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Saido Berahino

Arguably 3rd or 4th choice centre forward... But easily competing to be first choice in the wide areas (where people are speculating we would often play him), or perhaps even as a central attacking midfielder. But he's seemingly been behind Sessegnon for quite a few games in those areas. Another player that's far from a "Pulis player" the way you describe it. A player that though good, is nowhere near the level where I would want us to sign him.

A different attitude and he could easily have gotten more starts this season. Though probably not as many as he would have wanted as a central striker.

The situation is comparable to the Modric situation, though of course not exactly the same. Modric was older though and an absolute top level professional so it's a high bar to set, I'll admit that.

Not saying that we can read from what happened that Berahino's attitude is poor. But it's difficult to say based on what's happened that he has a very good attitude or mentality. And I think we're in the business of looking for that very high level.
It is different because the manager wanted Modric and wanted to play him every week in Modric's preferred position. Berahino's manager doesn't want him as a number 9 at all because it doesn't suit his long ball game. My thoughts are that Berahino probably would've buckled down and played well if his manager wanted him as his centre forward. It's hard to buckle down when you know you're not going to get a game however.
 
I feel that N'Jie was a stop-gap signing because we didn't get Berahino. I reckon he'll go the way of Stambouli, though it wouldn't be the first time I have been spectacularly wrong.

Your reasoning seems flawed to me as we actually signed N'Jie 2 weeks before we actually made a bid Berahino
 
Your reasoning seems flawed to me as we actually signed N'Jie 2 weeks before we actually made a bid Berahino

You're probably right, although I wouldn't put it past Levy to put in a bid for a player knowing full well that it won't get accepted, i.e. sign N'Jie and get Berahino at a knock down price 1 or 2 windows later, after we've unsettled him. (I'll take my tinfoil hat off now).
 
Hopefully with Mackenzie, Mitchell and Metcalf on the case we've got some more imaginative suggestions.

They pulled Wimmer and Njie out of nowhere last summer and both look decent signings (right tools/amount of potential for the role we need them to play in the squad).

How can you call them decent signings? we have not really seen any of them play that often and N'ie does not look any better than Townsend when he has played imo.
 
It doesn't surprise me that Berahino's behaviour wouldn't be top notch. He had an opportunity in the Summer to move to a bigger club fighting for bigger goals. A club who would've tripled his wages, a club that has a number of players he has played with at England under 21 level, with a number of those now pushing through to the full England team. The chance to play for a club with a dynamic, young manager who sets his team up to play a style of football that suits Berahino down to the ground. A club who's participation in the Cups and Europe would give plenty of chances to play his favoured number 9 position. Add to this the fact that his manager at WBA actually wanted to sell him, only for the Chairman to want to get in a dingdong waving competition with Levy as he was unhappy with the way we went about trying to sign him and the timing of our bids.

Berahino does not fit Pulis' style of play at all. He knows that at best he is third choice at number 9 for WBA (and possibly even 4th) because he doesn't have the power to bully defenders like Rondon, Lambert and Anichebe (is he still there?) do, he is therefore completely unsuited to Pulis' scrappy, long ball game. He also isn't really a traditional winger who will go wide and get crosses in, so doesn't fit Pullis' idea of a number 7 or 11. Ergo he is pretty much guaranteed to be on the bench at best and even if he does come on he is having to play a style of football to which doesn't compliment his skills, which at the age of 21 is doing his career no good at all.

At the end of last season Berahino probably had an outside chance of making the England Euro 2016 squad, that chance has probably now gone. Not because of poor play or even poor attitude, but simply because his manager favours a style of football that Berahino is completely unsuited to playing. In addition to this the moment may have passed for Spurs to want him, which could lead to him either ending up at a club of lower standing or perhaps a club of slightly higher standing but with very much a bit part role.

I completely understand Berahino's behaviour and don't blame him for it. This is his career that is being set back here. For those of you that compare his behaviour with that of Luka Modric, the difference is that Modric was wanted badly by Redknapp and indeed Modric was probably the first name on the team sheet for that manager. Redknapp also played a style of football that suited Modric down to the ground. Modric was also given assurances that he could leave in another year's time for a reasonable transfer fee. Contrast this to Berahino who's chairman has denied him a £20 odd million move despite his manager not really wanting him and him being 3rd of 4th choice centre forward.

Completely and wholeheartedly agree with everything that you have written there.
 
We didn't want to sell Modric as he was the fulcrum of our team and remained so until sold. .Why exactly did wba not want to sell Berahino?Peace may have won on transfer deadline day but he has lost every day since.I don't know where Berahino goes from here.
 
I will counter any of your one good season arguments against this seasons worth and say I don't rate him.

