The five talking points of the season so far.
Today at 01:59 AM
With another international break upon us, time to take stock. Brentford are now 7(seven) games in to the Premier League campaign and sitting 11th in the table, just four points shy of the Champions' League spots. This after having absolutely battered West Ham on Saturday (and you can find the top five / post-match debrief from that one, here). With pretty much a fifth of the campaign already played and the visit to car-crash Manchester United next up, what are the top five talking points of the campaign to date?
FAST STARTS. What began at Manchester City as something so unexpected it was almost hilarious – Brentford taking the lead after just 22 seconds – has gone on to become not only one of the major talking points in the entire top flight but now the expected norm.
Wissa's goal at The Ethiad was followed by Bryan Mbeumo repeating the feat at Spurs the following week. A mere 23 seconds had elapsed before he got on the end of KLP's marvellous ball over.
Next up was the visit of West Ham, with Bryan taking 37 seconds from the game commencing before executing an almost carbon copy finish. Then, on Saturday gone, it was the turn of Wolves.
Granted, they had kick-off and so we were a quarter of the way into the second minute before our regained possession eventually culminated in Nathan Collins powering in the opener. An almost sedate 76 seconds having elapsed from the moment Wolves got the game underway before they fell behind. With it, Brentford breaking yet another record in becoming the first club in Premier League history to score in under 90 seconds in four successive games.
Incredible stuff. One can only imagine the tactical planning currently underway at Manchester United (assuming they do tactical planning – it's hard to tell on current performance) as The Bees aim to make it five in a row next Saturday.
The flip side to this, of course, is our own propensity to then give away leads. Granted, not many teams come away with anything from Manchester City – indeed, a fact repeated almost as often as our current 'fast starts' is the one about Brentford being the last team to win there. Yet given that blitzkrieg opening quarter hour the lead could, perhaps should, have been stretched before Haaland did that thing that he does.
At Spurs, the game was much more even. Whilst the hosts dominated the midfield and led 2-1 going in to the interval, there were opportunities to level things up before who else but James Maddison but it beyond reach late on.
The 1-1 with West Ham was just an awful performance all round – although most of that was referee Simon Hooper. At least when Wolves came to the Gtech early starts and dominance were rewarded.
We all know about The Bees' not so impressive record of dropping points from winning positions in the previous campaign. I'm not so concerned this time around, given as much where it has happened and the injury hit nature of the squad. Whatever else you say, we are currently three points better off than this time last season having had an undeniably harder start on the road – Liverpool, City, Spurs.
IINJURIES. If last season saw us blighted, this time around isn't much better. The list of absentees keeps growing with Striker Igor Thiago ruled out until Christmas before the season even began and fellow Brazilian Gustavo Nunes now out for the forseeable without even kicking a ball.
Rico Henry is yet to play, Aaron Hickey is out for the campaign, Josh Da Silva still long term, too, whilst Mathias Jensen is currently awol. Let's not forget Wissa, either, who after being brutalised at Manchester City isn't expected back until late November.
Then, yesterday, it was announced that Mikkel Damsgaard has pulled out of the Denmark squad for their two games over the current break. One can only hope that this is nothing more than precautionary.
At times the squad has looked paper thin and in the West Ham game in particular, I think we were lacking that ability to really add some spark or variety when needed. We'll get to the striker (or lack of) situation in a moment but what is clear is how reliant the Bees are on Christian Norgaard.
The skipper was absent for Spurs away and didn't it show? Likewise, West Ham where his presence would have really helped provide both stability and impetus. Those present would have seen what a difference he made when returning at the weekend.
One has to wonder just how the Bees can continue to be so unlucky when it comes to fitness? Last time out was an absolute horror show. We're not quite at those levels yet but really getting close already.
Fingers crossed Christian takes it easy over the next ten days.
THE SQUAD. The players are both adapting and improving. One thing about having a stable squad, no matter how small, is the ongoing familiarity with each other and our methods.
Keane Lewis-Potter and Mikkel Damsgaard are really on a fast upward trajectory and are amongst those leading the charge this campaign. The later, in particular, has been absolutely immense after a very patchy start to life in TW8. There's an absolutely monumental difference in Bryan Mbeumo who is now finding the net, rather than the post, with abandon.
Look too at Mark Flekken. He faced a thankless task in taking over from David Raya last season and, in truth, looked wobbly well in to the new year. That's the polite term. Then, the switch flicked and he remembered how to dive, catch and distribute almost overnight. Now, he's a machine.
The left wing back position has seen us decimated but players you'd never expect have filled in. Whether KLP or Kris Ajer, we continue to get away with missing Rico and Aaron.
Even up top, the team are still scoring goals despite the sale of Ivan, not taking the option on Neal Maupay and the injuries suffered to both Tiago and Wissa. With no recognised front man its more the case of the attacking trio being followed in to the box by as many others as possible. Something demonstrated admirably in the beating administered to Wolves.
Let's also utter a huge word of caution. No matter how well the squad are performing and filling in, things do feel very much at the danger end of the fitness scale. The sooner we can get some of these injured players back on the grass and available for matchday selection the better. Especially up top.
One or two more absentees and the whole thing could look very different. Until then, those fit are doing an absolutely wonderful job. Long may it continue.
HOME FORM. It is one of the most repeated mantras in football. Win your home games.
So far, Brentford have won 4 out of 5 at The Gtech – including the League Cup defeat of Leyton Orient. The only points dropped were those in the draw with Simon Hooper.
With a current 'top six' team not due here until the end of the year – Arsenal visit on December 29th – there is every chance to continue this run of domestic form over the coming months.
There are no 'gimmes' in the Premier League. The Bees have taken their share of scalps over the last few years but given our unique stadium, vocal support and confidence it isn't beyond the realms of possibility to really make the Gtech even more fortress like than ever this campaign.
With Peter Gilham on the mic and the crowd in the stands keeping it loud, there is as much off pitch as on in keeping the results coming. Perhaps just keep the drones away.
THOMAS FRANK. Behind every successful team is a successful leader. What Thomas Frank – and his coaching staff – have done is nothing short of incredible. We all know the story of his joining as assistant head coach back at Griffin Park in 2016 before taking over from Dean Smith two years later.
Since then he has guided Brentford to the top flight but then cranked it up tenfold. A motivator. A tactician. A strategist. A man oozing charisma with nothing negative to say about anyone or anything. Somebody who builds his relationship as much with the supporters as he does the players.
It all comes from him. The inspiration and the planning. The making players comfortable playing in different positions or different team set ups. Even when you see the starting XI on paper it's still not clear just how The Bees will begin or who will play where.
The adapting. Nobody can legislate for injuries such as those suffered by the Bees – especially when taken out by the opposition. Thanks a bunch, Mateo Kovačić.
Yet whatever fate throws at Brentford he finds a way of navigating through it.
It's no wonder Chelsea had Thomas in their final three over the summer. The latest word on the street being Manchester United having purported interest. Let's hope that's nothing more than clickbait, otherwise Saturday week could end up being the most public job interview of all time.
Especially if Brentford score in the opening 90 seconds…..
Nick Bruzon
