Maupay does it again. What a way to celebrate. Again.

Life isn’t great at the moment. Not compared to normal. The relentless grind of Lockdown and ‘that’ virus. Games played out in empty stadia. Brentford not even able to take the field at the moment due to our own training ground being closed – albeit results have gone largely in our favour whilst we’ve been away – thanks, Luton.) Yet sitting at home yesterday afternoon there was a moment to put a smile on the face once more. Delivered in the game between Leeds United and Brighton c/o that king of shithousery, Neal Maupay. A cult hero at Griffin Park to rank alongside the best of them. 

We all loved Neal. No question. That goal and celebration at Fulham. The absolute dirt that went alongside his game. Cheeky digs. Sly tugs. A side to a Brentford player we’d not seen in a long, long time. Somebody you wouldn’t want to get close to, yet had that wonderful combination of mercurial talent combined with unpredictable volatilty. Err, what Aston Villa game? He was, rightly, lauded at Griffin Park. We’d have loved him to stay but we’ve all moved on. Our loss, Brighton’s gain. Had he stayed there’d have been no Ollie Watkins up front. Win-win.

The classic Neal image? Perhaps….

Yet, as we all know, his ultimate moment was up at Elland Road. Back in October 2018, with the scores locked at 0-0 in an early season Championship pacesetter, Ollie was brutally fouled (errr) by Leeds ‘keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell. Up stepped Neal to not only score from the spot but then celebrate in that quite wonderful style. Only he would have had the balls to take on the home contingent, arms aloft and fronting them out in the face of all manner of , understandable, abuse flying back. Cripes, had the boot been on the other foot we’d have been spewing. It was bad enough that the spot kick had been deemed questionable but this was then the ultimate indignity for the home support. A celebration to rank with the best of them and an iconic moment. 

It was a moment only bettered in the return fixture at Brentford when Neal scored again. Right in front of the away fans. He celebrated, again. Right in front of the away fans. Same pose, same stare, same abuse. Talk about king of wind up. The man has balls of steel. If anybody was looking to endear themselves to the home support then here it was. Griffin Park erupted. If it wasn’t possible to love him anymore, then here was the opportunity to do so. 

Then, Brighton came knocking and we went our separate ways. That’s football. Neal is still a fixture in my life – even if just through the medium of Fantasy Football. Then, yesterday, at Leeds United, it all came flooding back. He scored for Brighton. The Seagulls 1-0 up. The only thing missing being supporters to see the goal live. 

No matter. This is Maupay. This was Leeds. This is the man who lives for the moment. And sure enough, he did. He celebrated in the only way he knew how. Despite the fact there was nobody there to wind up. Oh, we all knew how much this meant. And it was brilliant. Never have I enjoyed a goal in a different division for a club I don’t even support so much. This one was all about the man, the moment and the place. What a way to liven up an otherwise desperate Saturday.

Thank you, Neal. Thank you for doing this.

💧 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 💧

🎥 @BrightonTools#BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/m4KuFc346W

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) January 16, 2021

No income tax, no VAT. No money back, no guarantee.

The news we all feared was confirmed on Friday. Brentford will go into today’s game with Coventry City knowing we’ll be missing one of our most essential players. One of those automatic choices on the team sheet (think Dougie under Warburton or the unicorn when Marinus was the helm). Christian Norgaard has an ankle injury and will be out for eight weeks. It looked bad when he went off during the Preston anomaly (that being the 2-4 reverse rather than one of Billy Reeves’ favourite bands) and now we know. Elsewhere, West Ham finally got their man. Kind of. Whatever you think about the way they undertook their business, Said Benrahma will now be plying his trade at the Olympic stadium. Assuming, of course, he’s fit enough. You know, having ‘failed’ their medical.

It’s official

First up, Coventry City. Say what you want about Brentford, and many have, but we never fail to surprise even our own fans. That game with Preston was about as awful as it gets. And bizarre. 2-0 up at half time thanks to a brilliant brace from Ivan Toney (Oh, that pass from Sergi…) we fell apart in the second period in a manner that would make even Leeds United blush. My word it was horrific. Awful. A car crash. An insult to the word defending. etc etc etc. 

We all saw it. We all get it. Move on. Frankly, it is an impossibility that we could go awol like that again. Ever. We know what this team and this squad is capable of on their day. And that was anything but it. I’m absolutely expecting a statement of intent today. A demonstration that it was a freak of nature and, unfortunately, Coventry City are the wrong team in the wrong place.  Canos, Mbeumo, Dasilva to go rogue. Fosu to get a run out and do his thing. Raya back in goal. Toney to add to his collection. 

Cripes, we need it. That’s for sure.  We’ve that open question as to who replaces Christian Norgaard and, of course, the frustration over West Ham. No bad vibe towards Said. Quite the opposite. He was magnificent as a Bee and it has been apparent he’s wanted that step up. We all know what he can do. His talents most definitely befitting the top flight – even if it is only for a season. Said lit up Griffin Park and we loved him. Jota levels of excitement.  Let’s not pretend, either, that this one doesn’t hurt though.

No matter how philosophical one can be about our transfer model and recruitment strategy, for supporters it is Jota and Maupay levels of ‘Nooooooo’. An iconic and unique talent leaving Brentford for pastures new. We all knew this day would come and can only wish him well. The manner West Ham conduct their business one which has left a sour taste in the mouth.

A unique talent

Surprise, surprise – they weren’t able to pay up. Rather we’re left with a cobbled together deal that could only go through after the window had shut. One which involves an initial loan period and downpayment of £5million, a guaranteed £20m purchase at the end of the season  and then a further £5m of add ons. When we said he was part of a BMW, nobody expected the Hammers to act like they were trying to buy a second hand car. One very careful owner. Let’s just hope they don’t go under or try some means to weasel out of this further down the track should things not work out for whatever reason. After all, this is a player who apparently failed his medical. Hmmm. 

As Nathan Caton put so wonderfully….  Benrahma fails a medical at a club where Jack Wilshere & Andy Carroll passed theirs???? Yo West Ham if you don’t have the money just say bruh…

So instead, we go down this route. An inability to stump up the cash has left us agreeing to this one. It worked with Ryan Woods and, I suppose, as long as that contract is water tight then all good further down the track. We don’t need to sell and have stuck to our guns so long that a decision to go down this route is one that Matthew and the DOFs have felt is in our interests. That doesn’t stop it felling like we’ve been played, though.

That West Ham have been haggling like Del Boy on a market stall rather than a football club befitting their proud history and tradition. World Cup / FA Cup winners in 1966 and 1980, as you may be aware.

This tweet from Ongar hammer was one of many form their own fans offering similar sentiments: Our owners are the most despicable bastards going , we despise them with a passion, they are a disgrace.

Still, we’ve agreed to it. Who knows what goes on behind the scenes? We’ve proven time and again we’re no mugs in our transfer dealings. You and me getting upset isn’t going to change anything. I can’t waste the energy on it and can only wish Said well. Hope his enthusiasm, joie de vivre and talent can all translate to the pitch at his new home. 

If he does what we know he can then West Ham supporters are going to wet themselves. For us, time to focus on the future. And that starts on I-follow this afternoon with Coventry City visiting Lionel Road.

See you on the couch at 3pm.

Thank you for the magical moments, Said!#BrentfordFC pic.twitter.com/FVn7C2kpbh

— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) October 16, 2020

Nick Bruzon