17-09-2020, 23:35
A perfect start for Albion last week, only in the sense that such an abysmal defeat against a Leicester side who never broke sweat made it clear even to a blind man in China that we can't muddle through this season with last year's personnel. Now armed with extra options in the form of Branislav Ivanovic and Conor Gallagher, we travel to Goodison Park for Saturday's early match at 12.30 in the hope of getting off the mark.
In recent years, the Toffees have been slow starters who flirt with the relegation zone for a few months before cobbling their standard mid-table run of form together, but a win at New White Hart Lane last weekend offered a bit of hope that Ancelotti may have more about him than Martinez, Koeman, Allardyce and Silva. Certainly, he's bolstered a forward line that already boasted frequent scorers Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin with old Ham-Eggs Rodriguez from Real Madrid, apparently on a free transfer. Add to that the existing threat of Walcott and Sigurdsson, and Albion may be forgiven for traipsing up to Merseyside with eyes firmly set on the historically-familiar Goodison goalless draw. Nothing wrong with that in my mind, as all we really need for now is to put last Sunday firmly behind us.
Famous fans: In the unlikely event of a win, the roll call of those who'll be crying into their toffee includes both Rocky Balboa and Ivan Drago - Stallone and Lundgren respectively - Dame Judi Dench, Helena Bonham-Carter, Shane MacGowan, the Singaporean Minister for Industry Chan Chun Sing, former Tesco CEO Sir Terence Leahy, John Parrott, John McEnroe, Tony Bellew, Derek Hatton, and some bloke who wrote a song about living on a lemon-coloured U-boat. A true rogue's gallery if ever there was one.
"I would rather spend a holiday in Tuscany than in the Black Country, but if I were compelled to choose between living in West Bromwich or Florence, I should make straight for West Bromwich." - J.B. Priestley