7(seven) games in and the Premier League is alive and kicking. Manchester City facing competition whilst the application of VAR is proving to be more controversial than ever. Something that Brentford and, in particular, Liverpool experienced to their detriment in the most recent round of fixtures. For the record – I’m still smarting over weekend and the knock on to The Bees / our top five player review.
It’s all going off
All of which has got me thinking for this week’s ‘Thursday top five’.
Namely, those moments where football has got it wrong. There are hundreds of these, for sure, and we’ll all have different opinions. Yet for me, the list includes a number one which is simply the greatest thing to ever happen in the beautiful game – at least, domestically.
Southampton 0 Brentford 2 The Bees back to winning ways at the first attempt after that monumental unbeaten streak hit the buffers at Goodison Park on Saturday. Thomas Frank’s team under the cosh at times but titanic at the back and exhilarating when given the chance to push up. Brentford now the best placed team in West London (with games in hand) and sniffing around those European places. Here’s to more when we entertain Leicester City this weekend.
The highest placed club in West London
As ever at this juncture, we look back at who shone for Brentford. Who gave Southampton nightmares and who is leading the top five in our season long quest find an overall star player (aswell, of course, as the game by game marks)? Will any of the subs have played themselves into contention for a starting berth for the game with Leicester City?
Everton 1 Brentford 0 Defeat for The Bees (not a typo) as that unbeaten run which stretched back as far as October finally came to an end. Thomas Frank’s team outclassed in the first half and all over the hosts in the second. Even David Raya coming close to yours truly’s pre-match prediction and almost scoring at the death. The hope being we pick up where we left off for the trip to Southampton on Wednesday.
Saturday morning ; 10.20am
As ever at this juncture, we look back at who shone for Brentford. Who caused Everton headaches and who is leading the top five in our season long quest find an overall star player (aswell, of course, as the game by game marks). Will any of the subs have played themselves into contention for a starting berth for the trip to Southampton?
Allan Cockram is a man on a mission. Or, rather, missions. The immediate one of which involves the phrase, “Graeme Le Saux in his stand up debut”. That’s not a typo. Then again, any of us with even a passing knowledge of the man who made his name in the Brentford side of the late 80s / early 90s will be aware that he does unconventional not only for fun but now, it seems, for a living. With the Bees first team preparing for the game at Southampton, March 15th sees him organising a comedy night at the Gtech for his Brentford Penguins DS football team that has been up and running since 2017. The former Chelsea and Saints full back is undoubtedly the surprise name on a stellar bill that also features Sally Philips, Ronni Ancona, Alistair McGowan, Sarah Kendall and Milton Jones.
Not a typo – this is REALLY happening
Tickets are on sale at the moment – albeit moving fast – for a night that features a bill more akin to one you’d find Live at the Apollo rather than the more intimate setting of our own Legends Lounge. You can get them here and all funds made are going to the Brentford Penguins Football Club for players with Down’s Syndrome.
They are the longest running of Allan’s various teams all set up under a broader club banner that has taken on a life of its own. In his own words, “The last probably two to three months have been crazy.” So much so that Cockers is now at the point of giving up work to devote 100% of the time to a project that has had a men’s walking football team up and running for twenty weeks aswell as women’s over 40s.
That’s just part of it. He is in the process of looking to attain charitable status – something in itself which, for understandable reasons, is nowhere near as simple as just asking the charities commission. The Penguins team will be guard of honour when Brentford host Leicester City next month. All this is before we get to the Independent film being made about the team, with filming under way for three weeks already.
I caught up briefly with Allan during the week to find out a bit more about what he’s up to at present. Primarily to talk about the comedy night but as much to see how the Penguins are going. As he put it so succinctly, “Its been five and half years and I don’t know where it’s gone. Honestly, it’s been the greatest thing in my life“.
