West Brom Fan View: Berahino row leaves no winners

When Saido Berahino swapped The Hawthorns for the Bet365 in January, supporters of both clubs would have breathed a huge sigh of relief, in what looked like the end of a hugely frustrating transfer saga for both the player and the clubs involved. However, it’s now nearly mid-February, and the animosity between the two clubs has escalated to a full-blown war of words.

It all started when Berahino finally made his switch to Stoke City. Upon joining his new side, both he and his new boss Mark Hughes claimed they were confused as to why the player wasn’t getting game time with his previous club, despite them knowing the circumstances behind his absence.

I am, of course, talking about Berahino’s eight-week ban earlier this season for taking a recreational drug.

Just before West Brom’s game against Stoke City on 4th February, the news broke about Berahino’s ban, and in their pre-match press conferences, both managers where questioned about the news.

Hughes suddenly changed his tune, confirming the ban took place, but then claimed that West Brom didn’t tell the club about the ban before they signed the player, something that Tony Pulis vehemently denied, insisting his club were honest with Stoke throughout the negotiations.

After the game, which the Baggies won 1-0, the managers didn’t shake hands and Hughes questioned the timing of the leak in his post-match conference, suggesting that Pulis might have leaked the information to unsettle his side ahead of the game.

Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross echoed his manager’s comments, claiming the former Stoke boss may have had a part to play in the leak.

Pulis, unhappy with both Hughes and Shawcross, subsequently phoned the defender to express his frustration. Hughes then revealed that Pulis had called his defender a ‘loser’ in a voicemail left on the Englishman’s phone.

The West Brom boss hit back, saying his comments had been taken out of context, and accused Hughes and Stoke of ‘disgraceful’ behaviour, during and after, the Berahino saga.

It’s all a bit embarrassing isn’t it really?

The truth is, no one comes out of this with any dignity whatsoever. With the information that has come to light, both Berahino and the clubs involved have damaged their reputations and they would be wise to stop their comments before any further damage is done.

Former West Brom favourite Berahino needs to stay out of the headlines, get back to full fitness and try to realise his undoubted potential. Hughes meanwhile, needs to focus on getting results, rather than trying to damage Tony Pulis’ reputation with Stoke City fans, as he did an awful lot of good while at the club.

Finally, Baggies boss Tony Pulis may be better off just being honest with Baggies fans, because I for one feel slightly misled as to the reasons why Berahino wasn’t playing. I understand there were restrictions on what he was able to say, but his excuses just weren’t making sense towards the end, and honesty may just be the best policy in the future.

Let’s stop the talk and just concentrate on the football, because it’s not a bad time to be an Albion fan!

Boing boing.