No Ivan? No problem. Brentford went to Tottenham on Saturday morning and came back with yet another magnificent away win. The 3-1 victory for The Bees about as comprehensive as they get. Spurs going for it from the off, running out of steam and then put to the sword in the most brutal fashion. The pat on the knee for Daniel Levy from (presumably) his wife a hilarious cherry on the cake. There, there. It’ll all be ok in the morning. Now, there’s the small matter of completing the double over Manchester City on Sunday in order to try and secure 7th place in the table and whatever European vacation may come as a result.
Brentford fans enjoy the moment. Nice jacket, sir
The Bees were brilliant. Giving us our usual conundrum as to who was the star player? Who made up the rest of the top five? How is the race to find the season long top performer going. HAs anyone played their way into contention for a start against Manchester City? Or a finish?
Brentford 2 West Ham 0. It was as routine a win and emphatic a display as one could ever hope to see. The visitors with their minds on other things although seeming to have forgotten they are still in a relegation battle – don’t @me, the table doesn’t lie. Brentford missing Ivan Toney but still at their brutal best and now looking ahead to the game at Tottenham on Saturday.
Who wears short shorts?
As ever at this point we look back to the game just gone. Who was the star player? Who made up the top five? Did anyone do sufficient from the bench to warrant a starting berth at Spurs? Did Ivan’s absence make a dent in the season long effort to find our overall top performer?
Liverpool 1 Brentford 0. A game that was as close as the scoreline suggests and, on another day, might have seen the Bees securing at least one – if not all three – of the points. That’s not how football works though and, despite Dean Smith levels of ‘deserving to win‘, we go in to Sunday’s visit from West Ham with praise ringing in the ears, confidence high but nothing further towards our final points tally following the game at Anfield.
Did Ivan make the top five? Well… d’uh!
As ever at this juncture, time to reflect. Time to consider who the star player was for Brentford? Who made up the top five? Who leads the season long quest to find our overall top performer? Did anyone do sufficient against Liverpool from the bench to make the starting XI against West Ham or will it be more of the same?
Brentford 2 Nottingham Forest 1. The Bees moving five points clear of Fulham (and about three divisions ahead of Chelsea) as the Premier League edges towards conclusion. With the trip to Liverpool next up, the European dream remains alive in the hands of Thomas Frank and his magnificent Bees.
Bees Buzzing. Tricky Trees, felled. That late, late winner celebrated in style.
As ever at this point in the weekend, we look back at the game just gone. Who shone for Brentford. Who created the headaches for Forest? Who was the star player, who made the top five and who leads the season long race to be crowned our top performer of the campaign? Could anyone break in to the starting XI for the trip to Liverpool and what were the main talking points?
Chelsea 0 Brentford 2. What a scoreline and what a game. What a triumph for Thomas Frank and what a disaster (another one) for Frank Lampard. With just five games to go – and the visit from Nottingham Forest next up on Saturday – could the Bees retain their position as the best placed club in West London? Might Europe be on the cards still?
The Premier League Twitter feed captures it perfectly
Saturday’s game with Nottingham Forest will go a long way to helping answer those but, for now, we need to look back at the game with Chelsea. Who shone for Brentford? Who was our star player? Who makes the top five and who leads the race to become our season long top performer?
Where to even begin tonight? Possibly the most exciting Premier League campaign in living memory reaches a true turning point. A proper ‘winner takes all’ encounter, should either team be brave enough to go for it. Sure, there may be the small matter of Manchester City v Arsenal but for me its all about the more significant battle between blue and red. The derby between Chelsea and Brentford. The chance for one of these teams to lay down a marker in the battle to end the season West London’s best top flight team. Then there’s the small matter of last season. Will revenge be on the agenda for Thomas Tuchel’s / Graham Potter’s / Frank Lampard’s Chelsea?
Last time out was a LOT of fun
That was some game last season. The trashing administered at Stamford Bridge by Brentford about as exciting and unexpected an away day as they get. The Bees were rampant. Chelsea blown away. The Bees 1-0 down early into the second half turning into that most wonderful of final scores. 4-1 in favour of Brentford and every bit value for money. The fire-drill from the home support true evidence of how brutal this had been.
