Nobody could deny Thursday wasn’t interesting at Brentford. Matthew Benham’s cryptic clue was (I am assuming) unravelled when the news was announced that we’d signed striker Leandro Rodriguez on loan from Everton. Doctor, Knee, exit – Leandro, Rodriguez, Everton. Of course! I guess that’s why Matthew is the multi-millionaire club owner and I’m just the numpty on the terrace.
The signing of Leandro marks an attempt to arrest our barren patch in front of goal that came to a sad climax last weekend when, of course, head coach Dean Smith elected to go into the derby clash at QPR with no striker on the pitch. Whatever point he was trying to prove backfired spectacularly as the Bees failed to trouble the scorers and rarely looked like coming close.
That said, we are where we are and this can only be seen as a step in the right direction. The Everton youth production line has certainly been a beneficial one for the Bees in the past. Club captain Jake Bidwell and Adam Forshaw both joined Brentford from Goodison after initial loan spells whilst, but for injury, Conor McAleny and Chris Long both looked set for big things. Here’s hoping that, without wanting to put too much pressure on the young man’s shoulders, the Everton-Brentford connection can do it again.
The other interesting thing about this transfer, assuming you find this sort of thing interesting, was in regards to the announcement of the news. It’s often been noted how ‘off the pace’ we look compared to our rivals and, again, this would seem to have been the case yesterday looking at the release time of stories on the News Now website.
10.31: Everton striker Leandro Rodriguez leaves on loan. Liverpool Echo
10:59: Brentford sign Everton Uruguayan Forward Rodriguez. Beesotted
11:18: Dean Smith makes first Brentford signing as Everton striker joins on loan. Get West London
11:40: John Swift called-up to England Under-21 squad. Brentford FC – Official Site
13:09: Rodriguez Loaned To Brentford. Everton FC – Official Site
13:20: Leandro Rodriguez signs on loan from Everton. Brentford FC – Official Site
13:22: Brentford sign Everton’s Rodriguez. BBC
And with that, it was officially all ‘official’.
Breaking – everywhere else first. Leandro puts pen to paper
I’m sure it was a case of waiting until the ink had dried on the paperwork but for Beesotted to be almost two and a half hours ahead of the club with this comm does make me wonder how they do it. And ‘official’ don’t. Or just can’t. Moreso as, whatever protests you’ll hear from fans/staff, Dave and Billy are pretty much on the money with everything they run on their site. Who was that last interview with? Oh yes, Matthew Benham.
No doubt the local press get wind of these things from their ‘sources’ and our hands are tied to an extent but, at least, surely we could ‘turn the key’ at the same time as Everton? Or had they just ‘gone rogue’?
Still, at least we were all ahead of the BBC whilst, unlike with Toumani, pictures of Leandro wearing a Brentford tracksuit hadn’t appeared all over social media two days earlier. Compared to that, three hours isn’t too bad in the grand scheme!
As somebody once said
The other news of real interest yesterday, where the club most definitely did have the lead, was the update given by Alan McCormack during the press conference from the Jersey Road media centre. The ‘live tweeting’ of press conference updates by ‘Brentford official’ HAS been a real positive in recent weeks. This one was no exception as Alan revealed that Jake Bidwell had orchestrated a ‘players-only meeting’ the Monday after the QPR debacle.
In a subsequent article that you can read in full on the club website, he has been quoted as saying , “We all sat on our own and we said what needed to be done: what needed to happen this week and every week towards the end of the season…..a few people said a few things. We spoke about what we are good at and what we need to do better. Everyone wants to win as much as the player beside them. The attitude of the players in training on Monday, Tuesday and today has been exceptional “
Wow. Are the players revolting? Is Dean losing his dressing room? Or was this a sign of Jake making his mark as captain and the squad facing up to those areas where perhaps they could be doing things differently? Let’s all hope this is very much the latter.
Either way, the last time we were advised of a frank ‘dressing room discussion’ came following the League One clash at Stevenage where Uwe was man enough to listen to his players and then tell all to Billy (Reeves, not Grant).
Following that, the rest was history. Stunning history . Brentford put it all behind them to embark on that epic unbeaten run en-route to promotion and the Championship. Here’s hoping for more of the same against Blackburn on Saturday.
