The good, the bad and the ugly. Bees stung by Wasp comments as hashtags return. An (international) week in football

Brentford have redesigned their club crest for a new, less busy take on our 70’s Bee. QPR joined Newcastle United and Aston Villa in the lame hashtag stakes as, like the latter had done last month, they announced a second manager of the season. On pitch, there were no Championship fixtures , given it was an International weekend in which Cyprus – Gibraltar and England – Scotland were the two big ones. That said, we did have the return of the much maligned Checkatrade trophy.

That’s the latest football action in a nutshell. Yet there has been so much more going on in the division and beyond. In the latest of our regular, weekly feature we look back at those things you might have missed from the world of social media.

As ever, we start with Brentford where the new club crest met with praise, much split opinion and even a clarification in regards to the role of BIAS, or lack of, in the consultation process. From a personal note, I stick with my gut reaction of being very much in the pro-camp whilst the whole wasp-gate debate was, frankly, hilarious. Yet I can understand people’s reaction to change being a tough one to swallow – many of our supporters will only have ever known the cluttered clipart.

We’ve done this to death now. The only further comment I’ll make is in regards to an observation levelled at the new design from Brentford’s memorabilia guru (and do check Paul’s fantastic blog site). Specifically that it looked like a Watford cast off – with example being provided. If anything, the former accusation could be better levelled at Spiderman’s chest logo than our new crest .

The other Brentford news, as such, was a story by Tom Moore in regards to Josh McEachran. Was this an unfortunate choice of words in the headline, have we been given too much information or just deliberate click-baitery?

Down the road at QPR, the club finally dispensed of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. In his place, comes Ian Holloway (remember him, the chap who tipped us for a struggling campaign of relegation back in August). With his arrival, comes that favourite of these pages – the crap hashtag.

This season has already seen the likes of #JoinTheRafalution – Newcastle United and #welcomesteve – Aston Villa. Indeed, QPR themselves have already used #jakejoins when they signed a left back. Now we can add another entrant to the list.

Sadly, it seems nobody had told Jimmy. As of Saturday his Twitter account still claimed he was their manager whilst at close of play on Sunday he was still pictured holding the shirt.

The other domestic news was the return of the Checkatrade trophy. Something even less popular than Donald Trump and Nigel Farrage hanging out in a gold plated elevator.

You know things are bad when even the teams taking part are having a pop at the tournament.

You know things are bad when even the referee needs to be replaced from the crowd.

Yet things are also wonderful when something like this happens.

On the international front, Mexico gave a wonderful response to the week in politics. Insert your own ‘defensive wall’ comment. And what a source to deliver this news.

In the World Cup, Gibraltar went down in Cyprus but got off lightly compared to Estonia.And the boys from the Rock still did better than Scotland as at least they managed a goal. Indeed, the Scots found news of their 3-0 defeat hard to take.

Yet the same could be said about England fans. At least, those who sat through this one.

 

Roll on the return of league football.

Nick Bruzon

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The good, the bad and the ugly. Brentford beat Manchester United, as things get worse for QPR. And Clem. A week in football.

Fulham did to Brentford what we’d done to QPR the previous Friday (although at least our B-team garnered some respect against Manchester United) whilst Newcastle United and Brighton are now starting to stride clear in the automatic places. The gap now five points between second and third after Huddersfield Town were held at home by Birmingham City. Aston Villa won (that’s won rather than one-one, their usual scoreline) and now sit just one point behind our twelfth placed Bees. At the bottom its a case of deja vu – Wigan , Blackburn Rovers and Rotherham continue to make up the bottom three

That’s the latest Championship action in nutshell. Yet there has been so much more going on in the division and beyond. In the latest of our regular, weekly feature we look back at those things you might have missed from the world of social media.

Normally at this juncture, we start with Brentford but there’s little left to say at this point. Lewis Macleod will be out for 9 months following the injury suffered last week at QPR whilst, on pitch, we capitulated against Fulham. Dean Smith was, at least, honest as to some of his and our shortcomings.

That said, at least the B-team had some success. In one of those headlines you never thought you’d see, Manchester United were beaten 3-2 at Griffin Park on Saturday as the U-23 sides clashed in front of a four figure crowd. Well done lads – next step the first team?

