[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

And so it begins again. Less than three months after last year's frustrating campaign came to a frustrating end, Albion have a lot of new faces around the club, not least in the dugout, as Slaven Bilic throws his cap in the ring to try and sort out the ongoing shambles. His early noises all seem to be about not getting carried away, but whether that's a grim assessment of the problems behind the scenes or simply a deft bit of expectation management before we get down to firing on all cylinders, it's too early to tell.

We will, at least, have some inkling of what awaits after Saturday evening, when we visit the City Ground to take on Forest. Last year's trip was eighty minutes of mediocrity followed by an absolute whirlwind at the end which might have seen us snatch a win, only to settle for a 1-1 draw. The same result this time round would be a decent start to the season in the circumstances, but as ever, our fortunes for the months ahead won't be defined by the very first game. It'll simply be a small taster of just how exciting and sickening this year's rollercoaster is likely to be.

[WBA-Josh]

I expect we’ll play:

Johnstone
Ferguson - Ajayi - Bartley - Gibbs
Harper - Livermore
Phillips - Krovinovic - Edwards
Zohore

Subs - Bond, O’Shea, Furlong, Field, Sawyers, Leko, Burke

[Stairs]

Great thread as usual.

As always I start the season feeling super positive and sure we can get promotion.

[Blue Baggie]

I think the side will almost as Josh says.
Johnstone
Furlong Ajayi Bartley Gibbs
Sawyers Livermore
Phillips Harper Filip
Zohore

Bond, Townsend, Tulloch, O'Shea, Field, Edwards, Burke ( NB no Brunt he's suspended AFIK)

[drewks]

Although obviously it'd be great to get early points on the board, I'm not overly concerned about the first 3/4/5 games. It's only when we've done all our transfer business and then had a few weeks together that SB's Baggies can start to be judged.
Yeah... OK.. I know - but we've got to be a tad patient, and allow what will essentially be a new team to gel.

[Salopbaggie]

2/1 for a win on the Sky Bet according to the club website, worrying odds as the bookies usually have the inside and are pretty close on match day betting.

[betterthanbaird]

Johnstone
Ferguson Ajayi Bartley Gibbs
Livermore Sawyers Filip
Phillips Zohore Edwards

Not bad at all especially from the options we have, suggests we need a couple more signings but that could be the best midfield we've had in quite a few years. COYB

[Blue Baggie]

Good pick from Josh - Ferguson straight in at Full Back. Ahead of new signing Furling. Bilic must rate the lad. Could save us £10 million and add his value into the kitty.

[Stairs]

That should have been saved!

[Beefy 1965]

Goooooaallll

Edwards