The Gamble

As Brentford prepare to take on Blackburn Rovers today we are about to see the departure of Ryan Woods to Stoke City confirmed and this has got me thinking about whether the club need to take a gamble on promotion.

Since Matthew Benham took ownership of Brentford we have seen the club change remarkably and huge parts of this have been positive. Have mistakes been made on this journey? Yes of course they have but what we have seen is an overwhelmingly positive transformation of our Football Club.

The one area though that always has and I believe always will cause fans concern is the sale of players. Not a season goes by at any Football Club – apart from a very select few – where players leave. For some they are able to offer their best players huge incentives to sign new contracts, we however take a different approach.

It is well documented that other teams can pay players more than we can and that is a position that the Brentford hierarchy are comfortable with. Our model in a nutshell is to find undervalued, young and hungry players for a low fee, improve them, expose them to decent Championship football and then sell them for a significantly higher fee.

This has paid huge dividends over the last few years and as well as allaying any fears over FFP, Brentford have created something else entirely. Young players are now choosing to come to Brentford because they know that if they work hard and improve they will be able to advance their careers. Brentford may be a stepping stone but we are a much more attractive stepping stone then many of the so called bigger clubs.

What I have noticed – and have referred to many times in the past myself – is the perception that at some point in the future Matthew Benham and the Co-Directors of Football will feel the time is right to take the gamble.

In short, this is the time that within a transfer window or two we reject any approaches for players regardless of the fee offered and instead spend on incomings and bolster the side in order to achieve promotion to Premier League.

Fact or Fiction

Is “The Gamble” real? Has this come from the club or something that fans have come up with and what does it actually mean? With Ryan Woods another of our top stars heading out of the door I think now is the time to look at what this could mean to the club.

Let’s look at where we are now. There is a growing sense amongst fans that this year’s squad is the strongest we have had since we landed in the Championship. The season after we were promoted was exceptional but this year’s team has more depth and looks just as exciting.

The feeling is that for the Club to really go for it, everything would have to be right and it certainly seems as if we have never been better placed. Should we get to January find ourselves in the top six or even the top two then you can absolutely guarantee that other clubs will be sniffing round.

Ollie Watkins and Neil Maupay have already started this season on fire and should that continue through till January there will certainly be interest from others. But would it be right to abandon the model that has served us so well in order to risk it all on going up?

Would it be a risk at all? Surely if keep these players and don’t go up then they will still hold significant value. The real problem lies with the players and their agents. Regardless of where we find ourselves in January if Ollie Watkins agent gets a sniff at 40 grand a week for his player then he will be banging down doors in order to get his client a move.

My thinking is that everything the club does is some sort of gamble anyway. With any new player who signs for us there is no guarantee that they will work out and likewise selling a player at the wrong time can cause disruption although this is one area that our club prepare for better than almost anyone else in this division.

What about Woods?

Many might be saying that the club have shown they are not prepared to gamble as they have let Woods go, albeit for a lot more money than what we paid for him. The truth is this – Ryan Woods wanted the move and the opportunity to earn significantly more money and his contract was entering a dangerous period.

As players enter their last year of a contract their worth is reduced. Brentford can’t demand top whack for a player who has six months left, others will just wait for it to expire before signing him for free. This means that with Woods’ deal expiring in two years’ time, if he was retained until the end of the season we would hit that final year period.

Woods leaving is – in my opinion – not a sign that the owner isn’t prepared to go for it. It’s just sound business sense.

My overall view of it is that Benham will see this season as our best chance of promotion since we left League one and our key players in terms of resale value have enough time left on their contracts to be able to gamble and keep them in the window – unless of course any bid is so ridiculous that he would need his head checking to reject it.

Chris Mepham, Ollie Watking, Neil Maupay all have three years left and they are the players who would attract the highest bids. They are all young and performing exceptionally well. One area of risk is Romaine Sawyers as his deal also runs out at the same time as Ryan Woods but for all his unbelievable ability, he will not be in the same bracket as the others in terms of fee.

Any gamble that the club takes this season will be a calmly thought out and logical one. I strongly believe that if we get to January and we are clearly in a position to challenge for promotion then we will see investment where it’s needed and key players retained. The emphasis there is on key players though.

This season has the potential to be an incredible one and we all know where that could lead. Rest assured though that whatever happens we are in good hands. We may just be on the brink of something very very special.

Up the Bees

Woods off? DaSilva in

I posted a new blog yesterday which looked back on a fine performance against Sheffield Wednesday. Within minutes of posting it though, my thunder had been somewhat stolen by reports across the twittersphere of an incoming bid for Ryan Woods

John Percy – A reporter for the Telegraph revealed that Gary Rowett was preparing a bid – honestly, I love these types of quotes. What is Gary Rowett actually doing? Psyching himself up in-front of a mirror to prepare himself for phoning Rasmus Ankersen? Practicing his email technique before firing offer a written bid to the club?

Stoke manager Gary Rowett launches £6.5million bid for #BrentfordFC midfielder Ryan Woods. Stoke want to sign Woods on loan before making the deal permanent in January #scfc https://t.co/Xdlvg8cG8N via @telefootball

— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) August 20, 2018

In other words, one of John Percy’s sources has told him that Stoke are interested in Woods and that has been translated into an offer of employment for our Ginger Pirlo. I am not suggesting that Percy is wrong and it could well turn out to be true but until we have word that an official bid has been accepted, I won’t be saying my goodbye’s just yet.

Woods was not included in the starting eleven on Saturday and failed to come off the bench as McEachran was dominating the game and showed little or no sign of fatigue. Dean Smith’s failure to introduce the in-demand midfielder was, in my opinion, no reflection on what has or hasn’t happened this transfer window and more to do with Josh’s excellent performance and seemingly comfortable management of the 90 minutes from a fitness perspective.
Brentford will no doubt need to prepare for life without Woods. There are a number of suitors and his price tag will eventually be met but this isn’t something to be concerned about. Woods may not leave in this window and should form dictate we are pushing for promotion then it may not even be in January.

But if it he is to depart this week then it is testament to the fine work of the Co-Directors of football that his absence from the squad will have a much reduced impact. No one who has ever seen Ryan Woods play in a Brentford shirt could deny just how good a player he is but as we have seen on numerous occasions now, the succession planning in place at this football club is second to none and we now have more than enough depth to cope. We have had a fine start to this season and Ryan has featured in just the one League Cup game in that time.