Of course, we’ve since had the small matter of our trip to The Ethiad this season where Manchester City were the latest to be shocked by Thomas Frank’s team. The Brentford enigma less an unexpected surprise and more an expectation these days. Any team CAN be beaten anywhere. But for some rogue officialdom denying Bryan’s early goal, Arsenal may well have fallen to the same fate. A 1-1 draw in their library scant reward for another Blitzkrieg Bee’s performance.
I thought we were wonderful against Aston Villa on Saturday (and you can read the deep dive / player ratings from that game here). A 1-1 draw as much the ultimate lesson in taking your chances when presented. That late equaliser as hearbtreaking as they come but take nothing away from a rampant Villa side. Indeed, their own defeat of fulham last night has done us a favour in the potential season end bragging right stakes. Whetehr it has hampered our own European push (incredibly, still not a typo) remains to be seen
Thomas went for four at the back on Saturday – a decision largely influenced by Skipper Pontus Jansson now out and having finished his time at the Gtech – barring some sort of medical miracle. Given his tendency to mix it up I suspect he may be three this time around. Zanka the obvious candidate to come in at the expense of Kevin Schade. The German wunderkind is fast looking like our next big thing and will be a wonderful option from the bench, if needed.
The slightly less obvious question will be in the midfield. Christian Norgaard is confirmed as absent already which means a likely start for either josh Dasilva or Shandon Baptiste alongside Vitaly and Matthias. Which way does Thomas go? What about Mikkel Damsgaard?
I thought the later was wonderful in the game against Fulham. Woeful when he started his next up at Everton. Get the right Damsgaard and he’s an absolute gimme. Get it wrong and we’re Brentford, innit. Who knows. One thing’s for sure, take anything you read here with a huge pinch of salt.
Those other longer term questions – will David Raya sign a new contract. Just what is happening off-field with Ivan Toney – remain no closer to being answered. The one thing anyone can see is that neither player is being affected by the conjecture. Quite the opposite. Ivan’s goal against Aston Villa was an absolute beauty (with kudos to MOTM Bryan Mbeumo in that one).
As for our goalkeeper, he has looked about as brilliant as we have ever had between the sticks. As reliable and solid as it is possible to hope for in a number 1. With his fellow countryman David de Gea having an absolute stinker at Old Trafford, our own player’s value is showing just how high it might get .
That’s for then. This is for now. You can take your title deciders and shove them where the sun don’t shine. Which is everywhere at the moment. For me, it’s all about West London. All about seeing if we can get half-way close to last season. All the pressure is on Frank (Lampard rather than Thomas). There’s no game I’d rather be watching.
However you follow it – on TV or at the ground – enjoy. Be loud. Bring it on !
Brentford 1 Aston Villa 1. A game the Bees may well feel should have been won, such were the chances created, on an afternoon in which football was the only winner. What a fantastic game between two sides pushing for a European place. The next chance for the Bees to follow that particular dream comes in the West London derby at Chelsea on Wednesday night.
For now, as ever, the chance to look back for Brentford. To see who was our star player . Who made up the top five? Who leads the season long race to be overall top performer. Who caused Aston Villa headaches and who may be in contention for that trip to Chelsea.
Wolves 2 Brentford 0. There’s not much else to say although we have done. There’s a season long top five to write up. Not to mention this week’s star player.
So they’re here. In the usual place. Yet, if anything else, this weekend has shown just how much we’re going to miss our Captain. What he means to us. So with apologies for taking a diversion from the usual match action (albeit that ‘service’ is continued), you can find this week’s Pontus heavy post-match debrief here….
A rare home defeat for Brentford. Newcastle United 2-1 winners in a game dominated by VAR and dark arts. Lucky mascot ‘Grandad’ (see last column) unable to inspire The Bees.
As ever at this juncture, we look to see who shone for Brentford. Who was star player and who made up the rest of our top five. Has there ben any change in the season long race to find our top performer etc etc.
