Anyone still clamouring for...

[oskathegobshite]

I've seen enough of Berahino to know that he would be a good buy for us so my preference is still for us to go in again.

He is young and English, quick and a natural finisher. Can (and has) played either up top alone or in a two or wide in the three positions behind the striker.

Should improve in a stronger team and for a Manager with a record of bringing players on.

I think he is at the top end for what we can afford and will come to us before/if we secure CL (I conceed there may be individuals with more potential on the continent but Berahino is no risk as far as I am concerned).

In retrospect we were right not to pay what they wanted as the price was over inflated for a player winding down his contract (not saying we shouldn't have brought in an alternative, on loan for instance, incase of a long term Kane injury).

Slight question about his attitude but the pros outweigh the cons for me and I would go back in for him in January.

 

[CowInAComa]

We pulled out of the Lamela to Marseille deal because Berahino deal fell through. And he seems like a complete **** at odds with the philosophy and team spirit we are attempting to built.

Bullet massively dodged.

Buy a forward, but dont buy this fuckturd.

 

[nailsy]

We pulled out of the Lamela to Marseille deal because Berahino deal fell through. And he seems like a complete **** at odds with the philosophy and team spirit we are attempting to built.

Bullet massively dodged.

Buy a forward, but dont buy this fuckturd.

What makes you say that? Obviously there was the tweet after the move fell through, but what else has he done?I know there's something in his past, but I'm struggling to remember what it was at the moment.

 

[Krafty]

I can still see why Berahino would be a good addition, but price would be very important.

At the moment I think he is going through with his threat to not play for Pearce again - he looks a bit overweight, lacks match sharpness. However, he does have pace, he does look to play on the shoulder of the last defender, and he can show good goalscoring instincts. Son and particularly N'Jie don't look really suited to playing as the lone frontman, especially if they don't have a Kane/Lambert type behind them to offer a bit of physicality. I think Berahino can cope a little better on his own up top, he's still young, and if he is happy to be slowly introduced and improve his game, then it would be a good addition.

 

[CowInAComa]

What makes you say that? Obviously there was the tweet after the move fell through, but what else has he done?I know there's something in his past, but I'm struggling to remember what it was at the moment.

Punch up with teammate, caught drink driving tonning it down the m1. Going on strike and publicly insulting his club on social media.

All in his one full season.

 

[jabbathehut]

He will be better for us than he is at wba because the players around him will be a lot better.That said I think that ship has sailed.Jeremy Peace made it personal and he now has nowhere to back down to.I think Charlie Austin at 5-7mill would be a decent back up option for the latter half of the season and maybe one of the 3 mentioned earlier.

 

[nicdic]

He will be better for us than he is at wba because the players around him will be a lot better.That said I think that ship has sailed.Jeremy Peace made it personal and he now has nowhere to back down to.I think Charlie Austin at 5-7mill would be a decent back up option for the latter half of the season and maybe one of the 3 mentioned earlier.

Surely what happened in August shows we won't just go for a stop gap like Austin.

 

[eddiev14]

I wrote this in another thread a few weeks ago (can't remember which one) but I've come round to the idea of Berahino, having really not wanted him in the summer.

The reason is pretty simple.

This season we are actually playing the high pressing game that Poch wants us to play. I have absolutely no idea of the stats but I'd love to know how many times we press high and win a ball in the middle third of the opposition half.

I can remember us doing this at least 2-3 times on Sunday and when I thought about it I could remember loads of other similar situations in other matches too - us winning the ball high and the likes of Lamela & Eriksen having the opportunity to race past the last man and be in on goal.

Except, of course, they never made it that far because they don't have the pace to get away from a defender, when they have so much space to run into.

What we need in scenarios like that is a quick player who can finish, who we can release into a goalscoring position.

Berahino is perfect for that and I'd be willing to bet that this is exactly why we signed N'Jie.

I can totally understand why Poch wants him.

 

[nicdic]

I wrote this in a thread a few weeks ago but I've come round to the idea of Berahino, having really not wanted him in the summer.

The reason is pretty simple.

This season we are actually playing the high pressing game that Poch wants us to play. I have absolutely no idea of the stats but I'd love to know how many times we press high and win a ball in the middle third of the opposition half.

I can remember us doing this at least 2-3 times on Sunday and the likes of Lamela & Eriksen having the opportunity to race past the last man and be in on goal. Except, of course, they never made it that far because they don't have the pace to get away from a defender.

What we need in scenarios like that is a quick player who can finish, who we can release into a goalscoring position.

Berahino is perfect for that and I'd be willing to bet that this is exactly why we signed N'Jie.

I can totally understand why Poch wants him.

It's a decent point, but it's not the key thing we're after. I think we already have that in players like Son and N'Jie. Buying someone else for that doesn't make sense. We don't need another player to play behind the front man, we need another option to rotate with Kane. A striker. I'm not convinced Berahino can lead the line. That is why I wouldn't bother.

I'd much sooner see us go for someone like Rodriguez.

 

[eddiev14]

It's a decent point, but it's not the key thing we're after. I think we already have that in players like Son and N'Jie. Buying someone else for that doesn't make sense. We don't need another player to play behind the front man, we need another option to rotate with Kane. A striker. I'm not convinced Berahino can lead the line. That is why I wouldn't bother.

I'd much sooner see us go for someone like Rodriguez.

True, and I like Rodriguez too but I definitely think we'll have created more goalscoring opportunities with someone like Berahino in the situations I describe because in that postion Eriksen can just release him and boom, he's in behind for a chance with a much higher percentage conversion rate.

