Gary Lineker thought it was 'hilarious' that Newcastle have been spending £20million on Burnley striker Chris Wooden. He was little doubt bent double when discovering it was really £25m.
However then there may be the mantra of one other former England captain, Kevin Keegan. It was an adage he used to repeat when managing the membership - 'buy better'.
Given Newcastle are and not using a match frontman and completed final weekend's 1-0 FA Cup defeat by League One Cambridge United with 5ft 4in winger Ryan Fraser at centre ahead, it's truthful to say Keegan would approve of Wooden's acquisition. He's definitely higher than what they've proper now.
Lineker justified his stance by claiming the price was 'mad' and mentioned Newcastle would by no means be prime of the league with such 'poor recruitment'.
However Newcastle don't have to scale the summit of the Premier League this season - they should keep away from tumbling over the precipice.
Lineker was proper that, in numbers alone, paying such a sum for a 30-year-old within the closing 18 months of his contract and with three targets this season is, undeniably, a bit mad.
It will have been even madder, nonetheless, had Newcastle not completed the deal, particularly when Wooden's launch clause allowed for a swift completion.
For within the isolation of this season and, extra urgently, this week - they play fourth-bottom Watford on Saturday - Wooden might but show probably the most impressed signing of a Saudi-led regime that can usher in numerous extra within the years to come back. It does probably not matter if the price is £2.5m or £25m, when the prize is a £150m renewal of top-flight standing. As Wooden mentioned: 'If that's what Newcastle thought I used to be price at this cut-off date, then that's how it's. You by no means know, in six months' time you may look again and say it's a fantastic deal.'
Newcastle can afford relegation in financial phrases, however not within the reputational injury to a mission which, as Lineker addressed, is supposed to be taking them to the highest of the Premier League.
To that finish, the go to of Watford - two factors above with a sport in hand - will go some solution to defining the way forward for a membership billed because the world's richest.
These in positions of seniority may also be conscious of the sport's significance. The identify above the door proper now's Amanda Staveley, the co-owner given a administration contract to run the membership by the Saudis. She doesn't need relegation on her watch.
For the primary time earlier this week, the knowledge of Staveley's choice to go it alone within the January window and not using a director of soccer was being questioned by followers and a number of other near the membership.
The trigger for alarm was the absence of a striker greater than two weeks on from studying that Callum Wilson suffered a critical damage. The panic-button signing has restored calm.
Eddie Howe would have nervous that he was about to enter a sport of such magnitude and not using a recognised goalscorer.
The top coach's honeymoon interval with followers has already prolonged longer than some marriages final. He's simply as in style with gamers, who've been queuing as much as laud the advance of requirements.
However defeat in opposition to Watford, who've misplaced their final seven, and we could hear the primary grumblings of discontent from the terraces, even when the bulk shall be loath to take action.
The addition of Wooden suggestions the percentages in Newcastle's favour, to not point out the destabilising impact his loss might have on Burnley. They're livid that their participant bailed on them in such circumstance.
What does Wooden make of that?
'For me, there was no bad blood at all,' he mentioned. 'I really enjoyed my four years there, playing Europa League, avoiding relegation, the crowd were always behind me. I have nothing but positive memories. This was a great opportunity and something I couldn't flip down.
'It wasn't a simple choice to go away. I want I left additional up the league, however you'll be able to't plan this stuff.'
Newcastle definitely had not deliberate to usher in Wooden this month. Certainly, a lot of what they'd hoped to do is being revised given the reluctance of golf equipment to half with key gamers.
It's outstanding that they've arrived in mid-January with only one win and stay solely two factors from security. As one supply mentioned this week: 'Newcastle's largest power proper now's Claudio Ranieri'.
The Italian is aware of that an eighth straight loss would in all probability be his final at Watford.
Given Lineker's affection for the previous Leicester supervisor, will probably be Wooden who has the final snort ought to his aim show the successful one. Hilarious, he may even say.