We could well find ourselves in the same situation as a few weeks ago with Woods once again omitted from the side to face Aston Villa if “his head isn’t right” I would suggest that if this happens again, it’s fair to say that he is off. Only time will tell but I am lot more relaxed about things now then I was twelve months ago with the whole Birmingham three scenario

On That Note

On the subject of succession planning, the club have today unexpectedly announced the signing of Josh Dasilva from Arsenal on a four year contract.

Whilst I can’t profess to know too much about him, the reaction of Arsenal fans to his signing gives us some indication of just how highly he was thought of at The Emirates.

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Smart club Brentford

— Clive (@clivepafc) August 21, 2018

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He’s quality, won’t let you down. Was a big part of Arsenal u23s winning the Premier League 2 last season. Good luck Josh!

— Dan Critchlow(@afcDW) August 21, 2018

His signing is certainly an interesting one. We have all see the clubs ability to pluck inexperienced youngsters from seemingly nowhere and develop them into stars. Even some of those that have failed to succeed at Brentford have gone on to be excellent elsewhere i.e Mawson and O’Connell.

It would appear as if Josh will go straight into the first team squad and that should tell us a little about where the club see his development. Recently Cannice Carroll was signed from Oxford and had played in league 1 but he has gone straight into the B Team.

It is also worth noting that whilst many of us have been singing the praises of a rejuvenated Josh McEachran, his contract runs out at the end of next season, as does Lewis Macleod’s. The club simply does not take its eye off the ball these days when it comes to player recruitment.

Welcome to Brentford Josh, you’ve joined a progressive, forward thinking football club at a time when we are playing our best ever football. You may well get the Premier League football I’m sure you crave far sooner than had you stayed at Arsenal.

Up the Bees

Bees Breeze past Sheffield Wednesday

This weeks blog is a bit late but I’ve been busy repeatedly watching the highlights after Sunday’s fine performance against Sheffield Wednesday.

Confidence has been flowing around Griffin Park since the start of the season so after an excellent opening day win at home to Rotherham, an excellent point away to Stoke and a convincing League Cup win over Southend – in which Dean Smith made eleven changes to his starting line-up – This game had the potential to be a banana skin.

Dean Smith went with the same starting eleven he had fielded in the previous two league games with the only alteration coming amongst the substitutes as Josh Clarke gave way to Ryan Woods.

From the first whistle on Sunday Brentford were simply better than their South Yorkshire opponents. The level of dominance varied throughout the game and apart from perhaps a ten minute spell towards the end of the first half, Brentford were in complete control.

Upgrade in Progress……..

The match yesterday saw Brentford start the game with Chris Mepham and Ezri Konsa at Centre Back. Both of those players are just twenty years old and between them have less than twenty five Championship appearances.

So why then does it seem like both of these players are head and shoulders above their predecessors. Andreas Bjelland had his best season in a Brentford shirt in 17/18 and is an international standard defender, yet Mepham seems to outshine him in every department.

Mepham has pace and his reading of the game allows him to make everything look effortless. His confidence to bring the ball forward is testament to not only his belief in his own ability but also the faith shown in him by the management and he is allowed to flourish. .

Ezri Konsa has taken up the position vacated by John Egan and in the process Brentford have not only gained roughly one million pound but also a player who has pace, power, aerial ability and a calmness on the ball more akin to a central midfielder.

Those two players alone seem such an upgrade on what we started with last season it is unbelievable to think that in the process of doing so, Brentford have made a profit.

I am sure there is much more to the form of this side than just the two lads at the back but their performances this season have been so stand out that you can’t help feel that their place in the side epitomises what Brentford are all about. An environment has been created where young players are celebrated and not viewed as inexperienced liabilities

It is also worth noting the excellent performaces on Sunday of Neil Maupay, Ollie Watkins and Romaine Sawyers. Maupay in particular is showing a real intent this season. He works tirelessly but is now adding a fantastic ability to hold up the ball and bring other in to play. On another day he would have had a hat-trick. The fact he only walked away with one was the only blight on his copybook.

Magical McEachran

It has been an excellent start to the season for Josh McEachran and there is genuine excitement surrounding his performances. The questions over Josh have never been about ability it has almost always been about fitness.

It seems as if since joining Brentford Josh has either been out injured or desperately trying to force his way back in to the team after being out injured. McEachran has shown his class, but it has always been too brief.

Whilst it may seems as if I am tempting fate seeing as we are just four games in total in to the season but in his three appearances he has got through ninety minutes twice. Sandwiched inbetween those games McEachran was substituted at Stoke City. Dean Smith thought he saw Josh pull up and feel his hamstring. He was immediately withdrawn for his own good. Josh appeared less than happy, particularly as he was producing another classy performance.

McEachran was simply wonderful on Sunday. He consistently demanded possession, whther it was receiving the ball off of the back four and starting an attack or drifting over to link play between the wider forwards.

His opposite number Barry Bannan was trying to the do the same for Sheffield Wednesday. He was a bright spark in an otherwise disappointing team but even Wednesday’s best player was not a patch on McEachran as he set about not only displaying fine vision and passing but also an ability to break up play.

It was another excellent display from the former Chelsea man. It may only be three games into the season but I get the feeling that there is more to come from him. He has made himself undroppable at the moment and providing he stays healthy it is going to take something special from his midfield colleagues to displace him in the starting line-up.

Macleod or Mokotjo?

Sunday also saw another opportunity for Lewis Macleod to continue his impressive start to the season. This time round he had a somewhat quieter game in my opinion. The Scot was not poor, lets be clear on that. He still managed to win the penalty that set us on our way and produced some decent moments but it wasn’t the complete showing we have see in the last two league games.

Lewis provides us with so much going forward yet is showing there is a steelier side to his game. He is flourishing in the box to box role and after an injury plagued start to life in red and white, it is brilliant to see him regularly producing good performances.

That’s said, Kamehelo Mokotjo is pushing him all the way. Against Sheffield Wednesday, Kamo came on and made a difference, which is all that can be asked of him.

I’m not sure if it’s because I thought of Kamo as a holding midfielder or that he hasn’t been used as much in an advance role but I keep being surprised by his classiness. It is yet another sign of the strength in depth we posses throughout the squad.

