Corberan starting to find identity at Terriers
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN V NOTTINGHAM FOREST
TOP of Carlos Corberan’s summer shopping list were a Huddersfield Town centre- back, central midfielder and right- back. Tonight’s Championship game against Nottingham Forest could be the first time they all play.
Right- back Pipa is set for his third game, on- loan Ajax midfielder Carel Eiting will make his debut and with Christopher Schindler a doubt, Corberan could gamble on central defender Naby Sarr after just two training sessions.
Do that and it will start to feel less like Danny Cowley’s team, more like Corberan’s. As the understanding grows, results must follow. There is a short limit to how long a coach can lose every game – as Forest’s Sabri Lamouchi will be acutely aware.
“We knew it would be a tough start to the season but now we are starting to feel more ready to face the games with the same identity,” says Corberan ahead of the match between sides who have started with three defeats.
“In pre- season we only had two friendly games so you cannot analyse much. We have spent time analysing the players’ performances in the previous season but it’s not the same.”
Eiting, a 22- year- old midfielder loaned out by Ajax to kick- start a career hampered by knee surgery in early 2019, threatens to be fundamental to Corberan’s progressive gameplan.
“He’s a very good technical player,” says Corberan, as if we expected any different from Ajax’s academy graduate.
“At Ajax he usually had more of a role to help the team playing out. A lot of the time he was close to the centre- backs in a ( midfield) three or just in front of them ( in a 4- 1- 4- 1) trying to make the link between the defenders and the attacking part of the team.
“I think he can adapt to the No 6 position ( holding midfielder) or the ( more attacking) No 8 position, not taking the ball from the centre- backs but moving it from the midfield to the strikers.
“He feels comfortable receiving the ball with opponents close by.”
Versatility will be important to Huddersfield this season, due to both the coach’s ideology and adapting to the Covid- 19 pandemic with a much- reduced post-Premier League parachute than promised.
“When you are going to have a lot of games in a short period of time like this season’s Championship you will maybe need more players than usual,” argues Corberan. “When a player can play three positions you need fewer.
“If you are going to play with one striker and you have three, you are losing a striker because one plays, one is on the bench and the third is not going to have the minutes he needs.
“If you have a winger who can play as a striker it’s a perfect scenario for the player and the squad because he can have a bigger contribution, like ( Karlan) Grant last season.
“He played as a striker, a leftwinger, even a No 10.
“We think ( Josh) Koroma can be a No 9, a No 7 ( right- winger) or a No 11 ( left- winger).”
Grant’s versatility will make 2019- 20’ s top- scorer an even bigger loss if bought by one of his suitors, led by West Bromwich Albion. Kasimpasa and Fulham are interested in making last season’s loans of Florent Hadergjonaj and Terence Kongolo respectively permanent.
Likewise, Town are thought to be keen to bring Chris Willock – who Corberan acknowledges was “an important player in keeping the team in the Championship” – back from Benfica, but reports in Portugal suggest wages are an issue.
“The easy situation for every coach is to have your squad together for the first day of pre- season but this never happens,” says Corberan.
“The situation with Grant is a little bit special because he continues to train with the club.
“We knew about the interest from some clubs that are now in the Premier League. We also knew the impact he had last season and we could understand his ambition to leave.
“He is not involved in the collective work but he continues working to keep his ( fitness) levels just in case a move happens or he can add to our squad if a move doesn’t happen.”
Huddersfield face a different decision on Sarr.
Released by Charlton Athletic at the end of last season, the French- born Senegalese defender returned home and therefore had to self- isolate during his first fortnight as a Huddersfield player, trapped in a hotel room with only a club exercise bike as a training tool.
“He couldn’t prepare well but he completed the last two training sessions with the group so we have to make a decision whether to take the risk to put him in the squad knowing he is not really prepared yet or to allow him to continue working with the team,” explains Corberan.
Last six games: Huddersfield Town LLLLWD; Nottingham Forest LLLLLD.
Referee: O Langford ( West Midlands).
Last time: Huddersfield Town 2 Nottingham Forest 1, December 21, 2019, Championship.
When a player can play three positions you need fewer. Carlos Corberan on Huddersfield Town’s squad make- up this season.