[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

The long-awaited redevelopment of the Halfords Lane continues apace

Popular myth once had it that if everyone in China jumped off a chair at once, the planet would be shifted from its solar orbit.  That may not be the case, but right now it's beginning to seem as if everyone in China who collects five crisp packets can gain a stake in West Bromwich Albion.  With Guochuan Lai a mere figurehead representing the interests of individuals running into the thousands - some of whom may, in turn, be acting on behalf of the Chinese state, those tireless architects of some of Xinjiang's finest concentration camps - it's hard not to feel like the Hawthorns has become the setting for some grimy and unusually banal John Le Carré thriller.  The Constant Craig Gardner, perhaps?  The Bob Taylor of Panama?  Even (with due apologies to Philip K. Dick) The Man In The High Astle?  So, while some torch-wielding Bond or Smiley gets tasked with rifling through the club's files in the dead of night and puzzling over what my four-decade-old letters asking for Gary Robson's autograph could possibly be fiendish Chinese code for, we're off to Ewood Park on Saturday, where the natives had the temerity to moan about being owned by Indian chicken farmers.

We do so without summer departures Jake Livermore, Dara O'Shea and Karlan Grant, but with recent reinforcements Jeremy Sarmiento and Josh Maja making up the alarmingly slender numbers.  The 2-1 defeat we suffered at Blackburn this time last year was the beginning of a slow and undignified end for Steve Bruce, but it was also the only victory Rovers have had over us in the last six encounters (all of which have tended, by the by, towards three or four goal scorelines with both teams finding the net).  The difference this time round will be Carlos Corberan, and we can only hope he didn't use up his allowance of miracles last winter...

[Salopbaggie]

And so it begins let hope for a better start than last season, COYB.

[theo_luddite]

Best of luck for the season chaps

We could both do with getting off to a better start than last year.

Not long to wait for my trip down the tram lines to yours.

[BaggieSteve]

Great post Ska’ad, thanks for that!

[baggietrousers]

Wtf !!!!
Still, you pick Kipre what do expect.
It’s alright CC being apoplectic but he’s picked the team. If this really is the best we’ve got then god help us. Ok, it’s the first game but come on!!!!!

[Baggievicar]

You mean we're ALL hiding behind the sofa? 25 minutes, 2-0. Long old season.

And Jonathan Leko and Lee Peltier scoring elsewhere.

[talkSAFT]

2-1 now. Great goal from Phillips (apparently)

[Slick_Footwork]

Today's game was a difficult watch...

Although you can't often read much into the first game of the season, I do feel it could well be an accurate representation. Desperately short of quality and desire.

The opposition was a very average Blackburn team who kept trying to play out from the back with very little quality. Any decent team would've picked them off, but we're far from decent.

First half, you could count the players who came out with credit on one hand. Asante, Yokuslu, Mulumby and Ajayi. Everyone else was absolutely useless. Either made mistakes or non existent.

Second half we started better. Scored a good goal. Should've been on terms if Mulumby could finish. But in the end it took poor Blackburn finishing to save us from being embarrassed. They could've easily scored 4 or 5, we were that open at the back.

I thought Corberan did a great job last season with limited resource and injury problems. But today's selection was curious. Couldn't really get my head around Chalobah's inclusion over Swift.

Having said that, when Swift came on, it made more sense. He was an absolute disgrace. You expect a sub to come on and make an impact after watching that dross from the bench. He came on and couldn't be arsed to even jog. A traffic cone would've had more chance of stopping the opposition, at least it wouldn't move out of the way. The lad is a big baby. You'd expect an 18 year old to sulk if he's not selected but not a 28 year old senior pro who is one of the top earners in the division. His attitude sums up the lacklustre squad we have acquired in recent years. Useless primadonna who goes missing for most games but seems to think he's Pele. It seems all we've recruited in the last few years is useless players or tossers like this.

Was also a bit strange to see Wallace named captain after his disappearing act at the end of last season. Sadly, having the armband didn't make him reappear.

Tactics were also a bit bizarre today. When I saw the line up included Yokuslu, Chalobah and Mulumby I thought we'd sit back and try to defend and hit on the counter. But actually, I couldn't really tell what we were trying to do. At times we pressed high. Other times we sat. But we never really pressed as a unit. Was all too easy for a poor Blackburn side to play around us.

Obviously plenty will happen between now and the end of the window, but I'm not sure anything positive can happen for us...

I think we will rue not taking £3m for Palmer. Fair enough he's our first choice but that's not saying much, just that he's the lesser of 3 evils. From what I saw last season, I didn't think he was worth anywhere near £3m. The goal he conceded on his near post today was Sunday league stuff. Actually baffles me how so many other sides at this level can pick up steady eddy goalkeepers for nothing and we have this bunch of calamity keepers just a few years after getting relegated and having parachute payments. Shows how badly mismanaged the club has been.

We still have the same useless lower league full backs that we've had for the last 5 years, with no alternatives.

BTA, as I said, deserves credit for his efforts. But he's not a striker at this level. Not even 2nd or 3rd choice if you're going for the playoffs.

Phillips scored a nice goal, which means we will sadly have to endure him again next week. He's years past his best. No pace. Couldn't beat an egg. Goal aside, he was useless today.

The only real positives I can take is that Mowatt did himself no harm when coming on and Sarmiento showed glimpses. Someone with pace who can carry the ball. That's a novelty.

From a glass half empty side, I think we're miles off even mid table...

In order to be competitive I think we need another goalkeeper, centre back, 2 full backs, creative player and a striker. What will we get, bugger all.

I hope I'm wrong but I think our objective this season will be staying in the division. Far too many useless high earners at the club who couldn't care less.

[valpayne]

Well that was a good start wasn’t it? Fortunately for me years of painful experience and a bit of a premonition meant that I didn’t waste a single ounce of time or energy on it. I wisely spent a really good day with my GF and had a cracking Saturday oblivious to the entire situation. Only when my GF left did I take a look at what I somehow already suspected and grateful was I that it hadn’t spoilt my night otherwise my poor GF would have been propping me up with her hilarious football quotes “it’s early days” “it’s a game of two halves” “is this a six pointer” bless her. As for corberan and the ole Latino heat getting under his skin I can only think? Prat! Red card following a yellow for a coach on opening day! Is that a first? Well done everyone on and off the pitch first class f ups! It’s gonna be a long season folks and not for the right reasons

[Stairs]

I watched SKY’s Football programme. Not doubt Jeff Stelling is a hard act to follow. It seemed like amateur hour. Maybe a few weeks will see it settle down. But …..

Maybe the same can be said for West Brom. One or two more players and time at the training ground required.