Members

The Numbers Game – West Bromwich Albion

Our summer series of members’ articles – offering an in-depth team-by-team analysis of 2016/17 – continues with West Bromwich Albion.

To begin with, we’ll look at the performance levels over the team statistics in an attempt to spot trends or improvements.

We then delve into the player data, analysing the key individuals as we scour for early targets ahead of the new season.

In addition, we’ll check in on the Baggies’ threat from set-pieces, in particular, with their reliance on dead-ball situations remaining pivotal to their prospects.

West Brom certainly upped their attacking output in the previous season.

Pulis’ side netted a mere 34 goals – the second-worst record in the top-flight – on their way to finishing in fourteenth spot in 2015/6. Yet last term, they found the net on 43 occasions to claim tenth position.

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

3,816 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Flying Finns
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Bertrand and Monreal or Cedric and Kolasinac

    1. My neck my back my Saed Kol…
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Cedric and Kolas, it's what I've gone for

      1. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        Agree...but will Cedric start?

        I gone stephens...

        1. LosBlancos
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          well if he played 60 in the last game of preseason, why wouldnt he gw1?

    2. LosBlancos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      B
      Cedric should start and play at least 60

  2. Assist me a river
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    A or B?

    A: Kolasinac, Bertrand, Trippier, Willian

    B: Cedric, Daniels, Alex Arnold, Zaha

    1. My neck my back my Saed Kol…
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      A by a mile

    2. boogle
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Those options are 2.5 mil apart?

    3. Silva’s Left Nut
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Dude those don't cost the same

    4. AndrewTavey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      A but it's way more expensive so whats happening to the rest of the team?

      1. Assist me a river
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers, it down to this then:

        A: Foster
        Kolasinac-Bertrand-Trippier (if fit)
        Mane-Willian-Zaha-KDB
        Lukaku-Lacazatte- Mounie
        Bench: Elliot, Sutner, Carroll, Long

        B: A: Foster
        Cedric-Daniels-Arnold
        Mane-Eriksen-Zaha-KDB
        Lukaku-Lacazatte- Mounie
        Bench: Elliot, Sutner, Carroll, Long

  3. Le _ Professeur
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    In what position does Carrol play ?

    1. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Usually out on the left of midfield

  4. Dummy
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Any thoughts on this apart from the obvious weak midfield? Fancy city to fire early

    DDG
    Dawson/Suttner/Kola/Alonso
    DeBruyne/Fraser/Atsu
    Jesus/Lukaku/Kane

    Subs - Elliot/Carrol/RLC/Marriapa

    Is it truly awful or doable? Hit me

    1. Andrew
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      I think balance is key and this is very unbalanced

  5. Pirlø's Pen
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Please RMT, got the four captains I need for the opening weeks, Mane, KDB, Kane and Lukaku. Calculated risks in Mounie and TAA which can be covered with my bench.

    Begovic
    Kompany Kolasinac TAA
    KDB Mane Zaha Fraser
    Kane Lukaku Mounie

    Elliot T. Carroll Suttner Rosenior.

    1. LosBlancos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      looks good
      if the risks pay off 9/10
      Not convinced on Liverpool without Couts and he seems likely to leave

  6. Chris_White
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Will be interesting to see the mood on here if Lukaku has a stinker tonight

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      I almost want him to so that I can switch to Kane 🙂

      1. Chris_White
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        I want to go without, but the memories of no Zlatan from the first two last season are popping up constantly...

        1. Chris_White
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          for the first two games*

        2. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          Newcastle away with defensive injuries is ok, then Chelsea at Wembley not so sure, but Burnley after that looks a must.

          1. Chris_White
            • 12 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            I meant Lukaku. Kane is going nowhere.

            1. Twisted Saltergater
              • 14 Years
              6 years, 9 months ago

              Ahh ok.

    2. HVT
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Imagine if he pulls up....

    3. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      There'll be some breaking ranks

  7. Barbarians
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    do you subliminally avoid any team for no apparent reason this season ?

    say, all month drafting team, i never had Everton or Stoke players

    1. MGMT
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Would be interesting if Everton had Sotom's fixtures. There would be a Rooney-Sandro debate and everything

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Stoke, Watford, West Brom and Leicester + Everton (fixtures).

