Former West Brom fan favourite gives high praise to Carlos Corberan ahead of Championship return
Fans’ favourite Paul Robinson admits Carlos Corberan’s job in lifting Albion into play-off contention has surpassed his expectations for the club this season.
Promotion-winning former left-back Robinson, who recently left Millwall where he was first-team coach, feared pushing for a top six spot would be difficult for his old club due to a lack of squad depth.
But the ex-Baggies and Blues man has been impressed with the start made by Corberan’s men, currently only outside the play-offs on goal difference before action resumes on Saturday.
“I think at this moment in time he’s done a great job, especially with the limited funds he’s had to work with,” Robinson told the Express & Star. “The squad is down to the bare bones, he’s had to let players go – good players in my eyes, like Taylor Gardner-Hickman, good footballers who you’d keep as squad players, I found that strange.
“But seventh in the league...in a tough, tough league this year, the teams that came down, those that come up, it’s one of the toughest in a long time. I think Carlos is doing a good job.
“I think (I saw Albion) mid-table this year, for me, I was looking at 10th to 12th, because of the squad, when you see they’d not brought in players they’d have liked, it can have an affect on the group, players always want to see new players improve the squad.
“I still know players there, top quality Championship players, but you have to go to the next level every year. Last year was the best time to get out of the division, the quality wasn’t really up there.”
Robinson, who made 238 Baggies appearances, added: “West Brom had a surge last year, everyone felt there was a real outside chance of the play-offs but it just petered out. Is that down to the depth and quality? Same players having to churn out performances week in, week out, it’s very hard to do with the intensity of games.
“But you’re professional, paid to do that. This year West Brom are in a great position but you might be concerned with that depth just to take them that little bit further where they need to be.
“But I’d love to see it, Baggies always belong in the top division because of the job they’ve done there before.”
Robinson was speaking to the Express & Star’s Baggies Broadcast. His guest episode is out today on Spotify, Soundcloud and Apple.
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