S-Clarke

I don't think we'd still be pursuing him if it was that clear cut.

Would have to say so myself. International/CL quality added right down the spine of the team, whilst keeping everyone on long-term contracts. I'm sure there will still be moaners and WUM's, but there won't be many clubs that conclude that level of success in the transfer market this summer. Also worth noting that it would take our spend to around £40m again. (if Osvaldo is the rumoured 19/20m)

To be fair, this is pretty crap to be honest. Even if the admins are busy with their own lives, they have entered into a commitment with this site in terms of payments. If they haven't got the time anymore, then hand the reigns over to people who have. I'm sure there would be plenty of takers. They can't just let people pay and have it go down a drain. I'm due to renew, but won't be going anywhere near it.

I don't think we will necessarily be adopting a great deal of 'natural' width in our game.

I guess we want to know pretty quickly, so we can then kick on securing our next target. Pretty certain we'll see a new striker come the 2nd though.

Q1: What were your opinions of your first season back in the Premier League? It started pretty poorly to be honest, we were caught out like startled rabbits in headlights for the opening month or so. However, you have to say that our fixture list at the start of last year was awful. Man Utd, Man City, Arsenal, Everton...all within the first 6 (all bar one away from home). Bit of a baptism of fire. It was no surprise to see us pick up once we secured some more ''winnable'' fixtures, as I think as fans we always knew we had players who could step up to the level. 2nd half of the season was one of initial anger, which slowly turned into reluctant acceptance that the new manager was actually bringing fresh ideas to the table whilst taking the team up a notch. Overall, I think to finish 14th on more than 40 pts in our first season back in 7 years was a pretty decent achievement. Q2: What are your expectations for the upcoming season? I think we're all full of hope for the coming season. The signings we've made have taken the team up a notch and we've retained all of our ''sought'' after players. The way we ended last season has added to the positive feel, but there is a genuine believe within the fan base and the squad that we could do something a little unexpected this year. Q3: What are you expecting from West Brom this season? Personally, I think it will be a harder year for you this year. You cannot underestimate the impact Lukaku had on the team in the 2nd half of the season, and you won't be able to replace him with similar quality without spending a lot of money. As it stands, you don't seem to have really pushed on in the summer in terms of squad signings and additions - that could cause you to stagnate. I don't see you in any relegation bother, but I can't see more than mid-table as it stands. Q4: Happy with the clubs transfer business so far? Yep, pretty happy. We're still in the hunt for a striker (Osvaldo being strongly linked again). If we can secure Osvaldo, Wanyama and Lovren in a single window then that would have to go down as one of our best windows in recent times. Q5: What other positions need adding to before the close of the transfer window? I think we can all be a little greedy sometimes and want a little bit extra everywhere, but genuinely I think we're another striker short from taking us up to a top 10 position. If Luke Shaw's injury is as bad as feared, we could do with another left back too. Q6: Favorite memories of games against West Brom? The one that stands out was our draw up at your place back in the CCC (as it was then). Lallana got his first league goal and it gave us that point which enabled us to stay up against Sheff United on the last day. Although it was delaying the inevitable, as we were relegated the following year, it was still a decent away day. Q7: Worst memories of games against West Brom? If we're talking recently, both games last year. The game up at your place was horrific from our point of view and it had been a long time since we'd felt as despondent about our team. The home game wasn't much better either, especially given our position at the time. We didn't really turn up in either. Q8: The previous game between the sides finished 0-3. What were your opinions on this game? To cut a long story short, we simply didn't have it in us to deal with Lukaku. He tore us apart for the majority of that game and in the end it was probably the most comfortable away day you've had in a while.

We will not let this one drop will we? Perseverance at least. And if you try hard enough, it usually will happen. Still think this is weeks away from anything concrete though.

When he first joined Villa he gave an interview, which basically stated that he ''Never felt right here'' and ''didn't like it down here, it didn't work out with Beattie etc" TBF it wasn't anything earth shattering and a few of our fans got their knickers in a twist about it, but that's pretty much all that was said.

The 3 goals were down to errors unfortunately. The 1st was the worst, so many opportunities to clear it, yet it was panic stations - as we saw so many times last year.

I'd be tempted to throw Clyne in at LB and keep Chambers at RB. Although you can't be sure how fit Clyne actually is...he hasn't trained/played a game for weeks.

Just a damn shame he never got to see all the fun we've had. Don't think he could have wished it to go any better for us. Glad he got to see the start at Wembley though.

I think ''in the hunt'' is more of what was being banded around, which is kind of common knowledge anyway! Didn't hear any links to any bids or advanced talks. Just that we're still looking.

I want him to be a success so much, but I just can't see it. I don't know what he does, or what he can offer. He would be no where near my starting 11 at the moment, at least 2 players should be ahead of him. He has a lot of work to do. He doesn't even look interested anymore.

Sounds like quite a good pre-season in that case. Able to rotate the entire squad and give everyone minutes, exactly how it should be. Don't think pre-season games should be seen as a definite opportunity for anyone to get 90mins. The majority all have some mid-week minutes with their international sides as well. I think our pre-season has been very nicely structured this year. Good results, good prep, good teams, and a genuine improvement in the side from game to game.

Cardiff have shown a decent bit of ambition in this window, quite a tidy team they have there now. It's not been a case of throwing players at it either, just intelligent signings down the spine to enhance the quality. I think Hull have made a couple of good additions for a team at their status as well. If I were a Palace fan though, I would be absolutely bricking it. As it stands, they will do well to hit double figures. They look completely out of their depth.

Bit of a transfer update from our ''rivals''. It's not as straight forward for them, either. http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/west-bromwich-albion-transfer-update-5696072?

It's quite incredible really. I don't think he'll ever play for the U21's

2 already done. We want a striker, that's our priority.

Same as last season unfortunately. Did jack all. Gave the ball away, hassled off it, flung his arms back at times in frustration. Guly offered more in the 1st half.

What we should do is now replace fox, go out there and buy a better left back than Fox full stop. The new fullback then replaces shaw, Fox continues as cover until Shaw is back. Then once shaw is back, Fox leaves...evolution of the squad....but we're probably going to have our hands forced here.

It'll be a long one, you could tell by the way it happened and how he reacted. Absolute nightmare for us.

It was alright, decent work out. Can't read too much into it either way. Wanyama looks like a beast, will add to us a fair bit I reckon. Lovren looked a tad slow at times. Shaw's injury looked really bad, don't think we'll be seeing him for a while.

To be honest, this does kind of put our home shirt colour change into perspective.

Blimey, what a weird site it is seeing one of our players on the Fifa cover. Quite odd though, thought Kagawa would be a more obvious choice....weird.

It's absolutely impossible to say that. Even more so that he isn't even involved in our setup anymore. Players who look like drifting away at 15, can have an unbelievable year and just kick on beyond recognition. It happened with Bale and will happen again. There's no way anyone can make such a strong statement, as we all know youth players can be very fluid and not look like producing anything, and the next minute... I also rate JWP highly, after August last year I thought he was going to stake a claim - but it never really happened after that. He is an incredibly talented player though, and why anyone would even try to compare him to Bale or Walcott is beyond me. Totally different physical players and skill sets. If you want to compare JWP to anyone then it should be the likes of Wiltshire and co. You only have to watch him for 30mins to see the class oozing from him.