saintwbu

Wasn’t at his best today but that’s a goal in his first game, an assist last week (i’ll give it to him despite the dubious goals panel decision) and winning a penalty today. Also played a great through ball for Djenepo’s second great chance. He’s making a good start!

It’s all fine margins really, he created/found himself with the two best opportunities of the game. I can’t remember the last time Redmond or Theo even got in a position to miss a sitter. That cruyff turn he did was a great piece of play that sat the defender down, but unfortunately it hit the back of his own foot and the opportunity was lost. I still think he’s had a decent start to the season, despite the fact people will focus on the two chances he missed today (and should’ve done better with, no doubt).

Exactly - the team who had 6 shots on target from 40 yards each because they were out of ideas, probably didn’t deserve to win the game over the team that has 0 shots on target because their striker missed an open goal from a yard out. But shots on target stats would say it was 6-0 to the team taking potshots. xG gives more context rather than just raw numbers.

Djenepo should keep his place, the other side is the only position up for grabs imo.

Amazing what one half decent season at a top club can do. Thought his Chelsea career was dead after a fairly poor loan spell at Stoke, now he’s worth £30mil!

8 goals, 5 goal goal scorers, none of whom have started a game yet this season. Nice to have some depth finally.

Actually gonna be disappointed if we don’t get 9…

😳😳😳😳

A lot of revisionism on here suggesting that Forster is much better than McCarthy. McCarthy has fallen into some truly terrible form as of Christmas last year, prior to that I think we’d have all been pretty concerned about Fraser becoming number 1. Neither are great at the moment, I just hope McCarthy can overcome what looks like a complete lack of confidence/form.

I think Ings has made the world think every team needs a 20 a season striker. The reality is outside the top 6 teams (even they often don’t), almost no one gets 20 goals. 12/13 is perfectly respectable for a mid table striker.

Ralph clearly sees Tella as a striker, not a winger. We also have a number of players that Ralph regards as being able to play there if needed (Walcott, Redmond), regardless of our opinion of them. We essentially have 8 potential strikers, we are not getting another. There is only one area of the team where I think we could still do with someone, albeit probably not urgent, and that’s CM. Yes I would like a better GK, and probably a better option in the wide area, but they’re not pressing in terms of actual personnel.

Sorloth is off to Sociedad, he’s not coming here

I’ve always liked him, and I think some of the criticism is unwarranted as I often think he is being shackled by Ralph. Last season he always seemed to be used to double up on dangerous wingers to help Bertrand, Ralph does seem to trust his defensive capabilities. I hope we get to keep seeing him with the freedom to get forward, as I think there’s a really good winger in there.

Didn’t you drop more points from winning positions than any other team last season? Would suggest if you sort that out, you don’t need a new goalscorer.

If Sam Johnstone was to leave West Brom, there aren’t many clubs so clearly in need of a number one in the PL. We couldn’t, could we…?

Yeah exactly. I felt when he said it that it wouldn’t be true, and as you say it’s already been the case. Maybe that really will be us done, but we seem to have a bit of a habit of a deadline day signing so I wouldn’t rule it out.

So Small in, Lyanco nearly done. Do we reckon that’s us done and dusted for the window? I still feel like we might have one more incoming, despite what Ralph’s said. No idea why, just a feeling. Cannot believe that Long, Valery and Obafemi won’t be leaving though.

Ah that would make sense, was just about to say I wonder if that was our choice or his, as 3 years isn’t a long time in the modern game.

Yeah i’m sure they decided to keep him because he did so well for us, but within a season he was gone (Sheffield Wednesday maybe?) - He’s had a long and winding road to the top, but seems like a top bloke and is a bloody good player. Will always hold a soft spot for him after that season for us, he was great, and his goal at Wembley was absolutely superb.

Agreed, loved his flick for Adams’ goal, and also the run he made for the chance that he should’ve scored was perfect as was the weight of pass from Adams. Add that to their combination for the goal last week too, they seem to have struck up an instant connection. Let’s hope it continues!

He basically has a goal and assist in his first two Premier League games, away to Everton and home to United. Not bad going for a Championship player.

He was also really good from Villa away at the end of 2019, until the end of that season where he cemented his place ahead of Vestergaard. The first two games of last season he was off it, Vestergaard came in and did well and kept his place, only because Stephens had been poor. Without Stephens’ poor games, we probably wouldn’t have got £15mil for Vest. When Jack came back in upon Vest’s injury, i’m pretty sure we kept 6 clean sheets on the bounce or something like that? He’s really not bad.

I don’t see him going anywhere, people outside the club don’t seem to rate him as much as we do, so I can’t see any big money being on the table. Likewise, can’t see us selling for anything other than big money. Would be one of our weirdest sales for a while if we did, so i’m sure the injury is true.

Really pleased Ralph made good, effective subs today at the right times. I’m Ralph in, always have been, but very happy to point out his substitutions are poor, so it was good that today he used them well. It was a great result, with some great individual performances. Livramento, wow, what a player. Stephens great, and for all the suggestions we lack leaders and aggression, he brings both - I get why he polarises the fanbase, but I do think I prefer him to Bednarek a lot of the time, I think he is capable of being good.

Isn’t there a stat that we haven’t conceded from a single one of these free kicks ever? Seems a bit unfair to say we’ve got lucky, it does seem to work, even if it feels a bit wrong.