[Standaman]

Palace's reported interest and willingness to splash big fees on Batshuayi and Benteke and now Berahino with no actual signing demonstrates the dilemma for many mid-table Premier League clubs they have money but there is an unwillingness on the part of above average players to join a mid-table club although wages are part of the problem but by no means the only one.

Setting aside the tactical thinking of progressing through those players as their lead striker, if Palace succeed in signing Berahino they then pass that problem to us. We are fortunate that we have Rondon in place (Palace have Wickham??) but plainly we do need to reinforce our forward options and ability wise I think we will struggle to land anyone as good as Berahino, however the player might be a better a tactical fit and be someone who wants to be at the club. So we may end up slightly better off even if the player isn't quite as good as Saido.
 

[WBArgo]

Palace's reported interest and willingness to splash big fees on Batshuayi and Benteke and now Berahino with no actual signing demonstrates the dilemma for many mid-table Premier League clubs they have money but there is an unwillingness on the part of above average players to join a mid-table club although wages are part of the problem but by no means the only one.

Setting aside the tactical thinking of progressing through those players as their lead striker, if Palace succeed in signing Berahino they then pass that problem to us. We are fortunate that we have Rondon in place (Palace have Wickham??) but plainly we do need to reinforce our forward options and ability wise I think we will struggle to land anyone as good as Berahino, however the player might be a better a tactical fit and be someone who wants to be at the club. So we may end up slightly better off even if the player isn't quite as good as Saido.

[/b]

Certainly.
A recent case in point is Matty Phillips vs Sessegnon. To me, Sess is the better player of the two but simply didn't fit the Pulis system as well as Phillips will, and wasn't really suited as a winger. I can't remember a single cross that Sessegnon put on Rondon's head last season which will be the main role for Phillips who will undoubtedly do more balls in the air for Rondon.
At the same time, I think Sessegnon was a real talent who was better than Phillips, but just wasn't right for our team.

[baggieboyfred]

If the 20m pound bid from Palace is genuine . snatch their hands off get the deal done and lets move on, don't need another season of" will he wont he" "can he cant he" and TP's regular bulletin of" we have had a chat and he understands whats required of him blah blah blah" and still grt the same ole same old, lets use the cash and hopefully get another half decent striker who wants to play 

[AlbionBest]

Is he still here ?

 

[VANDERLEI]

I think it would be a disaster.
He doesn't want to be here and Tone wants rid.

I'm sure he'll be gone but I think he has been judged harshly by our supporters. If he was to stay, he would have to perform to get the contract he desires. "Disaster" is a major exaggerration. He's a great finisher who will thrive off the added supply he'll get from the extra creativity we will add this summer.

[Adamstv]

Scored another 2 today. Might only be Kidderminster but he was the one that put them away. 

[adamw1109]

If the 20m pound bid from Palace is genuine . snatch their hands off get the deal done and lets move on, don't need another season of" will he wont he" "can he cant he" and TP's regular bulletin of" we have had a chat and he understands whats required of him blah blah blah" and still grt the same ole same old, lets use the cash and hopefully get another half decent striker who wants to play

would think that would be the ideal solution (to us fans) but knowing the specialists (TP and his gang) we will sell and end up with a defensive player whos complete pants but has a great attitude from a lower league

[adamw1109]

Do you think that's likely after what happened last season?

personally i dont think we could even guess how its going to be after witnessing whats gone on but he has potential that's for certain... i do believe if he dont go this window his only option (if he wants to leave) would be to have an amazing season so someone makes us an offer we cant turn down....

off to a good start getting 2 today i guess! LOL

[adamw1109]

Scored another 2 today. Might only be Kidderminster but he was the one that put them away.

exactly, 2 more than any other baggies player managed... yes he might be a little sh*t according to the media but aslong as he scores us goals i couldnt really care about his attitude i dont have to speak to him lol

[PsalmXXIII]

personally i dont think we could even guess how its going to be after witnessing whats gone on but he has potential that's for certain... i do believe if he dont go this window his only option (if he wants to leave) would be to have an amazing season so someone makes us an offer we cant turn down....

off to a good start getting 2 today i guess! LOL

Actually and sadly his options are plentiful. Nobody will need to make us an offer if he has a great season because he's out of contract. Tribunal beckons if so. But like Billy Jones, run his contract down, net a nice signing fee and plays contracts off any clubs interested. We'll get a fee for him but not immediately available to spend.

