West Bromwich Albion 7 - Gateshead 0

oshawabaggie:

Ok it was Gateshead, but this was one of the most clinical goal scoring performances I've ever seen. Berahino may have his issues off the pitch, but surely Pulis has to insist his striker stays, no matter how much Albion are offered. His strikes were precise, calm and cleanly hit - brilliant.

The first 40 minutes saw a nervous, negative team performance and we could have easily fallen behind, but once Berahino potted the first, there was only one result. It sounds petty, but I'm sure Pulis will have seen a lot he didn't like, especially in the first half. But we needed a blowout win to instil some confidence. Let's hope it carries over to the Hull game.

Mark Koppel:

Well done to Oshawabaggie above on stating on how we need to keep hold of Berahino at all costs. I am simply sick of the media like Radio WM, and some fellow West Brom Fans, talking about selling him. Hopefully today's performance will prove to Pulis that we need to build a Team around him as our best player, not off load him.

A few more reasons why he needs to say if we are to progress:

1. Currently we have no one else to score the goals.
2. Good Premier League Teams do not sell their best players, especially strikers. Why should we?
3. Regardless of how much potentially we could get for him, other Clubs will not be stupid enough to sell us strikers in return as good as him.
4. His attitude is quite typical, and necessary, for a striker. Without it he wouldn't have scored any of his 4 goals today.
5. In the past West Brom have sold their best players and suffered long term as a result (e.g. Asa Hartford. Bryan Robson, Laurie Cunningham, Lee Hughes,etc).

So can we all now stop talking about him going and be more positive about what a great player Berahino will be for the Albion for the next 3 years plus?

Player ratings today:

• Myhill 6 - Had very little to do. Did flap one cross out for a corner in the second half when under no pressure.
• Baird 6 - Really hope he comes off in this position long term given that Norman is a liability.
• McAuley 7 - Really strong against their big striker all day.
• Dawson 6 - Rarely tested so nothing to demonstrate why he should replace Lescott in the PL.
• Poco 7 - Started to get a little more adventerous in the second half, which was promising. Nice to see a strong timely tackle even in the last minute of the game.
• Morrison 7 - Got on the end of a great cross from Varela for his goal like Morrison of old. Again might be a sign of things to come.
• Sess 6 - Drifted in and out the game. Still cannot shoot for toffee at times.
• Dorans 6 - Gave the ball away a few times first half.As said, think he could be the first Pulis midfield victim if he brings in one of his 6ft plus giants.
• Brunt 7 - Became much more direct and effective second half when Gateshead tired. They did struggle with his crosses at this level which led to two of the goals.
• Sick Vic 5 - Took his goal very well but his glass like frame was the problem again. If he is injured go off. If he is not injured stop limping and play on.
• Berahino 9 - Would have got 10 but some of his link play in the first 20 mins went astray. Probably the most naturally talented player we have brought through the ranks since Bryan Robson. All goals today were scored without him breaking sweat. If you still think he should go you are either stupid, unambitious for our beloved Club, or both.

Subs:

• Yacob 7 - Another tidy performance.Will need him when Mulumbu goes to the African Nations Cup.
• Varela 7 - Set up Morrisons with a superb cross today.
• Samaras 6 - Drifted past people with class today. But can he do it against better opposition?

Bobby Hope:

Master class in finishing from Berahino, which he almost seemed embarrassed about. However, TP will be concerned and annoyed at the first 40 minutes of Albion's play and quite rightly so!

Having set the team up and given them a team talk before them going out he expected to spend a fairly relaxed 45 minutes in the stands watching his charges execute the plan. He will have been well pi***ed off at having to come down to the side of the pitch after only 15 minutes of the game. I don't know how that happened?? We stood off them and let them play and they did! To be honest they could easily have nicked a goal and gone in one up.

So were Albion carrying out TP instructions and he then changed his mind after 15 minutes OR did they fail to do what he asked from the start? I strongly suspect the latter and I think it's safe to say that that won't happen ever again whilst TP is in charge at B71.

