Paul Robinson reveals what might be ‘a bit of a worry’ for West Brom boss Carlos Corberan
Former West Brom defender Paul Robinson says it “might be a bit of a worry” for Carlos Corberan that he has his hands tied in the transfer window.
The Baggies missed out on the Championship play-offs by three points last season and are contending with well-documented financial issues off the pitch.
Dara O’Shea has already been sold to Burnley and other stars could exit, with Spaniard Corberan – who was linked with the now-filled Leeds United job – likely to have to operate in the free transfer and loan market this window.
Robinson backed Corberan to get the Baggies firing in the upcoming campaign but concedes Corberan has plenty of issues to deal with.
“I don’t know how he does it, but he seems to get teams going in the right direction, he did it at Huddersfield, just missing out in the play-off final, he does good jobs,” he told the Express & Star.
“Now is a big season for him, he’d probably want a bit more power, for him to bring in a few more players to go into the new season, that might be a bit of a worry for him.
“But he gets his players firing, he gets his players in a good place – they are always tough teams to play against, Carlos teams, especially when you know they are in good form.
“From the positive side of it he’s had most of last season and a full pre-season to work the players how he wants and what he expects and now it’s about results – football’s always about results.
“He might be looking over his shoulder a little bit, he’s been linked with Leeds, didn’t get that job, will he get much backing? Keeping players fit again will be key because he’s not going to have the money to get players to help the squad. It’ll be interesting to see how he deals with those things.”
Not ideal
Carlos Corberan was linked with the Leeds job way back in February when Jesse Marsch was sacked but signed a new contract at West Brom.
His name surfaced again when Leeds were without a boss at the end of the campaign – with Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce both failing to retain the Whites’ top-flight status – but the Spaniard has stayed put and is preparing for next term.
He is doing so amid a tumultuous backdrop, with West Brom needing to lower their debts, likely by sanctioning the sale of key players to do so.
Corberan has already spoken this off-season about needing to look at the Baggies’ academy to flesh out his squad, and he has a good track record of blooding young players having previously been a part of the U-23 set-up at Leeds.
Robinson does make some fair points, though, and Corberan would – obviously – have loved the opportunity to enter the market to add bodies to his squad ahead of a fresh tilt at the top six.
In other West Brom news, managing director Mark Miles has provided a two-point transfer policy.