[caravanc58]

Nice one '58 and cheers, that 02:30 hrs start and ten hour journey wasn't going to happen.

Made a beginners mistake by looking for trains to Aberdeen from New St via my local station.

Train and B+B booked, early morning taxi to Brum it is then.

Must be mad, COYB  .

did forget to mention the £200 booking fee.😀
have a good trip, can you go 7 hours on a train without a beer? or is it a brown paper bag & a long straw.

[SmethDan]

did forget to mention the £200 booking fee.😀
have a good trip, can you go 7 hours on a train without a beer? or is it a brown paper bag & a long straw.

No need.

Not drinking on the train is a serious breach of match day protocol and should be frowned upon at all times.

Even for friendlies.

Anyway, away supporters have a pre season too you know  .

No trees need die as a result of drinking from brown paper bags either.

I'm quite relaxed about drinking in public so it's good for the environment too  .

[sammyg]

So looks like our last pre season fixture will be against Coventry City at home , in a tribute match for Cyrille Regis.

https://www.wba.co.uk/news/2018/june/albion-to-host-sky-blues-in-cyrille-regis-friendly/

[Mr Cynical]

So... Coventry City is the friendly with 'a major European club' that we have organised on the Saturday preceding the 1st fixture.  It about as far-reaching and global as our search for a new manager!

[leeiswba]

So... Coventry City is the friendly with 'a major European club' that we have organised on the Saturday preceding the 1st fixture.  It about as far-reaching and global as our search for a new manager!

Who cares, have you been to any of the old friendlies we used to have against Porto, Atlético, Boavista etc. They were all absolute borefests, rather have something like this in the memory of Regis. Can see this game being played every pre season now, maybe home this season then away next season and keep alternating.

[Hull Baggie]

Who cares, have you been to any of the old friendlies we used to have against Porto, Atlético, Boavista etc. They were all absolute borefests, rather have something like this in the memory of Regis. Can see this game being played every pre season now, maybe home this season then away next season and keep alternating.

I enjoyed the home game with Bologna under Clarke when Rosenberg and Anelka both looked good together in pre season (2013/14 I think).

I think it's a great idea to play Coventry in memory of Cyrille, my only gripe is that it could have been a 4 team mini tournament with Villa and Wolves invited but appreciate that he was only with those clubs for a relatively short time compared with us and Coventry.

[Mr Cynical]

Who cares, have you been to any of the old friendlies we used to have against Porto, Atlético, Boavista etc. They were all absolute borefests, rather have something like this in the memory of Regis. Can see this game being played every pre season now, maybe home this season then away next season and keep alternating.

We'll I care.  The pre-season is about getting the team ready for the real games.  Maybe playing a continental team isn't that similar to playing Bolton or Forest, but the standard would be a lot higher than playing a team just promoted from Division 4 (League 2).

But more than that I am really frustrated with the football club setting the expectations fairly low and failing to deliver on them.  Saying we're going to bring in a well known continental club and then announcing its Coventry City is just another example of this.

Which team presents the biggest challenge in our pre-season schedule?  Barnsley or Aberdeen?  Barnet, Swindon or Coventry?

[geoff]

I enjoyed the home game with Bologna under Clarke when Rosenberg and Anelka both looked good together in pre season (2013/14 I think).

I think it's a great idea to play Coventry in memory of Cyrille, my only gripe is that it could have been a 4 team mini tournament with Villa and Wolves invited but appreciate that he was only with those clubs for a relatively short time compared with us and Coventry.

That would have been a great tribute to "The Big Guy"

[SmethDan]

Tickets for Swindon and Aberdeen are now on sale.

https://www.wba.co.uk/news/2018/june/swindon--aberdeen-ticket-info/

[Mr Cynical]

On the subject of preseason...

Meanwhile the squad are off to Portugal where we'll be getting a load of players fit for other clubs.  I'm sure that we'll be readying the 'haven't had a full preseason' excuse for any signings we do make later in the window.  Then we can file it alongside the 'world cup summer' and 'our position in the football food chain' excuses.

This football club is not functioning properly at the moment.

[iwastherein68]

Tickets for Swindon and Aberdeen are now on sale.

https://www.wba.co.uk/news/2018/june/swindon--aberdeen-ticket-info/

Dan, you are a glutton for punishment mate. Dread to think who you will be watching in those games.

[leeiswba]

Off to Aberdeen, doing it by car with a night in Carlisle on the way by the looks of it.

[seteefeet]

Off to Aberdeen, doing it by car with a night in Carlisle on the way by the looks of it.

Beware the BCF 
Been to Scotland for a few games over the years and always had more aggro on the stop off in Carlisle on the way back!

[WBAinDEVON]

Off to Aberdeen, doing it by car with a night in Carlisle on the way by the looks of it.

see you there mate. bus and train from exeter more expensive than flying a no brainer

[AlbionLegend]

Hi all, is the Barnet game on the 7th of July behind closed doors? Can't see anywhere to buy tickets?

[AlbionBest]

Hi all, is the Barnet game on the 7th of July behind closed doors? Can't see anywhere to buy tickets?

Don't think you'll need tickets !

They have a tiny support but a nice neat new ground at the Hive. It's just over the road from Cannons Park tube station on the Jubilee Line out of Stanmore.

https://www.barnetfc.com/news/2018/may/news--west-brom-to-visit-the-hive-in-pre-season/

[SmethDan]

Hi all, is the Barnet game on the 7th of July behind closed doors? Can't see anywhere to buy tickets?

Details for Barnet match tickets haven't been released yet.

When released they'll appear on the page linked below.

https://wbatickets.co.uk/en-gb/categories/away

[WorcsWBA]

Off to Aberdeen, doing it by car with a night in Carlisle on the way by the looks of it.

Is that you or the playing squad?! 

[Mr Cynical]

So, I don’t think we have a goalkeeper or any central defender (with first team experience) in Portugal. Attacking drills it is then!

[Plastic Paddy]

So, I don’t think we have a goalkeeper or any central defender (with first team experience) in Portugal. Attacking drills it is then!

Based on what we know from Journos, the only Senior Pros who appear to be in Portugal are Nyom, Gibbs, Brunt, Phillips, Barry, Robson-Kanu, Rondon and Rodriguez! The rest are 'kids' including Field, Leko, Fitzwater etc. I suppose if nothing else, it is a good chance for them to stake a claim for a starting place (trying to look at positives!).

Whatever, it will be interesting to see what team is selected/players are available when we play Barnet on Saturday week!

[WBAinDEVON]

well done j-rod and Rondon for turning up

[Albionic]

So, I don’t think we have a goalkeeper or any central defender (with first team experience) in Portugal. Attacking drills it is then!

there is a German bloke called Neuer who thinks of himself as a utility keeper come winger, maybe we should go get him !

[liverbaggie]

Why no pictures of the players training over in Portugal?
Isn't it about time our club started to pay attention to us?
Let's at least see em,eh?

[MarkW]

Why no pictures of the players training over in Portugal?
Isn't it about time our club started to pay attention to us?
Let's at least see em,eh?

There have been quite a few on Instagram, and maybe Twitter

[TheJacko2000]

Why no pictures of the players training over in Portugal?
Isn't it about time our club started to pay attention to us?
Let's at least see em,eh?

Numerous photographs all over the club's Social Media accounts.