On Wednesday we face a tricky looking trip to Aston Villa. This is a game that I think Kamo could be ripe for. He has made some decent cameo performances in the league this season and backed it up by a very solid showing against Southend in the Carabao Cup. Wednesday seems a perfect time to put him in the starting lineup and let him loose on a Villa side who have been somewhat unconvincing in their unbeaten start to the season.

Around the League

Elsewhere around the league Derby look to be struggling. Milwall are quite obviously no mugs, especially at home but they could have been out of sight against a Derby side who were demolished by Leeds Utd. The 2-1 scoreline seemed more to flatter Derby than it did Milwall.

John Egan scored his first goal for Sheffield Utd in their 2-1 win over Norwich City. The former Bees Captain putting the home side ahead before being pegged back by a Jordan Rhodes header. Billy Sharp had the last laugh though as he netted the winner in the 93rd minute

Middlesborough are showing impressive form at the start of the season as they beat Bristol City at Ashton Gate. They now sit top of the table with then points from twelve. City on the other hand appear to be struggling. They have little cover defensively and Aiden Flint’s departure to ‘Boro has clearly caused them problems and with Bobby Reid opting to leave a City side that at least tried to play football to go to Neil Warnock’s anti Football brigade it is no wonder that the Robins are feeling the pinch.

And I thought I’d leave the best till last. West Bromwich Albion put 7 (seven) past poor old QPR. The Hoops were humiliated at the Hawthorns as Steve McLaren’s side capitulated. They had actually responded well after going a goal down as they squared things up at 1-1. But a miserable second half performance saw West Brom run away with the game and send QPR to the bottom of the table with a grand total of zero points from the opening three games.

Up the Bees

Bees Coast Past Southend

 

It had been a few years since I last visited Southend and the Essex coastal town has lost none of it’s charm as the Bees once again produced some scintillating attacking football.

What was maybe a little more pleasing for those that travelled was that Dean Smith fielded an exceptionally strong starting eleven. This was made even more impressive by the fact that none of those that lined up against the League One club had started a league game this season for the Bees.

The strength in depth now at Dean smith’s disposal is impressive and highlights why the confidence amongst fans is exceptionally high at the moment. Their was full debuts for Marcus Forss – More on him later – Mads Bech Sorensen and Julian Jeanvier whilst Said Benrahma, Alan Judge, Nico Yennaris and Kamohelo Mokotjo made their first starts. Josh Clarke and Tom Field made a welcome appearance in the full back berths whilst a certain Ryan Woods resumed duties in the centre of the park.

Swanning off?

The morning of the game saw yet another Woods to Swansea rumour circulate, this time talk of a loan deal ahead of a permanent switch but as fans awaited the teams news before kick off it became apparent that Ryan would play.

I personally felt as if this game would go a little way to telling us what was going to happen. Would he keep his head down and just get through the game? would he show signs of strain and look beneath his best? Or would he fit in seamlessly as if nothing had happened??

Fortunately he chose the later, not that we should we be surprised by that but Ryan – as he often does – dominated every aspect of the game. Whilst Said Benrahma will no doubt take the headlines for his breathless attacking display, it was Woods that completely and utterly bossed the game.

As is so often the case, it looked as if there was five Ryan Woods on the pitch. Always an outlet and spraying the ball from corner to corner, he gave us a timely reminder of just how good he is. Dean Smith said in his post match interview that Ryan looked impressive at times but felt he was also a little rusty.

The last couple of league game we have been treated to confident and competent displays from Josh McEachran. This was just a small reminder that should he stay, we have a player of immense talent ready and waiting.

Wing Wizadry

Tuesday night gave us a first proper look at Said Benrahma and the winger didn’t disappoint. The powerful wide-man possess frightening pace and every time he picked the ball up on the wing he looked to cause problems.

On countless occasions he collected the ball close to the touchline and cut inside, exposing the frailties of his League One opponent. However it wasn’t until the second half, after the poor full back looked exhausted did Said get his rewards.

After receiving the ball, he left his man for dead and headed straight for the box before exchanging and an intricate one two pass with Mokotjo close to the six yard box before firing past the bewildered ‘keeper. It really was the least he deserved as he tormented Southend until he was replaced by Sergi Canos late on.

You can imagine the sense of relief the defender must have felt to see Benrahma hauled off only to have Sergi Canos come on and do exactly the same thing to him time and time again.

B Team Brilliance

Coming in to the game Dean Smith made it clear he was going to make changes and most of us could predict who the B team players making the step up would be. Marcus Forss was included as was Mads Bech Sorensen and Tom Field. Those three are probably now considered more first team players but still often play down as they continue their development.

Mads Bech Sorensen made a steady start before having to hobble off injured. He is an absolute mountain of a man and looks a naturally gifted defender. He may need a bit more time to develop as a player but he looks to have the potential to make the step up eventually

From the first minute Marcus Forss looked sharp. He possibly doesn’t have the same quality movement as Neil Maupay but yet, before his goal, he had exposed the Southend back line as he made dashes past the last man. The Shrimpers ‘keeper having to beat away a fierce drive from Forss before he got his goal.

Just prior to Forss finding the net he had once again beaten the offside trap, raced to the by-line and cut back for the onrushing Nico Yennaris to drive at goal.

When Forss’ goal did come it was exactly what he deserved. Josh Clarke finding him with a neat through ball and the striker showed great composure to fire across goal and into the bottom corner.

If the goal would have please Dean Smith, Forss’ overall contribution would have delighted him. On more than one occasion he linked play with neat touches whilst having the strength to hold of his centre half. When he was eventually substituted he received a standing ovation from the travelling Bees fans and it was one he richly deserved.

One of our Own

It was also great to see tom Field make a return to the first team. Since bursting on to the scene a couple of seasons ago as he humiliated Fulham with his pacey runs from full back Tom has had a mixed time of it. He looked brilliant as he deputised at left back before going out on loan to Bradford City. He didn’t play as much as he would have liked and since his return the purchase of Rico Henry and the form of Yoann Barbet have limited his chances.

However this appearance must have given him confidence. He looked more than capable in coping with the attacking threat of League One forwards and he got up and down to support the irrepressible Benrahma. all in all it was a positive night for Field and he grew in confidence as the game went on. Perhaps another loan deal might be good for him but there is again plenty of positives to take from the night for Tom.

