[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

As the whirring of hot fax machines heralds the last hour of the transfer window (though one could be forgiven for nursing the suspicion that Albion's business, such as it is, is done by semaphore) we contemplate an autumn ahead with the threadbare squad as is, save for the possible addition of right-back Pipa (whether that's Billie, Pied or Rowdy Roddy remains to be seen). But to give credit where it's due, the current team has taken its chances and eked out seven points from the first four matches of the season, with the opportunity to make it ten from five tomorrow as Huddersfield visit the Hawthorns.

Having won the corresponding encounter 1-0 in March, this is a chance to complete back-to-back wins against the Terriers for the first time since 1998, as a draw against Middlesbrough is the only thing that's kept them off the bottom of the table during an admittedly tough start that encompassed matches versus Norwich and Leicester, along with a less-than-ideal opening defeat at Plymouth. Nothing seems to be going right in front of goal for Huddersfield, whose 62 shots so far this season - the sixth-highest tally in the division - have yielded just two league goals, one of them put into his own net by a Boro defender off a corner. Albion, meanwhile, have been twice as vulnerable as any other team to headers in front of goal, conceding four so far, which might offer a glimmer of hope for the tallest outfield player in the UK - the 6 foot 9 inch Kyle Hudlin, who towers some 5 centimetres over comparative midget Peter Crouch - if Warnock feels inclined to give the under-used youngster a look in.

It's been five and a half years since the last Huddersfield victory at Albion, and few things would be more grindingly predictable than the visitors' conversion rate suddenly leaping from 3% up to 93% tomorrow; but hopefully, with goals coming thick and fast for the Baggies, we can get one more positive result in before the international break.

[Lord Snooty]

Morning Ska'd. Good write up.

Pipa rhymes with dipper and kipper, not Pied. 

He's good going forward. Him and Sorba Thomas linked well during his brief Town career. Hopeless defender though, so hopefully you put him straight in today against Joshua Koroma, who will have him on toast.

We have a very good team, despite their opening four results and league position. Our two home opponents that we've lost to will deffo go up. And a point at Boro is never a bad result.

Our season starts today. Or maybe after the international break.

[Baggie_One]

Whoops

[Lord Snooty]

I said we were good.

That's why the Championship is the best league in the world. Anyone can beat anybody. Leicester? Norwich? Who are they?

[Slick_Footwork]

I think I must be an unlucky omen. I missed the Boro game and everyone said we played well...

Caught the Huddersfield game and it was the same dross we've served up in every match I've watched so far..

No real pattern of play going forward. We had a couple of decent moves in the 90 minutes, but overall, we don't really play any attractive football. Considering we're playing with John Swift and 2 wingers, I'm unsure why we can't seem to find players in the hole and do any progressive forward passing. The bulk of our "football" is heart in mouth stuff in and around the edge of our own box.

The goal was good one, but came from a break. It's when we're in possession we seem to lack ideas.

Defensively, we look like we're going to concede every time the opposition come forward. And when Bartley went off, I have no idea how we survived Huddersfield's set plays because we don't have a single defender who can get off the ground and head the ball. As for the goalkeeper, 2 more conceded at his near post and doesn't get off his line every time a cross comes across his 6 yard box. It's all good making the odd worldy save like he did against Leeds, but he doesn't convince me at all with the basics.

I was a big vocal supporter of Corberan last year. Thought he came in, got back to basics and righted Bruce's wrongs of overcomplicating things.

This year, we seem to be quite similar to under Bruce. Obviously our start is better, points wise, but we look a bit all over the place really. I appreciate this is somewhat due to our (lack of) decent personnel.

However, now Grady is back, we have him, Sarmiento and Mowatt knocking on the door of the first team, along with Maja. If Corberan is the real deal and not a flash in the pan 1 season wonder, I expect he should get us playing better football in the coming weeks. We'll see what happens, but we have to be looking at replacing the "shoe ins" of Phillips and Wallace who are both quite traditional wingers and not really link up players that you'd expect when you play with a small forward like what we have.

The right back should help too, as we've been carrying Furlong for years.

[theo_luddite]

'Ow do chaps!

After we'd had one disallowed for either a foul or offside, take your pick apparently, and depending on which version of a match report you read, gone 1 up and poked one over the bar from about 3 yards (2nd half) that was also flagged for offside, I'd have happily called this a draw after you equalised. Fortunately, for my bank account, I'd not trusted Ivan Toney to put a bet on on my behalf. Good afternoon out and some good crack with yours (and a few of ours) in the The Vine before the game.

Don't get too depressed, I'm surrounded by Dingles. It could be worse.

There were at least 20 of 'em waiting for a tram at the main Wolvo stop on Saturday when the trams were only gooin' as far as The Royal. I got there, after brunch in The Great Western and looked up at the sign and moved on. Goes to show that the average Dingle never looks at owt above 'ead 'eight dow it?

Like I said, good day out, obviously improved by us winning but you won't be far off come the end of the season. Good luck chaps. See you again at ours.