Brentford host Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon with the sole aim of getting back to winning ways after the midweek reverse at Manchester United. A cautious opening at Old Trafford saw The Bees on the back foot and, despite our cranking things somewhat with a procession of second-half substitutes, there way no way through. Anybody wanting the deeper dive on that one (and, if nothing else, the race to find our season long ’top five’ is becoming tighter than ever) can do so here.
Supporters at Old Trafford, midweek
So, to today’s business. The game at Manchester United has been and gone. There’s no further dwelling on it. Instead, Newcastle United present the next barrier to Brentford and possible European qualification. The Champions’ League is now 10 points away and whilst I’m very much the glass half-full type, short term focus rather than longer term dreaming is probably the way to go. Focus on the task immediately at hand and let the points do their own thing.
It’s going to be a fascinating battle, that’s for sure. Newcastle are even higher up the table than Brentford and after four wins on the bounce will be looking to nail down a top three place. The’ve only conceded 20 goals all campaign whilst at the other end who could forget how they stuck five past us in the earlier season reverse at St. James’ Park?
£63m striker Aleksander Isak is on fire. Leading the line in a team Thomas Frank described in the build up as “Energetic, pressing, physical and dynamic.” Who said money can’t buy you happiness? Regular readers can, at least, take comfort in the fact that yours truly – the Jonah of Fantasy Football – has picked him in my online team.
Ivan and Bryan leading the charge against the divisions’ stingiest defence. Their challenge to find a way though what Thomas called. “A very well drilled and well picked back five,“ adding that “It looks like they’ve played together forever; they are always in the right positions and they are very good in the duels”.
All true, of course. A record that speaks for itself. Yet, at the same time, what a line up to prove yourself against. What a personal challenge for Ivan Toney who, if nothing else, once got five minutes of Premier League action for Newcastle United back in 2015 after coming on for Aleksander Mitrovic against Chelsea. What price would he worth to them now? Toney, not Mitrovic. The Serbian, of course, currently serving an 8 match ban.
Still, Ivan’s not for sale. Nor is David Raya (although picking up the signing pen wouldn’t go amiss, one can dream…..). If Newcastle’s defence is stingy then ours isn’t too shabby. Only 7(seven) clubs have conceded less this season and if it hadn’t been for the aforementioned reverse fixture, that record would be even better. Wednesday night’s reverse was only our second in 17 games. Ethan Pinnock and Ben Mee have been as colossal a centre back pairing as we have ever had the luxury of enjoying. Captain Pontus Jansson now fit again and returning alongside them to a 3 man defence accompanied by the flying wing backs.
Will there be changes in midfield? Vitaly Janelt is reportedly in contention although whether he will have to make do with a place on the bench remains to be seen. The only thing we can say for sure is that this game is about as big is it comes for both sides at this point in the season. With places in Europe up for grabs and a Premier League table that is as fluid as any I can recall in living memory, every point counts. Every win something to be appreciated for all its worth.
Looking a bit further afield, in the Championship it was a very Good Friday from some respects. The Loftus Road mob lost, again, and are falling apart in a style that makes Leeds United look like amateurs. From looking like they were on track for the Premier League back in October, now they are one place and one point above the relegation trapdoor. The prospect of all four West London clubs playing top flight football seems as far apart as ever.
Whilst we wouldn’t normally look at the Championship in these pages, there was other significant news on Friday. Namely, Burnley making an immediate return to the Premier League. Congratulations, of course, are the first order of the day. If to nobody else, then their own commentary team after that quite wonderful meltdown in our first top flight campaign. Here’s to more of the same next season.
Finally, if anybody is in The Griffin prior to kick off then please come along and say hello to Grandad, who will be coming to his first Premier league football match. He’s recovering from major surgery after takin a recent fall but the glue is holding well.
Grandad, for those who listen to Absolute Radio, not being a flesh and blood relative but, rather, the official mascot of Bush and Richie on their Hometime Show. For reasons too convoluted to share in one paragraph, he’s now in our care for the Bank Holiday weekend and being photographed in all the best places, and with the best people, that West London has to offer.
Until then, here’s to kick off. This game’s going to be huge and I can’t wait. See you there.
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