There are three things we can expect to see at Griffin Park season: high-scoring games, talented youngsters and tidy football. What is less clear is whether those things will bring success. Brentford might be one of the better teams to watch in the Championship, but given the more bullish approach of last season’s promoted teams, does that necessarily give them an advantage? Sharing his thoughts is supporter Luke Furber, who you can follow on Twitter @lukejamesfurber.
You won seven of your final nine games last season, scoring 24 goals. Do you think the two week break at the end of March helped re-focus the players?
I wouldn’t know. Best guess is it would have, but most teams were in the same boat. Think other factors were maybe more of a cause for good form at the end of last season.
Brentford played open, expansive football last season but a total of 67 goals conceded suggests audacity came at a cost. What needs to be done defensively?
We have been leaky since entering the Championship, defensive errors I would say, being the most common cause. Our average squad age last season was approximately 23 years old. Our eldest mainstay in the back four was Harlee Dean (24). As a general rule- our young squad has good potential. But defensive mistakes are perhaps a consequence of having this potential? Equally, I can say somewhat with bias that we have been mouth-wateringly potent in offense at some stages over the last few years. Donaldson, Forshaw, Jota, Gray, Pritchard, Judge, Hogan, etc.
It looked like Brentford pressed better under Mark Warburton and later Lee Carsley. Are you in danger of losing the physical side of your game?
It is very hard to say. Jonathan Douglas and Toumani Diagouraga were both fairly physical players. Although, I feel it is fair to say technically the Championship is possibly their ‘highest level’. The current crop of diminutive midfielders all look like they can manipulate a football for fun. Aside from the ageing hard-man Alan ‘Macca’ McCormack it would be fair to say we currently lack physicality in midfield.
One of your most physical players was Toumani Diagouraga, who joined Leeds for a small fee in January. Are you at all baffled that the club haven’t signed a replacement for him? And similarly, that Josh McEachran has been entrusted to play the holding role at times?
Toums was a fan favourite. Little known fact about him – just before we got promotion from L1 he was pretty much down and out (on loan at Portsmouth for a time). His sudden resurgence back to form was really the baffling thing! Josh McEachran has hardly kicked a football due to injuries. The holding role has been largely entrusted to Ryan Woods- a more technical player nick-named ‘The Ginger Pirlo’. The interesting thing here is that Woodsy at 22 years old has played two full seasons in L2 (at Shrewsbury), so is arguably used to a physical game? In my opinion he was the signing of the season last year at £1m. In answer to your question- in my opinion we have signed adequate replacement(s) and the small fee was good business considering Toum’s age and true ability. Plus, for him it would have been a decent wage increase late on in his career which in reality was probably the driving force behind his departure.
Dean Smith was afforded a lot of patience at Walsall and perhaps had more authority in certain areas than he now has at Griffin Park. Does he have the characteristics to adapt?
I wouldn’t know. I hope so. I hope not having to deal with the recruitment and contracts side of things, as he did at other clubs, will give him more time to get it right on the pitch.
Maxime Colin looks an exciting, attack-minded right-back. Do you feel has potential?
Maxime is a shining example of when our recruitment system gets it right. I doubt he will be at Brentford for too long – Premier League quality. Capable of a lot going forward.
Jake Bidwell has left for QPR this summer. Does the fact he was made captain at just 22 last summer suggest a lack of leadership in the team?
I think that is a good observation. Apparently Marinus Dijkhuizen wanted to make Harlee Dean club captain but Matthew Benham intervened and insisted it be another player. It is a bit of a mystery exactly what happened, but Harlee only had one year left on his contract (at the time) so perhaps this was a factor…
Harlee Dean is clearly a very passionate player but he sometimes makes errors. Would that be fair to say and do you see opportunities for new centre-back John Egan?
Yes, that would be fair to say. Especially the season before last. At times he was frustrating to watch under Mark Warburton as he was clearly being instructed to play football more. In truth, I view him as more of a ‘no-nonsense’ defender. Not to say he is terrible in possession, but average at best. I saw John Egan last night in a pre-season friendly against Borehamwood and he looked impressive. We’ll see…
Liverpool loanee Sergi Canos impressed last season. Are you disappointed not to get him back?
Canos was a delight to watch. So much enthusiasm. So much raw ability. Real ‘bums-on-seats’ player like his compatriot, Jota. The type of player that makes something out of nothing. £2.5m is out of our budget unless the wages are cheap- and I doubt they would be. So in reality it is not going to happen given where we are financially… a bottom three Championship side.
Alan Judge was one of the most creative players in the Championship last season. Are you pleased he is staying on?
Of course. Call it sentimental but at this stage I just want to see the best for Judgey. It was heart-breaking to see him miss out on the Euro’s through a bad injury so late in the season. He carried the team through the early and middle stages of the season. At times you felt sorry for him watching as he would be playing so well in contrast to the rest of the team. If we get another half-season out of him before he moves on for bigger wages, then that would be fantastic.
New signing Romaine Sawyers operates in the number 10 position. Are you at all concerned that a large proportion of your midfielders are attack-minded?
I am personally not too concerned as I would guess that Ryan Woods and Nico Yennaris will be the central midfield partnership next season. It may not be much to go by but they were good for the final ten games (without Alan Judge) last season. They are both more defensive-minded midfielders.
We also have Alan McCormack and Josh McEachran who can play that role.
Scott Hogan scored seven goals in 171 minutes of football at the end of last season. If he continues that form this year and plays every minute of every league game, he’ll score 170 goals! Encouraging signs…
Haha, oh obviously… If he gets around the 10-15 mark, I think that would be an achievement for him and the club. Although if he stays fit he is one player you can see a glimmer of something spectacular in. His finishing is special at this level (so David Button says). If he does well, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is sold in January for a big transfer fee.
What are your thoughts ahead of the Championship season as a whole? Any potential dark horses for you?
I stopped making predictions on the Championship after Brentford spent one season in it. Just such an unpredictable league. Bristol City and Burton Albion will perhaps surprise…
Where will you finish?
Last season we finished 9th with three different managers, seven long-term injuries, player strikes (James Tarkowski) and a pitch relay in late August. It was a ridiculous season. I predict we will improve upon last season. So 1st-9th. Which considering we are in the bottom three clubs financially speaking would be a remarkable achievement.
The Football Lab’s Verdict
Brentford have more technical talent than most teams in the Championship but that, alone, is not enough. Until they gain some physicality and defensive nous, they will not progress further. 13th