Will we be in the strangest draw yet after QPR game? Will you be there on Saturday for stadium news?

Brentford travel to QPR in the second round of the Carabao cup tonight with the tournament now sparking as much interest in the latest instalment of their guide to cocking up a draw as in the ties that precede it. And there’s some positive news on the stadium front c/o Beesotted, BU, The GPG, BIAS and the club with a forum taking place this Saturday prior to the Wolves game where the new plans will be discussed further

First up, the Carabao Cup (league cup).

And if you’d like to read more whilst helping the Brentford FC Community Sports Trust …. the rest of this article can now be found in the Kindle e-book Ten Times Better. Brentford FC Season review: 2017/18. Inspired by ‘that’ interview it contains the least bad of these columns in one, handy volume as it looks at our own campaign as well as wider divisional life and the promotion / relegation races.

As a bonus there’s a whole host of new material. New that is, for my pages. Specifically, all the programme articles submitted (both home and away where, if nothing else, you can get the original versions of both Birmingham City and Millwall).

In addition, There Is No Plan B. Brentford FC Season reviews: 2013/14 – 2017/18 takes us all the way back to the start of this latest leg in the journey. That penalty. League One. Harlee Dean was a hero. Jota was something we thought happened to the temperature for one week in July. Alan Judge had joined on loan whilst the Marinus Experiment was something nobody had contemplated. Bringing things bang up to date by the inclusion of this year’s volume alongside the four previously published campaign round ups, it has five seasons in one weighty tome. As weighty as a download can be, that is.

Relive the memories. See how often the same material gets regurgitated. Remind yourself about the likes of Betinho, Martin Fillo, Javi Venta and Marcos Tebar. Certainly, if there’s no Marcos Tea Bar at Lionel Road it will be an opportunity missed.

All proceeds from any sales will go to the Community Sports Trust. For less than the cost of a half / pint respectively, they may help while away some time on the commute. By the pool on holiday. In the bathroom. Who knows? It will certainly do some good for the Trust, whose work has been well documented at Griffin Park but you can read all about it on their site.

And if that wasn’t enough, I’ve been given something very special. A 2017/18 third team shirt with Lewis Macleod’s squad number on the reverse in the EFL typeface. Anyone with half an interest in Bees kits will know that these were never made available in the club shop.  Anyone who has read any of this before will know what a kit nerd yours truly is so when I say this is rare, take that in good faith!

To be in with a chance of owning it, download a copy of either before the end of June 2018 and you’ll go into a draw to win this. Just DM/tweet me (@NickBruzon) a copy of your purchase confirmation mail and I’ll add your name to the list before selecting a random Bees fan to win this on July 1st.

Donald Trump pulls Norwich City to play Tottenham. BAD. FAKE DRAW

 

Beesotted amongst those to organise this event

Nick Bruzon

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’26’ , Jota, Beesotted and B.U. provide contrasting emotions

This week really has been interminable. The spate of 3 games in 6 days that culminated in our number 26 having his hissy fit prior to the Burnley game on Friday , seem nothing but a distant memory. The trip to Preston and follow up with Leeds United still seem an eternity away whilst, in between all of that of course, Jota has returned to Spain with Eibar.

Whilst the Jota move is a loan, part of me can’t help but think we’ve seen the last of the talismanic Spaniard. 18 months back in his homeland, with the addition of family life thrown in, could be a huge draw and prove too much for a return to TW8. Then again, if the Bees are pushing for the top flight (or even there already, you never know…) could that be the additional catalyst required ?

Here’s hoping we welcome Jota back

The club have only ever shown themselves as honourable when dealing with players in tricky situations – see also Scott Hogan as a recent example and his contract extension, despite being gripped by a career threatening injury. Their release of Jota shows that same understanding and, one hopes, we all reap the rewards of this when it comes to the start of the 2017/18 season.

And the reason for further mention of Jota is twofold. Firstly, this whole business with Talksport shock-jock Adrain Durham (I always thought that was the alter ego of children’s entertainer ‘The Great Soprendo’ – kids, ask your dads).

I’ve deliberately not given him the oxygen of publicity these last few days following his indefensible, erm, defence of Brentford centre back number 26. Beesotted have nailed it, anyway, but for me it’s left a somewhat desperate taste in the mouth.

Secondly, the contrast with the way Jota has handled himself still just feels too raw. Moreso, when pictures of the still popular Spaniard (I see Bees fans already planning trips to see Eibar take on Barcelona in March) have now appeared in his new kit.

Jota – at Eibar (for now)

It’s going to be an interesting dilemma as to what Dean Smith, Matthew Benham, Phil Giles and Rasmus do in regards to the centre back situation. Cash in or let him rot? Or could there even be a Trottaesque second chance?