Elsewhere, QPR dominated the news. Currently the worst team in West London, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was relieved of his duties after another dismal result for the Loftus Road mob. Last week’s Friday night humping by Brentford being followed by a draw with Nottingham Forest.

Sadly, the ongoing plight at Loftus Road was an accident waiting to happen. Jimmy’s tactical naivety was plain for all to see last week as the Bees took full advantage and in retrospect, might be a tad disappointed in only winning 2-0.

Whilst probably not high on his list of priorities, he may wish to update his Twitter profile which, at the time of writing (Monday,6am) seemed as out of date as his former team’s top flight status.

As for his eventual replacement… Well, I can only hope this is true?

Elsewhere, Wigan continued to struggle. Proving that relieving a manager of his duties isn’t, necessarily, a good thing.

Brendan Rodgers continues to live in a strange fantasy land up at Celtic.

Whilst in the FA Cup, it is a return for fan favourite Clem. Regular readers may recall the season long Clem watch undertaken a few years ago (and if you’d like to read more….). The correlation between the team he was covering and their subsequent failure to win a game seeming clear.

Yet this time around it was in the FA Cup where he made his name. Of sorts. His attempt at a touchline interview being well documented and, rightly, treated with everything it deserves. One can only imagine the producer screaming “get an interview” in his ear as our favourite roving reporter was sent into battle

Alfreton Town v Newport County #FACup

The best interview you'll see all day 😳 pic.twitter.com/ojWez8GbOw

— @PayetForward (@PayetForward) November 6, 2016

Clem wasn’t the only one coming in for criticism in the FA Cup. The game between Sheffield United and Leyton Orient (which came close to a bracketing at 6-0) saw the return of an old favourite. Please note: your definition of favourite may vary.

It wouldn’t be the weekly round up without mention of Manchester United and their latest catastrophe. This time it came in Europe where more defeat followed on Thursday night. Take your pick as to which of these two sums up their plight best.

And finally, a story that saw the light of day on Twitter this week but the source of which is past the usual 7(seven) day threshold. However, when something is this good it needs to be shared. Moreso, given the ongoing frustration with footballers looking to ‘go again’ after their team loses.

Step up Victor Anichebe who took the advice of Sunderland’s media team a bit too literally…

Nick Bruzon

Coming soon. To a skip near you. As Bees prepare for Wigan, FA continue the clear out.

Brentford prepare for the visit of Wigan Athletic on Saturday with the topic of conversation being the ongoing corruption saga being revealed by the Telegraph. Following Tuesday’s news about Sam Allardyce, it is an investigation which has spread to the Championship with QPR boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink “devastated” after it had been suggested during the week that he was involved. With the Loftus Road outfit planning what they describe as “A thorough investigation”, Barnsley have already taken the action of sacking assistant manager Tommy Wright after he was filmed accepting a £5,000 payment.

Pretty much everybody has had their opinion on this story already. Equally, though, there are as many questions as answers out there. Supporters up and down the land are now wondering who will be next to be named, who will be found guilty and is their own club clean?

To read the rest of this article, season 2016/17 is now available for download on e-book in the retrospective: Welcome Home, King Jota (Brentford FC season review 2016/17)

 Priced at just £1.99, all sales are being donated to the Brentford FC Community Sports Trust.

Likewise any sales from the previous titles – Celebrating like they’d won the FA Cup (2013/14), Tales from the football village (2014/15) and Ready. Steady. Go Again. (2015/16) – are also now going to the BFCCST. 

Containing the least bad of the blogs from May 2016 to May 2017 along with a smattering of new material, you can pick it up, here. Its all for a great cause and,hey, you may even enjoy it…..

 

Will Grigg missed out on a home debut hat trick. Form went south from there

 

Ryan had to settle for a place at the (Marcos) Teabar (Thanks: Tim Griffiths)

 

Coming soon. To a skip near you.

Nick Bruzon

And the new manager of Brentford is….

….still a mystery. In what was the epitome of a ‘slow news day’, there was nothing out of the club on Thursday beyond a series of photographs showing the players ‘doing their thing’ at the Brentford training ground. And with the trip to Bolton Wanderers rapidly approaching, I suspect there will be more than a few lingering shots of the manager’s place in the dugout from the Sky TV cameras on Monday night.

