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.
Well that was quite the weekend. As Ivan Toney warmed up for England duty by helping Brentford move another point closer to Europe and further clear in the race to be crowned the best placed football club in West London (don’t @me Chelsea and Fulham fans,the table doesn’t lie), up at Manchester United things took a surreal turn that promises to have huge repercussions.
We have, of course, all now seen the triple red carding awarded to Fulham in their FA cup defeat. Surely? The major talking point of which was Aleksandar Mitrovic sent off and shoving referee Chris Kavanagh. This, after getting himself involved in the incident that had already seen Willian dismissed for his handball on the line. Manchester United going on to win the game has probably been the least talked about moment ever since.
Jaw dropping scenes at Old Trafford
Mitrovic has now been formally charged. Whilst violent conduct would normally warrant a three game sentence, the FA have already set their stall out by saying, “The standard punishment which would otherwise apply to Aleksandar Mitrovic for the sending-off offence of violent conduct that he committed towards the match referee is clearly insufficient.In addition, Aleksandar Mitrovic’s behaviour and/or language was allegedly improper and/or abusive and/or insulting and/or threatening following his dismissal.”
Chris Sutton has called for a ten game ban. Others are looking for longer, citing the Paulo Di Canio red card in which referee Paul Alcock was given a shove and then stumbled backwards, falling to the ground.
Paulo Di Canio got an 11 match ban for this push on referee Paul Alcock in 1998…pic.twitter.com/s6wCCTqJI4
The player was suspended for elven matches after that incident, which saw him leave the field of play immediately after.
Whether Alcock’s fall was exaggerated is by the by. Raising hands to an official is a footballing taboo up there with launching a kung-fu style kick on a spectator. Whatever the provocation, you just don’t do it.
Look at Mitrovic sequence now. And I have, many times already.
He got himself unnecessarily involved.
Pushed the referee.
Squared up to the referee, right in his face. Had Mr Kavanagh not stepped backwards it looked as though we were approaching headbutt territory.
Mitrovic mouths off at the referee.
Waves his finger at the referee in a style much akin to a teacher telling off a naughty pupil.
Mitrovic walks away then goes charging back for a second go at the referee.
Mitrovic has to twice be pulled and pushed away by his own team mates. Physically restrained from approaching the official.
What a terrible example to any children who may have been watching.
Surely, now, the book will be rewritten and then thrown hard in his direction? Metaphorically speaking, of course.
For all the gobbing off Brentford fans have had to endure in recent week about Ivan Toney, all of a sudden its gone very quiet over at The Cottage. There can be no defence of what was the most heinous of onfield acts. Supporter Richard Osman’s assertion that a ten game ban would be unfair, met with not unexpected short thrift.
Make no mistake, this will be talked about for years. Much as the Cantona and Di Canio incidents still are to this day. Moments where players have gone so far beyond the acceptable norm that the FA have had no choice but to take drastic action, regardless of what the provocation may have been.
One can only presume hands will be held up – in acceptance rather than at the referee – as any attempt to deny charges will only be met with further shock. Mitrovic appealing? Not really.
Even now, I can’t help but rewatch it. Wondering ‘did it really go that far?’ – yes, being the answer. Wondering at what point he thought this was appropriate or likely to make the referral change his mind. Every second longer into the incident, the hole being dug deeper.
Yet, at the same time, is it right to take pleasure from a display like this towards the referee? To see a player so lose his head that a gargantuan punishment is undoubtedly coming his way. To see the club also charged with failing to control their players. That’s down to personal opinion – stop sniggering at the back, please.
For now, calm has returned but the FA’s decision as to what happens next will be one the entire footballing community will be hanging on. Too lenient? Too tough? There’s no real idea as to how far they’ll go. Di Canio got the 9 games. Cantona nine months. At amateur level it’s a year.
One things for sure, we’re not going to be seeing Aleksander Mitrovic for a while.
Southampton 0 Brentford 2 The Bees back to winning ways at the first attempt after that monumental unbeaten streak hit the buffers at Goodison Park on Saturday. Thomas Frank’s team under the cosh at times but titanic at the back and exhilarating when given the chance to push up. Brentford now the best placed team in West London (with games in hand) and sniffing around those European places. Here’s to more when we entertain Leicester City this weekend.
The highest placed club in West London
As ever at this juncture, we look back at who shone for Brentford. Who gave Southampton nightmares and who is leading the top five in our season long quest find an overall star player (aswell, of course, as the game by game marks)? Will any of the subs have played themselves into contention for a starting berth for the game with Leicester City?