Three points and I’m sure we’ll celebrate like we’ve won the FA Cup. Now where have we heard that one before…?
Uwe once elaborated on a frank discussion – the rest was history
Nick Bruzon
BrentfordFC 
Pretty much a joke of a blog. A couple of hours between Beesotted (tweeting off the back of the Liverpool Echo) and BFC being made into a shitty stick to beat Kurt’s Media Dept. God help us. Then a completely fabricated “players revolting” accusation. Give it up.
Give it up?? Presumably advice you’ll be taking? Whoever you are Mr big , brave keyboard warrior. Or are you just too scared to name yourself? Whatever- genuinely not bothered and you’ve actually made my morning with this crazed series of rants.
Slag me off and criticise all you want. It’s a free country. I am a supporter (have been since 1979), I still work for the club – for free – but I also question things.
Hardly crime of the century.
If you don’t like the blog then the advice is simple – don’t read it.
Oh a supporter since 1979. Very very very very sorry. You carry on slagging off the club dear boy. You’ve been around since NINETEEN SEVENTY NINE. I like the fact you work for the club but don’t bother asking them anything. You are a chancer. A 1979 Supporter that takes any opportunity to take a swipe at the club, its owner, its ponytails, its Arsenal supporters, its manager, its players “Wow. Are the players revolting? Is Dean losing his dressing room?” – nice one. You must be proud. Being a fan for a few years has its responsibilities you know. Unless you are a complete tool.
Sorry should have added brackets 1979 (NINETEEN SEVENTY NINE). I did notice your tweet about brackets at QPR. Great support. Muppet.
And then there’s the complete irrelevance of a tweet by Mark Chapman lifted from a completely different story, that for some reason best known to Nick (who we all know is now “ungagged”). Best bin this bunch of insinuations eh Nick. It doesn’t reflect on you well at all.
Insinuations?? Not sure I follow. Please elaborate. Given one aspect of today’s blog was in regards to when various news sources release stories I’d have a thought any quote from our media content manager (yes – it was him) would be totally relevant.
As for the ‘revolting’ comment, a totally fair question in the circumstances. Not an accusation . Likewise , the flip side of that question also offered – there are times that the players do need to be as accountable as the management
You have lifted a comment from our “Media Content Manager” from a completely different thread and inserted it in your article for your own means. That is the work of the gutter press. It is well known that you are very upset at having your column dropped from the programme years ago so much so that you claim you are now “ungagged”. Time to drop the attitude. To use words of other supporters completely out of context is vile and unworthy of you.
Blimey, what have I missed?
I suggest you go back to the Madejski!
…(I thank you!)
Can you check the times of the official announcements by EFC and BFC because they look the same to me. What a boring subject for a blog.
Thanks for reading. Wonderful insight – really appreciate it
Well……get the times and get back to me. Ignorant blog from an ignorant “supporter of the club”. Don’t forget to “approve” the other comments too.
At least I don’t hide behind my keyboard. You are who..?
“Are the players revolting?” Great job Nick. Be proud of your work.
10.31: Everton striker Leandro Rodriguez leaves on loan. Liverpool Echo – LOCALLY CONNECTED NEWSPAPER
10:59: Brentford sign Everton Uruguayan Forward Rodriguez. Beesotted – COPIED FROM ABOVE
11:18: Dean Smith makes first Brentford signing as Everton striker joins on loan. Get West London – COPIED FROM ABOVE
11:40: John Swift called-up to England Under-21 squad. Brentford FC – Official Site – IRRELEVANT TO YOUR TIMELINE
13:09: Rodriguez Loaned To Brentford. Everton FC – Official Site
13:20: Leandro Rodriguez signs on loan from Everton. Brentford FC – Official Site
13:22: Brentford sign Everton’s Rodriguez. BBC – BBC WAY BEHIND ON THIS WORLD BEATING NEWS.
Nick, what time was the news on the EVERTON FC website as you have missed that. Some people might see you have an agenda. Ungagged,
“At least I don’t hide behind my keyboard. You are who..?”