Wednesday on Sunday

So it is now on to Sheffield Wednesday at Griffin Park this Sunday. Dean Smith will have to decide if Ryan Woods has done enough to firstly force his way back in to the match-day squad and then, if he can fit him in to the starting eleven.

It would be incredibly harsh on Josh McEachran if he was to be replaced but Woods again showed just how pivotal he could be in any promotion push this season.

I haven’t even mentioned Jeanvier before now and he made a very solid start to life in a Brentford shirt. He looks incredibly quick, strong and composed. Quite how Dean Smith is going to choose out of Mepham, Konsa and Jeanvier each week is beyond me. All three look to be exceptionally strong defenders who can play football. A nice position to be in I suppose but I’m glad I’m not the one making the decision.

It is important we continue to the good start against Sheffield Wednesday as we then face Aston Villa the following Wednesday – who themseleves have started strongly – before a tricky looking test away at Blackburn Rovers.

One thing is for sure – we’ve got a squad that’s “ten times better” than some in this division.

Up the Bees

Bees Impress in Draw with Stoke City

Yesterday the Bees travelled to Stoke for a first meeting between the two sides since the 2002 Playoff Final at The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. That game saw the Potters run out 2-0 winners and secured them a spot in the second tier. It’s fair to say that after that game the fortunes of both sides changed dramatically but sixteen years later we met again.

This time, despite Stoke City boasting an England International between the sticks, it was Brentford that looked like the team on the up and but for some fine goalkeeping from Jack Butland and a defensive mishap involving Chris Mepham and Dan Bentley, Brentford would have been travelling home with all three points rather than just the one that they were forced to settle for.

I wasn’t able to make it up to Stoke yesterday so I’ll avoid any sort of match report but from the highlights I’ve seen, the updates from the fans who were at the game – both Stoke and Brentford –and from various media outlets it is clear that Brentford produced the majority of the game’s best moments.

The Ryan Woods Debate

Dean Smith unsurprisingly went with the same starting eleven that dismantled Rotherham on the opening day. He also stuck with the same seven substitutes. This meant that Ryan Woods missed out entirely after failing to secure a move to Swansea on the final day of the transfer window.

Firstly, I have seen very few people question Dean Smith’s decision to leave him out. The window only closed on Thursday so with less than two full days to prepare, it was no real shock to see Ryan left out.

It was still a call that Smith had to make though and in my view it was exactly the right one. Josh McEachran and Lewis Macleod absolutely dominated last week’s game and almost made themselves undroppable and there was absolutely no need to rush him back.

I find it frustrating though that a player can’t play in a game because “his head isn’t right” after not getting the move he wants. Not only are they paid very well to play football but surely it calls in to question their professionalism if they can’t get up for a game because they didn’t leave the club.

Woods does not appear to be the sort of player to cause issues though and I am sure that once the dust settles he will be back to his dazzling best. I am not suggesting that Woods is unprofessional but it’s an observation in general about modern footballers not turning out for their current employers when a transfer window is open.

Josh McEacheran and Lewis Macleod may have something to say about Woods walking back in to the side anyhow. Both players have had their time at Brentford blighted by injuries but there is a sense that given a run of staying healthy both players could have a huge impact. Macleod in particular is playing the box to box role with a range of passing that exceeds that of Nico Yennaris and as he showed on opening day – He can hit one!

Changes to come

Tuesday sees Brentford make the shortish trip to Southend in the League Cup and no doubt Dean Smith will use this an opportunity to make a few changes and look at different players. It will most probably see the return of Woods to the side as well.
On paper, Brentford’s second eleven looks almost as strong as the first choice. Should Smith make wholesale changes he could still field the following eleven: Daniels, Odubajo, Jeanvier, Sorensen, Clarke, Woods, Mokotjo, Yennaris, Judge, Benrahma, Forss. That still leaves the likes of the injured Rico Henry, Chedozi Ogbene and Emilianio Marcondes to get back in the team!

Over the last few years we have been disappointing in the cup competitions, much of that has been down to lack of squad depth with a number of B team players drafted in for the games against lower league opposition. This time round though there will be a number of players looking to stake a claim. Alan Judge a prime example of a player that would walk in to most Championship sides but is currently forced to look on from the bench whilst Julian Jeanvier will surely be keen to make his debut and force Smith to make a decision about who takes up the two centre back berths.

It really is frightening to see the strength in depth that this team now possesses and expectations are clearly rising.

It hasn’t been plain sailing since Dean Smith was appointed and there has been occasions where questions were being asked by fans about his appointment but over the last 12 months at least, Dean Smith has gone about constructing a squad that can compete at the very highest level in the Championship.

Around the Championship

Elsewhere around the Championship Leeds Utd are setting the early pace after a convincing opening day win over our last opponents Stoke City before demolishing Derby County 4-1 at Pride Park. In case you haven’t heard, Derby County are now managed by Frank Lampard and Sky Sports haven’t mentioned it once!

New Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa has arrived at Elland Road with a big reputation. Pep Guardiola has described him as the best coach in the world which may or may not be something of an exaggeration but he certainly seems to have gotten his philosophy over to the Leeds players quickly.

His high intensity pressing game has been evident in the last two fixtures and his players have been completing triple training sessions in order for them to be prepared for the intensity of the strategy.

But can this be maintained? As the Christmas period approaches and the New Year fixtures kick in, Bielsa will face something he hasn’t yet come up against with the fixture congestion and high demand of the league. If he can effectively navigate this period then his side may well be favourites to go up. Leeds always have the ability to self destruct but if Bielsa gets the best out of his side like he has been, they will be hard to stop.

Birmingham City appear to once again be facing another tough season ahead. They were pegged back in the 94th minute by Norwich City last weekend and this week they travelled to Middlesbrough and were beaten by a 12th Minute Britt Assombolonga goal whilst having Craig Gardener sent off in the process.

Rotherham bounced back from their mauling at Griffin Park with a decent 1-0 win over Ipswich Town. The highlight of that game being the 73rd minute tribute to the Late Barry Chuckle as Rotherham and Ipswich fans traded “to me, to you” – a touching reminder of the comedians catchphrase.

Our nearest and dearest QPR made it two defeats in two as they went down 2-1 at home to Sheffield Utd. It looks as if it could be a long season ahead for Steve McLaren’s QPR as they battle financial issues after the FFP ruling.

