Rich

I think it’s crazier that someone could think we’ve got a 70% chance of going down, to be honest. The bookies have us at 29% implied probability of relegation tonight (5/2), so much, much nearer a 3 than a 7.

Also amusing how fucking clueless the journos are. IT WAS ALMIRON. WILLOCK?

He was the only one I agonised about, but I honestly think he’s only getting better in that role and his attitude is second to none. From what Longstaff said the other week he sounds like he’s far and away the best player in training, to the point where fellow professionals are desperate to have him on their teams for five-a-sides, etc. That says a lot, to me. The shirt is his easily at the moment, and if we keep building around him I don’t see any reason why his own level won’t continue to climb.

Down to a 3 after another day that was almost perfect for us results-wise. No bounce for Hodgson, Norwich being found out again, other teams getting dragged in and Brentford/Palace both in free fall. Win tomorrow and it’s a 2, lose and it’s back up to a 4.

As it stands, and assuming we stay up, for me there are only a handful of truly “secure” places in the team: Trippier at RB Guimarães in CM Joelinton in CM ASM at LW Beyond those, I think there’s a second tier of players who could happily stay and still be part of the first XI, provided the rest of the team was improved: Dubravka at GK Burn at CB Wilson at ST That all leaves us with likely needing to be in the market for a CB, a LB, a CM, and a RW. All of whom could walk into the first team based on ability. Still, I do think we’ll also be looking for upgrades at GK and ST, and probably for more than one CB, too. Getting way ahead of myself, but for the Summer window I’ll be looking for us to end up here as a 25-man squad for a 10/10 on the old Transferometer: New GK Dubravka Darlow Trippier Manquillo New CB Lascelles Schär New CB Burn New LB Targett* Joelinton Willock New CM Shelvey Guimarães S. Longstaff New RW Fraser New ST Wilson Wood Saint-Maximin Murphy I’d be looking to sell/loan/release Gillespie, Woodman, Krafth, Fernandez, Clark, Dummett, Lewis, M. Longstaff, Hayden, Hendrick, Almiron, and Gayle. FIRST XI (2022/23) New GK Trippier New CB New CB New LB Joelinton New CM Guimarães New RW New ST Saint-Maximin SUBS: Dubravka; Manquillo, Burn, Targett; Willock, Shelvey; Fraser, Wilson, Murphy. Think this is realistic just based on the names we were linked most strongly with in each position in January, to be honest: GK: Henderson CB: Diego Carlos CB: Botman LB: Bakker CM: Bissouma RW: Lingard ST: Zapata If we can attract those players or better, which I think we can if we stay up, the first XI looks fucking magic next year. The bench will still leave a fair bit to be desired, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. Easily good enough for top 10, more likely in the mix for the European spots if we don’t succumb to injuries too much. E I E I E I O being sung weekly again, it’ll be fucking great.

Never change, you inbred cunts.

Are they not just using a very public event to draw attention to it? I’m not sure they’re only trying to convince those in the stadium.

Sometimes I wonder if he’s just a really accomplished WUM. Then he goes and posts something like that.

Dummett is in loads of the training pictures, think he’s the most likely Targett replacement based on previous selections. Dubravka Manquillo Lascelles Schär Dummett Willock Shelvey Joelinton Fraser Wood Saint-Maximin Going to say 2-1 instead of 3-1 based on the latest team news on both sides.

Viana, Mbemba, and Slimani all featuring.

http://westbrom.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=8707e3b58f0b7e92ce6b3b4137e7b012&board=42.0 http://westbrom.com/forum/index.php?topic=26689.msg843410#msg843410 These poor fuckers have no idea.

Wonder what these would look like now.

Not his first muscle* injury in recent seasons by the looks of it. Don’t know if this is the same leg, but probably better to be safe than sorry if it is. Manquillo isn’t Trippier, but he’s been decent for a good while now. The biggest loss will be on set pieces, but might be balanced out by having a 6’7” diversion to chuck into the mix alongside the CBs, Wood, and Joe.

Another Chris Wood fan, excellent!

Now can we all just take a moment to imagine them in the same team on opposite sides of a quality lone striker? Mama mia.

Howe strongly refuted the loan swap proposal in his presser. "Absolutely no truth."

Fucking hell

Howe says he's got a late fitness test, like Trippier, so could be back in the squad.

Unprompted from Eddie: "But also, it's worth highlighting Chris Wood's impact in that. I think his physicality and his ability to make life very uncomfortable for the opposing centre-halves has been key as well in the last couple of games. I think the balance of the team has been very good." Then asked how far away he is from the goal he needs: "He'll want that goal, but it's not lost on me the difference his presence and physicality has made to that front line. There'd be a lot of balls that he's had no right to either get a touch on, or to just knock a defender that means we're able to get up the pitch and spend longer in their half. But also his work rate and his teamwork, so he's covered for Maxi a couple of times when he's out of position. For a striker of his type to do those unselfish things, it's made a big difference to the team. So I don't think you can underestimate all the aspects of his game that have helped the team." Scraping the barrel, or fair?

And that both Dummett and Ritchie are out injured.

I know I post this all the time, but they’re the best “rivals” anyone could wish for. Constantly plumbing new depths with no self-awareness about them at all. If they lose at Wembo again this season I might spontaneously combust.

Baldwards bang on it again, then. Fucking huckle.

Aye it’s not my finest hour, but I was so sure Bruno would start and a man’s only as good as his word.

Hoping there’ll be some training photos today, but if not then Howe’s presser is tomorrow morning.