Someone that isn’t hiding from the lack of a brain.
and someone that doesn’t need to blog every day slagging off a club in the championship #justsaying
I’d be bored too living in Reading mate.
Anyway maybe chill out a little – you’ve been on Greville’s blog too caning other people for daring to add comments. For the record I don’t see anything wrong at all in the players meeting. Relax and let’s get 3 big points tomorrow, life will seem so much better and your blood pressure will return to more normal levels.
I don;t see anything wrong in a players meeting either. However for a so-called supporter to suggest that it means players are revolting against Dean Smith is a utter disgrace. Shameful.
It’s cool, a free country and Nick’s blog is his work – fair enough to comment and question it but, please don’t be too surprised to discover that a lot of very solid Bees fans ain’t too happy at the moment. The pain of losing to that lot last week will take some time to heal – so stuff will get said. The staff, players and supporters need to be bang on it tomorrow – that’s what matters – we simply have to get 3 points.
Absolutely agree. Nothing in what you and I agree on is a subject of this blog though. It is a Daily Mail-esque gutter journalism that I would expect of The Sun on Liverpool FC. Not something from a supporter of our club. “Players are revolting”. FFS!!!
I guess we’ll find out tomorrow, if the players dig deep, stick together and fight for their coach – and get a win, then clearly we’l know that they are all with him. Go down tamely and I think DS will struggle to come back from it. Unpleasant as it might seem, it is that sort of afternoon ahead of us.
I’m not on here to defend Nick, but he wouldn’t clam to be a journo and doesn’t write anything on BFC officially. He’s taken some incoming this season for his blog, fair enough, he puts his stuff out there and can handle it, but he loves BFC same as us and is feeling it this season. That hurt me last week, I hope the players and staff know how much.
“I’m not on here to defend Nick, but he wouldn’t clam to be a journo and doesn’t write anything on BFC officially”
Nick writes above “I still work for the club”
I e joyed reading this blog as with most of the others. I enjoy the different manner in which you and Greville cover the topic of all that is Brentford F.C. and am glad that you do not write in the same style. You both open doors for discussion or thought and have sometimes given me a completely different direction to look at what I considered to be a problem.
Should I ever think you are spouting drivel I will not bother reading the blog anymore but would never ever feel the need to enter into a battle of the written word over it.
Hi Rhys!
I thought work involved being compensated for what you do, but in any case it’s Nick’s thing not mine. I didn’t think your comment on the other blog was in order tbf. We’re all drained after this season – biggest mistake in my book is to blame other fans for the shortcomings. That said we’re all Brentford and i’d defend anyone who follows BFC against outsiders – it’s a family thing.
Let’s just do the biz tomorrow, we could all use a win.
“I thought work involved being compensated for what you do”. You’ve clearly never watched any of the documentaries featuring immigration officers
No mate I haven’t – sounds riveting, why don’t they get paid then?
As for the rest of it i’ll leave you to play with Mr Bruzon.
Anyway, isn’t it ex-content manager now?
Blimey, this guys rants makes Roderic a pussy cat in comparison.
Blimey some different comments here!!
Here’s this is how I see Nick’s column……..I genuinely find it interesting to read during my lunch break at work or free time in the evenings (there isn’t much time for that following the birth of my son last week………obviously future Bees fan!). I can honestly say I find some of the content interesting and some of it not to my liking or agreement! But surely this is the point of a blog especially with regard to football which is a game of opinions!
Keep up the interesting / good / bad / thought provoking columns Nick
Sean (Bees fan from Gloucestershire)
Thanks Sean. Have to say that I’m somewhat bemused by the leftfield reaction today but I suppose you can’t please all the people all the time. Much appreciated and thank you for taking the time to comment
Of course you forgot to mention that in fact ‘Thorne in the Side’ were first with the news at 8.36am that day on twitter but hey ho!!
He must have missed it amongst the usual homophobia and casual racism….
CASUAL!!?? They make Britain First look liberal.
Nick, how dare you express an opinion in your Blog! In future please only write what the angry, non identifiable poster would like you to. I find it appalling that you write what you feel and a view that many fans share.
For the record I’m not of the same opinion as you on this. I think the players meeting is a good idea and could help and is likely to only help the manager however I choose to read this blog as it gives me a different viewpoint.
