[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Left Back By The Trent: Derek Statham on the attack at Victoria Park, 21st May 1982

Our Pottery-lottery of a week continues unabated on Saturday with a return to the unhappy scene of Alan Irvine's last stand less than a year ago.  This will be Tony Pulis's first return to the Britannia since his 2013 departure, and if the match proves to be a turgid 1-0 Albion win with Stoke fans leaving early and grumbling that they're glad they don't have to watch this stuff every week, it's possible that the universe may just collapse on itself.

So far, the "surprising" transfers we've been eagerly awaiting don't seem to have fallen into place, and it could well end up being a deadline-day scramble.  Obviously that doesn't help us at the weekend, so I just hope we can put the long slog against Port Vale behind us and try and build on the encouraging signs from the Chelsea match last Sunday.  That said, the position we're in does cry out for points on the board, so there is a very real possibility that we'll get a repeat of the Watford "safety first" performance instead.  How you feel about that is up to you; right now, I'm a lot more concerned by how the club's going to acquit itself around 11pm next Tuesday.  When all's said and done, it seems a lot of what we watch in the coming months is going to be defined by those anxious hours.  Again.

Right Back By The Trent: Wayne Fereday on the attack at Victoria Park, 19th September 1992.

[Dingle-Dingle]

Early odds from for this weekend's clash against Stoke City!
Both teams to score & Albion to win - 15/2
Albion to win 2-0 - 18/1
Rondon to score anytime - 14/5

DD

[betterthanbaird]

Our away record at Stoke has seemed reasonable in recent years and I'd take a repeat of the narrow win when the dorrans free kick drifted in near the end. As ska'd said the remainder of the transfer window is probably more important than the game on Thursday but a result would be very useful for us fans and the  team. A win would be ideal and would give us the big boost of probably leaving the relegation zone. 


I'm not sure what the team will be. Some of those that played on Sunday and the full game on Tuesday may not be able to start against Stoke. The team will probably be similar to the Chelsea game but some changes in defence would be decent. Berahino may make the bench imo but it's hard to guess atm.

[Squirrel Regis]

Would take a point now.
Is transfer deadline 6pm on Tuesday ?
Must be mad after the performance against Vale but I will be there on Saturday.
C O Y B

[betterthanbaird]

Yes that is the deadline. I wonder how many of the creative players Stoke will start. Shaqiri against brunt may be interesting.

[drewks]

Yes that is the deadline. I wonder how many of the creative players Stoke will start. Shaqiri against brunt may be interesting.

.......what's the latest on Brunty? If he's out it will be interesting to see if Poco's involved

[Squirrel Regis]

Chester certainly isn't a left back !
Fingers crossed Brunty is fit haven't heard anything saying what he has done.
Poco must have had a falling out not to even make the bench against Vale ?

[aries22]

Would take a point now.
Is transfer deadline 6pm on Tuesday ?
Must be mad after the performance against Vale but I will be there on Saturday.
C O Y B

Well done Squirrel, we knew you wouldn't let the side down!
Baggie Man will also probably be there, but only because he knows someone who can get him in on a corporate freebie, the jammy git.

COYB

[Squirrel Regis]

Aries,
It's one of those games that after the mid-week game I'm not very hopeful.
Can see Stoke turning us over and a lot of unhappy baggies.
2-1 Albion then !

[BaggieMan]

Well done Squirrel, we knew you wouldn't let the side down!
Baggie Man will also probably be there, but only because he knows someone who can get him in on a corporate freebie, the jammy git.

COYB

Quite right Aries.... I will be wined and dined at 1.30pm in the Stanley Matthews suite courtesy of my mate who runs a small chain of estate agents in North Staffs. Don't know why he's a mate him being a Sjokie. Mind you, my son is also going and he's also a Sjokie! ( He's out of the Will) 

Can't see us getting anything to be honest with Sjoke being our bogey team and them now playing fast, attacking, creative football with some very good players while we play boring, park the bus shite at walking pace. Strange how roles have reversed since TP's arrival.

Oh well, it's a freebie lunch !