Toumani scored – and not a pitch in sight. Twitter saves the day

 

Say what you want about Leeds United manager Steve Evans (and many have) but I’d love to know what he did to Toumani Diagouraga. Toums broke the hearts of Brentford fans when he signed for the Elland Road side last week. He was a hero on the pitch and a cult legend off it. Specifically because of his goals. Or lack of.

“Toumani scores, we’re on the pitch” went the song. Week after week after week.

“Shooooot” went the ground whenever the long legged midfielder picked up the ball anywhere within 40 yards of the opposition goal, such was our desire to see him find the back of the net.

Toumani’s last Griffin Park appearance was for Leeds on Tuesday

29 March 2013 in a 2-1 home win over Notts County was the last time he’d done it. Since that point Bees fans had to wait almost three years and 111 more games (I’m not including the 8 on loan at Porstmouth) for this most longed for event. Sadly, it wasn’t to be.

Toumani has started a new chapter in his career at Leeds United and left Griffin Park with nothing but best wishes from everybody associated with our club. Then yesterday, at around 3.40pm, it all went a bit bonkers.

With Brentford having a day off given our lack of involvement in the FA Cup, the normally close-knit Bees family was scattered. Rather than huddled on the terrace and in the stands we were out shopping, drinking, relaxing at home or even at another game. As such, we had to rely on other means to enjoy the moment together and this is where social media came to the fore.

If ever a Twitter update brought an unexpected smile to the face it was this one. With Leeds playing at Bolton Wanderers, it seemed Toumani had done the unthinkable and scored a goal.

Just 39 minutes into his full debut!

That had to be a typo. Surely? But no, my timeline then went into meltdown. Even Harlee Dean got in on the act.

Never have I seen such an outpouring of love, affection and all round good vibes directed towards another team’s player. Not to mention a fair share of good-natured banter, too.

Toums – congratulations.

Here’s the best of how Twitter reacted. And, for me (Clive), Daniel Giltinane wins it…

Typical. 1,833,299 shots and nothing. Signs for Leeds then he scores. #toumani #brentfordfc

— Mr Gray (@DeloreanGray) January 30, 2016

Toumani scores, and I'm nowhere near a bloody pitch!!

— Bee-orentina (@TheChauffeur_) January 30, 2016

Toums😂😂

— Harlee Dean (@OfficialHDean) January 30, 2016

Diagouraga's first goal since March 2013, on his full debut. Trolling Brentford with style.

— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) January 30, 2016

@Beesotted just got bolloxed for invading my sons football training as ran on pitch shouting @toums20 has scored !!!

— Daniel Giltinane (@giltinad) January 30, 2016

All good humour and, I’m sure you’ll agree, nothing but the best wishes towards our former number 20. With Alan Judge reportedly telling sources he’s going nowhere this transfer window, Brentford fans have been left very happy without even playing a game.

For now, though, we’ll leave the Last Word to the man of the moment.

Nice one Toums.

Delighted with the team performance and my goal unbelievable following 👏👏 #facup

— Toumani diagouraga (@toums20) January 30, 2016

Nick Bruzon

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Time to ring the changes ?

Brentford head to Leeds United on Saturday with the news that Warbs has missed out on his second manager of the month award in three months. Instead, as suspected, Aitor Karanka of Middlesbrough emerged as a deserved winner for January. His side’s 1-0 win at Brentford last weekend being the deciding factor (although, by all rights, that is a game that should probably still be under way given the amount of second half timewasting that took place).

To read the rest of this article, season 2014/15 is now available to download onto Kindle (and other electronic reading device) in full. Containing additional material and even some (poor) editing, you can get it here for less than the cost of a Griffin Park matchday programme or Balti Pie.

Thanks for reading and all your comments over the course of the season. For now, I need to make more space on the site for any follow up. However, ‘close season’ will continue in full, further on.

Could the one time ‘hottie of the year’ (right) see more action ?

Another penalty not to mention as Bees miss out to Boro

After all the build up it was Middlesbrough, with the returning Adam Forshaw in tow, who emerged the winners from Saturday’s table top clash with a 1-0 win over Brentford. It was a game the Bees can count themselves unlucky not to have got out of with at least a point but when you are up against the division’s meanest defence (a mere 18 Championship goals conceded in 28 games) then you need to take chances when they are presented.

To read the rest of this article, season 2014/15 is now available to download onto Kindle (and other electronic reading device) in full. Containing additional material and even some (poor) editing, you can get it here for less than the cost of a Griffin Park matchday programme or Balti Pie.

Thanks for reading and all your comments over the course of the season. For now, I need to make more space on the site for any follow up. However, ‘close season’ will continue in full, further on.

View from the terrace – the only goal of the game. Unfortunately

Also spotted on the terrace was this the result of a bet, an attempt to beat the cold weather or a stag night prank? Infact, it turned out to be the latter rather than the club looking to replace Buzzette during the transfer window.

Could Buzzette face competition before the transfer window closes?

S

Game on? Forget about the past, we’ve all stepped up.

Brentford entertain Middlesbrough today in the most hotly anticipated game of the year, so far, at Griffin Park. Whilst Bournemouth’s win at home to a Watford side who had to play all but the first thirty seconds of the game with ten men may have denied today’s winners a chance to top the table, there is still plenty at stake.

First up though, will we even get the chance to kick off against Middlesbrough?

To read the rest of this article, season 2014/15 is now available to download onto Kindle (and other electronic reading device) in full. Containing additional material and even some (poor) editing, you can get it here for less than the cost of a Griffin Park matchday programme or Balti Pie.

Thanks for reading and all your comments over the course of the season. For now, I need to make more space on the site for any follow up. However, ‘close season’ will continue in full, further on.

Who needs the ‘Go pro’? Prior to Tranmere, we had ‘shovel-cam’

Farewell Farid. Hello Alan. Plus something very special from the sticker book.

I wrote yesterday about the brief moment I thought Brentford had signed X-factor judge Louis Walsh. Of course, we hadn’t, but just hours later we then went and secured a real ‘Judge’  – midfielder Alan – on loan from Blackburn Rovers.

Nominated as the 2012/13 League One player of the season, his record speaks for itself and is anything but criminal. That said, given yesterday’s similar story about Sam Saunders being put forward for December’s monthly award (and rightly so), I imagine that at first the Blackburn man will have to be content on the bench.

To read the rest of this article, season 2013/14 is now available to download onto Kindle, in full. Containing previously unseen content, you can do so here for less than the cost of one matchday programme.

 Thanks for reading over the course of the campaign. For now I need to make space on this page for any follow up.  The ‘close season’ / World Cup columns continue in full, further on in this site.

Jane Eyre or 3D Zombie warfare?

Those were the two choices presented by Mrs. Bruzon for our TV viewing the night before Brentford took on MK Dons and, of course, the (then) table topping six-pointer between Wolves and Leyton Orient.

The Brentford game was just too big. A chance to take first place should the Molineux game end in a draw (which, of course, it duly did – thanks Orient and Wolves. Nice one).  And so, in order to be at Griffin Park with no bad blood I fell on my sword, gritted my teeth for two hours of Brontë inspired tedium – school governess and brooding estate owner coyishly tiptoe around each other for 120 minutes before finally kissing – and took that hit for the team.

To read the rest of this article, season 2013/14 is now available to download onto Kindle, in full. Containing previously unseen content, you can do so here for less than the cost of one matchday programme.

 Thanks for reading over the course of the campaign. For now I need to make space on this page for any follow up.  The ‘close season’ / World Cup columns continue in full, further on in this site.