Outside of all this, he’s also training blind children to play and is looking to devote a fourth arm of what is now the Planet Penguin banner, to either them or a side for setting up a team for those suffering from Parkinsons. The overall Penguins banner has his men branded the Emperors, the women Empresses, this new team will be the Rockhoppers and of course we have the Penguins. “The women’ team will start next month but the blind stuff is really the difficult one. I’m training them but we need one coach for every two kids and an indoor facility. The Parkinsons one is the one that is close to me. It so heartfelt – for that hour they don’t have Parkinsons but there’s not a lot of them about . There’s one in London and one in Saint Albans”.
Ultimately, it is with the kids where it all started back in 2017 and which is the current focus. Even if the longer term aspiration, something which is already happening though natural order, is the coming together of all his groups. “My thing is to be as one. Already the Emperors come and support the kids.”
In the last 8-12 months Brentford have been so very supportive. The comedy night – Sally Phillips , I’ve trained her son for a couple of years. She said to me about a month ago that we’d like to do a comedy night to raise funds for you guys. Me, Sally and my wife went to Brentford and they said they’d like to help. They’ve been fantastic.
Milton Jones posted the original tempting poster. I’m so excited. Alistair McGowan, he’s patterning with Ronni Ancona and what’s exciting for me is that it’s Graeme Le Saux’s first stand up gig. Its an honour he’s chosen us although its probably a safe environment …..”
There’s a walk to the ground ahead of the Leicester City game – albeit with pickups along the way to help those who may not be as comfortable with the full 7.2 miles – from DS headquarters in Twickenham to the Gtech This will then culminate with 20-30 kids then acting as the aforementioned guard of honour. It’ll be quite the week with comedy on the 15th and then football on the 18th.
On pitch, things are going great guns. An all inclusive atmosphere permeates thorough everything Allan does and talks about. “When we’ve trained the children we’ve never turned away anyone. We turn away no-one and have no age difference. We train, play a match against everyone and then interview everyone after the game.
The men’s one, I didn’t advertise it as such but it has panned out it is all men. Everyone has been very vocal about mental health and the reason I did the walking football was seeing it when I was out in Spain. There was about 16 ex-pats who all played then went for dinner. I discovered that some had lost their wives, some had retired there but this football brought them all back together. I see it now with our lads, being told ‘I’ve got my husband back. He’s starting to be creative now’.
I saw the stress a lot of the men were under and suddenly a simple game like football is a wonderful remedy. They’re of an age when they don’t really want to talk about it either so its great for people bringing them together.
One gets the impression that the men’s team, and the health benefits – both mental and physical – are as important to Allan as anything he has ever done. Such is the passion with which he talks. Then again, that’s him in general. His team have lost 42lbs in four weeks as a result of their Tuesday morning training sessions at the Gunnersbury Sports Hub. At the heart of the community – both literally and geographically. As he tell me, if you drop the pin in the map of the park it points right to us
Not surprisingly, conversation turns back to the kids and an unexpected revelation as to their own evolution in recent years. It was that byword for misery and social exclusion – covid – that actually brought them closer together than ever and has since shaped the way the club runs.
“I quickly realised we have two teams. All the kids and the parents. One is a support network . We all go out together. Not just the training but we socialise together,. We celebrate birthdays together. They’re all wonderfully supportive.
What transformed us was Covid. When it kicked in we lost everything. The kids didn’t understand just why football stopped. They’re ready, they have their kit on but then it stops. You cold see the impact it had on them in so many ways.
DS Active said that as an independent club any decision to continue was ours. I asked all the parents and Barr one, they asked to continue. So we did socially distant training but we’d get abuse in Gunnersbury Park. You can’t always socially distance kids and they’d be jumping all over me but, actually, it changed our training. I had a brainwave and got the parents to join in. The sisters and brothers too. The parents can have a chat too. It changed our club. It transformed us.
As if Allan doesn’t have enough o the immediate horizon, he is still thinking bigger. Thinking longer term. Once charitable stays is granted fund-raising proper and the next step in his teams evolution can really take off.