But you can only beat what is in front of you and that's what they did. I would love to be at the training ground this week.

Lastly I must stick up for my Baggies favourite, Graham Dorrans. His marks have been low recently so I have scrutinised his performances from watching SKY footage of each game which I automatically record anyway. It's interesting to follow a player and see what ground he covers, what pressing he does, what passes he makes etc. He is our best midfielder this season (having been asked to play out of position) with Gardner a close second. Although I do concede that he can do little wrong in my eyes. I gave him a 9 for yesterday as he was shown to be the worst Albion player on the pitch!!

Happy New year to all you lovely Baggie Boys Onwards & Upwards!

Baggyjon:

Whilst I endorse much of what Mark Koppel says I do believe that the club now has a major dilema. The consummate ease with which Berahino despatched his goals shows a player of immense quality together with profound promise all be it against Gateshead. On that basis Albion would be mental to sell him.

We have seen it happen so many times in the past where clubs have cashed in their prize asset and been relegated,(Robson and Moses to Man Utd) However the problems stem not from this season but over the past 3 seasons. The failure to refurbish an ailing midfield.

It is quite obvious to me that our midfield is not fit for purpose to make a positive statement in the Prem. We still rely largely on the midfield that won us promotion and plainly Brunt, Morrison, Dorrans and others are not going to improve. If their legs have not gone they will soon. Our three principal centre backs are all approaching mid thirties and I am still unconvinced about Dawsons quality at this level. Right full back remains a problem.

Without Berahino we have virtually nothing up front.

Therefore to revamp buying in a Right Back, a top class centre back, a defensive midfielder and a top creative midfielder plus at least on 15 goal striker is going to cost an awful lot of money. Clearly the only asset at the moment is Berahino.

Ok. Take the risk that his goals will keep us up but that is the limit of the present squad. The other two factors are Berahino's inflated ego, his off field antics and his TEAM spirit.

I suspect that given all the circumstances the club will cash in for the sake of the long term stability but I still would like to see him stay. Only Harry Kane looks as good at the moment.

Lamp Baggie:

So we finally get a 'manager' but the appointment of Pulis is really a double edged sword some of his Stoke teams may have been effective but my god their bully boy long ball tactics were awful to watch; however, at the moment our squad is just not up to playing that way so we may escape. On the plus side it's clear he expects more urgency & tempo in our game & hopefully with a couple of January additions & once he decides on his starting eleven & formation we may go out to win games & not just go out not to lose them. Also this would be an ideal opportunity to relieve the inconsistent Brunt of the captaincy.

As for Berahino potentially a terrific player but his non reaction to scoring 4 goals is to say the least disappointing; was he wracked off for being 'cup-tied'. With the best will in the world if a Liverpool type club make an offer IMO he'll be gone like a shot but I feel another 18 months with us would allow him to develop more fully in all areas both on & off the pitch (reminds me of the Curtis Davies scenario who thought he was much better than he was & he never really achieved his full potential).

didge:

It was good that Gateshead dominated the first 40 minutes because it illustrated perfectly to TP exactly why we have been so ineffective these past couple of years. There is a fear of failure and we have a team sitting back waiting for something to happen (usually an opposition goal). The Villa and Albion are almost a mirror of one another. I think the time to judge this team is after they have begun playing with a positive mind-set and we may find that they are a little better than we think.

I thought the weight of pass and vision from Samaras was impressive when he came on and maybe he will be able to contribute something after all.

Much has been made of the none celebration by Berahino, but none of the players celebrated their goals. The players understood, if the fans didn't that it's not classy or dignified to over celebrate against a none league side. That said Berahino does have a unique talent for finding space and the corner of the net. I'll be surprised if they sell him this window when he will be impossible to replace, more likely they will wait until the summer when hopefully we will be safe and his value will not have diminished.