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You can cross Pratt off anyway, came off for the reserves yesterday, suspected fractured cheekbone I believe

You've got a collection from overseas thrown together in a new country, new league, bigger demands physically and a lot are quite young. You have a head coach who is beasting them daily with a relentless high press, you have a heavy pitch and fans who are 1 goal from turning every game or not turning up, or both. And you all find yourselves in a relegation battle when no doubt you were sold a crock of bullshit when you signed. When you look around the dressing room and pitch there are no real leaders, no experience for where you are and no talismen you can rely on. It's really isn't easy street compared to the gentle serene Tony Mowbray years.

They are on easy street now. Theres absolutely no accountability and continued poor results are just put down to various excuses.

The priority in those days of 2018-2020 was to 'stabilise' i.e. survive in the Championship and avoid risk of a return to League One, blended with a combination of 'rewarding' those senior players who had got us straight back up and 'developing' some academy products into mainstays of the team. I don't believe that promotion really ever came anywhere in the equation. But still, I much, much preferred that group of lads. A good combination of proper established senior players and some really likeable youngsters. I just don't get that feeling now.

Sadly they were on easy street the whole club was with little expectation other than tread water. This lot now aren't as good and will be paid a lot less (there's a correlation there) but they aren't on easy street by any means compared to that lot.

This is why I think they'll be fine. They clearly have big issues but they have a good handful of players who would get in 75%+ of the teams within this league. Gut tells me they'll start moving upwards soon.

Two things with West Brom - on paper they shouldn't be in trouble, and I don't think their ownership will sit back and risk their investment going down the drain and not act. I expect if this new manager of theirs doesn't shape himself quickly he'll be replaced. For some strange reason they seem to be wedded to this obsession with employing young inexperienced head coaches. But that will change if they are at serious risk of League One.

I think back to that squad we had between 2018 and 2020 Raya, Lenihan, Mulgrew, Nyambe, Bennett, Buckley, Conway, Dack, Evans, Reed, Rothwell, Smallwood, Travis, Armstrong, Brereton, Graham I don't know what it is but that was a much more likeable, relatable group than what we have now.

Yeah WBA are right in it. Far too much football to be played to say "x is definitely going down" apart from Sheffield Wednesday of course.

Not sure about 4 left footers in a back 4! Miller at right back in that formation surely?!

I really hope he goes abroad. Become a Barca legend - the way he plays is just perfect for them. He genuinely could be the Busquets type they've been looking for.

Bargain!

Shows where we are when we're longing for a strike force in a side that finished 15th in this league. I do agree by the way.

Many, many thanks. 🙏🏆👍

The other possibility is Pasha has considerably more control than we think over what happens here, and Venkies have considerably less.

Even if money laundering had taken place I’m not sure selling the club would make this more likely to come to light.

Also lines up for a great cranberries chant... He hates Gestedeeeee He hates Gestedeeeee Nombe, Nombe Nombe

Good shout. He's been struggling with injuries but knows where the goal is.

No Kargbo ? Where is he up to injury wise ?

I don’t understand how people can look at WBAs form and not include them in the equation.

Well we have it and we're not doing very well. You can cite injuries but we shouldn't be averaging more than any other club. And we haven't got Cleary yet.

Putting my reluctantly realistic head on, we could probably do worse punt wise than Nombe at Rotherham. They're sinking without a trace but despite that he's got 7 goals for them and is league ones most clinical striker data wise. Good age (27) with some championship experience (not quite as good as Cashin) and not long left on his deal. Likely wouldnt mind rotating with Ohashi and gives us 2 decent strikers (on paper) and two grafters. Also likely very cheap and his agent will push for it

He should be back for this one. In what capacity, I have no idea. Maybe just off the bench?

Russian team.... Regardless, when he tries and his confidence is up its no huge surprise he scored. His later months for us lacked effort, possibly had any confidence stamped out of him too but effort is the bare minimum a footballer should have in his locker.

27th Jan still only two signings....