Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Saido Berahino signs up as Chris Wood heads out
Thursday 12th January 2012, 12:36PM GMT.
Albion today handed teenage hotshot Saido Berahino a new contract as Germany striker Patrick Helmes emerged as a potential January transfer target.
Berahino penned a new two-and-a-half-year Hawthorns deal as his former youth-team colleague Chris Wood joined Bristol City until the end of the season.
Berahino, 18, has signed a deal that includes a year’s option in the Baggies’ favour after impressing during a loan spell at Northampton.
The England Under-20 international, who was born in Burundi but moved to England as a child when his family was granted asylum, has bagged five goals in 11 starts for the Cobblers.
“I just hope this is not the last contract at West Brom and there are more to come as I try and get nearer the first team,” said Berahino.
“It’s been a tremendous experience at Northampton.
“Playing in front of a crowd week in, week out has been good. It’s a different type of pressure from playing reserves games and I enjoy it. I am learning in every game and I hope that makes me a better player when I come back to West Brom.”
He has been with the club since joining their under-12s after escaping war-torn African nation Burundi with his mother, brother and sisters.
They were granted political asylum in Newtown and he became the first player to be signed by the Baggies’ then-Centre of Excellence from inner-city kids football team Phoenix United.
Meanwhile, Albion are keeping tabs on Helmes with reports from Germany claiming Wolfsburg will let him leave in January just a year after signing him from Bayer Leverkusen for £7m.
The 27-year-old former Cologne ace is the latest man to emerge as a possible loan target, although Albion would face several obstacles if they opt to step up their interest.
The Baggies’ chances of signing him would hinge on Wolfsburg agreeing to an initial loan deal ahead of a permanent summer move. He has 13 caps and two goals for Germany.
Wood has linked up with former Baggies captain Derek McInnes, who is now manager at Bristol City.
Albion recalled the 20-year-old New Zealand international from a loan spell at Birmingham, where he scored 10 goals in 20 starts but lost his first-team place.
* Former Baggies trainee Chris Hargreaves and ex-defender Daryl Burgess will be guests of West Bromwich Albion Supporters’ Club at The Hawthorns tonight (8pm). Hargreaves will sign copies of his autobiography, Where’s Your Caravan?
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A lot of people may see Woods loan move as preparing the ground for Maynard to join us – but whats the point if Cox can’t get a start ??
Unless we get a top class striker who is much better than Long / PO / Cox then why bother ??
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Following on from cyrils interest in the ladies that now appear on these pages – am i the only one who though that Gina 45F was her cup size ????
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HB
Totally agree, re the strikers anyway, i have no idea what the gina reference is too.
Having seen Berahino play he reminds me of a young Les Ferdinand. Yet another exciting prospect to look forward to, again im referring to Berahino and not Gina!!!
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Exciting window this one, and our Academy keeps churning out the goodies. Youngsters will be falling over themselves to join us for a proper education.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Joke-up,
Mick states “wolves are meaner”. The way they keep giving the ball away they’er not.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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“am i the only one who though that Gina 45F was her cup size ???? Says ‘Happy’ at No.2
Dunno mate, I was too busy looking at her bosom. Just what is it with men and round things. Oh, and legs. SHE was back yesterday!
Sir Tel hasn’t landed her yet then.
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Exciting times ahead with all these youngsters
being groomed for first team action. Have to say
it crossed my mind re Wood going to Bristol City
and Maynard maybe joining us. However weve got
plenty of strikers, cant see us going for Helmes.
This new guy Allan looks like another Morrison
we need another Mulumbu. Didn’t understand Roys
anger after win v Cardiff apparently he only rated
Cox. We did well Cardiff have a good record v us
However what ever happens in transfer market I trust Dan he deserves a raise.
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Just back from the dark side, Their big chief has issued a couple of statements and even the happy clappers are beginning to join the numpties. It’s made me realise what a great club we have, with fans Mr. Morgan would die for. Thanks Jeremy Peace for the way our club is run.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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7. 1954baggie. Mulumbus are in short supply gaffer. Our best trick will be to hang on to him. If Allan is as good as Morrison, I won’t be complaining. You can’t have too much class.
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First transfer news from me this window. Nicky Maynard and Kevin Davies (Bolton Striker), not mark Davies just to clarify. Both due at training ground tomorrow for talks. Likelihood is they will both sign with Cox and Fortune being moved on
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9 Cyril.
Couldn’t agree more, I can’t believe how lucky we are to have Mulumbu as there aren’t to many better in his position at the moment, I seem to remember we were in for Chek Tiotte before Newcastle outmoneyed us. Also agree that if Scott Allan’s anywhere near as good a player as Mozza he’ll do for me.
PS. I was hoping 45F was Gina’s IQ, probably the only way any of us on here would have a chance.
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5 Jack.
I see Bob the Builder has given Mick a vote of confidence if you ignore the bit about the first half of the season has been unacceptable.
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Inside man – interesting that we could be addressing the BIG Striker problem we have with Davies. Although I have never liked him due to his bolshy style of play(that down to knocking us all over the place) we could benefit from having a big man in the box as we do get a lot of wing play these days.
Thank you for the tip off!
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10 IM.
Funnily enough I heard Keven Davies mentioned on the radio this morning not in connection with a move and thought that he might have a last huzza in him for another club. I said the other day that I can’t see what Nicky Maynard offers that we haven’t already got but Davies would definitely provide that Plan B we’ve lacked.
Interesting, very interesting.
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Although I’ve constantly sniped at Tim Spiers blogs can I reccomend you all have a read of his latest. It is deliberately very funny and shows a sense of self awareness previously unsuspected. Well done Tim.
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11TRBH. At my age chances are nil anyway so she should have a high IQ and we can hold intellectual discussions whilst I try remember what it is she’s there for. That girl with the lovely legs keeps popping up on this site and even on the refs discussion site! Nothing changes does it. Girls and football, in that order. I think?
I’ll be sad to see Cox go. He has a predator’s eye and shooting ability, but we don’t play to HIS strengths, he’s had to adapt to other’s strengths. I wonder how many goals Bomber might have got had that been the case for him? I’ll never forget how King Jeff fell away somewhat during the reign of the super-coach Howe.
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Inside Man
You’ve really gone and done it now. Beyond all that I’m about to say, thanks for your info.
You’ve got me in a right pickle. I half want you to be right about Kevin Davies, because if not you’ve ruined my Friday knowing that you’re normally right.
I also want you to be wrong about Kevin Davies because I don’t rate him. He’s a target man yet when we’ve played Bolton in the past and Olsson’s on it, Davies doesn’t win a header all game. He’s also relatively immobile, getting slower by the day and perhaps quite significantly, commits the most fouls committed in the Premiership by a massive distance. Is this moving us forward? Is this where we want to go? If Bolton (who are in a desperate position) want to let him go, what does that say?
Not sure that signing will improve the vibe around the place at all.
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got to agree with warren re. davies
roy has insisted that we’re only in the market for players who will improve us. if davies is an improvement on what we’ve got, even including bednar and fortune, i’ll eat my hat with such enthusiasm i’ll be likely to bite a chunk out of my head while i’m at it
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Inside man: With your information and talks of a 45F bust i am getting all hot under the collar. Soemone chuck a bucket of water over me! Phew!
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you could see when we played Bolton he was not interested and he was subbed.
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I’m not claiming to be 100% right as that would be foolish, it’s just what I find out through my source at the ground. Personally i think Davies has a couple of years left in him and will give us a different Option in certain games
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Looks like we have some good yougsters coming through?
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Kevin “Elbows” Davies!. No thanks.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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