“Brentford have said we can have a room.. We’ve spoken to them and want to set up pathway to work for these kids. The hardest age group for them is senior school. My ambition is to have a school. They don’t need to be taught geography but they need to be taught independence and I don’t see why I couldn’t set this up – a sixth form school. That’s my ambition for the kids. “
All that’s to come. For now, the next target is the comedy night at the Gtech. Then the walk for Leicester City and the guard of honour. Perhaps even an Indepedent film festival…
Penguins. Emperors. Empresses. Rockhoppers. Personally speaking, I struggle supporting one team let alone with the concept of running four. Amongst other things. It seems apart to leave the last word to the man himself. “The thought of running four teams…. I don’t know how we’re going to do it but we will”.
Nick Bruzon
If you’d like to read more about the Brentford Penguins Football club for players with Down’s syndrome then you can do so here.
Brentford 3. Southampton 0. A win that sees us remain unbeaten in the Premier League since late October and the best placed football club in West London. Chelsea, Fulham and the Loftus Road mob all trailing in our positional wake. It was a win that saw us closing in further on the European places or, dare we say it, higher? The trip to league leaders Arsenal on Saturday could be interesting that’s for sure…
As ever at this juncture, we look back at who shone for Brentford. Who were the players to cause Southampton nightmares. To so upset Nathan Jones. Likewise, find out who is leading the top five in our season long quest find an overall star player (aswell, of course, as the game by game marks). Will any of the subs have played themselves into contention for a starting berth at Arsenal?
Brentford made it 6 wins out of the last 9 games. 19 points from the last 27. Saturday’s 3-0 defeat of Southampton giving further hope to those looking towards the top half of the table.
As ever at this point, time to look at who was the star man for Brentford? Who makes the top five? Who is leading the season long hunt for our game by game top performer? Who did enough against Southampton to retain their place for the trip to Everton on Sunday?
Another weekend done. Brentford turned it on again to sweep past Southampton. A 3-0 win every bit as complete as the scoreline suggests. The team now on 43 points and still dreaming of the top ten in the Premier League. Elsewhere, Everton racked up another win on the road whilst Leeds United went down at Arsenal and had captain Luke Ayling sent off for a crazy challenge. Not the first moment of madness experienced in a game that saw a comical goal being gifted to the hosts. All of which means the Elland Road outfit drop into the relegation zone as we head into the final fortnight of the season. Mind the gap indeed…..
With Brentford travelling to Everton next before hosting Leeds United, we’ve naturally got a lot of interest in both clubs and their current form. In what they have to play for. An awful lot, it seems. Midweek – and the respective games with Watford and Chelsea – is going to be huge. Still, there’s nothing we can do on that front beyond sit back and watch the action unfold. There’s no real influence can be bought to bear so we’ll leave both clubs to stew in their respective juices and see who can fight their way out.
For Brentford, the focus is now on our player of the year award. The vote was opened to supporters this weekend with the choice being one of the toughest in years. Looking across social media I’ve seen a whole gamut of names chucked in to the mix. Genuinely, any of these would be a worthy winner. But who to pick?
Ivan Toney has the goals. He’s the current leader of our weekly ‘game by game’ top five performers’ chart. The gap at the top is definitely getting narrower and this one is going to go to the wire. Yet, as it stands, he is in pole position. He’s eighth in the Premier League goal scorers chart for the season and, with Harry Kane the only English player above him, could selection for the national team be next on the agenda? If nothing else, given the Three Lions’ uneasy relationship with spot kicks, he could be the perfect weapon up Gareth Southgate’s sleeve when the World Cup squad is named.
Ivan has been doing it since the season began
Then there’s Rico Henry. If we’re looking at Ivan for England then surely Rico has an equally bold claim? My word, he has been incredible this season. Just incredible. The pace. The tackling. The skill with the ball at his feet. The acceleration up the left flank and delivery in to the box. He’s the proverbial ‘first name on the team sheet’. Thankfully, a contract extension has been signed that sees him remain a Bee until 2026.
Rico – just fantastic
What about Bryan Mbeumo? Talk about back to his best. Inspirational captain Pontus Jansson with his heart on his sleeve and always leading by example? The revelatory Kris Ajer? The almost ’taken for granted’ authority of Ethan Pinnock? Mrs Bruzon, who knows a heck of a lot more than yours truly, has cast her vote for one of those. Vitaly Janelt has been magnificent. That he only cost £0.5million almost laughable in retrospect.
