Plymouth Argyle Steven Schumacher is laughing off speculation that he was a target for West Brom before the Championship outfit hired Carlos Corberan as Steve Bruce’s replacement, speaking to the Plymouth Herald.
Around the time Schumacher was linked with the vacant Hawthorns post in October, via The Sun, there appeared to be a very real chance that Plymouth and West Brom would be passing each other on the stairs in 2023.
When Bruce was put out of his misery six weeks ago, a talented and experienced Baggies squad were mired in the relegation zone with just 11 points to show from their 13 matches. Corberan’s arrival has, however, coincided with a dramatic up-turn; the Baggies winning three successive matches for the first time in 15 months.
This does not feel like simple ‘new manager bounce’ either. Corberan, who guided an unfancied Huddersfield Town side into the play-offs last season, is a superb tactician, obsessed with the most minor of details. If he could take Huddersfield to the brink of the top-flight, what could he achieve with a greater squad of players at the Hawthorns?
If the World Cup break came at a frustrating time for West Brom, then you can’t really say the same of Schumacher’s Plymouth. A run of two wins in six matches checking their momentum; not that Ryan Lowe’s former Home Park assistant was ever tempted to jump ship, even when his reputation was on the up.
West Brom hired Carlos Corberan after links with Plymouth boss Steven Schumacher
“It wasn’t a distraction. I found the first one (links with Huddersfield) quite amusing. I was like ‘Okay, where has that come from?,” says the 38-year-old, who’s Plymouth side are still two points clear at the top of League One.
“I found that quite amusing when there had been no real conversation. Certainly on my part. It wasn’t a distraction, no. I just thought it was part and parcel of football.
“It’s probably to be expected when someone is doing well. And I’m sure it won’t be the last time. The way I dealt with it was to say I was fully focused on this job here.
“I love this job. And I’m not going to let anything turn my head away from that when there is no need to.”
Schumacher was one of a whole host of names linked with West Brom. Including Russell Martin, Gary Rowett, Sean Dyche, Michael Carrick and the now-clubless Lean Richardson.
“When the next speculation comes, I felt as though you shouldn’t have to keep saying over and over; ‘Look, I’m happy, I’m doing what I’m doing’. But it’s just part and parcel of football and I get it,” Schumacher adds.
“Someone said to me you welcome it in the end. Because, if you’re mid-table or down the bottom end, then your name is not even going to get circulated. It just shows the club are doing something good.
“And that’s the most important thing for me.”
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