Carlos Corberan confident West Brom new stars Nathaniel Chalobah and Marc Albrighton can adapt
West Brom boss Carlos Corberan remains confident new January recruits Nathaniel Chalobah and Marc Albrighton can get up to speed with the demands of the Championship.
The experienced duo joined last month from Fulham and Leicester City respectively and while Chalobah has been given a bit-part role in recent games, Albrighton has so far struggled to offer any much-needed attacking impetus as of yet.
Both, were withdrawn at half-time as Corberan made rare substitutions at the interval during Monday night’s 3-2 defeat at Watford following a blow-par first half and the Baggies improved as a result.
And Corberan speaking to Express & Star [22 February], believes that the two new recruits need more time to adapt having not played much at the respective clubs this season.
He said: “It’s clear that, for me, the new players are going to help us a lot, with no doubt.
“But if we analyse Chalobah, he didn’t play any full game this season before he arrived with us.
“So in some point he needs the game minutes to arrive to the level he has. You cannot do many things in training that can be better than the game time.
“With Albrighton he was one player in the Premier League with his team he didn’t play more than once per week.
“In the Championship it is completely different, now we play many times in a row, it’s an important adaptation to have. But I know that both have the mentality to do, to adapt to the behaviours and needs of the Championship.”
Time needed?
Corberan is correct in that both Chalobah and Albrighton need time and match rhythm before they show their true class as they haven’t played regularly at their respective clubs in the Premier League.
The Leicester City winger has struggled to impose himself on the Baggies team, having started every game since his move but Corberan won’t be expecting fireworks so suddenly considering his vast experience.
The same can be said for Chalobah, however, the Baggies find themselves in a precarious position in the table, five points off from where they need to be.
And in the last few games, Corberan’s men have struggled to score goals – an ingredient desperately required if they are to hop back into the playoff places.
Certainly, Albrighton and Chalobah need time, but with little room for error in their playoff chase, the Baggies fans won’t be as patient with their promotion hopes in serious jeopardy.
In other West Brom news, the club might not be out of the woods yet with more Premier League interest in the manager.