An ok player, done ok with WBA but I honestly don't see where the hype comes from? Young and British hype?
 
We didn't want to sell Modric as he was the fulcrum of our team and remained so until sold. .Why exactly did wba not want to sell Berahino?Peace may have won on transfer deadline day but he has lost every day since.I don't know where Berahino goes from here.
Was purely dingdong waving by Peace. Pulis was completely open to selling him as he knows that Berahino doesn't fit his style of play. I think Pulis would rather have the 15 to 20 million quid to spend on a few more players built like Rugby back row forwards
 
Kane will be number one in our attack, how long till Berahino gets the arse and realises he joined a bigger club but isn't playing??
 
I will counter any of your one good season arguments against this seasons worth and say I don't rate him.

An ok player, done ok with WBA but I honestly don't see where the hype comes from? Young and British hype?
It is rather difficult for Berahino to have a good season this season when he has a manager who doesn't want to play him due to him not suiting his long ball game.

I would say that 20 goals for West Brom last season in 45 games is better than "done OK". As a comparison Lukaku scored 17 goals at West Brom in the season prior to Everton paying Chelsea £28 million for him. I am also wondering what you make of Berahino's 10 goals in 11 games for England under 21s? (a better ratio than Harry Kane). It may be that Berahino is indeed a little over hyped due to being young and British, but he clearly has good football ability.
 
Kane will be number one in our attack, how long till Berahino gets the arse and realises he joined a bigger club but isn't playing??
Surely we could make that argument for any player out there? Who could we realistically sign that would start ahead of Kane? I don't think there is a single player out there in the World who could do this that would be within our budget. However Kane cannot play all of our 55+ games per season. Berahino would play a decent number of games as number 9, would also play some games as a wide forward and would come on for Kane (or even to partner Kane) in other games. I don't think we would have any problem keeping Berahino happy for around 2 years and past then who knows what could happen?
 
But not every player has a history of sulking like he does...

Lukaku is a goal very 2 games player over 5 seasons so I would take him at 28m over this bloke for 15m any day of the week.

As for England U21s...Connor Wickham
 
But not every player has a history of sulking like he does...

Lukaku is a goal very 2 games player over 5 seasons so I would take him at 28m over this bloke for 15m any day of the week.

As for England U21s...Connor Wickham

everyone would, he's worth double that
 
How can you call them decent signings? we have not really seen any of them play that often and N'ie does not look any better than Townsend when he has played imo.

I disagree with that. N'Jie has not had a lot of chances to establish himself this season but has looked mostly good when he has had a chance. Townsend has been here donkey's years and has done nothing of note this season.

N'Jie has a long way to go before he is in contention for a starting place for the first team but I doubt many supporters would choose to retain Townsend over him.
 
But not every player has a history of sulking like he does...

Lukaku is a goal very 2 games player over 5 seasons so I would take him at 28m over this bloke for 15m any day of the week.

As for England U21s...Connor Wickham
Does Berahino have a history of sulking?.... He has sulked this season because his chairman wouldn't sell him despite his manager wanting to sell him because he doesn't fit his style of play. I missed a penalty once (only ever missed one though)... Does that mean I have a history of missing penalties?

Re: Lukaku. Now that he has a record of a goal every 2 games over 5 seasons (which, if I'm splitting hairs, is actually 71 goals in 157 games so a goal every 2.2 games) you couldn't get him for as little £28 million. Everton paid £28 million for him off the back of a 17 goal season on loan at WBA and a 16 goal season on loan at Everton.

Connor Wickham has 6 goals in 17 games for England under 21s.... Berahino's scoring rate is almost 3 times as good (although I admit it is a small sample size form which to base any opionions).

I would say that based on his age and potential Berahino is worth between £15 and £20 million. If he came to Spurs and had a good season then you would add £10 million to that value immediately.
 
I would say he has a huge history of sulking to be fair, but that's my version of it. Missing one penalty and refusing to play are worlds apart in my book.

Lukaku as 2.2 a game is still meaning he scores ever 2 games...
 
I would say he has a huge history of sulking to be fair, but that's my version of it. Missing one penalty and refusing to play are worlds apart in my book.

Lukaku as 2.2 a game is still meaning he scores ever 2 games...
So at what point would Berahino be good enough to sign for us?.... Let's assume he went to (as an example) Crystal Palace this January and scored 12 goals in the second half of this season. Would he then be a good signing for us? (If he did this he would effectively be at the same sort of point at which Lukaku was when Everton paid £28 million for him).

Considering we couldn't get Lukaku even if we offered Everton £40 million for him, but could probably get Berahino for £18 million (if structured in the right way)... I'll ask you what striker you would like to see us bring in who would cost the same sort of amount?
 
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