[baggiejohn]

If the 20m pound bid from Palace is genuine . snatch their hands off get the deal done and lets move on, don't need another season of" will he wont he" "can he cant he" and TP's regular bulletin of" we have had a chat and he understands whats required of him blah blah blah" and still grt the same ole same old, lets use the cash and hopefully get another half decent striker who wants to play

Hasn't it occurred to you that if 20% of the EPL clubs are interested in Saido, there might not be too many of his ilk out there? I want him to stay.

[Scooby Doo]

Shoe on the other foot scenario...

If we signed a player who mustered a league goal every 233 minutes in the last 2 seasons for £20m we'd be up in arms irrespective of the individuals circumstances.

[baggiejohn]

Shoe on the other foot scenario...

If we signed a player who mustered a league goal every 233 minutes in the last 2 seasons for £20m we'd be up in arms irrespective of the individuals circumstances.

On the other hand we'd be delighted if he then scored a goal every 180 minutes. Wouldn't we?

[Scooby Doo]

On the other hand we'd be delighted if he then scored a goal every 180 minutes. Wouldn't we?

Imagine he averaged one every 120 minutes... then left on a free at the end of the season. I'd hardly be able to contain myself.

[baggiejohn]

Imagine he averaged one every 120 minutes... then left on a free at the end of the season. I'd hardly be able to contain myself.

Why would he leave on a free? The only reason Saido Berahino would leave WBA is to play football at a higher level, so if Chelsea, ManU, Spurs et al came calling, he'd leave on a free, but we'd get decent compensation. If any other club came calling, you would think we could match the terms.
Clearly money isn't a motivator for him, otherwise he wouldn't be prepared to see his time out at £15k per week.
Not sure who's advising him at the moment, but I'd say they're playing a pretty shrewd game.

[smethwickw]

Why would he leave on a free? The only reason Saido Berahino would leave WBA is to play football at a higher level, so if Chelsea, ManU, Spurs et al came calling, he'd leave on a free, but we'd get decent compensation. If any other club came calling, you would think we could match the terms.
Clearly money isn't a motivator for him, otherwise he wouldn't be prepared to see his time out at £15k per week.
Not sure who's advising him at the moment, but I'd say they're playing a pretty shrewd game.

If he goes abroad we'd get nowt.

[BB74]

If he goes abroad we'd get nowt.

Which I could see him doing as some sort of payback.

[smethwickw]

Which I could see him doing as some sort of payback.

Me too especially if JP is still here.

[glosterbaggie]

Don't we get something as he was "Acadamy" and he turned down a new contract?

[mulliganstired]

Why would he leave on a free? The only reason Saido Berahino would leave WBA is to play football at a higher level, so if Chelsea, ManU, Spurs et al came calling, he'd leave on a free, but we'd get decent compensation. If any other club came calling, you would think we could match the terms.
Clearly money isn't a motivator for him, otherwise he wouldn't be prepared to see his time out at £15k per week.
Not sure who's advising him at the moment, but I'd say they're playing a pretty shrewd game.

Unless he has a career ending injury.

[halifax_baggie]

Actually and sadly his options are plentiful. Nobody will need to make us an offer if he has a great season because he's out of contract. Tribunal beckons if so. But like Billy Jones, run his contract down, net a nice signing fee and plays contracts off any clubs interested. We'll get a fee for him but not immediately available to spend.

However in a worst case senario we could expect at least £10m, in which case Peace could open the purse strings and speculate, comfortably.

[darbolina]

He's 'playing the game 'these days at least. However, he doesn't want to stay at Albion, that's been clear for a long time - performances, body language, press statements, Twitter messages and turning down of contract offers. Whoever is really to blame it doesn't matter now. He's off sooner than later hence the club ideally need to replace him now even if he is to leave in Jan or next summer - that's good planning isn't it?

He will score goals somewhere else of course but I also expect him to have one or two problems along the way too until he settles down in his late 20s at which point we'll see whether he's half as good as he thinks he is. In the meantime , we'll get on with our lives and look to Leko, Roberts and other youngsters to show the club the respect we think it deserves following the support they've received over the years.

[Foster#1]

Not a chance berahino will go abroad.

[overseas baggie]

However in a worst case senario we could expect at least £10m, in which case Peace could open the purse strings and speculate, comfortably.

No - not if he goes abroad.  We'd then get nothing at all

[halifax_baggie]

No - not if he goes abroad.  We'd then get nothing at all

Discounted as even Berahino is not that stupid