The waiting game sucks; let’s play Hungry, Hungry Hippos.

Not my words but those of Homer Simpson and, with almost three months until the Championship season starts once more, it could be a long wait for Brentford fans. That’s over 70 (seventy) days until we resume rivalries with the likes of Middlesbrough, Fulham and Wolves. As intriguingly, we’ll also be welcoming QPR back to a division they managed to leave for an entire season. Sadly, though, they’ll be without Joey Barton – what a midfield match up with Jonathan Douglas that would have been.

So until then, what have got to look forward to (apart from breaking out the Hungry, Hungry Hippos)? It’s only three weeks until the fixtures are published (June 17^th, being the appointed date for that one) and we can start planning those trips around the country.

From a TW8 perspective, there’s no word on those two most important of things needed to start the campaign. A kit to play in and a new manager (or ’head coach’, given our new model).

At least in the case of the latter, Marinus Dijkhuizen from Dutch Eredivisie side Excelsior remains the name on everybody’s lips. If you believe what you read in the papers then he is, supposedly, set to be announced any day soon. Whilst there is no smoke without fire, I’ve been surprised by Matthew Benham too many times in the past to believe anything I read until I see it confirmed in print.

Certainly Griffin Park had nothing much going on for the casual observer yesterday, beyond the hum of machinery as work on the pitch continued.

Manager Watch: 12.32pm 27th May… No sighting

As for the kit, there’s no word even on a release date. All we know is that it will be a bespoke Adidas design. As somebody who takes more interest in the history/selection of the Bee’s kit than is probably healthy, this is an announcement that I’m looking forward to as much as any over the summer.

Moreso, as the other clubs in ‘the pyramid’ have started to release their efforts with some of these even seeing the light of day at the back end of the season just gone. The always excellent ‘Historical Football Kits’ website have now officially ‘opened’ their 2015/16 gallery and for those interested in such sartorial matters, you can find that here. Crawley Town, Bradford City and Watford being among some of the braver/more creative (delete as applicable) efforts already on offer.

Until then, we’ve got the FIFA corruption case to keep us intrigued over the summer. This, following the arrest by the FBI yesterday of 6 senior officials, is sure to be a protracted affair.

That said, it also promises to be an entertaining one as the case for long desired clarity starts to build. The U.S. Department of Justice have already begun in style, mangling their metaphors with the declaration that “This is the World Cup of fraud and today we are issuing FIFA a red card.” Let’s hope they end up issuing something a little bit stronger than a stern talking to

Sepp Blatter, meanwhile, eventually released a statement in the late afternoon in which he described the events as ‘unfortunate’ although didn’t go as far as referring to football as a village. However, there was no word in this as to whether the current elections will be postponed or the World Cups of 2018 and 2022 re-evaluated.

As the clamour is sure to grow on both fronts, this may not be as quiet a summer as we might have thought a week ago.

And, in the meantime, if you want some further distraction until it all starts again, you can relive the events of 2014/15 in the amalgamated Last Word season compendium: Tales from the football village (from Saunders territory to unchartered ground). 

Running from July 2014- May 2015 it contains some additional material and is now available to download onto Kindle (and other electronic reading device) in full for less than the cost of a Griffin Park match day programme.

The alternative is Hungry, Hungry Hippos

Was this the day’s most unexpected result?

With Brentford and Middlesbrough finishing just after 2pm, there was plenty of time to discuss the match with the travelling fans aswell as watching the other results roll in from the warmth of The Griffin. In particular was the game at Crawley Town where high flying Preston North End were the visitors. The specific interest being generated by Manish letting the cat out of the bag the day before to reveal that aswell as Preston, none other than Clem would also be travelling to Crawley.

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.

Clem’s interview budget is a lot less than Parky’s

Ifs, buts, maybes, favours and Championship excitement.

What a Championship week this is shaping up to be. Saturday’s win saw Brentford become the last team in our league to keep a 100% record for January whilst the FA Cup saw famous victories for our promotion rivals Derby County and Middlesbrough against Chesterfield and Manchester City respectively.

Then, last night, we had the FA Cup draw with Derby given an eminently winnable tie at home to Reading whilst Middlesbrough have the tantalising prospect of being able to test themselves at Arsenal’s library. Aside from the draw giving these two Championship teams an excellent chance of progression to the quarter finals (or round of 8 as FIFA would probably call it) , there is huge impact on Brentford, too, starting tonight.

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.

How farce became fantasy. Fulham provide the best opposition possible

Brentford fans were celebrating like….. etc etc etc last night. With the draw for the Capital One Cup having been made, the likes of Manchester United visiting MK Dons or Newcastle at Gillingham would seem the obvious ‘TV’ ties. However, it is the arrival of Fulham at Griffin Park that has to be the most atmospheric and anticipated of the second round.

I’m sure the good people at Sky will go for Manchester United – if only because last season’s campaign of self destruct has seen them enter the competition at this stage for the first time in 19 seasons. They’re welcome to it – I’ll be at Griffin Park regardless.

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 along.

Celebrating like they’ve won the (first round of the) cup

On a night of cup shocks that saw Wigan Athletic lose 2-1 to Burton (stop sniggering at the back) and Crawley beat Ipswich Town 1-0, it was still Brentford that dominated the headlines – despite triumphing against Dagenham and Redbridge.

