[gazberg]

MAddison and Fuchs now available, bugger. Hpefully he rests them as been out so long

[Baggies]

Leicester were poor at the end of last season and they have only signed 1 player this summer, a replacement for Ben Chilwell. They will be playing a midfielder in Ndidi in central defence and from what I can gather, Ben James is also more comfortable in midfield (not to mention Castagne hasn't been training all that much with them up to now).

Their attack is obviously a top level attack, with Vardy, Tielmams, Maddison, Barnes and Praet, but there is a bit of negativity around Leicester at the moment with the lack of incomings.

Leicester will finish above us and I stand by my prediction of a 19th or 20th placed finish for us, but I wouldn't be shocked if we get atleast a point this weekend, maybe even more.

My Albion team would have Robinson up front, Pereira behind him, Diangana on one wing and either Grosicki (my preference) or Phillips (due to his tendancy to start seasons well) on the other. I just wish we had a stronger base of midfield, although I am looking forward to seeing how Sawyers gets on as if he can get back to his best, he is possibly the most stylish English born midfielder around (even more than Grealish, Maddison or Foden).

[Webby]

Leicester have won all 4 @premierleague visits to West Brom, with @vardy7 scoring in each of them – they have never won 5 successive away games against a single opponent in PL

[Topman]

I honestly believe, and I’m not just saying this, that this is where I feel no crowds hurts teams like us. They have injuries ect, we are newly promoted, a full house opening day, the crowd going mad about Diangana ect and I think we would do them as the extra man. Leicester are out of form, and with no crowd the players may just be that few percent down which allows them to bed in to the game ect. Just my feeling and one of the reasons why I frankly find this no crowd football dreadful and a joke. Just my opinion

[beechyboy90]

I would take the point now. These are our bogey side at home. However these are short at the back and its first game of season it's a free hit so why the hell not?

COME ON YOU BAGGIES

[johnny Cash]

Can’t see past a defeat. Barnes and Vardy will tear us apart and we don’t have a capable striker, which I think affects more than just our chances of scoring. I think it affects things like our psychology and Leicester’s tactical mentality.

I think the first few weeks will be a wake up call for many fans.

[TheBaggieMan]

Baggies 1-0 Leicester

Now, where did I put the, tablets....

🙏

[Droitwich Baggie]

It's played on the 13th. Let's make it unlucky for them.

[letmereadposts]

Every point is sacred. If we stay up it will be through points at home (unless fans don’t return at all then it could change things) we had a good away record last year, need to have a good home record in Prem.

What I’m clutching at is no club is going to sit back against us, and assuming we have at least striker added, our first 11 will be dangerous going forward especially on the counter.

We need to change our home form for the better and we need to change our defence for the better.

I’m not sure we’ll get anything from this one, but I’m confident we’ll compete which with some future additions next week we can build on.

1-2 Leicester. We’ll play better than expected, lack a cutting edge but end the game strong. Hope I’m wrong and we win or draw. COYB

[alex1]

The Leicester players out are defenders, so we still have to deal with Vardy, Thielemans, Maddison, Barnes. You'd have to fancy them to put at least one past our defence. Whether Ivanovic would have changed that, who knows. I think we will create chances. Depends how good we are at converting them. 

[Baggies]

It would have been nice to have a new name/improvement in the first eleven, but we will have to wait a few weeks to see if that happens.

If the team starts this season like they did the last then we could shock a few teams, but it's going to take a huge change in momentum as we have looked lethargic and devoid of creativity at times in 2020.

Our current best eleven has Robinson up front, but it's hard to predict what Bilic will go with. Will he start HRK again?

[paulosull]

The games today have wet my appetite for new season, hopefully we can get off to a flying start. We have the X factor with Pereira and Diangana so will be a tough proposition for Leicester, 3-2 Albion. COYB.

[baggie96]

Johnstone
O’Shea ajayi Hegazi Gibbs
Livermore Sawyers
Phillips Pereira Diangana
Robson Kanu

Whilst we haven’t improved on last season, that is the front line that gave us a long winning run last November/December. Hopefully Phillips can start the season well, he usually does tbf.