Might Pontus be celebrating again?
The choice of those looking in would likely sway towards Christian Eriksen. Understandably. The romance of his story aside, he has been game changing since returning to full fitness. Few could dispute what a massive influence he has been on the team since he made his way in to the starting XI. That Chelsea game being the one that grabbed all the headlines but he has been that good every time he has played.
The aforementioned ‘top five’ is only missing his presence due to the way it is calculated on game by game scores. As such he misses out on that and, for the same reason, I can’t cast my vote in that direction. This season. For a player of the year award, 9 appearances (fantastic though the y have been) leaves him just that bit short.
What a signing
For me, Clive, it comes down to two players. First up, Christian Norgaard. Brentford’s Mr consistent. The under the radar player who may not always grab the headlines but who is the beating heart of this team. Who keeps it tight at the back siting just in front of whatever formation Thomas elects to start with. Who drives us forward. Who sprays it about with aplomb. Who even weighs in with the odd goal.
That moment of celebration against Arsenal when Brentford topped the Premier League table back in August, secured by his doubling of our lead. The weekly player review has seen him in the top five more than any other player – 18 times out of 36 games played to date. He has been incredible. He deserves to win.
Might Christian be celebrating again?
Then there’s David Raya. For all that people point to Ivan’s goals. To Eriksens’s influence. To Rico’s pace. To Norgaard’s consistency. They’re all correct but none of it would count for anything were it not for the last line of defence. For me, the biggest moment of the season was the injury suffered late on against Leicester City. Up until then, Brentford had been flying. Raya on fire. Then he was gone. Then we had a different Brentford. One which got humped at Burnley. Handed Norwich City their first win of the season. That couldn’t rejig or get used to life without our number one. Two different options were tried and, but for Covid it would have been three (Matthew Cox, your time will come). None of them worked. Like an overbalanced Jenga tower, Brentford were wobbling.
Then David returned and everything was good with the world once more. He inspires confidence. Positivity. Builds attacks. His distribution world class. His form has seen him rewarded a call up for Spain. If Christian deserves to win then I would say exactly the same about David.
David Raya – his form has been season defining
Whilst Brentford have defied all the critics with our achievements this year, the vote comes down to a straight fight between Norgaard and Raya. The trophy can’t be cut in two. It needs to come down to the vote. You can get your chance here.
In the mean time, if it helps (or hinders) here’s the Southampton ‘starman debrief and current look at our own top five.
Just when this season couldn’t get any more exciting, it delivers again. Brentford cruising to a 3-0 defeat of Southampton that sees us up to 43 points and chasing down tenth place. The dream is still on (although which particular dream depends on your viewpoint – let’s just say that there will be more than half an eye on our final two opponents this afternoon, with both Everton and Leeds United in action). For now though, it’s all about another fine win and another clean sheet.
Let’s be blunt. This felt as easy as they come. Brentford confident. Dominant. On the front foot and taking the game to their opponents from the off. West Ham levels of game management. Southampton unable to cope with wave after wave of red and white shirts. Alarm bells had been set ringing by Mathias Jensen before Pontus Jansson broke the deadlock on thirteen minutes. Ivan’s ball into the box steered home with one touch. The smiles broad. The celebrations huge. The crowd ecstatic.
The smile on his face says it all
Still, if that set them off it was nothing compared to what happened a minute later. This time, Yoanne Wissa racing clear and lashing it home from the edge of the area. Advantage being played after Christian Eriksen had been taken out by two Southampton players. The trademark ‘W’ celebration delivered to the joy of all. He might have had another, too, but somehow conspired to shoot over when it seemed easier to score. Oh well. It made little difference as 2-0 at HT eventually finished 3-0. Kris Ajer weaving through the box for a wonderful finish through the legs of Fraser Forster. The celebrations from the crowd only beaten by those at full time.
