Bees playing Buckaroo and Celta Vigo ahead of big kick off at Sheffield.

“Saturday afternoon. Red army. Griffin Park. I want to be there”. Not my words but those (possibly) of popular music’s One Touch Go. I may well be making that last bit up; its been a long time since I’ve heard this song and the memory plays tricks. But with Brentford visiting Sheffield United a week today, I’ve had that as my current ‘ear worm’ with this afternoon’s game against Celta Vigo giving us a last chance to get down to GP before the season kicks off in anger in 7(seven) days time. And with the Bees holding Southampton (2-2) last week then recording another win on the road (3-2 up at Franchise FC on Tuesday), could Dean Smith’s men go an entire pre-season unbeaten?

It would be fair to say that, to date, the build up to the impending Championship campaign has only been a positive one for Brentford. Five impressive names have come in (with another to follow once Emiliano Marcondes sees out his contract with Flemming Pedersen’s FC Nordsjælland) whilst nobody has left. To date.

It is true that we’ve shipped a few goals but you’d be hard pressed to deny the mental strength of this team as the Bees have come back time and again to keep up this unbeaten streak – albeit needed a late helping hand from Fraser Forster to close things out in an impressive display with Southampton last week.

Fraser Forster with a howler today at Brentford! 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/eWxf40z5HB

— Daniel BTFC Turner⚽️ (@puffpuff65) July 22, 2017

Forster. More sinner than Saint.

This is Brentford. We sell. Jota is the main target and subject of paper talk, with the likes of Ryan Woods (Sunderland), Harlee Dean (Sheffield Wednesday), Rico Henry (Hull City) and Romaine Sawyers (Southend United – not even making that one up although still laughing) some of the more outlandish theories I’ve seen this week. Yet with the big kick off fast approaching, we remain intact. Indeed, the club officially announced our squad numbers yesterday and they’re all in there. From Harlee at 6 through 19 Romaine and Jota 23.

The closer we get to that Sheffield United match, the more it feels like we’re trapped inside a giant game of Buckaroo. Every passing day is the equivalent of another item being added to the overladen saddle. Surely something has to give any second? Surely? Yet, to date, that mule is yet to kick. Is it conceivable we could get to Bramall Lane with the ‘out’ door remaining locked and bolted?

Waiting for the window to shut – very much like playing Bucakroo.

Only Matthew Benham and the players know the answer to that question. One can only dare to dream at the possibilities and implications of keeping this squad together.

The flip side of all this being who Dean Smith starts with against Celta Vigo? With immensely strong competition in just about every area of the park, will he still be trying out combinations? Is it a case of giving his preferred starting XI a final chance to gel before mixing things up a bit? Or does he need a defensive rejig just to stop the goals flying in ?

For me, and on the optimistic assumption that nobody is being sold, I’d be looking at a starting XI today (albeit just reminded that Harlee has that one game ban looming) of: Bentley, Colin, Egan, Dean, Henry, Mokotjo, Woods, Watkins, Jota, Canós, Vibe.

Yes, we’ve had newcomers but I’d also want those who ended last season so well to see if they can pick up where we left off. Then again, I’m just the numpty on the terrace. Dean Smith is the man in charge and I can’t wait to see who he starts with. Who gets a last look in. What the likes of Neal Maupay and Henrik Dalsgaard can offer as the season progresses.

This afternoon will give us more of an idea. The game is pay on the day still and at the time of writing, 7am, there are clear blue skies and bright sunshine over TW8. So why not get down to Griffin Park?

Then again, I said the same thing last weekend before the Southampton game and things turned somewhat. Still, what’s a bit of climatic negativity for the chance to see our boys in action ?

See you there.

Nick Bruzon

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It’s about a lot more than just football. Why you should get to Griffin Park today.

We’ll keep this brief today. Brentford play Southampton in a pre-season game that has as much focus with what happens on pitch as what happens off it. And, of course, the transfer klaxon went off again yesterday – although this one’s a little different as the pre-signing of Emiliano Marcondes from Danish Superliga side FC Nordsjælland was announced.

First up though, the Southampton game. Ordinarily it would be time to trot our cliches about this being a stern test for Dean Smith and his side. An opportunity for The Bees to test Premier League aspirations against a Southampton side who we last crossed paths with back in 2010/11. A chance to reminisce about that wonderful FA Cup fifth round tie from 2005 where we held top flight Saints at St.Marys. Sadly, it wasn’t to be in the replay. Despite Eddie Hutch giving us the lead in a thrilling cup tie, two goals from Peter Crouch would eventually help them come from behind to ensure a home quarter final with Manchester United. Still, at least we had the play-offs to focus on……

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But there’s so much more to this one than just football today. There can’t be anyone in the country, or beyond, who hasn’t been moved by the disaster at Grenfell Tower last month. I can’t even bring myself to use a picture of it – the images alone are simply horrific. Let alone try to contemplate what it must have been like to be there. No words can do justice to the awful, awful events. No words can change what was such a needless and tragic loss of life.