And despite another late goal against them, West Brom came out on top in a seven goal thriller at Carrow Road as they beat Norwch 4-3 to give them their first points in the Championship since relegation from the Premier League.

Up the Bees

It’s Back

So I’ve just checked and it’s been 18 months since I last wrote a blog but with a little more time available to me I’ve decided to give it another crack.

Best ever?

And what a place to start! After Brentford’s opening day demolition of Rotherham there has been a huge amount of optimism flying around. The Bees players had produced on the pitch – and at the first time of asking! – quality new signings arrived in the shape of Ezri Konsa from Charlton, Said Benrahma from Nice and Julian Jeanvier from Stade De Reims. It leaves me asking the question – Has this been Brentford’s best ever transfer window?

All of this on the back of loosing players who some thought less than crucial. Andreas Bjelland who enjoyed his best season in a Bees shirt opted for Copenhagen rather than a new contract in TW8 whilst John Egan and Florian Josefzoon departed for Sheffield Utd and Derby respectively.

But nagging away in the back of all our minds was the possible departure of our key players.

Romaine Sawyers – who produced some scintillating football last season was rumoured to be perking the interest of recently relegated West Brom whilst Chris Mepham was receiving some serious interest from Premier League Bournemouth and Leicester.

Ollie Watkins – who enjoyed a fantastic debut season – was receiving admiring glances from the Premier League as once again Bournemouth were rumoured to be interested as were Crystal palace. However, firmly in the mind of Bees fans everywhere was Ryan Woods.

The diminutive midfielder is a joy to watch and at times last season, left the Griffin Park crowd in awe at his ability. We all knew he would be high on many teams shopping list.

So as the opening day finally arrived I was gutted to see him omitted from the starting line-up as news of a Swansea bid was announced.

As it turned out Josh McEachran and Lewis Macleod filled the void brilliantly as they systematically took Rotherham apart and we romped to a 5-1 victory.

But there’s no doubt just how good Woods is, so like many I frantically refreshed my news feeds for confirmation of his departure…..yet nothing arrived and as I typed this a few hours after the permanent window has shut he remains a Brentford player.

EFL Madness

In previous transfer windows we have sat there and watched as our top players depart and we stare aghast as our Championship rivals plundered our prize assets. But after the window shuts we knew where we stood. Whoever was left would be what we would take forward and with the club’s uncanny ability to bring in new talent we were always left with a strong enough squad. The key part of this was that Dean Smith would know who he had at his disposal.

Now however we are left in limbo. As we rejoice at the news that the Swansea board inexplicably refused to stump up the cash for Woods I’d ask the question, where does that leave Dean Smith and the rest of the squad?

By all accounts Ryan Woods was keen on the move, as shown by his withdrawal from Saturday’s match day squad. He must be left feeling deflated and wondering what his next move his. I’ve no doubt at all that he would be welcomed back into the squad and his addition on the pitch would be a surprise boost.

But the fact remains that this transfer window simply isn’t shut. A few people have asked the question “Why would Brentford loan him out”. Simply put – it’s a loan deal in name only. I do not pretend to be a football insider but it’s well known that transfers these days are complex and fees for players are not made in one lump sum and there are various other aspects to a transfer that has to be agreed before a sale is confirmed.

Ryan Woods was all ready to sign for Swansea and as we know, Brentford will sell if the valuation is met. So far Swansea have failed to do that. All it takes is one or two defeats for the Swans, the board to have a change of heart and come up with the cash or dare I say it, Brentford become willing to do business at a lower price (The least likely of the options admittedly) and the deal is back on.

Cash flow will not be the stumbling block. If Brentford are adamant that they can’t wait until January for part of the money then clubs are free to include a loan fee as part of the deal. The result – Swansea get the player on loan, Brentford get the first instalment of the cash and the deal is made permanent in January.

The one thing the EFL have managed to do is create the very scenario they are trying to eradicate.

The whole point of the window closing early is so that clubs get the business done before the season is properly underway and squads are settled quicker. All they have achieved is to make things more uncertain.

Whilst the Woods situation is still unclear there is now the threat of other clubs realising they are short, seeing how well the likes of Maupay, Sawyers, Canos or even Macleod are playing and coming in with an attractive offer for the player.

Looking Good

Despite all of this, we still come out of this the strongest we have ever been. Konsa and Jeanvier appear to be an upgrade on Egan and Bjelland. Said Benrahma looked tantalising in his brief cameo on Saturday and should be more than a match for the recently departed Josefzoon and the cherry on top of the cake was the return of Moses Odubajo. The fullback/winger has had a torrid time with injuries but get him fit and we will have one hell of a player.

It is important to note that teams in the Premier League can no longer buy players. This is key as it would most likely need the spending power of a top flight team to tempt us into selling Mepham or Watkins.

In my opinion our squad is the strongest it’s been since we got back to the Championship. The season after we got promoted was joyous but if we had the strength in depth we have now, we’d have probably gone up.

Ankersen and Giles have proved to be excellent negotiators and not only have they signed top talent but they have commanded high fees for those departing.

If the worst does happen and Woods leaves before January I am comfortable that we still have enough to have a real go at nicking a playoff spot. Convince him to stay and we start to look like favourites for a top six finish.

Up the Bees

Out with a Whimper

So Brentford went out of the FA Cup with something of a whimper on Saturday and the performance has left some fans upset at the apparent lack of desire shown by the team.

Quite rightly others have pointed out that –  yes, we were comfortably beaten, but by a side sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League.

It is worth considering both sides of the coin. Firstly Chelsea – have and will  – destroy better teams than us this season. Despite Antonio Conte choosing to rotate several of his first team squad he was able to call upon a phenomenal array of talent.

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Willian and Pedro possess such quality that any team in the land would struggle to cope and with the impressive Chalobah and Ruben Loftus Cheek having been given their chance to shine, the Bees would always be up against it.

For anyone not related with Brentford and many realistic Bees fans, 4-0 was a scoreline that could have been predicted. Chelsea, despite an awful atmosphere from within the ground, are a class above any team in the county at the moment.

So fans do have a point when they say that we didn’t embarrass ourselves by losing 4-0.

On the flip side

However, it is the manner of the defeat that has left a sour taste in the mouths of many fans.

