Some West Brom fans have not held back in their recent criticism of loaned-out attacker and former Nottingham Forest youth player Oliver Burke.
Burke left Nottingham Forest in a move that caused controversy among Forest fans in summer 2016. The move saw Burke leave the club he had been developing at as a youth player since 2005 to join RB Leipzig. However, after a one-year stint in Germany, Burke returned to English football to join West Brom in August 2017.
According to Transfermarkt.co.uk, Burke, who was 20 years old at the time, commanded the joint second-largest transfer fee ever paid by West Brom, when the Baggies coughed up £13.68 million to sign the Scottish attacker. However, since then, Burke has started just two games for West Brom and is currently on loan at La Liga’s Deportivo Alavés for the 2019/20 season, where he has started seven of Alavés’ 24 La Liga games thus far.
Can Oliver Burke still come good for West Brom?YES, BURKE STILL HAS THE POTENTIAL TO COME GOOD
NO, WEST BROM SHOULD CUT THEIR LOSSES
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Speaking via the Daily Record, Burke has recently stated that he is currently trying to “find my confidence again, to prove all the doubters out there wrong”. Some West Brom fans have taken to social media to criticise Burke’s performances with West Brom following his recent comments. Read the recent criticisms of Burke from some West Brom fans in the tweets below.
https://twitter.com/wbalatest/status/1230186618729979904
https://twitter.com/Baggieboy1878/status/1230187221099143170
Just imagine if Bili? could've worked his making on Burke like he has on Kanu, Livermore and Bartley! ?
Seeing what Bili? can do with a player with the right attitude and drive, surely Bili? knew he couldn't get anymore out of him? ?— JonW1995 (@JonW1995) February 19, 2020
Yeah well in three years he’s done nothing to suggest he warrants a first team place! He will prove us wrong Cus he will be in a less superior team than us and be the star
— Robbo (@Baggieboy75Mike) February 20, 2020
Don’t even know what this kid is dining out on. Woeful player. Worst signing in our history. Cut our losses and get rid. He’ll do nothing.
— L?NEY (@laneyditch) February 19, 2020
One of the worst signings in WBA history
— baggie83 (@baggie83) February 19, 2020
Had his chances and didnt take them. No team mentality what so ever just a selfish idiot who wont prove anyone wrong
— Adam Baker (@abaker2405) February 20, 2020
What do we think?
Burke made just two assists and failed to score a single goal in any of his 20 league appearances for West Brom. Considering his lack of goal contributions, in addition to his relatively high transfer fee, it may be understandable why some West Brom fans are critical of Burke.
However, it may also be fair to say that the Baggies were wrong to pay a near-club record transfer fee for a player who had accumulated just 15 professional league starts in his career, across his time with Nottingham Forest and RB Leipzig. Critics of Burke may be less harsh had the club not have spent their second-highest ever transfer fee on the player, which is ultimately not Burke’s fault.