As such, it was so touching to see the club declare early on that all profits from ticket sales for today’s game would be donated to the Grenfell Tower Disaster Fund. They aren’t alone. There’ll be bucket collections outside the ground whilst The Lord Nelson pub will be donating £5 from every burger sold to the same fund.

At the time of writing (8.30am) it’s a glorious day in TW8 and we’ve got clear blue sky overhead. With pay on the gate an option we are rarely afforded these days, why not make an 11th hour decision to get down to Griffin Park ?

Chips not pictured – The Nelson Burger.

As for the on pitch options. Dean Smith has genuine competition in pretty much every position. Whilst these games are always interesting, they are as much about experimentation and as anything else and we probably shouldn’t get too excited about the result either way (unless its a win, of course). Just who on earth does Dean pick and where?

With no (public) sign of the alleged imminent bid for Jota we can expect our man to appear at some point. Speculation remains rife as to what will happen there but for a much more balanced view, don’t forget the wonderful piece that Billy Grant has written for Beesotted. This, despite being on holiday in the Far East at present. A beautifully balanced and insightful article that appeared on line yesterday, it looks at much more than just the talismanic Spaniard.

One thing Billy called in his article (and which shows just how ahead of the curve he remains compared to yours truly, the local press and other fan related publications) was in the signing of the aforementioned Dane. Whilst he (Emiliano rather than Billy) isn’t due to join us until his contract expired in January , on paper it is another exciting signing. Only time will tell what this means for our midfield and attack where Dean is literally spoilt for choice at present. However, the progressive nature of our recruitment team has been shown once more with another international U-21 coming to Griffin Park.

I’ll leave the true knowledge to the likes of Beesotted. I’m just the numpty on the terrace although was very pleased to see what seems like a season’s first on the announcement. One of the holy trinity of signing photos – see also: brandishing a scarf and wearing/holding a shirt with jeans – this time around we were treated to ‘player with pen poised over new contract’.

It promises to be an exciting time ahead although, as one Twitter observer noted, “He better play better than his Barnet looks”.

Emiliano signs. Who else has tried zooming onto the computer?

Nick Bruzon

King Kev the Eighth. Will you be a part of history on Saturday?

Kevin O’Connor. Is there nothing he can’t do? With Brentford approaching our 4,000th league game this Saturday, the home encounter with Barnsley, many of us just coming in from work last night (or who had been home in the morning) would have received a letter from the great man himself.

We all know Kevin as Mr. Brentford. A ‘one club’ man who made 501 appearances between January 2000 and August 2014. A man who is fourth in the club’s all time appearance list(behind Ken Coote, Jamie Bates and Peter Gelson). A man who is still with the club, as B Team Head Coach. This, having taken up the role after Flemming Pedersen left during the week to take over as Technical Director of FC Nordsjælland in Denmark.

Kevin even judged the first ever ‘Last Word’ caption competition back in the fledgling days of these pages. That, a picture featuring himself and Simon Moore, saw Iain Roswell earn himself a Buzzette mug with the line: “After last year’s success of London 2012, there was a massive disappointment with the anniversary games.”

He’s done just about everything at Griffin Park, short of taking the microphone from Peter Gilham to announce Scott Hogan as a goalscorer – sponsored by Siracusa. It’s a little Italian restaurant by Brentford lock. And that, I would pay good money to hear.

But in addition to all of this, Kevin clearly holds sway as a club  figurehead. And rightly so. Certainly one of the nicest footballers I’ve had the pleasure to meet, something that can’t be a unique feeling to yours truly.

So it was a timely reminder, if one were needed, to receive the letter telling us that you can still buy tickets for Saturday’s 4,000th with Barnsley. More to the point, that Season Ticket holders can pick up extras for just £10 each via the online ticket site.

If you’re reading this and know somebody who might want to come along, it’s £10. £10. Ten pounds. That’s not even three pints these days. For the chance to see Brentford make another thrust for the play-offs. For the chance to be a part of history and say “I was there” for game 4,000.

4,000. Just to put that into context, it means Kevin (and Peter Gelson, who will also be in attendance) have both played in pretty much an eighth of our entire history. A quarter of every Brentford league game, ever, between them.

To quote one regular correspondent, RebelBee: “Saturday is huge, both for the occasion and the chance to move into the play off places. It’s another tough game and we need to fill GP and give the same vocal support we’ve seen on the road this past few days”.

And if that wasn’t enough to tempt you, don’t forget that singer Annelies (who has already sung ‘Hey, Jude, prior to the 4-1 demolition of Reading) will be back at Griffin Park. As ‘official’ tell us, “ The Voice contestant and University of West London student performed ‘Hey Jude’ pre-match before our win against Reading last month and now returns for our half-time show against Barnsley on Saturday 22 October.  Tweet us your requests at BrentfordFC and she’ll choose the best two”.

I can’t believe I’ve missed that one and, surely, it is now too late? Or is it? I’d love to hear her covering The Quo.

As if Saturday isn’t going to be special enough already….

Annelies was at Griffin Park for the Reading game.

Nick Bruzon