We don’t do full fat match reports on these pages, as the regular reader will be aware. Whilst the player debrief will come later, for now it is a chance to enjoy a job well done. To see Thomas Frank not afraid to mix it up. The midfield conundrum posed in yesterday’s column answered not by Vitaly being replaced with Josh Dasilva but, rather, Mathias Jensen. The Dane unlucky not to score early on with a chance that, on TV, looked a lot harder than it had done in the cut and thrust of the live action arena. I do wonder if this was the ground being prepped for the Dasilva-Norgaard-Eriksen midfield trio that all supporters are so desperate to see start a game. Josh eventually making it on to the field and playing a key part in the build up to Ajer’s game sealing goal
David Raya was solid as rock when needed. The one time he was beaten, offside and VAR cane to the rescue for Brentford. Southampton may feel hard done by but the decision was the correct one. The one chance to haul themselves back in to things snuffed out as quickly as it flickered in to view. Instead, Brentford had it under control in a game played out in a carnival atmosphere of singing and shouting. Not a mobile phone or light show in sight. Any Coldplay stylings deemed very much surplus to requirements.
Six wins out of the last nine played for Brentford. Confidence booming and not even a green jacket required. Hey, a promise is a promise. Next up, the trip to Everton on Sunday. They travel to Leicester City this afternoon and relegated Watford on Wednesday. Both fixtures key to their survival hopes. Especially with Leeds United also deep in the mire and making the visit to Champions League chasing Arsenal this afternoon before hosting Chelsea midweek. All four games will make compulsive viewing for more than one reason. By the time we’re back together again in a week, the shape of the table could see one or both clubs in even deeper trouble than they already are. Could see Brentford in position as the ones to administer a potentially fatal blow – should things go badly today and on Wednesday.
A campaign that has been about as exciting as any on record may still have more than a few twists in the tail. All that’s to come, of course. For now, let’s put our feet up and luxuriate in the warm afterglow of victory. A wonderful Saturday afternoon has set up an equally exciting last two games.
Three Premier League games to go. Brentford face Southampton this afternoon before next Sunday afternoon’s rearranged trip to Everton (the biggest stitch up since the Allies took the field in Escape To Victory) and then the season denouement at home to Leeds United. With Monday night’s defeat at Manchester United still niggling, a return to winning ways against The Saints would be marvellous for so many reasons.
I’m not gong to lie but the game at Old Trafford really irked me. Perhaps it was exhaustion after the huge trek there and back. Moreso, one undertaken after leaving a family weekend away early. That’s football though. The journey is part of it and, being fair, the travel element of this particular long haul was a heck of a lot more enjoyable than the usual.
Pre-match optimism at Old Trafford eventually turned to frustration
No, for me Clive it was a combination of many other factors. Our own out-of-sorts approach, if we are being honest. Sure, show some respect to Manchester United and there history (lord knows, there were enough reminders of former glories hanging around the tired looking stadium) but this much? Some bright spells aside, we were largely on the back foot. Largely playing too deep. Unable to make any real penetration and lacking some of the usual spark. Where were the Brentford who dominated West Ham, obliterated Chelsea or ran rings around Tottenham?
Then there was Cristiano Ronaldo. He is the ultimate in marmite players. The pace and technique – amazing. World class. The ultimate ball tied to foot with a piece of string. The physique – just jaw dropping. How can somebody be that fit and that athletic at any age, let alone at a point when most professionals would have hung up their boots? Truly, a model professional in more ways than one.
For all that good stuff, there’s the bullshit side. The petulance. The backchat. The theatrical waving of arms. The histrionics. The ‘injuries’ and miracle cures. The snideness – yes, Rico fouled him but the initial move to that event was arguably started by the Portuguese show pony. On Monday, we had it all by the bucketload.
As for the supporters… talk about entitlement. Talk about a bunch of fans whose approach was to turn up, shut up, wave a scarf and expect to win because they were once any good. Even the scheduled ‘protest’ turned into as big a non-event as the Mrs. Brown’s Boys Xmas special once it became clear they were going to win the game.
