I’ve got to be honest, this column hasn’t gone in the intended direction. Thursday morning, 6.30am and that first line has just been written last. We were going to focus on last night’s TV coverage but then I caught up with ‘official’ and the news that we are gong to be welcoming back some old friends. Oh well, here goes.. Should we be excited or worried? Brentford host Valencia on Saturday evening, our final warm up game before Arsenal visit next Friday in the Premier League, and it seems we will have special guests present. Not just the living legend that is Martin Allen but People Just Do Nothing stars Kurupt FM who will be performing live before the game. Elsewhere, did you catch the feature on the Bees last night? Both BT Sport and Sky Sports running a half-hour documentary on Brentford, our history and how we reached the top flight. Club historian Rob Jex leading the charge in a fascinating look at the club that will, hopefully, be repeated as often as Yours Truly’s ill-fated appearance on Bargain Hunt. Albeit for totally different reasons. One was absolute quality. The other was Mrs Bruzon and myself arguing over antiques.
First up, Valencia. The programme article(s) have been written and the tickets gone on sale. We’ve little over 48 hours until kick off and I can’t wait. A chance to see Brentford in action once more and the possibility we may even get a look at Kris Ajer. All being well Thomas Onyeka is healthy following the injury he appeared to suffer in the game with West Ham last Saturday but the rest is up to Thomas. We’ve seen plenty in action so far, with Shandon Baptiste amongst those to really stake a claim for a starting berth against Arsenal following his performances up at Old Trafford and then last weekend.
To be fair, you could say the same about pretty much the entire squad. We’ve looked solid and, whilst friendlies should always be taken with a huge pinch of salt, it’s surely better to be playing well than badly. Besides, confidence should be sky high. We‘ve won the play-offs and achieved a life’s dream – reaching the top flight. We’ve bought a few players (with word on the street suggesting two more are incoming) whilst, incredibly, there’s nobody really being linked with the out door. Rico Henry returned in style and, as it stands, supporters are still allowed to attend games with corona virus restrictions a thing of the past. Just a sexy third kit and healthy fitness report about Josh Dasilva needed for a full house.
Optimism is understandably high. It was coursing through the veins when the aforementioned documentary was filmed last month and nothing has changed since to change that view. Instead, we’re just 8 days away from hosting Arsenal in a league fixture. This, followed by home games against Brighton, Liverpool and then European Champions Chelsea. It’s nuts. There’s just nothing to be down about. Only excitement and anticipation ahead. The stresses of last season from certain quarters nothing but a distant memory. The abiding image that of Peter Gilham raising the play-off trophy above his head in the Wembley sunshine. With the added bonus being he even stayed on his feet.
I’ve missed football dreadfully. Watching on TV just isn’t the same. Moreso when we were rattling around an empty stadium. Now, that’s done. We’re back. We’re allowed in. We can even get a pie and a pint at the game. Valencia presents another excuse, as if one were needed, to get back inside Lionel Road and see the team in action. See old friends and familiar faces. Of getting a first look at jumper man (who will, presumably, be sporting summer fatigues).
There’s also the visit of Kurupt FM. On the one hand, promoting their new film ‘Big in Japan’. On the other, seeing if they can engage in another masterclass with our chief exec. Inside the actors studio, it wasn’t. “The Varney/Kurupt FM cringe off” , as one North stand observer described it at the time.
It was one of those ‘so bad it’s amazing moments’ . So toe curling you needed a pair of Genie’s slippers yet, at the same time it was utterly, utterly compelling. Jon Varney playing along in a moment akin to those times a ‘real’ footballer, manager or commentator would put in a cameo on Dream Team. For the record, former Bee Andy Ansah uttering his stock line of “Get warmed up” doesn’t count. We’re thinking more Steve Coppell or Richard Keys attempting to blend in seamlessly and, ordinarily, failing.

In the previous column we spoke about those quite wonderful moments when non-footballers do football type things. For example, and I’m just going off the top of my head, stadium announcers filming goal celebration videos. To that list you can also add Jon Varney doing his Kurupt FM thing. Here’s to round two on Saturday afternoon. You can read about it all on ‘official‘ .
Although, in retrospect, perhaps the Dream Team moment surpasses even that. And not in a good way.
Nick Bruzon
The good, the bad and the ugly. Bees held, Norwich cast aside and a taxi for Sam. A week in football
3 OctBrentford made it 10 games unbeaten at Griffin Park, despite being held by a Wigan Athletic side who were more on the buses than on fire. This, following our midweek destruction of Reading. Huddersfield Town and Norwich City occupy ‘automatic’ whilst the Bees are currently 7th(seventh). That’s still well clear of Fulham and QPR who played each other on Friday night. Like having to chose between Trump and Clinton in that one, let’s at least take solace from the Cottagers missing two penalties as they went down 2-1. Rotherham, Blackburn and Cardiff City all lost to nil, leaving them rooted in 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(did somebody mention Fat Sam and England?). In the latest edition of our regular, weekly feature we look back at those things you might have missed from the world of social media over the last 7(seven) days.
As ever, we start with Brentford where the weekend’s 0-0 with Wigan had been preceded by that incredible humping of Reading on Tuesday night. Feedback from players and fans for both results highlighting the salient points…
As an aside, we’ve also seen an intriguing update from a Reading supporter. Has somebody been moonlighting?
But away from this, there was only one topic of conversation. And we’re not talking about Richard Keys.
Just about everybody had a view on Fat Sam getting stung by the Telegraph and, eventually, leaving his role as England manager after just one game. Here’s how the story played out on Tuesday.
In the Premier League, bizarre photo of the week goes to Snoop Dogg and Burnley. Just everything about this is bonkers. Where do you start?
That said, Norwich City fans can feel somewhat hard done by. What next Snoop, a half and half scarf?
Mind you, on Monday night at Everton there was an equally bizarre sight to greet BBC Radio London man Phil Parry.
And finally for this week, kit news. First up, our own club sponsors taking time out to start sledging a Manchester United fan. You have to say, they do have a point.
Then hot off the press this morning, Perth Glory (Australia) have launched something discreet.
Nick Bruzon
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