    3. The Mighty Hippo
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Everton, Stoke, Watford

      1. The Mighty Hippo
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        And Leicester

    4. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Watford.
      No need to go there.

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        Mind the gap.

  8. Pep's Money Laundry
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Guys,

    Price not an issue I'm looking for 3 defenders (excl Alonso), currently on Kola, Daniels & Bailey.

    Any better options

    1. Vyeper97
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Walker kola Milner

  9. MGMT
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Is bertrand really worth 0.5M more than Cedric? Currently on Bertrand because he has excellent fixtures and he seems to be the best 5.5M Def atm...

    1. A.T
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Probably not in the grand scheme of things.

    2. FatmanAndRobin
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Unless you need that 0.5 anywhere, stick with your gut.

    3. AndrewTavey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      I think he is.

    4. Barbarians
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      every time i had Saints def, every time they failed me for no apparent reason. every time diff excuses, card, injury, rotation, poor fixtures

      i just dont trust them anymore

      1. MGMT
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        They just seem very difficult to ignore with those fixtures. Plus, Bertrand is second best PP90 out of all Defs, Mids, and Fw.

        1. Ake 4.6 (850minutes played)
        2. Bertrand 4.4 (2500 minutes played)

        Bigger sample, excellent fixtures, seems straight forward

    5. LosBlancos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      nope, Cedric had good crosses which were unused, his tally will improve

  10. Aram95
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    RMT please
    Foster (Elliot)
    Daniels, Cedric, Danilo (Suttner, Long)
    KDB, Salah, Willian, Atsu (TC)
    Kane, Kaku, Benteke

  11. Littlefish92
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    The best Kane replacement if you go without him ?

    1. sentz05
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Jesus

    2. The Stock
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Why would you?

      1. Littlefish92
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        Get a better balenced team if you don't have him

    3. JaydenLFC87
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Lukaku

    4. Sylas
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      There isn't one.

    5. AndrewTavey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Aguero

    6. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Jesus, Lukaku and Firmino is a cost effective front 3.

  12. chaboi1998
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Is forster a viable option?

    1. JaydenLFC87
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Of course

  13. Malinwa
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    A: Salah + Gabbiadini
    B: KDB + Mounie

    1. JaydenLFC87
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      A

    2. AndrewTavey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      A

    3. JoBro
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      A

    4. Steve Stiffler
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      B

  14. FatmanAndRobin
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    RMT Please - worried about strength of MID, but happy with Defence, so unsure

    Foster/Begovic

    Walker/Luiz/Cedric/Mee/Rangel

    KDB/Salah/Willian/Matic/Loftus-Cheek

    Laca/Lukaku/Chica

    1. MGMT
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Get rid of Matic, and bring someone like Atsu(Good punt) or Carroll (100% nailed and has done amazing in pre-season).

    2. Klopptomist Scott Jelly
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Matic to someone more exciting (e.g Gross or Atsu), RLC to Carroll (nailed) then it doesn't matter if your maverick doesn't play every game

  15. Razak Ping Pong
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    pogba and gabbi or firmino and redmond/tadic?

  16. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Will JWP and Firmino have more score potential than Daniels and Salah ?
    Cheers !!

  17. Chris_White
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Knockaert is set to start from the bench in GW1: “We are conscious that he has only played 20 mins of a very tough pre-season game.” #BHAFC

  18. JaydenLFC87
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Rooney (C) for GW 1 any takers???

    1. Neevesy
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Depends how many beers I am in Friday afternoon

      1. JaydenLFC87
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        Stoke are rubbish proper prem debut for Wayne no

        1. Waxys
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          And Rooney has something to prove too. He will be on fire

          1. Sterling is £11Mill..…
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            The only time Rooney will be on fire is when someone has physically set him alight

  19. Neevesy
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Another template...getting happier

    Foster - elliot

    Bertrand - Monreal - Ake (Mee - Moreno)

    Alli - Zaha - Willian - Pogba (Carrol)

    Jesu - Kaku - Firminho

    Also - how do I change my avatar picture?!

  20. Ange187
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Kane is really disrupting my team atm haha. Is he ESSENTIAL?
    Im just worried he'll go and score 4 one game like he did against hull.

