2017-18 fan season preview: West Brom

What are your feelings ahead of the new season?

I’m worried about what it holds for West Brom after the end of last season and the awful pre-season we have had. As for the rest of the league, it could be an interesting five or six-horse race for the title and a long, hard slog for as many as 10 teams to avoid the drop.

How pleased have you been with your transfer business to date?

This transfer window has been shocking, we’ve taken a huge step backwards with the lack of activity so far. Our squad is thin and ageing; it’s great to see young players coming through but not because we have no other choice. We let our captain go to a close rival and haven’t brought in a replacement yet. Rodriguez will prove to be a good bit of business and I’m very confident he can reach double figures this season. We need another four or five through the door.

How is your team likely to line up?

It’s hard to call because we are surely going to add to the squad but as it is now I’d have to guess:

Foster; Dawson, Hegazy, Evans, Nyom; Livermore, Yacob; Chadli, Brunt, Rodriguez; Rondon.

Who will be your most important player?

Ben Foster. He is a huge fan favourite at the Hawthorns and is our most consistent player (and the most tested). Foster has kept us level in many games, which is huge when you’re such a defensive-minded side that will only score two goals at most.

Who is the unsung hero in your squad?

He is our England international but I think Livermore is strangely a somewhat unsung hero for us. I get the impression there are many Baggies fans that were a bit surprised by Livermore’s call-up to the national team and don’t appreciate the talent we have in the middle of our midfield. He will prove very influential for us this campaign.

What do you expect from Liverpool this season?

I expect Liverpool to be in the title race for at least two thirds of the season and then fall short - and that’s no failure. This season they will continue to build on their attractive style of play and develop their identity. The Liverpool attack is one of, if not the, best attack in England. I can’t wait to see how they do in Europe.

If you could have one Liverpool player in your team, who would it be?

Coutinho! And I expect the majority of fans will say the same. We’re crying out for attacking football at the Albion and we haven’t seen a player in blue and white stripes with a fraction of the Brazilian’s talent for a very long time. He is a match-winner capable of being provider or finisher and I believe he is very underrated compared to the world’s best.

Top four (in order)?

Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool

Relegated?

Stoke, Huddersfield, Swansea

Surprise package?

I think Brighton could enjoy their first ever Premier League season with a comfortable mid-table finish. Anything above the drop-zone would be a huge success for the Gulls and they look like a club on the up with a fantastic stadium and a pretty good fanbase.

What is your biggest wish for the season?

Safety for the Baggies. I am so pessimistic ahead of this campaign that staying up is my biggest wish. I really think we will struggle and if we go down it will be tougher to return than it has ever been.