Allan Cockram is a man on a mission. Or, rather, missions. The immediate one of which involves the phrase, “Graeme Le Saux in his stand up debut”. That’s not a typo. Then again, any of us with even a passing knowledge of the man who made his name in the Brentford side of the late 80s / early 90s will be aware that he does unconventional not only for fun but now, it seems, for a living. With the Bees first team preparing for the game at Southampton, March 15th sees him organising a comedy night at the Gtech for his Brentford Penguins DS football team that has been up and running since 2017. The former Chelsea and Saints full back is undoubtedly the surprise name on a stellar bill that also features Sally Philips, Ronni Ancona, Alistair McGowan, Sarah Kendall and Milton Jones.
Not a typo – this is REALLY happening
Tickets are on sale at the moment – albeit moving fast – for a night that features a bill more akin to one you’d find Live at the Apollo rather than the more intimate setting of our own Legends Lounge. You can get them here and all funds made are going to the Brentford Penguins Football Club for players with Down’s Syndrome.
They are the longest running of Allan’s various teams all set up under a broader club banner that has taken on a life of its own. In his own words, “The last probably two to three months have been crazy.” So much so that Cockers is now at the point of giving up work to devote 100% of the time to a project that has had a men’s walking football team up and running for twenty weeks aswell as women’s over 40s.
That’s just part of it. He is in the process of looking to attain charitable status – something in itself which, for understandable reasons, is nowhere near as simple as just asking the charities commission. The Penguins team will be guard of honour when Brentford host Leicester City next month. All this is before we get to the Independent film being made about the team, with filming under way for three weeks already.
I caught up briefly with Allan during the week to find out a bit more about what he’s up to at present. Primarily to talk about the comedy night but as much to see how the Penguins are going. As he put it so succinctly, “Its been five and half years and I don’t know where it’s gone. Honestly, it’s been the greatest thing in my life“.
Outside of all this, he’s also training blind children to play and is looking to devote a fourth arm of what is now the Planet Penguin banner, to either them or a side for setting up a team for those suffering from Parkinsons. The overall Penguins banner has his men branded the Emperors, the women Empresses, this new team will be the Rockhoppers and of course we have the Penguins. “The women’ team will start next month but the blind stuff is really the difficult one. I’m training them but we need one coach for every two kids and an indoor facility. The Parkinsons one is the one that is close to me. It so heartfelt – for that hour they don’t have Parkinsons but there’s not a lot of them about . There’s one in London and one in Saint Albans”.
Ultimately, it is with the kids where it all started back in 2017 and which is the current focus. Even if the longer term aspiration, something which is already happening though natural order, is the coming together of all his groups. “My thing is to be as one. Already the Emperors come and support the kids.”
In the last 8-12 months Brentford have been so very supportive. The comedy night – Sally Phillips , I’ve trained her son for a couple of years. She said to me about a month ago that we’d like to do a comedy night to raise funds for you guys. Me, Sally and my wife went to Brentford and they said they’d like to help. They’ve been fantastic.
Milton Jones posted the original tempting poster. I’m so excited. Alistair McGowan, he’s patterning with Ronni Ancona and what’s exciting for me is that it’s Graeme Le Saux’s first stand up gig. Its an honour he’s chosen us although its probably a safe environment …..”
There’s a walk to the ground ahead of the Leicester City game – albeit with pickups along the way to help those who may not be as comfortable with the full 7.2 miles – from DS headquarters in Twickenham to the Gtech This will then culminate with 20-30 kids then acting as the aforementioned guard of honour. It’ll be quite the week with comedy on the 15th and then football on the 18th.
On pitch, things are going great guns. An all inclusive atmosphere permeates thorough everything Allan does and talks about. “When we’ve trained the children we’ve never turned away anyone. We turn away no-one and have no age difference. We train, play a match against everyone and then interview everyone after the game.
The men’s one, I didn’t advertise it as such but it has panned out it is all men. Everyone has been very vocal about mental health and the reason I did the walking football was seeing it when I was out in Spain. There was about 16 ex-pats who all played then went for dinner. I discovered that some had lost their wives, some had retired there but this football brought them all back together. I see it now with our lads, being told ‘I’ve got my husband back. He’s starting to be creative now’.
I saw the stress a lot of the men were under and suddenly a simple game like football is a wonderful remedy. They’re of an age when they don’t really want to talk about it either so its great for people bringing them together.
One gets the impression that the men’s team, and the health benefits – both mental and physical – are as important to Allan as anything he has ever done. Such is the passion with which he talks. Then again, that’s him in general. His team have lost 42lbs in four weeks as a result of their Tuesday morning training sessions at the Gunnersbury Sports Hub. At the heart of the community – both literally and geographically. As he tell me, if you drop the pin in the map of the park it points right to us
Not surprisingly, conversation turns back to the kids and an unexpected revelation as to their own evolution in recent years. It was that byword for misery and social exclusion – covid – that actually brought them closer together than ever and has since shaped the way the club runs.