If you don’t like the content, don’t read it would be my advice. And as for having any excuse to slag the club off, looks like the poster has used any excuse to have a pop at you
“You have lifted a comment from our “Media Content Manager” from a completely different thread and inserted it in your article for your own means.”
Now it might be that I am wrong, but I would have thought that the use of the word anything in “you won’t get official confirmation of ANYTHING from a fanzine” is talking in very general terms about, well, anything; so therefore the author of the blog had every right to use it here.
#just saying
The infamous Stevenage meeting was used by many as a means to have a go at Rosler – which personally I didn’t like – and whereas I’m not sure I’m too taken either with the questions about whether the players are playing for Smith, I can see why the question is being raised.
As I said elsewhere, it’s time for all this crap to be put aside and for everyone to pull together for the common cause. A win tomorrow would be a huge step forward and do a lot for the general atmosphere.
“the author of the blog had every right to use it here” and every right to deface it too?
Wow. Still here? Thank you. Oh to have that much time on one’s hands. Thanks for your input today
Hopefully all the handbags have now landed. To get back to reality it’s sad to note that our esteemed benefactor has proved that his tweets are on par with OUR teams tactics – nonsensical at best, utter rubbish generally and best ignored. It’s a great pity Nick that you view yourself as the ‘numpty on the terrace’, we’re all supporters of a club that we love, and without supporters a club is nothing. There are those who have to graft for what they have, & there are those who are lucky, the two are not differentiated by intelligence.Please don’t remind me/us of the rhetoric of ‘what if’ our benefactor hadn’t been so ‘brilliant’ and forthcoming, we really don’t know what ‘might’ have happened, and there are other benefactors. In the meantime, in a plea to every supporter, please don’t jeer the players who turn out for us, they don’t want to lose a football match anymore than us on the terrace, I’m sure they are doing their best with current policies and politics of the club.
“Hopefully all the handbags have now landed. To get back to reality it’s sad to note that our esteemed benefactor has proved that his tweets are on par with OUR teams tactics – nonsensical at best, utter rubbish generally and best ignored”
Now that is not very good. Well done. Hope you feel better for trying to get on Waterhouse’s blog.
Dear Bored of Reading Drivel, I think that strictly speaking ‘Bored of’ is grammatically incorrect, it should be ‘Bored with’. If you ever decide to write your own blog, I hope you will be more careful in future. Oh yes, and please let me know, I would love to add the odd comment.
Thank you ‘Spanish’. It’s very easy to be a critic. Few have the patience to follow it up with any actual substance. Still, if Mr Bored, or whatever this chap’s real name is fancies giving it a go I’m sure there are those who’d be happy to give constructive feedback
At last a useful, informative comment. Thank you
At last a comment that adds some valuable input. Many thanks.
Mr Bored of…
Unfortunately Mark Chapman left himself wide open when he said “you won’t get official confirmation of anything…” – the meaning of that is pretty plain.
Oooh, and that nasty Mr Bruzon defaced the tweet.
At this point it became obvious that you need to get over yourself and take yourself a lot less seriously. You’re not giving a good account of yourself. Just step back and analyse all you’ve said – it’s not pretty.
If you’re Rhys, then I stand directly in front of you and we can talk about this tomorrow. We are on good terms away from here.
One way or the other, rather than arguing with long-standing fans of the club, can I politely suggest you transfer your energy towards something much more important tomorrow – we need a win desperately and everyone needs to pull together.
PS. By the way, can anyone explain the “ex-content manager” reference above?
Does all this matter, one iota; no, a storm in a gutter, as BFC crash to another defeat, as I predicted, pre-match, on Besotted.
Nick, you were silly, getting sucked into a ding doing, with this idiot, he must have got to you!
However, I must admit, I have been mistaken in wasting time responding to another fool, who variously goes by the pen name, “hobo” and “hobo”, as suits, but at least these fools are consistent, boring, clueless and feckless. They just hate anyone who has the power of thought and rational opinion, that they are so evidently lacking.
By the way, thanks Nick, for allowing the above to have a dig at me, after you criticised me for same way back when; so much for even handed fairness , man about the hard working and honest city.