I agree about N'Jie but I think the club bought him for the furture, he doesn't look ready, and Son is pretty quick but not rapid like Berahino.

I think they figured they would be playing a front four of:

Kane

Berahino - Eriksen - Son
​

Look, this isn't to say I like Berahino that much as a player in isolation. It's more to say that I reckon a flexible player with raw pace was most likely part of the tactical plan for scoring more goals in the absence of £45m to sign Lacazzete or whoever.

I find it all fascinating and just testament to how well Poch has got things working that we can see this.

 

[nicdic]

True, and I like Rodriguez too but I definitely think we'll have created more goalscoring opportunities with someone like Berahino in the situations I describe because in that postion Eriksen can just release him and boom, he's in behind for a chance with a much higher percentage conversion rate.

I agree about N'Jie but I think the club bought him for the furture, he doesn't look ready, and Son is pretty quick but not rapid like Berahino.

I think they figured they would be playing a front four of:

Kane

Berahino - Eriksen - Son
​

Look, this isn't to say I like Berahino that much as a player in isolation. It's more to say that I reckon a flexible player with raw pace was most likely part of the tactical plan for scoring more goals in the absence of £45m to sign Lacazzete or whoever.

I find it all fascinating and just testament to how well Poch has got things working that we can see this.

The problem is who you drop out to fit in Berahino into the front three. Right now he'd get nowhere near the team in the AM3. He'd be well behind Eriksen, Lamela, Dembele, and Son. And I don't fancy him as a no. 9. Would we even win the ball back as high up the pitch if we were playing Berahino in there? I doubt it. The issue here isn't so much about improving the first XI, it's about providing a decent option for Kane so we can rest him. We need a striker. Not a WF, or an AM, a striker. Someone who can hold the ball up and occupy defenders. We do not need someone else to compete for the AM3 positions unless we're buying someone who is going to be a huge upgrade and even then we'd still need a back up striker.

 

[eddiev14]

The problem is who you drop out to fit in Berahino into the front three. Right now he'd get nowhere near the team in the AM3. He'd be well behind Eriksen, Lamela, Dembele, and Son. And I don't fancy him as a no. 9. Would we even win the ball back as high up the pitch if we were playing Berahino in there? I doubt it. The issue here isn't so much about improving the first XI, it's about providing a decent option for Kane so we can rest him. We need a striker. Not a WF, or an AM, a striker. Someone who can hold the ball up and occupy defenders. We do not need someone else to compete for the AM3 positions unless we're buying someone who is going to be a huge upgrade and even then we'd still need a back up striker.

It's true but there would be ample opportunities for him as he could play in a few different positions.

The problem is the price and I can't deny he's not worth £25m. I'm just fascinated as to why Poch was/is so obsessed by him - i think this is why.

 

[zicomerc]

I still think Berhanio is a good option for us. I just don't think he fits the culture at WBA, and never has done. It's one of the oldest squads in the premiership and mostly made up on Irish, Scottish players. He just turned 22 at the start of the season. The next youngest players at the club are McManaman 24, Dawson 25, Rondon 25, Chester 26 and only Dawson and Rondon are regulars.

He seems to clash with the older personalities, but he gelled quite well in the Under 21 setup with Kane, Pritchard, Dier and Carroll and seemed quite liked in that environment, and scored plenty of goals too.

He'll be desperate to move in January but I can't see us doing business with them, but if he does I think he'd get in line with Poch's philosophy and would be more comfortable in our younger environment which can see him flourish again. However if he doesnt get his move till next year his development will have stagnated and we might move on to someone else.

 

[tooey]

Berahino is a 15m player. 25m is lunacy and to be completely honest if we're in the market for a striker (which we bloody better be) then we need a like for like. We have Chadli, Son, Njie. Lamela, Townsend, Eriksen, Alli, Dembele, Mason and Onomah who are all capable, to varying extents, of playing in the attacking 3. We need a striker. A striker who can hold up the ball and interlink with the midfield, not a pace merchant with a shit attitude. Once bitten twice shy (Soldado cough) and all that but there must be better alternatives in Europe for the money being quoted.

 

[absolute bobbins]

Newcastle apparently in for him now

 

[Trix]

Surely what happened in August shows we won't just go for a stop gap like Austin.

Yep.

Austin was never on the cards in the Summer, and that hasn't changed. MP only wants certain players, players who he believes are the right fit for the club and his ideas. Stop gaps just aren't an option under this manager.

 

[only1waddle]

Yep.

Austin was never on the cards in the Summer, and that hasn't changed. MP only wants certain players, players who he believes are the right fit for the club and his ideas. Stop gaps just aren't an option under this manager.

It's the first time I can ever remember the squad having no stop gaps, we have a few who need to move on but this squad is built for the pitch first and profit second, I genuinely hope Levy finally understands this, I hope he does.

 

[Shadydan]

Austin was bought up by desperate people, I knew he was never an option and I'm glad he wasn't.

 

[dontcallme]

In a perfect world we'd buy a proper back up for Kane. A player who can play the lone role, hold the ball up etcand be backup.

The reality is being backup to a lone striker means very little playing time which results in poor performances. We've seen it happen to Bony and Lambert in recent seasons so I don't think this is the realistic option.

So we aimed for a wing forward who can play up frotn albeit with a different skillset to Kane. This means more regular playing time and when Kane is out we have an option.

I thought buying Son and Njie meant we no longer need Berahino.

 

[Trix]

Austin was bought up by desperate people, I knew he was never an option and I'm glad he wasn't.

At the Sun, The Mail, The Mirror etc etc.......