“I quickly realised we have two teams. All the kids and the parents. One is a support network . We all go out together. Not just the training but we socialise together,. We celebrate birthdays together. They’re all wonderfully supportive.
What transformed us was Covid. When it kicked in we lost everything. The kids didn’t understand just why football stopped. They’re ready, they have their kit on but then it stops. You cold see the impact it had on them in so many ways.
DS Active said that as an independent club any decision to continue was ours. I asked all the parents and Barr one, they asked to continue. So we did socially distant training but we’d get abuse in Gunnersbury Park. You can’t always socially distance kids and they’d be jumping all over me but, actually, it changed our training. I had a brainwave and got the parents to join in. The sisters and brothers too. The parents can have a chat too. It changed our club. It transformed us.
As if Allan doesn’t have enough o the immediate horizon, he is still thinking bigger. Thinking longer term. Once charitable stays is granted fund-raising proper and the next step in his teams evolution can really take off.
“Brentford have said we can have a room.. We’ve spoken to them and want to set up pathway to work for these kids. The hardest age group for them is senior school. My ambition is to have a school. They don’t need to be taught geography but they need to be taught independence and I don’t see why I couldn’t set this up – a sixth form school. That’s my ambition for the kids. “
All that’s to come. For now, the next target is the comedy night at the Gtech. Then the walk for Leicester City and the guard of honour. Perhaps even an Indepedent film festival…
Penguins. Emperors. Empresses. Rockhoppers. Personally speaking, I struggle supporting one team let alone with the concept of running four. Amongst other things. It seems apart to leave the last word to the man himself. “The thought of running four teams…. I don’t know how we’re going to do it but we will”.
Nick Bruzon
If you’d like to read more about the Brentford Penguins Football club for players with Down’s syndrome then you can do so here.
Last time out Brentford fans ended the evening marvelling in the afterglow of that wonderful performance against Chelsea at the Gtech. Spirits were high and the prospect of a trip to point shy Aston Villa one to look forward to. Then, disaster. The Villans relieved Steve G of his duties and set in play a Caretake manager driven tanking. The Bees three goals down in under a quarter-hour before eventually ending up on the wrong end of a 4-0 deficit. With the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers next up, will Thomas keep faith with his starting XI or ring the changes?
A boisterous Villa Park
For now, though, time to look back. On an afternoon night that ended with Brentford still in the top half of the Premier League, did anyone shine against an Aston Villa team with more than a few points to prove? Have any of our bench players done sufficient to make the starting XI for the Wolves game? Will Ben Mee return and who was star player? Who else made the top five in the season long quest to find the top Bees’ performer?
Last time out Brentford fans were left celebrating a 2-0 win over Brighton. A return to form and the obvious question of whether we could carry it on against Chelsea at the Gtech last night. Despite a host of injuries, the Bees played out a thrilling 0-0 that had both sets of fans on the edge of their seats for the full 90. With the trip to Aston Villa next up, will Thomas Frank and his team be able to carry on at this pace?
Happy fans at full time
For now, though, time to look back. On a night that ended with Brentford sitting ninth in the Premier League, who shone against a Chelsea team packed with stars (and a top, top goalkeeper)? Have any of our bench players done sufficient to make the starting XI for the Aston Villa game? Who was star player? Who else made the top five in the season long quest to find the top Bees’ performer?
Wednesday evening and Brentford welcome Chelsea to the Gtech for a 7.30pm kick off. A slightly unusual time although, for those of us living close to the ground, a more sociable one. Good luck to those coming from further afield or those Manchester United fans heading back to London after their own game with Spurs kicks off at 8.15pm tonight. The price fans pay for the broader carve up of TV football. Don’t even start about Christmas and New Year fixture times…. Yet for now, with the 2-0 defeat of Brighton still fresh in the memory, all focus is on another encounter with the team from Stamford Bridge. There can’t be anyone amongst us who could forget what happened the last time we met. Could a repeat be on the cards?
What an afternoon at Stamford Bridge
It’s unlikely, let’s be honest. Brentford were magnificent that afternoon and whilst fully deserving of our 4-1 win, that was then. This is now. Ownership and management have changed. Graham Potter has his team back in form with five wins and four clean sheets on the bounce, including a Champions League double over AC Milan. Incredible though that afternoon back in April was, and it was, a repeat scoreline is priced at 90/1 with the bookmakers. Lightning doesn’t strike twice, does it?
