[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Jeff Astle outjumps Marvin Hinton, watched by Chelsea inside-forward Terry Venables, 2nd October 1965

So, I trust everyone's enjoying the start of the new season?  Whatever your thoughts on the 180 minutes of football we've seen from Albion so far, you can't deny that it's a pretty typical way for us to kick off proceedings.  In Augusts gone by, we've ended up with a goal difference of -6 after one game (2010), made it into September without a single point (2011), or without a single goal (2013), and watched Alan Irvine buy an entire team and not field them (2014).  And of course, you can't deny that the fixture computer plays its malevolent part in all of this; mark my words, the minute that time travel's invented, we can look forward to kicking off our campaign against 1999 Manchester United and 1970 Brazil, closely followed by a team of ten-legged footy-droids from 2125 under the management of Buck Rogers.  Trust me, when it happens, you'll be begging for Man City and Mourinho.

When all's said and done, there's little to be reliably concluded from the season's opening.  Our transfer business needs to be concluded before we can fully judge how to play to our strengths, and then we need to give a month or two for the team to gel together before we can see what works and what doesn't.  In the meantime, we need points however they come.  Ideally I'd like a bit of excitement and a few goals in the process, but I'm capable of recognising that rebuilding our team to be a younger, pacier side is a long-term project.

Laurie Cunningham goes for goal against Chelsea on the opening day of the season, 20th August 1977

Chelsea have had a bit of a nightmare start of their own, only managing a point at home against Swansea before last weekend's capitulation at the Etihad.  Coupled with the humiliation they suffered at our hands back in May (and, in fact, in pretty much every visit they've paid to the Hawthorns since 2011), we know they'll be out for the kill on Sunday.  If they draw against us, it'll be their worst start to a season since 1998; if they lose, it'll be their worst since 1993.  Not to put too fine a point on it, Abramovich sacked both RDM and AVB for far less.

However, we do need to get ourselves organised and find a way of counter-attacking properly, which wasn't evident in the slightest against Man City or in the first half at Watford.  A stretched Chelsea side are very vulnerable; a Chelsea side which sets up a permanent base camp in your half, on the other hand, is going to run riot.

The world's worst Zorro film draws to an undignified conclusion, 18th May 2015

If nothing else, I hope we can avoid the gameplan flying out of the window within twenty minutes on Sunday; even a decent performance would be some consolation if the points go begging.  But a sneaky draw, and maybe even a goal to open our account for the season, would make me a happy man.

COME ON YOU BAGGIES

[WBA-Josh]

Myhill

Dawson-McAuley-Olsson-Brunt

McManaman-Yacob-Fletcher-Berahino

Morrison

Lambert

Subs
Rose
Lescott
Chester
Gardner
Gnabry (If fit. Sessegnon if not)
McLean
Rondon

The above is my team. I think Tony's team will be very similar but with Gardner or McLean in for McManaman and the team shape being a 4-1-4-1 formation with Morrison deeper alongside Fletcher and Yacob behind them as the holder.

[betterthanbaird]

We've got a good recent record against Chelsea but them signing Pedro has dented my confidence.

I think we won't see any changes in defence after the clean sheet against Watford which is fair enough I suppose but I don't think it's our strongest defence.

Hopefully someone will come in for Gardner, I'd really like to see McManaman start because he rarely does but I always think he looks a threat. I can't see Gnabry starting but I assume he'll come off the bench.

Pulis has said Lambert and Rondon aren't at the level of fitness he'd want yet but I assume one of them will start, I'd like to see Rondon but it should just be whoever's fitter. Hopefully Berahino will play and his head hasn't been turned.

I may not be able to watch this but I think we have a decent chance of something and for me the priorities are scoring a goal (or multiple) and dropping Gardner.

[BaggieMan]

Who recognises the second West Brom player in the first picture?
Local lad and a good prospect at the time.

[aries22]

Who recognises the second West Brom player in the first picture?
Local lad and a good prospect at the time.

Graham Lovett, of course! Broke his leg twice, was it? And played in the 1968 FA Cup final, blazing over the bar in a last counter attack in the second half of extra time. Who's the third Albion player in the pic? It doesn't look much like Graham Williams.

[BaggieMan]

Aries, I remember it well ! I always liked Graham Lovatt whose career was blighted to a degree by injury. At one time he was touted as the new Duncan Edwards. Might the third Baggie be Dougie Fraser or possibly John Kaye if he had reverted to defender from an 'Arthur' at that time. Interesting the The King is wearing shirt number 8.

Do you recognise the fellah stood on the right at the foot of the left hand stand pillar?

[silverbaggie]

Wasn't Lovatt the surprise selection for the 1968 cup final who wasn't really match fit following yet another injury.
His selection could have cost us the final.

The third Baggie in the background looks like it could be Stan Jones or possibly Ray Fairfax who was selected at left back ahead of Graham Williams in that game.
It's unlikely to be John Kaye as he was playing No. 9 that day, hence 'the king' wearing number 8.

[talkSAFT]

"The Third Man" has the posture of Stan Jones but with a different haircut! Anyone agree?
Jeff was 2nd fiddle to Yorkie when we signed him, and never wore 9 until 67-68.

[May68]

Ivanovic has looked shaky in his first two games. Therefore we need some pace and trickery on the left as that may be our best chance of getting behind them. To be honest I have no idea who our best winger is as we never see enough of them, but I thought McClean looked surprisingly good coming off the bench against Watford. Or maybe stick Bez on the left if we're (presumably) only going to play 1 up top.

[drewks]

Who recognises the second West Brom player in the first picture?
Local lad and a good prospect at the time.

Graham Lovett, of course! Broke his leg twice, was it? And played in the 1968 FA Cup final, blazing over the bar in a last counter attack in the second half of extra time. Who's the third Albion player in the pic? It doesn't look much like Graham Williams.

Didn't Graham Lovett actually break his neck and then come back and play? And this was in the day where an injury like that normally meant that your WALKING days were over, let alone playing top class football.

Has this turned into a 'spot-the-baggie' thread?? Sorry Ska'd - excellent preview again - but it's your fault for dredging up these excellent pictures