We have all seen Brentford be frustratingly inconsistent this season. On more than one occasion, this Brentford team have proved that they possess real quality. Impressive victories over Reading, QPR and Brighton have shown we can match most teams.

So why then has this side constantly let themselves down? This sounds harsh but it is blatantly true. The good wins this season have been dominated by poor results and even worse performances.

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Even amidst a thumping of Preston at home question marks were raised over the standard of play. This may sound like unrealistic Brentford fans piping up but there is substance to it.

So when the players trudged off after a 4-0 defeat to Champions elect Chelsea, fans were not happy at the manner of the defeat.

Coming in for criticism 

Some of the players come in for more criticism than others. Romaine Sawyers is a case in point. His languid style and laid back approach has resulted in fans finding it hard to warm to him.

Yet, many of us can see the talent that lies underneath and whilst even I’ve found it hard to defend him at times, there is no doubt that he doesn’t deserve a lot of what is aimed his way.

Harlee Dean quite often bares the brunt of fans frustrations as well. The difference this season in his relationship with the fans is that his performances have been at such a high standard that there has been little left to aim at him. His interaction with supporters is another matter however.

But when I go through individual players and what they can contribute I am constantly brought back to the same conclusion. They are not the ones to blame.

Individually I believe that they all are good enough to play in a top half of the table Championship team. Some of them a lot higher.

Dan Bentley started the season incredibly but perhaps has dropped off slightly but nevertheless can be magnificent. Colin is reliable and provides a good attacking option. Egan has made the step up well and doesn’t look out of the place at this level.

Dean has cut out the errors and is now invaluable to us. Bjelland is an international defender and whilst his lack of pace has been exposed at times, he can also look brilliant when played in the right areas.

Woods has carried us at times and gets through the work of two players and thank the lord, Josh McEachran appears to have realised that he can actually play. Against Chelsea, he wouldn’t have looked out of place if he was wearing the blue of his former club instead of the red of his new one.

Whilst we lack in some areas, it shouldn’t be critical and those that the jury is still out on, provide enough to warrant a place in this team.

What’s up?

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So why isn’t it working? It brings us back to the Head Coach. I firmly believe that these players are being held back by a negative approach.

The one player we have ALL been able to get behind this season has been Tom Field.

He may be a defender but he attacks with pace and has looked every inch a Championship player. So instead of deploying this talented young full back who plays without fear, Dean Smith instead opted for a fourth Centre Back in Yoann Barbet.

Barbet didn’t disgrace himself but without any sort of outlet going forward, we were on the  back foot from the start. Perhaps Smith though deploying Barbet instead would make us more solid. All it did was force us deeper.

Woods and Yennaris did not seem to know what to do with the ball in possession yesterday and this is not an uncommon feature of our game. For me, Yennaris deserves plaudits for his energy and workmate but lacks the quality needed to be a regular at this level.

Smith’s choices may be limited in this area but he has had a long time now to resolve the issue. If his current midfield is being exposed in this system, then change it.

My overriding frustration from yesterday and the majority of games under Dean Smith is that the football is bland and indecisive. He does not want to over commit the players going forward but selects a systems that exposes our own weaknesses.

The club have moved this week to bring in Florian Jozefzoon from Dutch giants PSV. He is by all accounts a pacey winger who can get at defenders. My question is then – Where does he fit in?

We currently play a system that doesn’t have wingers in it. Instead the width is provided by wing backs. Maybe this we herald the dawning of a new era where Smith can move his team around to accommodate the extra pace. Somehow though, I think Smith’s reluctance to try anything positive will put paid to that approach.

The decision to again leave Scott Hogan on the bench is a divisive one and I find it hard to criticise Smith over this. He is caught between a rock and a hard place and can’t win whatever he does but the situation must be resolved either way in a couple of days so we will be able to put that behind us.

Jota is yet to start a game for us since his return from Spain and whilst that is Smith’s prerogative and he is the one that sees him train day in day out, we all know that Jota is a technically gifted individual who provides flair, something us fans desperately want to see.

We go again

The hope is that now the Chelsea game is out of the way, the squad can re-focus and get a result out of the Villa game on Tuesday night, but the fans are growing increasingly frustrated with the Head Coach and defeats in two very difficult fixtures may just see the atmosphere turn the wrong way.

I’m not sure I know the right answer here and am even less sure if a change of Head Coach is the right thing to do at this stage of the season but unless results and performances pick up soon, we are in for another rocky end to the season.

Last year a remarkable run of results saw us pull away from the drop zone to a comfortable ninth place finish. I do not want to have to rely on going on a long winning run to make us safe again.

We currently lie just six points off the relegation zone but thankfully there are some awful sides below us and despite all the grumbles listed above, I still believe we are good enough to get the required points to safely see out the season.

But looking further ahead, do we need to ask the question – Can Brentford do better than Dean Smith?

Up the Bees.

Post Newcastle

Due to the Football League and Sky Sports’ dalliance with the schedule, I made the untimely mistake of making plans on Saturday and missed what appears to have been a very decent performance against nailed on promotion candidates Newcastle Utd.

As a result I will avoid commenting on the game itself too much as I don’t think I could provide a fair assessment given that my match summary would be based on angry social media exchanges and a few minutes of a highlight reel.

I will instead attempt to make sense of a few of the undisputable happenings.

Bench warmer

First up is the decision by Dean Smith to put Scott Hogan on the bench. Now it has occurred to me that I may have been a little harsh on Dean Smith both in this blog and on social media recently but always felt it came with the caveat that I’d still support him whilst he was in charge as that’s what a fan does.

But everyone has the right to an opinion and whilst I’m not convinced by Dean Smith he probably doesn’t deserve all of the criticism levelled against him.

On Saturday Smith took the decision to omit Scott Higan from the starting lineup, claiming he had to protect Brentford’s interests. He then further clarified this by saying that wasn’t just stopping Hogan getting injured but also sending a message to the other players – those remaining a bee after the window shuts- that he has faith in them.

So, I and many others asked the question “why have him on the bench at all?” Firstly, let’s be clear, Dean Smith is 100% correct in my opinion about placing the club and those that will be here post January over and above anything else. 

If as has been rumoured, Scott Hogan was less than impressed about being an unused substitute than I don’t really care. This is for two reason, show me a player who is happy being on the bench than I’ll show you a player I wouldn’t want anywhere near the team.

