Carlos Corberan’s put West Brom back on the map since his appointment over a year ago, here’s five things he’s done right this season.
When Carlos Corberan took over the club in 2022, West Brom were in the Championship’s relegation spaces after a drastic fall from grace.
But fast forward to now and he’s absolutely put that on its head as he has the team sitting just one place outside the playoffs.
All this has been achieved through some awful injury crises’ and also the ongoing West Brom takeover talk.
So now while we remain in the season’s final international break, we thought it good timing to look at five things that Corberan has got right this season…
Got the most out of Grady Diangana
One player in the Albion’s squad who is capable of producing the incredible is Grady Diangana. The forward clearly is a favourite of Corberan as he even compares him with the great Raul.
Diangana has two goals and three assists in 11 games this season for West Brom already, nearly matching his tally of four goals and three assists over the whole of last season.
With some key players returning, the reliance on Diangana will end but it could in fact make him even better with the likes of Daryl Dike set to return.
Utilised the deep defensive department
One thing at Corberan’s disposal at The Hawthorns is a strong defensive unit, and he has made the most of it throughout this season.
Corberan often switches his defence up depending on the opponent and whose skills best suit that challenge.
Smart management and it has clearly paid off, given the fact West Brom boasts the joint-best defensive record in the league, and Alex Palmer is leading the golden glove race.
Got the squad playing as a team
In the Championship you need a squad that works well together and works hard with any player in the squad capable of fulfilling a role. Through an injury crisis, that’s exactly what Corberan has done.
Missing out on crucial names like Dike and John Swift, Corberan has made the most of those who have been available to him.
This has allowed Albion to come through a huge injury crisis fairly unscathed so far and sitting pretty in seventh, something former West Brom man Andy Johnson has praised.
Corberan has avoided letting takeover impact him
The takeover at West Brom is believed to be in its final stages as multiple US bidders remain in talks.
We have seen before how prospective takeovers can distract the on-field action and lead to bad runs while it looms such as with Manchester United.
But Corberan has managed to keep it out and avoid it from becoming an issue which is another real positive from this season to date.
Made West Brom hard to beat
The main thing which has helped The Baggies rise up the table is that they are difficult to beat, something they weren’t a year ago.
Four losses but that is the joint third-best record, given everyone loses in the Championship.
If West Brom can turn some draws into wins, they’d easily be in the playoffs so they aren’t far off.