    1. Chris_White
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Not from the go, imo. Trippier out and new/CHE not ideal. The problem is BUR in GW3...

    2. The Stock
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Of course he is. And he ringfences a transfer to any other forward in the game if he falls over his chin and crocks himself.

    3. Silva’s Left Nut
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Nobody is essential. But it's a lot easier to downgrade Kane to someone else than upgrade someone to bring him in

  21. The Wanton Trader
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Before Mikhi bangs in a few tonight I'm just putting it out there now, that he's in my team already. 16:20 8/8/17.

    1. LosBlancos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      as he is in mine, dont fancy hiim scoring more than one againt Real though.. don't be silly

  22. Sonny “The Hitman&rdq…
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Is Mertisaker back and if so doesn't Wenger go with his starting XI from the Shield? With the BFG in place they didn't concede and only when Kola went in did they concede. I got a feeling Kola comes in for fire power off the bench. He is still adjusting to PL play.

    1. Waxys
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Per is touch and go.

      But yeah IMO he's nailed on until Koscielny is back and maybe even beyond

      1. Malcolm Tucker for England …
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        holding mustafi monreal
        bellerin kolasinac

        possible....

  23. The Stock
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Boselli (c) here.

    1. The Wanton Trader
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      1. The Stock
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        cheers.

  24. Sᴄʜᴜ̈RRʟᴇ ⓝ
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Please RMT
    Any (and all) advice much appreciated!

    Foster (Elliot)
    Lindelöf Cédric Alonso Kolasinac (Rangel)
    Mkhi Phillips KDB (RLC, McArthur)
    Kane Gabbiadini Lukaku

    1. FlockofSeagulls
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      I like it but Gabbi and Lindelof can't be trusted imo. In saying that they're not the worst punts either.

    2. Stokelona
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      GTG in my opinion. Not sure on Mkhi, and would do mccarthur to Tom Carroll. MacArthur wont play but Carroll is on set pieces for Swans.

    3. Sᴄʜᴜ̈RRʟᴇ ⓝ
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Thanks, both! Much appreciated 🙂

  25. boogle
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Hi guys,

    Does anyone know of any good free or paid leagues with prizes? Also any draft leagues going?

    Cheers!

    1. BoleynWin
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Also interested

  26. ooooo
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Foster or Hennesey/Speroni

    1. The Wanton Trader
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Foster. All day everyday

  27. chaboi1998
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Is a United defender important?

    1. Comment removed. Please refer to our terms and conditions on posting comments.

  28. FlockofSeagulls
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Hi all,

    Thoughts, opinions, objections, or insults?

    DDG
    Daniels - Valencia - Cedric - Danilo
    KDB - Puncheon - Mane - Fraser
    Kane(C) - Lukaku

    Subs: Elliot-Abraham-Carroll-Löwe

    Hell yeah or hell na?

    1. The Wanton Trader
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Mid packs a Punch. Not for me

    2. Stokelona
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Very Nice team! Good defence, double Man Utd should pay off, big 2 up front and in midfield, and some cheap rotators

    3. MGMT
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Would rather have Abraham starting than puncheon, don't trust that guy

      1. FlockofSeagulls
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks for the comments all.

        I actually have Abraham on the bench because I'm backing SOU's defence in.

        I also don't love the Puncheon pick however he is the best of a poor bunch in the price range when considering all factors such as security, set pieces, and the ability to chip in with the odd assist or rare goal. I don't expect much from him in all honesty but a promoted side first up seems like a good a time as any to back him in early until hopefully better options emerge.

  29. Deano
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Any opinions on how to improve this defense without taking cash from elsewhere?

    Foster, Elliott
    Yoshida, Daniels, Hegazi, Suttner, Long
    KDB, Zaha, Ramsay, Fraser, Tarroll
    Kane, Lukaku, Jesus

    Have gone off Lowe lately due to the Malone threat and Francis also does not appear nailed.

    1. The Wanton Trader
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Daniels to Dann.
      Hegazi to Mee

  30. Weird Beard FC
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Given his form pre season vs Origi being off the pace and Sturridge being made of glass, will Solanke feature much for Liverpool?

    1. Silva’s Left Nut
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      I too would like to know

    2. ooooo
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      No firmino will start but he could come on as a sub