powered its way to the pinnacle by pretty much any means available, from turning a blind eye to ownership to cozy relations with the betting industry.

For a less cynical take on player transfer fees and a player’s worth, let’s look closer to home, to the City Ground. No doubt, from last week’s dealings, at least some individuals (hopefully) will emerge as ‘good business’. Fans will be divided by the sale of Brennan Johnson, though it’s possible to believe the deal will work for Forest and Spurs. He is a genuine – and now proven – talent. He has been a wonderful advert for a club to nurture young players and to support them as they establish themselves. He was a sound investment and, as a full-blooded servant to the Reds, deserves the opportunity to develop his career and prospects elsewhere. £45 million-plus – depending on your point of view – can seem overpriced or undervalued but Forest fans should wish him well.

Another product of the youth academy, Joe Worrall, was in a very a different story that featured in the news last week. His uncle, a police sergeant, died from injuries sustained when hit by a train as he tried to come to the aid of a distressed man on the tracks. Steve Cooper spoke of his captain as ‘dealing with an awful family tragedy’ and so he was. But the manager also pointed out how the Forest-family would stand by whatever decision his player made with regards to the upcoming game with Chelsea.

We now know that Joe Worrall played a true captain’s game, was named Man of the Match, and was a credit, not only to his family and club but to the game itself. How do you put a price on that? His spirit and commitment is a model for youngsters. He hasn’t always secured his place as first-choice defender and there will be increased competition with the new influx of players but his desire to perform to the best of his ability is unquestioned. On Saturday, Worrall strode the Chelsea pitch with an authority that demonstrated his spirit at its very best. Perhaps he privately dedicated his performance to his uncle. Who knows? What we do know is that when Joe Worrall pulls on a Garibaldi shirt, he will give his all. Always.

*Note: the source of the opening piece of conversation between the reporter and Todd Boehly is from my imagination!