[talkSAFT]

I know the name well (Schneiderlin), but what's his game? Creative/defensive/wide/athletic ?

[WBA-Josh]

Schneiderlein is a defensive midfield playmaker Talksaft. An upgrade on Yacob in terms of passing and vision but a slight downgrade on Yacob's gritty ball winning.

A very positive signing if we can pull it of.

[BaggieMan]

Josh, isn't 'a defensive midfield playmaker' a contradiction in terms ?  

I have always thought a 'playmaker' was defined as an attacking midfield role not defensive. Yacob is having an excellent season and is very good at stifling and breaking up opposition attacks although I do agree, he is limited in terms of passing and creativity. Fletcher is getting no younger and cover in the DM department is needed.

That said, we need to solve the RB and LB positions although Alan Nyom has done well apart from a couple of indifferent games plus being played out of position. We must also address our aging centre-halves who cannot go on forever. That plus an attacking mid-fielder and also cover for Rondon should be looked at as I don't think Hal Robson-Kanu will make the Premiership standard and of course, with any luck, Sado will be shown to his taxi.

Perhaps I'm ask too much !!!

[BaggieSteve]

Schneiderlin would be an excellent acquisition although I share some of the other views on who we would leave out to accommodate him. I'd have thought that a forward (or two) was the priority as HRK just hasn't got it at this level. Unlike Baggieman, I would love to see Berahino back in contention but fear that this will not be the case. I'd have also thought that, in the light of the last few games, a young centre back to play alongside Evans is now becoming a priority.

[BaggieMan]

Baggie Steve, if Sado signed a new contract and honestly knuckled down I would also give him a second chance but I also don't think that is going to happen.  He's too much up his own arze and only listens to the last person he's spoken with. The other worry might be the effect he would have on the dressing room spirit as there are more than one of the first team squad who would welcome a chance to poke him in the eye !

I suspect his behavior over the last 18 months has caused him to become a poisoned chalice within the game and I would be surprised if any of the bigger clubs would take a chance on him. Maybe West Ham who are desperate for strikers might show an interest and with Gold and Sullivan in charge, it would surprise me not one jot if they engineered a Bosman in summer to a club in Europe only for them to buy him back for peanuts and we get no compensation whatsoever as are the European rules.  Hey ho, que sera, sera.

[BaggieSteve]

Baggie Steve, if Sado signed a new contract and honestly knuckled down I would also give him a second chance but I also don't think that is going to happen.  He's too much up his own arze and only listens to the last person he's spoken with. The other worry might be the effect he would have on the dressing room spirit as there are more than one of the first team squad who would welcome a chance to poke him in the eye !

I suspect his behavior over the last 18 months has caused him to become a poisoned chalice within the game and I would be surprised if any of the bigger clubs would take a chance on him. Maybe West Ham who are desperate for strikers might show an interest and with Gold and Sullivan in charge, it would surprise me not one jot if they engineered a Bosman in summer to a club in Europe only for them to buy him back for peanuts and we get no compensation whatsoever as are the European rules.  Hey ho, que sera, sera.

Baggieman, i agree with you totally; comments from the squad have all been positive about Berahino but you can't help thinking their honest view, as professionals, is "what a w*nker". I'm also surprised how much noise there is around him going to another club, including Spurs and Liverpool. Admittedly, these are all speculation and rumour but, for the price of paying Albion a paltry sum of compensation in the summer, they must think they can turn him around. In truth, it's probably best he moves on because it's hard to see how he could re-establish himself at the Hawthorns; it just seems such damn waste.

[WBA-Josh]

Josh, isn't 'a defensive midfield playmaker' a contradiction in terms ?  

I have always thought a 'playmaker' was defined as an attacking midfield role not defensive. Yacob is having an excellent season and is very good at stifling and breaking up opposition attacks although I do agree, he is limited in terms of passing and creativity. Fletcher is getting no younger and cover in the DM department is needed.

A playmaker doesn't always have to be an attaching midfielder. One of the best playmakers in the past couple of decades was Andrea Pirlo and he was a defensive midfielder who played in front of his defence as the deeper midfielder. He kept the play moving constantly and he always looked to get possession of the ball and create chances for his teammates from deep. He was very good at it because of his superb vision and footballing brain. That is what Schneiderlein does.

[Dingle-Dingle]

Brentford will ask for £15m for English striker Scott Hogan, 24, with Norwich, West Ham and West Brom interested in the forward. (Daily Mirror)

DD

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

£13m Albion bid for Schneiderlin confirmed by Pulis on BBC.

Hold on to your hats, folks, it looks like the Baggies really are doing business in January!

[Baggievicar]

At £13m bid for Schneiderlin, I doubt if we're doing business!