Wow. With Brentford fans still talking about the sales of David Button to Fulham and Jake Bidwell to QPR, Matthew Benham caught us with a stunning surprise right (or should that be, write?). Yet again our owner proving he is the master of the unexpected but utterly welcome with yesterday’s open letter. Brutally honest, frank, revealing and optimistic as Matthew wrote to supporters with his thoughts on last campaign along with his hopes for the future.
“We want to be in the top six and we will see where we can go from there”. Boom. That was some opening and an aspiration for sure. Talk about set your sights high yet, at the same time, if we start this season like we ended the last one then absolutely no reason why not. Moreso given the new signings, “They are high-quality players, young and hungry and for all three there was unanimous backing from everyone in the recruitment process to sign them.”
We’ve been in the territory of ambitious hopes before. I still recall Rasmus telling us in September how the Brentford squad would get stronger each transfer window. Honestly, could we say that had happened when the January window closed?
At the time, no. Yet nobody can deny the players that did come in have grown, developed and are arguably performing much, much better having had games under their belt. Any club would do well to replace an Andre Gray but Scott Hogan has certainly picked up the baton and run. Goals were going in for fun. Moses Odubajo looked a huge loss but I love Max Colin – a player Matthew acknowledged himself was one of the odd ones to hit the ground running
Yes, we’ve had to make some sales this time around. Inevitable but I can’t wait to see how those new players bed into an now established squad. Of course, we don’t know what else might happen before the summer window ’slams shut’ but, for now, the changes don’t seem anywhere near as wholesale as last time out. More to the point, they seem a lot more positive – at least in terms of potential and excitement for those coming in.
Of course the owner wants to big us up, to try and engender optimism. I get that and it’s natural. But, equally, there was an undercurrent of almost too much honesty in there. That’s no bad thing – quite the opposite. We’ve all got eyes and we could see what was happening out there at times. Likewise, we’ve moaned on these pages about the lack of such an approach or fan comms in the past. It’s more that it was just so unexpected.
“This time last year there wasn’t a lot of direction or organisation. I don’t blame anyone, it happened” and “We did change too much at once as well but I like it a lot that it’s stable this year” were just two of the lines to really jump out (see, also, talk about KK and the closure of the Academy). If you want to set yourself up to be criticised then here’s the ammo. Yet, to be honest, as supporters we could see this and we knew it too. Fair play for Matthew holding up his hand.
The FA Cup dream was over after a rubbish afternoon
Personally, I’d have been disappointed had there been no recognition for some of the low points in a campaign that included the Marinus experiment, pitch gate, the FCM parade in our Walsall cup debacle and then the infamous 4-6-0 formation in the no show at QPR . Matthew didn’t need to highlight our flaws but that he has, and that they are recognised, is infinitely more welcome than his ignoring them. He could have hidden but he didn’t and this, for me, was probably the most telling point of the entire letter.
On the new stadium, there was a teaser of an update with the admission that: “We are close to taking another big step forward. Hopefully there will be news in the next few weeks”.
Nobody could deny that Lionel Road has been a long process, for numerous well documented reasons. However, with Brentford about to begin their third consecutive Championship season as a terraced club, here’s hoping for something else to cheer about on that front. The clock is ticking
I did find Matthew’s closing comment of “I don’t like it when fans sing my name though, I wish they would stop. It’s not for me” equally interesting. As somebody who normally keeps quite a low profile, to write his letter was an unusual (albeit welcome) step. To make this admission must have been a tough one.
If nothing else, supporters just want to recognise and thank him for what he has done. Then again, if we respect the man that much then perhaps one to drop from the repertoire for now.
If Matthew spares us goal music the least we can do is spare him a song !
Is everything as good as it could be at Brentford? No. If it was we’d be celebrating a Premier League title now, having gone up against Middlesbrough in the play offs and then beaten Leicester City to the title last season. But, it IS exciting.
Just to be starting a third successive Championship campaign after so long in the doldrums and coming ’so close’ gets my spine tingling. As somebody who has been coming to Griffin Park since 1979, to be in with another attempt at breaking into the top flight is one that genuinely excites and baffles me. Historically, our default mode is mid-table or sniffing around the trap door to tier 4.
Let’s be honest. There were a lot of things that made no sense last season and frustrated us. We’ve been there, done it and you could write a book on the subject. But far be it from me to waffle on about that any more. That’s a job for others.
It’s a new campaign, a new start and I’m full of new optimism. Forget the hashtags and slogans. Just keep the straight talk coming.
Bring on Huddersfield Town…
Nick Bruzon
BrentfordFC 
I was really pleased with MB’s letter, totally agree with your summary of it’s contents. Like you I’ve had previous doubts about things and had voiced criticisms and questions. The “if it doesn’t kill you it makes you stronger” adage applies to me here, MB doesn’t know me, but I do now feel closer to him, more understanding of what he has done, why it was done and what he is striving so hard to achieve. Simply through the shared experience since “Warbgate” etc. I now see that period quite differently. We all know MB is a fan, but you really feel it in his words and that goes much further.
Some will say he doesn’t have to talk to us and owes us nothing, debatable I suppose. But look what some proactive grown up communication can achieve, to be fair he’s not been the problem, but the club’s comms have often been lacking and I hope we see an improvement in this area – notwithstanding that they are all busy people.
What interests me is that I sense MB expects to be pushed and challenged, and he does the same with his staff. No need for “yes men” inside BFC or from those in the stands either. I don’t mean dissent or brainless sniping, i mean probing, pushing and saying it as we see it – whilst always backing DS and the boys through the games.
New season, new slate – again it is time to pull together and make GP noisy, hostile and to do our bit. in all honesty I think that’s all MB asks of us.
Great words from this great owner of our club – all I can say is thank you!
Thanks Rebel. Infinitely more eloquent than myself and absolutely spot on.
Well, well said indeed.
A good move from MB. I really like his light touch approach. Thanks for the analysis, Nick
Cheers Jason. Fair play,to Matthew. It’s easy to criticise and many of us have done (rightly so, at times) re the clubs comms. But this really was wonderfully done in all respects
Seen the new kits and you were right, I needn’t have worried, both lovely! The home shirt works because of the 3 stripes on the shoulder piece, and the black shorts of course.
Another thing they’ve done right – congrats to all.
Indeed they have. Home shirt looks especially good wit the black shorts and socks. Even, dare I say it, the ‘new’ badge isn’t as glaring as it sometimes is . That said, I’d still love a castle (or funky bee…..)