[wba_1996]

Gk - Foster, Myhill
RB - Wisdom, Gamboa, Baird
CB - Lescott, McAuley, Olsson, Dawson
LB - Pocognoli, Davidson
DM - Yacob, Mulumbu, Fletcher, Gardner
RM - McManaman
LM - Brunt
AM - Sessegnon, Morrison, Dorrans
ST - Berahino, Anichebe, Ideye

That's our squad if the Ideye and Dorrans deals are called off. Clear to see where we are severely lacking, as it has been to every single Albion fan for the past 2 and a half years. Shame the various people who have been in charge of transfers in that time are a different kind of special.

DM looks extremely strong, yet Gardner will still end up playing. LM options are pathetic. Fullbacks are fine, unfortunately the two who you would describe as actual fullbacks (Gamboa and Poco) won't get a look in. Can't see Sess playing much under Pulis, despite being our best player. Striking options are thin and lacking goals. We better pray McManaman is amazing and that Ideye can find some kind of form but lack of pace, movement and creativity in the midfield will mean that Ideye will get no service and he can't make chances for himself in the way that Saido does.

We should stay up because I can't find the adjectives to describe how bad the teams below us are, but it won't be much fun to watch.

The main worry for me is that we have managed to turn us from a quality, decent to watch, top 10 side into dour relegation strugglers in just 4 transfer windows. So it's hard to be optimistic about next season.