11 Sep 2026 15:47:50
Trippier on the bench for Sheff Utd. Assuming all is well, he will be fit for the Baggies; Thank God!

1.) 11 Sep 2026
11 Sep 2026 19:00:04
How do you know this?

2.) 11 Sep 2026
11 Sep 2026 21:04:07
Cesar Peixoto said that they were both back training and could be on the bench for the game on Sunday. He also said Rafiki Said is due to restart training on the grass next week and should be available in the next few weeks.

3.) 11 Sep 2026
11 Sep 2026 22:22:21
Anyone want to still tell us about how our squad is every bit as good as WHU? Not a chance. Same old, same old clubs don't find their form till they play/win against us. ?

4.) 12 Sep 2026
12 Sep 2026 08:57:24
We may not have the best squad in the league, but as long as we win our games, I don't really care about the likes of West Ham. Yes, the table looks bad at the moment, as West Ham are 6 points ahead of us and have just trounced Wrexham 6-0, but we have played 2 games less.

5 games is too early to write off this team, considering our only loss is to, according to some, the vastly superior team.

5.) 12 Sep 2026
12 Sep 2026 11:13:38
BB - The squad is obviously not, but the first 11 probably are not that far away.
The problems are that the first 11 contain at least 2 old boys, unlikely to be able to play week in week out, and, of course, will inevitably suffer injuries/suspensions, and, as stated, the squad/depth is woefully inadequate.
To be honest, though, I am a natural bear, and I thought things would be far worse than they are.
The manager is def getting more out of them offensively, and keeping Andre and Krejci, albeit the latter seemingly not wholly willingly, is a major fillip to the prospects of the team.


The signings of James, Trippier and Raul, acknowledging the latter 2 have question marks over their durability, were also very positive.
Add in the emergence of Djiga and, especially, Lopez, and things are def better than they could have been.

6.) 12 Sep 2026
12 Sep 2026 12:36:17
I defo agree, TFG, that things are better than they could have been and also better than some had predicted. However, from what I've seen so far I'm not entirely convinced that we have a defence up to finishing in the auto promo spots, and anything less basically means a lottery come the end of the season. Also, let's be clear here, West Ham's squad at the start of this season really was vastly superior to ours, and the stats show it. They finished on almost double the points we managed last season (and arguably should have stayed up, but that's a debate for Nuno to face). Then there's transfers, West Ham sold players off to the tune of £186m, whilst despite our best efforts to drum up business we mustered a tiny £36m (those are just up front payments and don't take extras into account on both fronts)!
So other clubs judged their one midfielder (Fernandez) to be worth well over double that of our club's best player (Gomes), so let's be realistic here, 'cause the numbers don't lie.
Still, though, I'm not sure where I said I was writing anyone off. I just think the realities of this league are already starting to sink in.

I had one or two just a week or so ago telling me we had the best squad in the league, and it wasn't true then or now!
We have let in some seriously weak goals already, and that needs to stop, and it needs to stop next game. Clean sheets are important in any league, and if we keep defending corners in the way we have then we won't get many this season.
Despite our defensive woes, I worry just as much about our attack. I don't especially rate Piroe, but he already looks like a perfect striker for this league. Meanwhile, we have Armstrong taking rugby conversions in front of open goals!
Like many are saying, I think we have a very big month ahead. Win a few games and build up some steam, and we should start kicking on. Lose most of them or don't turn up against the Baggies, and the wheels might start to come off very quickly! Let's hope Cesar has been working them on the training ground and we finally look capable of defending a corner, because a win and a clean sheet on Sunday would go a long way to getting us all looking up the table again. ?

7.) 12 Sep 2026
12 Sep 2026 19:16:57
BB, I certainly wasn't being critical of your, as always, v sensible post.
You basically make 4/5 points, all of which are fairly obviously true.
WHU squad at the start of the summer was axiomatically far better than Wolves.
After the summer, it is pretty clear that it still is, although, as I have said, Wolves' first 11 is in the conversation.
Their sales were amazingly better than Wolves - just watched a v v ordinary Fernandez - until he was hooked!
If he is worth more than twice Gomes, WHU would not have been relegated!
However, this has been discussed till the cows come home, and sadly the cruel reality is that Wolves simply sell players v v badly, and everyone knows it, so it continues!
Wolves have been v poor defensively - especially on crosses/corners - but it should now improve with Trippier, Krejci and Sa returning to bolster the defence.


Offensively, Wolves can do better - although it hasn't been too bad - and, with James and Raul getting fitter and contributing more, this should also improve.
Finally, of course, it is a big month, and wins are def required to keep Wolves in touch with the league's top sides.