I loved it when Marcello came back. Despite how sensitive everybody, quite understandably, felt about the situation after ‘that penalty’, here was a man with a point to prove. And boy, did he prove it ! With the Italian just this week signing for Serie A club Sassuolo there’s no chance we’ll be seeing him again any time soon but I still have fond memories about what he did at Griffin Park.

Could Harlee’s partner achieve the same status?

No. In a word.

The only thing he’ll do is rebrand himself as the new Martin Rowlands. Too much damage has been done. At least with Trotta it was ‘heat of the moment’ and the chance of glory being seized by a young striker. This was cold, calculated and deliberate.

Talking to Gerhard, landlord at The Griffin on Tuesday, he put forward the suggestion of naming him as a substitute against Leeds. Unused, of course. Make him warm up pre-game and walk out with the team. Walk across the pitch and even have to run up and down the touchline. See how he and the fans react just so he can truly understand the depth of feeling in what has happened. But don’t bring him on.

Could we see this? Allowing him to take any part in playing action will be the worst message possible to send out. What happens next could be very telling.

And finally, yesterday saw the ten year anniversary of something fantastic. Not the release of the first Arctic Monkeys album but a decade since Bees United took control of the club from Ron Noades. Again, a subject I chose not to write about but for totally different reasons.

Having served on the BU board at the time that members agreed to let Matthew Benham assume ownership, it felt a bit awkward now jumping on top of their own moment and good news. Besides, as with Beesotted on striking centre backs, the club have done a much better job than I could ever hope to do so – as anybody with even half an eye on social media would testify.

So instead I’ll simply offer my congratulations and huge thanks to David Merritt, Donald Kerr, the rest of the BU board and of course the members – all of whom have played their part in keeping this club alive in one of our darkest hours.

I really hope people understand how hard everyone worked to get this club on the path to where it is today. I hate to think what would have happened without this action.

It’s a shame some of our playing staff don’t share the same attitude towards this club.

Bees United, THANK YOU !!!

What’s the talk about ‘Terrace Talk’ and Lloyd?

Burnley visit Brentford tomorrow and the Bees will, no doubt, be looking to bounce back from Tuesday night’s defeat to Middlesbrough. Despite playing fantastically at times, that goal just wouldn’t come and, as such, we played the ultimate price. You know what happened by now though.

Instead, to coin that most jarring of phrases, “We go again” . Whilst ordinarily I’d suggest you file that one next to: “every little helps” (bad grammar that doesn’t actually mean anything), “expresso” (the word is espresso – is it that hard to pronounce the letter ‘s’ ?) and “You support Brentwood. In Essex?” as things to get under my skin, I’m kind of desperate for that to happen this time around.

All the plaudits in the world for nice approach play and some cracking chances don’t disguise the fact we lost. Albeit to the League leaders. But there was still plenty in there to inspire and give cause for optimism that we can go one better against Burnley in front of the TV cameras on Friday. And I can’t wait for that chance to come.

The other thing to emerge from Tuesday night’s game, and a subject we’ve not discussed as yet in this column, is the latest ‘Terrace Talk’ video. In a feature that seems somewhat familiar to those that Beesotted have being doing for years, the club have now jumped on the ‘fan interview’ bandwagon.

Hosted by matchday programme contributor Jo Tiley, the initial criticisms are obvious and I feel somewhat like a cat toying with a spider saying anything nasty on this one. It has been accused of being a blatant rip off of a fan produced feature introduced by a presenter who seemed to suffer from volume issues at first (the microphone is what helps us hear, there’s really no need to shout).

Jo Tiley presents the latest edition of Terrace Talk

Yet.Yet.Yet… I love it. It shouldn’t work given the high profile comparison yet somehow it does and is fast becoming cult viewing. The interviews feature a good cross section of guests – both fans and club figures. Vice-chairman Donald Kerr appears alongside supporter John Hirdle, amongst others, in this latest issue whilst I’m sure I saw Buzzette’s minder in the post Walsall edition.

Jo has definitely refined her presenting technique, too, and even managed to root out an Arsenal fan (who was apparently hospitalised with frost bite) in this one. I’m very much looking to see her do battle with the Sky team on Friday. Come on Jo ! Why not even see if you can rope one of their team in for a chat?

Hey, with Lloyd Owusu deservedly being welcomed into the hall of fame (and more on this tomorrow), he’d be a cracking guest to bag. Or even how about that as a subject of discussion?

Which player do supporters think should be entered into this elite group ?

Lloyd Owusu – back at Griffin Park this Friday

At the end of the day, Clive, a good idea is going to see similar ones follow suit. Coke and Pepsi; Grandstand and World of Sport. The Last Word and, erm… well, you get my drift.

Terrace talk may come over as the club take on Beesotted, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a crack aswell.

Keep up the good work, Jo. Here’s to the next edition.

terrace talk – the latest edition

Nick Bruzon