That’s not to say Brentford won’t fancy their chances. Ivan Toney is very much the man of the moment and the opening goal of his brace against Brighton is one of those that can’t be watched enough. Even our Harry had it on repeat over breakfast yesterday. The vision, skill and confidence to even take on that back heel, let alone pull it off, was something to behold. Next level brilliance. His second, from the penalty spot, oozing that unearthly calm with which we are all so familiar yet still end up baffled by a technique which has do far proved to be unstoppable for The Bees.
Ivan did it again from the spot on Friday
The downside is our injury prognosis. Thankfully, the return of Ethan Pinnock has been timed to perfection. With Thomas Frank revealing yesterday that Pontus Jansson is out until after the World Cup, we’ll now be seeing that partnership with Ben Mee given a chance to flourish. Also absent for the same period will be Aaron Hickey. He missed the Brighton game and is now out for a similar period to his captain after suffering ligament damage following a twisted ankle. The plus side is the ability of Kris Ajer and Mads Roerslev to fill in – depending on whether we play two or three centre backs – but there can be no doubting the loss that Aaron will be. A player who had very much hit the Premier League ground running and was making early inroads into the season long campaign to find our own star player for the season.
With reserve goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha also out for a few months (if I recall correctly he injured an ankle saving a Kris Ajer penalty in training, but don’t @ me if my memory is playing up) then we’re definitely looking a little thinner. It goes without saying Thomas won’t want Neil Greig knocking on his door any time soon although the plus-side being that at least Christian Norgaard has been pictured in training once more.
Out on the grass and being match fit are two toady different things but there’s no doubting the boost that seeing last years player of the season has brought to fans.
Hopefully we’ll be seeing more of this soon
As long as we don’t suffer any further fitness blows then Thomas Frank still has enough about his squad to give anybody a match. Something Brighton discovered on Friday night where despite dominating the possession stats, the Seagulls were clinically despatched in a manner that gave huge encouragement. But for the woodwork, Bryan Mbeumo might also have had a wonder goal added to his tally. Plus ca change. It’s 2021/22 all over again.
For all we’re revelling in the memory of that 4-1, a more pertinent indication of the Chelsea danger would be the 1-0 defeat inflicted earlier that season. Édouard Mendy in nets was simply incredible for the visitors that night, keeping his team alive during a backs to the wall second-half from the battling Bees. A point was the least our performance suggested but as we always say, deserved to gets you nothing. Stats and possession are worth naff all (just ask Brighton). Balls in the back of the net are the only thing that count. If anybody has a point to prove it won’t be Chelsea. It will be Brentford.
I can’t wait to discover which way this one will play out. Roll on, err 7.30pm. Bring it on and see you there.
In the meantime, please do take a look at the Brighton post match debrief and our current star player review. You can find that here. Thank you .
Finally, and its a bit awkward talking about myself, I’ve been approached by so many supporters this season asking about these pages – namely the fact that they have all but gone to sleep – and the programme articles. Specifically asking why have they both stopped?
Being honest, I love talking and writing about Brentford. Likewise the enjoyment it seems to bring and the kinds words are always appreciated more than anybody could imagine. Equally though, life is just SO busy at the moment and there’s only so much one can blog about orange balls in the snow and the correct use of brackets after a 7(seven) goal trashing or berate Mrs Browns, boys, The England ‘supporters’ ‘band’, people drinking ‘espresso’ (it’s a blinkin’ S, not x), Star Wars Day etc etc etc
Why? Why? Put them in a car park and let them sort it out rather than bother us
Mainly though, I don’t have the time and last season saw the blog, two programme articles and a piece for Hollywood Bets competing equally for time and attention. So the decision was made to cut back on these pages and focus on the Star player pieces, which are always good fun to write and have seen the two different columns slowly merging. We still may post the other stuff up here but it will be a lot, lot less for now.
As for the programme pieces, ask the club. I’ve no idea. Having done these for years and years for nothing more than enjoyment, there was no out reach from them over the summer. Dropped like Alvaro Fernandez reaching for a cross or simply the fact that we’re a Premier League club now who employ professionals rather than rely on the good intent of plucky amateurs and want a fresh approach? Who knows? It was fun whilst it lasted and very much an opportunity I’m grateful for. Thank you.
Good luck to the team there producing what is always a wonderful read. Tonight’s issue is no exception with the club using it to promote life saving CPR skills. We’ll have a heart-shaped ‘CPQR code’ on the over and our shirts – a gesture as wonderful as naming our training centre after Rob Rowan. Something that has been met with universal acclaim amongst the Bees faithful.
Yet or those wondering if I’m in it still then the answer is, sadly (as much given the circumstances) a no. Like I say, I hate talking about myself but given I’m currently being asked about this by lots of our fans, thought it best to save you the effort. That said, if anyone wants to talk Brentford then go for it. I’m the one in green jacket.
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