West Brom Super Fans side against Charlie Austin after he detailed clash with Slaven Bilic
This is part of a regular series from our panel of West Brom Super Fans. Each week, our Super Fans will deliver their verdicts on the biggest talking points and news stories around The Hawthorns.
–––––––––––––––––
Charlie Austin did not see eye to eye with former boss Slaven Bilic but West Brom Super Fans have shown little sympathy towards the striker.
The forward, who is currently on loan at QPR, feels he was harshly treated by Bilic after the arrivals of Callum Robinson and Karlan Grant in the summer.
He told Sky Sports’ Soccer AM [10:00, 27/03/21]: “The manager went in a different direction and signed two centre-forwards for £15million-plus and it was like, he’s always going to go for that even when results weren’t great he wasn’t changing it.
“Monday to Friday it was just training then coming in Saturday morning training with the fitness coach, like three or four of us, that was the tough side of it.”
However, our Super Fans do not share the 31-year-old’s perspective.
They argue Austin was not suited to Albion’s style of play and can only blame his poor fitness for his lack of game time this season.
Here is what they had to say on the matter.
Dylan Ashmore (WBADyl)
Jamie Rossiter (Jay89R)
Josh (JoshatWBA)
Jon W (JonW1995)
Luke Pollard (LukeyP_WBA)
Lee Armstrong (@UncleSock)
David Beddall (@DavidBeddall4)
Austin never really settled at The Hawthorns and he certainly failed to live up to the goalscoring form he demonstrated at other clubs in his career.
He scored ten goals in the Championship but our Super Fans seem satisfied that he is unlikely to play for us again.
Austin’s contract expires in the summer and he looks set to leave, with current club QPR the obvious destination for him.
It is true that he does not fit the pacy, fluid style we operated in the Championship.
In that sense, Grant should be the better option for us next year and hopefully he can build an understanding with Matheus Pereira and Grady Diangana.
Offloading Austin’s reported [Spotrac] £70,000 wages will also be a welcome development and can be put towards a younger, more dynamic forward.
In other West Brom news, Kevin Phillips thinks Albion should swoop for a player who is currently frustrated at a Premier League rival.
Be sure to follow West Brom News on Facebook and Twitter for 24/7 updates on the Baggies and more exclusive interviews with Kevin Phillips.