Secondly, Smith has to do what he thinks is right and Hogan is unlikely to be here much longer anyway. It’s a stance I can support.

I just felt that naming him amongst the substitutes and then not using him whilst 2-1 down at home to the best side in the league sends the wrong message. Smith had no intention of playing him regardless of the circumstances. 

Dean Smith wouldn’t have faced any criticism for leaving him out. Hogan may have got a bit of stick if it was judged that he didn’t want play as his head wasn’t right but again it goes back to doing what is right by the club.

However what it did do and this is something I hadn’t thought about is perhaps gives a nudge to Philip Hoffmann. The big German could be forgiven for thinking he would never be given a chance at GP but with Smith turning to him instead of his £15 million man, he effectively said “you’ll still be here in a few weeks and I’d rather put my faith in you than someone whose leaving”

I do think we should get behind Smith on this one though. It hasn’t been turned in to too bigger issue at this point anyway but should Hogan still be a Brentford player come the Villa and Chelsea games and he takes the same stance then more will be said about it. 

Divided opinions

First there came excitement, then came frustration, swiftly followed by adulation and now apathy.

That is how I would sum up Romaine Sawyers short time as a Brentford player. Many were over the moon when he signed for us and expected him to make the jump up with ease. As Sawyers was finding his feet fans showed a little frustration at a player who we expected to be the next big thing.

After a slow start he endeared himself to Brentford fans everywhere when he ripped the heart out of QPR with a sublime strike to down our fierce rivals. 

Now though apathy reigns after according to some a complete no show against Newcastle and a perceived lack of effort. 

I do not intend to sit on the fence with this one. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that people tear him apart the way they do. I’ve seen enough from him to know he is an excellent footballer. His vision and passing can be sublime.

As for the so called lack of effort, you do not need to make lung-busting runs every two minutes to be having an effect.

Sawyers has been deployed as an attacking midfielder. Most agree that’s his best position and that will curtail the defensive side of his game somewhat. He also reads the game well meaning he is usually in the right areas, preventing the need to sprint as hard as you like to make up ground.

I do agree though that he could be sharper. The lack of effort claims come from his sometimes failing to close a player quick enough and a far bigger contributing factor to this line of thought, his lackadaisical giving away of possession on occasions.

I’m not here to make excuses for the man but he has a laid back and languid playing style. That doesn’t mean he’s not trying. At times the game seems effortless to him. That’s when we all love him. When his flicks or neat, round the corner passes don’t come off, that when the accusations fly.

Whatever your opinion on him surely we would be in agreement that slagging him off over social media isn’t going to help?I’m fine with people disagreeing and saying he isn’t good enough but please stop short of trying to destroy his confidence.

Negative Vibes

In the same boat as Sawyers is Lasse Vibe.  The Danish forward has also been the subject of a great deal of criticism recently and rarely has there been a moment in his Brentford career when his finishing hasn’t been questioned.

Despite his goal on Saturday and another one seemingly unfairly not given after the ball had crossed the line, Lasse Vibe continues to get pelters.

Vibe plays the opposite to Sawyers in that everything is done at 100% and his work-rate and commitment can never be questioned. His is a question of ability.

I saw a stat – which hasn’t been verified – that said in his last seven games as the central striker he has scored seven goals. If that is accurate and that is the return he provides then it is pretty decent. He does miss chances and he’s not the first in a Bees shirt to do so. I remember Andre Gray coming in for fierce criticism after missing a hatful during our most successful Championship season to date.

Vibe is a dilemma. You can’t argue that it is his pace and work rate that opens up these chances and he has scored enough goals in his career to evidence his finishing ability but we have all seen the other side of that as well.

Much like Sawyers though, Vibe comes in for for some unfair criticism. It may be that he is the man we will see the season out with so the sooner he gets his confidence back the better. A goal at the weekend will help- as will a bit of backing from the fans.

We go again!

We all love that much used cliche after a defeat but after a difficult result against Newcastle, this time it is appropriate.

It would appear as if yet again we were denied obvious penalties, had a goal ruled out after the ball appeared to have crossed the line and we piled on the pressure against the best team in the league. The result was frustrating as was some of the circumstances surrounding it but the performance and attitude of the players was positive.

As we head into the second half of the season there is still a lot we can aim for and the sooner the window is shut the better but there’s some big games coming up and a win or two in them will have us buzzing again.
Up the Bees

Stick or Twist? Leeds to trump us again?

Time to sell up?

West Ham’s pursuit of Scott Hogan appears to be heading the way of another long drawn out saga ala Forshaw and Tarkowski.

Despite the Bees board being crystal clear on what it will take to secure arguably the divisions hottest prospect the Hammers don’t quite seem to get it.

You can’t blame Brady, Gold and Sullivan for trying to get the best deal for their club but it also seems they place trying to save a few quid as a much higher priority than protecting the club brand.

With West Ham trying and failing to sign a multitude of different strikers since the beginning of the season, Hammers fans could be forgiven for getting a little frustrated with their sides hierarchy.

And whilst they have become a bit of a laughing stock after bidding for anyone and everyone it does have repercussions.

West Ham’s pursuit of Hogan has been a public one. I’ve no problem with that and in fact the more interest the better. We have very clearly sent a message out with this one. Brentford will not be bullied.

So where does that leave us? We have a player who would clearly love to progress his career in the Premier League and whilst with some players there is an argument that they should stay and develop first, this surely doesn’t apply to Hogan.

He’s 24 and at the age where his next step up is coming at the right time. Injury problems aside he has been an asset to us and his low key approach to these transfer rumours shows a maturity.

In short, none of us would begrudge him a move but with all the negotiations going on, should we take what’s on the table? Are West Ham prepared to meet the valuation or do we risk missing out on a huge chunk of money?

The answer lies in the reinvestment. If you take a pragmatic approach to this season, we aren’t going up or down so splashing the cash and paying over the odds in the January window may not be the answer

But with the players being mentioned – 19 year olds Ben Stevenson and Sergi Canos – the DoF are clearly looking to use the money wisely and sign very promising young talent with huge potential and with it an enormous re-sale value.

Again, it would depend on whether or not the Hogan money is key to the purchase of new players. For what it’s worth my opinion is this – if the signing of Stevenson and Canos as well as any other targets is dependant on Hogans sale then I say take the 12.5 million providing it’s full of add ons.