United may be sixth in the Premier League but of all the away days undertaken this campaign, it was the grand, fanbase and team I’ve been left with the least respect for. Say what you want about Leeds United (and we will over the next two weeks, I am sure) nobody could deny the atmosphere at Elland Road was incredible. What a noise. What backing for their club. Oh, the irony that on that afternoon it was Brentford who fell apart and saw almost certain victory turn to a last gasp draw.
Elland Road – raucous
Anyway, long story short the game at Manchester United has left an unusually sour taste in the mouth. And I’m sorry for harping on but there you go. Oh to have Thomas Frank’s approach of 24 hours to dwell on any result then move on.
The plus side being that Southampton this afternoon sees a chance to get back on the horse. To make one last charge for the upper half of the table. To potentially end the day in tenth place if results go our way. Something that will have even more importance given we go to an Everton side desperate for points in eight day’s time….. 😉
Imagine what another defensive nightmare at Everton might do to the league table…..
So, what do we think for today? Barcelona bound Sergi Canos (there’s not anybody actually believing that, is there? ) and Ethan Pinnock are 4th out still, although word from Thomas is that Everton is the hope for their return. Otherwise, with Ghoddos, Zanka and Frank the Tanks also injured, we’re the same sqaud as Monday.
The obvious change is one to a traditional back four rather than three with wingbacks. We know how well that line up has worked against the right opposition in the last month or two and would give us that extra balance in midfield. More, given how deep Christian Norgaard found himself at Old Trafford – at times he looked like a fourth centre back. Then again, I said the same thing prior to the Chelsea game and look how that went? Thomas Frank remaining one step ahead of everyone and I am sure that will be the approach this afternoon.
Of probably more interest will be whether Josh Dasilva makes a start. He came off the bench against United and the prospect of seeing him and Christian Eriksen together for a prolonged period of time is now which has supporters’ drooling. Two of our most technically gifted players in the heart of the midfield could be a joy to behold. Who makes way being the real conundrum. Four in to three just won’t go and Vitaly, who makes up that quartet, would be very hard done by to miss out. A wonderful problem to have.
Southampton won’t just roll over, of course. Like the Bees, they are also on 40 points. They will be looking to end the season with a bang after hitting the buffers in recent weeks. April saw just one win from six games played. A period that included the 6-0 tanking administered by Chelsea. Something as unusual in not just the heaviness of the defeat but their becoming one of the few clubs not to put at least three goals past the Stamford Bridge outfit in a month that saw our own Bees start that colossal Chelsea haemorrhaging.
Its all our fault. It all our fault….
Still, for me today is all about us. The opposition an almost byproduct of needing to win. Of wanting to win. Wanting to get back to the brilliant Brentford we’ve been spoiled so much with in recent weeks. Of course we haven’t got a divine right to just turn up and win. To expect victory on demand. That’s where we came in to this piece and that sort of approach (see also: fans who thing success equates to stadium capacity) sucks. Victory needs to be earned. Fans need to be loud. Players need to want it.
It doesn’t matter whether we face Southampton or Chelsea. Liverpool or Leeds. The approach needs to be the same. From everybody. The fans got their part spot on at Old Trafford. Here’s to the rest of the pieces in that puzzle falling in to place today.
I can’t wait for this one. See you there.
Oh, and if anyone needs a new song this afternoon, what about something for our own man in nets?
How we’ve missed him at times this season.
How good to have him back and at his best.
Granted, this one starts off a little bit Dogtanian but what simpler refrain than channeling Righeira’s early 80’s Europe classic…
Vamos, David Raya. Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh….
If nothing else, certainly less of a mouthful than the Christian Eriksen song which I still can’t get right. I know of at least one West Stand observer keen to drive this one forward. Top, top plan.
And until then, here’s the Manchester United debrief…
Manchester United 3 Brentford 0. They got the points. Well done. At least we had the vocal presence. Sadly, the push for a top ten place hit a bump at Old Trafford on Monday night although with three games to go, that’s still on with the next bite at the cherry against Southampton on Saturday.
As ever at this point we ask who was the star man For Brentford. Who shone as Manchester United did the business? Will Thomas have been impressed enough or make changes for Southampton? Who leads the race to be our season long top performers ?
BrentfordFC 