Anyway, it has been exactly a week since the 18 month long transfer saga of Saido Berahino ended, yet the dust hasn't quite settled in the aftermath.
Whilst some have simply wished the young striker well in the next chapter of his career and just want to move on from this sorry story, the majority are still in anger at how this has played out and, most importantly, how the player himself has acted.
It is no secret that Berahino has had his fair share of issues whilst at Albion, the club he has been at since he was a child, and maybe he has been misguided at stages of his time here. However, from the outside looking in from a fan's perspective it could also be said he has had too many chances from the management, playing staff and even us fans who only ever wanted him to try his best, get his head down and score goals. We all know he is capable, which is why there is still a sense of pessimism at his departure (especially given his opponents in a week's time)...
After that infamous tweet back in 2015, many Albion fans did a u-turn on a fans' favourite, understandably after disrespecting the club he played for. We all know football supporters are extremely fickle, but that is part and parcel of the game. Even more so now that social media is involved, where fans tend to find it amusing to throw someone's old tweet back in their face that contradicts their current view. Opinions change all the time, but these days that change is easier to notice and often held against people. Berahino's tweet certainly is held against him.
Personally, I hoped Berahino would simply get his head down, forget all that had happened and tried his hardest to get back to the best he was at at the beginning of 2014/15. Perhaps Tony Pulis' style of play was not as suited to his style of play, but other players have managed to grasp it. I wanted him to stay at the club but if a top six club came coming with the right price, and more importantly we had a replacement lined up, it would have been inevitable and we could have wished him well amicably. To go to Stoke City, however, has befuddled almost every Albion fan.
Yes, Berahino may be able to kickstart his career and start afresh, but the sad thing about it is he could have put everything that has happened behind him here, tried to get into Pulis' good graces (if Pulis could be won over that is) and get contributing to our fantastic season.
So, the chapter has now closed and Saido Berahino no longer has anything to do with West Bromwich Albion. It remains to be seen if he has made the right decision but I think we can all agree we want it behind us now.
And if Saido reads this, I am only one month younger than you and at 23 I know the difference between right and wrong, as well as making my own choices. I wish you all the best in your career. Just don't score on Saturday!!!
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