Carlos Corberan is considering dropping Nathaniel Chalobah and Brandon Thomas-Asante as West Brom prepares to face Ipswich Town on Saturday (25 November). The team is eager to bounce back after an undeserved defeat against Southampton, which ended their four-game unbeaten run and knocked them out of the top six.
To secure a win against Ipswich, Corberan aims to field a team that is both defensively solid and threatening on the counter. This strategy may result in the exclusion of senior players such as Thomas-Asante, Chalobah, Darnell Furlong, and Conor Townsend. The return to the successful 3-5-2 formation is a possibility to counter Ipswich’s possession threat.
Goalkeeper Alex Palmer is expected to continue his impressive form, having conceded 17 goals in 16 games and keeping seven clean sheets. Cedric Kipre, recovering from a less serious injury than initially feared, will join Kyle Bartley and Erik Pieters in a solid defensive unit.
Corberan may opt for slight alterations in the backline, considering the debut of Pipa against Coventry and the unsuccessful return of Furlong in recent games. Matt Phillips, with outstanding form, is likely to retain his place as left wing-back.
In midfield, Molumby, who hasn’t started since September, may be crucial against Ipswich. While Chalobah’s recent performances have been disappointing, Molumby could partner with Okay Yokuslu and Alex Mowatt in midfield.
Brandon Thomas-Asante’s inconsistent performances, particularly in the last game against Southampton, may lead to his exclusion from the attack. Corberan may revert to the successful attacking setup with Grady Diangana partnering Jed Wallace.
Corberan could have Josh Maja and John Swift available after injury, providing a significant boost to the team. However, they might start on the bench, with the option to feature when needed.