Comparison between Carlos Corberan and Valerien Ismael shows West Brom fans should keep expectations in check
Carlos Corberan has made a brilliant start to life at West Brom but a glance at the records of previous managers suggests it doesn’t always stay that way.
Corberan has won five of his first seven West Brom games, with the Spaniard taking the Baggies from the foot of the table to playoff contenders in a matter of weeks.
Albion sit 16th in the Championship table but are just five points off sixth-placed QPR. Corberan has fans dreaming of the most unlikely promotion season, but a look at previous records suggests fans should calm down.
Corberan has picked up 15 points out of a possible 21 during his reign at The Hawthorns, with his only dropped points coming in his first and latest matches.
It’s a very impressive start considering West Brom’s position when he first joined, but it’s not record-breaking. In fact, Valerien Ismael started with the exact same record as Corberan in his first seven matches.
Express & Star have compared the starts of previous West Brom managers, and Ismael and James Shan are the only managers to match his record, with Roberto Di Matteo the only boss to better his record with 17 points in his first seven.
It definitely doesn’t suggest that corberan will follow the exact same path as Ismael, but it does remind fans that form is extremely volatile in football and that there’s a long way to go in the season.
The excitement and optimism around West Brom right now is fantastic, but a quick succession of losses and draws would quickly see that turn into negativity and pessimism.
Fans have to remind themselves that Corberan has a huge task on his hands. Reaching the playoffs this season would be fantastic, but he signed up for a long-term project at The Hawthorns and he can still be successful without reaching the top six this season.
The squad needs overhauling, players are low on confidence and the club is going through financial uncertainty. There’s plenty on Corberan’s plate already without expectations soaring through the roof.
Ismael started brilliantly at West Brom but didn’t even last a year before leaving in February this year via mutual consent. Things can change quickly in football and it’s important that Corberan is given full support whether the team is in great form or struggling this season.
In other West Brom news, Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres exposes the World Cup trick Baggies players used after a penalty was awarded