If Matthew Benham is prepared to stump up the cash on new arrivals regardless of Hogans sale then clearly we are in a position to hold out for top dollar.

The potential to sign two hugely promising young players in key positions is too good to turn down. 

We have also been linked with Sam Winnall. That says to me he would be a direct replacement and only viable if Hogan goes. I like Winnall but would much rather keep Hogan if that option was available to us.

Hogan is a fantastic forward and I firmly believe he would be a success at West Ham. So far, our DoF – and I’m sure Matthew Benham has been involved – have taken the hard stance and should be credited with trying to get the best deal for us. We are certainly no longer push overs. 

Leeds to trump us again?

Despite being Champions of Europe and quite obviously the biggest club in the world ever, Leeds do quite like  little old Brentford quite a bit.

After signing Dallas and Toums, Leeds do appear to wait and see who we’re after before jumping on the band wagon.

I say this quite obviously tongue in cheek but they’re recent transfer policy has been somewhat akin to ours.

Last summer, long term Brentford target Kemar Roofe was apparently very close to signing a deal at Griffin Park before Leeds did what Leeds do and threw money at him.

He’s working out well for them so far and is a really classy player who I would have loved to see in a Brentford shirt but we will always be in that position unfortunately.

This time round it is Sergi Canos. After it was leaked that we were back in for Sergi we all got a little over excited about the prospect of seeing the much loved Spaniard flying down the wing in West London again. 

Sky Sports have since reported that Leeds are now wanting the player and with the attraction of big wages it will take Sergi’s love for the club and sure fire knowledge that he will get the games and development he needs at GP to see this deal over the line.

After opting for Norwich in the Summer and since seeing his opportunities severely limited, I’m hopeful that Canos will opt for Brentford and should that happen he will have cemented his place in the hearts of Brentford fans for a long long time.

Newcastle fans made to pay.

Lastly, I just wanted to show a bit of sympathy for the Newcastle fans. If it wasn’t bad enough that Sky Sports moved the game originally to Monday at 5.30 showing scant regard for travelling fans it has now been moved back with a weeks notice.

Sky may not be able to do anything about the Cup replay but they knew full well that replays were to take place that weekend and it would happen at short notice.

It boils down to greed on Sky’s part and weakness, inability and zero desire to stand up to them on the Football Leagues part.

Why choose that game in particular when there were other games available. More money for them is all and whilst it’s not us out of pocket we should stand together in this issue.

Oh, and it means I can’t go now, not that it’s got anything to with my bitterness! 

Up the Bees

Canos to Come Home?

We’re just four days into January and already the transfer rumours are flying around. Fortunately for us it’s not all doom and gloom like previous windows. 

With Scott Hogan being linked to just about everyone both here and abroad you could be forgiven for thinking that Brentford fans would be a little depressed.

Yet there seems to be more work being done to bring players in than negotiating deals for players going out.

It’s inevitable that when a player scores goals like Hogan has that we will loose him eventually but you should be more than comforted by the knowledge that if he does leave, it’s going to be for a whopper of a transfer fee.

Scott has pace, power, workrate and a lethal eye for goal so loosing him will be a blow but that is football and after finding both Hogan and Andre Gray in non league, whose to say we won’t pluck the next superstar out of the lower divisions.

So the thought of loosing Hogan is somewhat softened by the fee’s being quoted and of course we’re all still on a high after Jota returned from Spain.

There’s no saying how long he’ll be here but to see him in the red and white again will be a thing of beauty. He’ll add that little something special to the side that we haven’t had this year.

If his return wasn’t enough for some bees fans than how about waking up to the news that the club is in talks with Norwich about the permanent signing of Sergi Canos.

Sergi has more than hinted of his desire to return after “liking” several Bees fans tweets about him coming back. He also possesses that spirit and desire that would give the team such a huge boost. We simply fell in love with his enthusiasm for the game and his high energy performances meant he became a fans favourite pretty quickly.

To have him back as well as Jota would give us a balance to the side and maybe more importantly would trigger a wave of optimism amongst fans. You can’t fail to be excited with Canos and Jota in the side.

We’ve also been linked with young Coventry starlet Ben Stevenson. I can’t say I know too much about him but Coventry fans speak very highly of him and he fits the Brentford model perfectly.

He is young, appears to be technically gifted and would of course have huge re-sale value should he perform well for us. He’s also a Defensive Midfielder, a position we desperately need cover at. 

As if the flurry of positive transfer rumours wasn’t enough we got treated to pictures of Jota and Judge back on the training ground at Jersey Road. Alan Judge has been on a long road to recovery so to see him being put through his paces is great. It’s certainly wet the appetite of many Bees fans when you consider that there is a chance of Hogan, Judge, Canos and Jota all taking to the same pitch. 

Add an excellent Romaine Sawyers into the mix and you start to get excited. I remember writing a blog just before our first season in the Championship kicked off and I got a little ridiculed by other non Brentford supporting fans when I suggested we could make playoffs.

And whilst I have been openly critical of Dean Smith in the past the one area he has quite clearly strengthened is at the back. We haven’t been shipping goals like we have in the past and with Bjelland returning to full fitness, the excellent Egan joining the team and the step up in class of Harlee Dean, we look far more solid defensively. 

So with a new DM and an attacking lineup including Judge, Jota, Canos, Sawyers and Hogan. The playoffs would be a realistic aim.

Of course it may all be a pipe dream with the Stevenson and Canos deals nowhere near complete, Hogan likely to leave and Judge out of contract and still being touted for a move but this is a team coming out of last years transitional phase. Long term contracts have been signed by others such as Field and Woods and we have no pressing need to sell so whilst it may be a pipe dream at the moment it also has a chance of happening.

If all of the above wasn’t enough to put a smile on the faces of Bees fans, we started the year with a excellent win at Birmingham.

It wasn’t just the three points but the manner of the win. Coming back from a goal down will be a boost to the confidence and it’s always nice to score a screamer with Nico Yennaris banging it in from all of thirty yards.

Further positives include the performance of Lasse Vibe, the excellent Andreas Bjelland and another good outing from Sawyers. KK got a run out and must be looking forward to Saturday’s cup game where he will surely be in contention for a start. 

So all in all there is plenty of optimism flying around at the moment. If we can get a couple of deals over the line and keep hold of one or two than it’s certainly going to be an interesting second half of the season.

Up the Bees