Our 18 goal Capital One Cup thriller (12 in open play and a further 6 on penalties) saw Brentford go through 4-2 on spot kicks after a surreal 6-6 draw. It was a game that equaled the competition’s previous ‘goals scored’ record (Reading 5 Arsenal 7 set in 2012).

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 along.

‘Crime doesn’t play’ whilst are these double standards from Mary Macleod?

In all the excitement over Brentford gaining promotion to the Championship I’ve not had the chance to mention one or two things you’ve probably seen by now. We’ll get to our favourite local MP and some awesome video work in a moment but first up, Carlisle United.

In a twisted way, it’s a good thing Wolves have won the title already and Brentford weren’t relying on a final game favour against them from League One’s most Northerly club. With the two sides meeting at Molineux in the final game of the campaign, it emerged on Tuesday that United loan striker Gary Madine isn’t able to play anyway.

Recently released from prison after serving a sentence for assault, the terms of his release include a curfew that means he must be home by 7pm. With United also due to travel to Crawley Town, he’ll miss their final two games as even playing for just the first half would make it tricky for him to get back in time for ‘Final score’.

This isn’t a great situation for anyone, least of all a team in the midst of a relegation battle and whose manager seems to have kept his eye somewhat off the ball. Carlisle boss Graham Kavanagh has been quoted as saying “We were aware of (the situation) but not to this extent”.

Madine – from captain’s armband to ankle tag

Next up – Mary Macleod. It seems our favourite MP is a massive fan of development in the Kew Bridge area. Fresh off the back of her staunch support for Lionel Road, she has this week taken to her twitter account to plug Hammonds, the new butchers on the corner of the bridge and Kew Bridge Road.

I do wonder if she has considered the impact this new establishment will have on the local residents whose flats it has been built directly beneath or who are sure to be blighted by parking problems associated with an increase of meat eaters visiting the area. Equally, it is somewhat of a concern that an MP is seen to be promoting drinking in the streets – champers or otherwise.

Mary Macleod’s twitter page – unsubtle plug or proud support of local business?

Personally, I’m all for supporting new growth in that area. And if, in future, it means I can pick up a half pound of chipolatas before watching the Bees in the Championship (or beyond) then all the better.

And finally, I’ve bigged up the work of the Beesotted boys before and this is another such occasion. Their post Preston promotion party video is now up on line. If you haven’t seen it yet, then please take a look.

It is a twenty minute extravaganza including interviews with everybody from Matthew Benham to Cliff Crown and, pretty much, the entire first team squad.

Whilst you may not be able to contain your disappointment that our local MP is missing (although I am sure she will be in attendance at the now sold out Stevenage game) do visit the Beesotted site and enjoy that feeling for a little bit longer.

Great job guys – can’t wait to see what you do with that camera in the Championship….

There’s more like this on the Beesotted website – enjoy !

 

Turn it up to 11 and let’s see what happens….

There’ll be more than a few eyes (or ears, as many Brentford fans will be in transit to MK Dons) on the lunchtime kick off between Leyton Orient and Wolves today.

Whilst I’m not sure if it is still politically correct to talk about the ‘fat lady’, I can’t hear any females, corpulent or otherwise, singing just yet. Saint and Greavsie may be firing up a trophy-laden helicopter as we speak and pointing it towards Wolverhampton, but in my eyes the title race is still open.

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.

Liverpool good. Peterborough better. Brentford best

Calmed down yet? Me neither. I still can’t believe that Brentford have done it after all the years of coming SO close.

Second to Birmingham City when only one team went up. Double play-off heartbreak under Martin Allen. Any play off, for that matter. Even last season when Keith Stroud nobbling Tony Craig cost us three points at an excellent Sheffield United side. Oh, and then the small matter of ‘the other thing’ against Doncaster Rovers.

As somebody who has been coming to Griffin Park since the end of the 70s, I’m probably as experienced as anyone to appreciate those rare moments of joy. That’s close to 35 years where the ecstasy has been outweighed by, if not the heartbreak, then certainly an awfully large portion of mediocrity.

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.

Some people are on the pitch. They think it’s all over. It is now.

YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brentford have only gone and done it (and we even cheered on Wolves).

What a day. What an afternoon. Oh, what a night !! Grown men cried as the stands emptied out on to the pitch. Forget the FA Cup. Brentford celebrated like they’d won the Champion’s League.

The celebration begins

We ARE going up. And now you’d better believe us. A potential three West London derbies await as Braemar Road echoed to the sounds of the reworked ‘Knees up Mother Brown – “Bees up, Fulham down”.

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.

 

Could a returning hero seal it today?

Brentford take on Preston North End on Friday, knowing that a win (combined with defeats for Rotherham United at Wolves and Leyton Orient at Crawley) will be enough to see promotion from League One confirmed.

It is a big ask, and moreso because I can’t see any slip ups coming from the O’s or Rotherham. Both those play off teams are still in with a theoretical chance of ‘automatic’ themselves and so will be desperately fighting, like hungry dogs over an empty bucket of KFC, for every point possible.

But whatever they do is irrelevant (our title aspirations aside, of course) as long as Brentford win.

“As long as Brentford win”. It sounds so simple on paper and, in theory it should it be.

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.