That no announcement has been made yet is not, necessarily, a bad thing. I’ve mentioned several names on these pages to whom you could also add the likes of Walsall’s Dean Smith and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to the mix (although for the later, see also: QPR).

The club released several pictures – but is a new manager in sight?

The simple fact of the matter is that at the time of writing (Friday, 6.30am) none of us have a clue and the club have kept their powder very much dry when it comes to any updates. Which wouldn’t be such a bad thing except we all remember Lee Carsley’s announcement in Saturday’s post-match interview that he had taken charge of the team for the last time.

Once again, as with Villagegate back in February, there has been no tangible follow up to the immediate story and the football world is left scratching it’s head. Of course, the club is under no obligation to tell us who will be taking control, if they even know for sure, but it does beg the question of who is pulling the strings?

Likewise, who will actually pick, and prep, the team for the game at Bolton? Even if a new manager / head coach was announced today, how much time would they actually have to have a side they had likely never seen, ‘match ready’?

Was it simply a case of Lee Carsley diverting from the script – much as he did when he first took over and admitted he didn’t actually want the position? Will he find himself back in charge for another game or two – at least until we can finally tie up whatever deal is in the offing? Or could King Kev even step up into a temporary role as the new caretaker?

I have no doubt that whatever happens in the next day or so, Lee Carsley will retain a strong influence on Monday’s proceedings. He knows the players and they know him – it would only make sense to rely on his experience.

That said, aswell as regaling us with their pictorial player updates, it would be great if the club could make some sort of update – even to say there is no news as it stands – in regards to the vacant head-coach situation.

Instead, we have the usual tumbleweed coming out of the comms department when it comes to this sort of issue. It just all looks a bit amateurish when you have the caretaker saying one thing and the club saying nothing.

Then again, nothing about what Brentford do is ‘to type’. Whilst football fans have certain expectation levels about how things should happen, regardless of club,  Matthew Benham has never been afraid to be different. Or nail his colours to the mast.

Behind the scenes, the head coach scenario is likely to be many steps ahead of what we know. However I do find his current lack of cryptic video clue somewhat disconcerting. This tradition is one which has very much tailed off this season and, if nothing else, has given us a sign that imminent incoming activity is due.

Still, it was great to see Jota out there in full training yesterday. Likewise, Max Colin. Whatever is going on off-field, one can’t deny the ever increasing quality in the squad as more and more of the injured are able to return to first team duty.

Now. If we just knew who was going to pick that team……

The club Twitter feed shows Jota back in action – phew

Nick Bruzon

Herr transplant, music and my worst Brentford memory – ever

So, despite a very large curve ball in the shape of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Brentford have replaced Uwe from within the club ranks.

The choice of Mark Warburton and, as interesting, the appointment of a new sporting director in Frank McParland is one that looks to continuity and building on the current set up.

This, in my eyes, can only be a good thing. Talking to supporters and looking at the various social networks, the one biggest fear is the subsequent loss of our star players. The likes of Clayton Donaldson and Adam Forshaw are the two names on most people’s minds. Whilst, of course, nothing is ever guaranteed in life, let alone football, Mark knows these players and, as importantly, they know him.

I’ll be honest – the potential of former Bee Ian Holloway did intrigue me. Indeed, during the managerial transitional phase he was the fan favourite on a GPG vote that didn’t even include Mark.  However, I think that, ultimately, the correct decision has been made. If nothing else, for the lack of media circus that the former Blackpool supremo would have brought and the pun potential that Mr Warburton adds. Saturday sees his first game in the Griffin Park hot seat and I’m hoping Oldham end up as toast etc. etc. etc.

The other thing to catch my attention was the reaction to yesterday’s article in regards to music and the roof (and thank you all for your comments, as ever). In it, we discussed Matthew’s opinion on the Griffin Park music scene and the shake up that was required.

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.

 

Wigan’s Whelan hoovers Uwe as his former groovers are Cup losers.

It was always going to happen.

Being honest – given the week that Brentford have had then perhaps it’s no bad thing to duck out of the cup a little bit earlier, this time around.

Don’t get me wrong; the third round draw is one of the real highlights of the football calendar. I’ll still be tuning in today, if for no other reason than to see who ball 53, Carlisle (or Brentford, as was) is drawn against.

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.