[drewks]

Fair write up in the Guardian today. We have not improved our squad from last season's team and without improving the squad we are favourites to go straight back down. That's the opinion of RJ a long standing baggies supporter. Sounds spot on tbn.

Not sure I totally agree with this, firstly and most importantly even if you accept the statement is correct, it is missing that word 'yet' between not and improved, a tiny word which means a lot.  Also we have to remember that we were untouchable for much of the early part of last season until Grady got injured and from that point on we did not have a full first team choice available out until the lockdown.  We have to remember that the staff are professionals if we can draw this conclusion then I am sure they will be aware of it and will do something about it, personally I can not think of players I would rather have signed than the ones we have so far, that would (a) sign for us and (b) we can afford.  It will all come good.    

Agree.
Also I think we need reminding that our team last year was put together with the season virtually started; this was a collection of individuals which IMHO performed miracles.
Fast forward to now - 2 of our outstanding loans are now fully committed to the club, hopefully Krov will follow, and I think he'll be even more effective in the PL.
PLUS - everyone knows each other, and the Bilic effect will be stronger.

I honestly feel that, if we manage to get Grant in, let alone matey (Batshuayi) from Chelsea, we'll be fine.

[Blue Baggie]

Fair write up in the Guardian today. We have not improved our squad from last season's team and without improving the squad we are favourites to go straight back down. That's the opinion of RJ a long standing baggies supporter. Sounds spot on tbn.

Not sure I totally agree with this, firstly and most importantly even if you accept the statement is correct, it is missing that word 'yet' between not and improved, a tiny word which means a lot.  Also we have to remember that we were untouchable for much of the early part of last season until Grady got injured and from that point on we did not have a full first team choice available out until the lockdown.  We have to remember that the staff are professionals if we can draw this conclusion then I am sure they will be aware of it and will do something about it, personally I can not think of players I would rather have signed than the ones we have so far, that would (a) sign for us and (b) we can afford.  It will all come good.    

Salop some excellent points within your post. The "yet" being quite important. I agree 100% the early part of the seaon we were head and shoulders
above the rest of the teams in the championship. Diangana's injury certainly upset the balance of the team and we struggled to recreate the early form.
The signings have been more then we would have expected IMO and we are still waiting for Bilic to announce his new gem ?
A couple of new loans and we could be more of a threat then others realise.

[Stairs]

Fair write up in the Guardian today. We have not improved our squad from last season's team and without improving the squad we are favourites to go straight back down. That's the opinion of RJ a long standing baggies supporter. Sounds spot on tbn.

Not sure I totally agree with this, firstly and most importantly even if you accept the statement is correct, it is missing that word 'yet' between not and improved, a tiny word which means a lot.  Also we have to remember that we were untouchable for much of the early part of last season until Grady got injured and from that point on we did not have a full first team choice available out until the lockdown.  We have to remember that the staff are professionals if we can draw this conclusion then I am sure they will be aware of it and will do something about it, personally I can not think of players I would rather have signed than the ones we have so far, that would (a) sign for us and (b) we can afford.  It will all come good.    

Salop some excellent points within your post. The "yet" being quite important. I agree 100% the early part of the seaon we were head and shoulders
above the rest of the teams in the championship. Diangana's injury certainly upset the balance of the team and we struggled to recreate the early form.
The signings have been more then we would have expected IMO and we are still waiting for Bilic to announce his new gem ?
A couple of new loans and we could be more of a threat then others realise.

I am also intrigued by SB's comment that the players are better equipped to the Premier than they were in the Championship e.g. more space to play and display skills.

To me it is pure spin but I'd like to be proven wrong.

Krov, Grady, Pereira and Robinson (hopefully) are all same squad as last year. But Kipre is net new and hopefully we will at least get another striker (Grant) and defender.

I would be very happy with this as a squad - it stands a chance.

[derbybaggie]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54069379

Never rated him

[drewks]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54069379

Never rated him  

Flippin' 'eck - that's SERIOUS MONEY!!

[Blue Baggie]

That's what happens when your owner gives you some pocket change. We should remind Lai of how other owners support their clubs.

[wba13]

That's what happens when your owner gives you some pocket change. We should remind Lai of how other owners support their clubs.

So seriously blue you would want us to pay stupid money  {which is what Villa are paying} for an unproven championship striker. Don’t get me wrong I really like Watkins but never at that price. Would rather we stick to our guns to try to buy Grant who has scored in the Premiership.
The big problem now is that stupid Villa have set a benchmark for Championship strikers so Huddersfield will try and up the price.  Never known a club like Villa they do not know how to negotiate the sellers say x amount villa pay it. Look at Wilson gone to Newcastle for 2 mill less than villa wanted to pay. Wilson stuck to his guns and said he wanted Newcastle so vile had to withdraw the offer.
I would not expect any owner to throw silly money for a player which is exactly what we won’t do.thank Good ness.

[Arcane Astral Aeons]

That's what happens when your owner gives you some pocket change. We should remind Lai of how other owners support their clubs.

So seriously blue you would want us to pay stupid money  {which is what Villa are paying} for an unproven championship striker. Don’t get me wrong I really like Watkins but never at that price. Would rather we stick to our guns to try to buy Grant who has scored in the Premiership.
The big problem now is that stupid Villa have set a benchmark for Championship strikers so Huddersfield will try and up the price.  Never known a club like Villa they do not know how to negotiate the sellers say x amount villa pay it. Look at Wilson gone to Newcastle for 2 mill less than villa wanted to pay. Wilson stuck to his guns and said he wanted Newcastle so vile had to withdraw the offer.
I would not expect any owner to throw silly money for a player which is exactly what we won’t do.thank Good ness.

look how much they spent last season 
and stayed up on the last day
sometimes what you buy for whatever price guarantees nothing
as has been said....stupid money.....for a player that is unproven

[drewks]

Yeah, but you're all forgetting what Smith said after virtually every game -
"We were so unlucky"
"We played 'em off the park - and still lost"
"The ref had a shocker"
"The grass was too long for Grealish"
etc, etc.

No matey - spending zillions doesn't mean you have a God given right to win - you've got to COACH them and MANAGE them correctly.

I'd honestly much rather be in our position than Villa's at the moment. Even if we finish below them, after spending a fraction of what THEY have over the past 18 months, I'll be happy *

(*as long as we stay up!)

[WBA-Josh]

I think £28 million rising to £33 million is way too much for Watkins, a player who has only had 1 really good goal scoring season in the Championship as a striker.