West Brom debrief: Carlos Corberan makes strong loan hint after Fleetwood exit

We look at some of the talking points from the Fylde Coast.

Embarrassment?

It’s a humiliating scoreline, no doubt.

But the context of the evening provides some clarity, at least. That sort of squad, made up of youngsters and new faces who have had little pre-season and need minutes was always likely.

As such, a mish-mashed squad always has potential to struggle.

Those travelling fans can feel short-changed having paid hard-earned money to make the trip, but I do think that sort of squad selection was always likely. It is not necessarily wanting to chuck away chances of progression, it is just the reality of where Albion are.

All that said, excuses should be few and far between and Albion should still beat a League Two side. It’s a pity, as Corberan said, there are no more EFL Cup chances to give exposure.

New-boys assessed

Corberan handed first appearances for new faces Paddy McNair and Joe Wildsmith as well as first starts to Gianluca Frabotta, Ousmane Diakite, Lewis Dobbin and Devante Cole.

It was a mixed night, in all, for the cohort. The latter pair made up Albion’s four-pronged attack but did not do enough to influence the clash.

Corberan reflected: “It was necessary for someone like Paddy McNair, for example he didn’t play or train enough, so it allows him to compete in the first team.

“Similar situation with Frabotta, a player who didn’t play in a friendly game before. And even for a player like Cole, who didn’t make a normal pre-season because he was out of contract without a club. Minutes are very important.

“A player like Dobbin did a pre-season with Aston Villa but not with us, it’s important to get the habits and start to understand better how we play and start to show his skills. Or Diakite is a new player who still needs to grow in every single aspect. That’s why I tell you these minutes are necessary for some first-team players and important for academy players.”

Loan decisions

Academy products Harry Whitwell, 18, and Fenton Heard, 19, were Albion’s best performers on Tuesday. Both are exciting talents.

Corberan hinted that both will stay at Albion this season for a mix of under-21 and first-team training experience. The head coach suggested otherwise for Caleb Taylor, Mo Faal and Reyes Cleary, who are an age group above and poised for loan moves.

“With Faal the idea is to develop, we believe in his talent, he had a very good season last year and is ready for the next step, but it is still not yet probably the first team,” Corberan said.

“These players (Whitwell and Heard) for me still have the age to keep playing in our under-21s. For me we need to evaluate every case differently. Some players for their age and development need to go on loan – probably talking about Caleb or Faal, or Reyes Cleary.

“Others, for their age, still can use the under-21s to keep developing as players.

“Harry was changed late because last week he had an injury and I didn’t want him to have another injury but in the second half he was one of the best players to impact the game. He started a little bit shy but during the second half him and Fenton probably impacted the game most of the young players.”