[boinging_along]

I'd go CR up front.

[lewisant]

I'm really looking forward to the start of a new season. The positive vibes on this forum are carrying me forward on a wave of joyous optimism, the likes of which I haven't experienced since making it to the toilet in time at 04:00 hrs this morning when my belly began to pinch. The relief and euphoria as the equivalent of a rutting water buffalo resplendent with hooves passed through was something else. If I can survive that then Sunday holds no fears for me. Onwards and COYB  .

I hope I can feel as majestic as you come 4pm tomorrow.

I worry for us a bit, I think we have enough in midfield to trouble them but there’s 1 or 2 question marks on us defensively and they have players that can hurt us. My instinct is saying 1-3 but I like to be hopefully and I think it could be a 2-2 thriller! (That’s the heart).

[AbbeymeadBaggie]

Surely the pre match team talk will involve "this is what all the work last season was for !". This could be a game where players give 110%. Our cup final? Sometimes perspiration can match inspiration.

COYB

[baggie82]

3 points are well within our grasp tomorrow. Leicester are in poor form, have sold a few and have injuries. Anything can happen but keep the faith.

[WBArgo]

The Leicester fans aren't too optimistic due to the sheer number of injuries/suspensions at the back. I'm sure they'll score against us, but perhaps we can nick a few too if their main guys are out (Ricardo, Evans etc)

Hopefully we can do better than Leeds and Fulham who both lost and at least get a point.

[Baggies]

Surely the pre match team talk will involve "this is what all the work last season was for!". This could be a game where players give 110%. Our cup final? Sometimes perspiration can match inspiration.

I’m hoping that now the shackles are off to a degree, and the pressure of promotion has gone, we can find a way to revert to the football we were playing between August and December last year. It was freewheeling and enjoyable football, where Sawyers controlled the game from deep and Diangana and Pereira caused all sorts of issues for defenders.

After the Leeds love in today, wouldn’t it be great if we could come in and destroy the narrative that it was only them and Brentford who were the progressive teams in the division. A win tomorrow, and a win in style, would be very welcome.

[westbrom3wolves0]

When the fixtures were released I wrote this game off. But now it’s the eve of, whether it’s my Baggie naivety or just my excitement about us kicking off back in the Prem, I think we can come out of the game with something and I am quietly confident about it.

Leicester are in a weird position with injuries and their 2020 especially away from home was questionable. If and it’s a big if, we play with confidence like the fans know we can, take the game to them and play with the intense press that we’ve seen on occasions I fancy us here. Far from having the goal scorer we need in our team, but this is 11 v 11, opening day, behind closed doors and psychologically as a football club the momentum is with us.

I say bring it on.

2-1 to the stripes. Diangana and Ajayi, Vardy for Leicester.

[tuamigos]

Happy if we manage a draw, struggling to see where we can get enough up front to hurt them unless Slav has something up his sleeve from free kicks.
With Maddison, Barnes and Vardy it will be a tough test for our defence.
COYB. 

[koren]

We will win 1-0. 
Ajayi's header from a corner.

[tegga]

Does anyone else think amongst all this optimism, that we could fall flat on our faces with the realities of the premier league and get well beaten, say 0-4. Don't have a go at me for feeling so negative, it is just a thought after knowing we have not strengthened the team enough.

[gazberg]

It wouldn't be a surprise Tegga although hopefully it doesn't happen of course.

It's not even like a thrashing would get the board moving so it wouldnt help in a messed up way.

I dont think we will get hammered but a draw or win would be amazing.

[garry]

Does anyone else think amongst all this optimism, that we could fall flat on our faces with the realities of the premier league and get well beaten, say 0-4. Don't have a go at me for feeling so negative, it is just a thought after knowing we have not strengthened the team enough.

I'm a glass half-full person, but I feel the same - I've got a really bad feeling about this one.
I just don't feel that our defense is good enough for this league.
Please do not give away a stupid early goal.
0-0 at half time and hope Leicester get frustrated.