Football

2023-24 Brentford Player Ratings – Matchweek 2

by
Nick Bruzon
August 21, 2023

Saturday afternoon saw Brentford go to Fulham and come away with a win that was right up there with the 4-1 trashing handed out to them back in April 2015.

This time around, a 3-0 scoreline was achieved in about as dominant a manner as one could ever hope to see.

The home side not given a sniff of a chance beyond two efforts that hit the bar (the first would have been chalked off for a foul, anyway).

By the time Bryan Mbeumo culminated a flowing move to round off the scoring, Craven Cottage was even emptier than it had been at kick-off. The plethora of spaces in the home / neutral areas on evidence at 3pm turning into an avalanche of empty seats with the 4.50pm fire-drill impeccably observed.

Prior to this Wissa had opened the scoring minutes before half-time. Pouncing on a mistake from Diop, he picked up the ball, drew ‘keeper Bernd Leno and captain Tim Ream then shot home past the pair of them on the angle. The flailing Diop unable to atone. The Bees’ faithful down the far end raising the already vocal atmosphere to new heights. Fulham on the back foot and all at sea, with their skipper having his misery compounded by then being booked for a foul on our goalscorer.

If nothing else, it showed that referee Darren Bond had actually remembered that decisions could be given against the home team after a first half performance that could politely be described as woeful.

The interval came and went in a blur. If T. Ream went into the second half thinking that things can only get better he was very much mistaken. Brentford, who had elected to go with two rather than three centre backs, continued the expansive pass and move game they’d been playing in the opening 45. In that period the goal had felt as though it was only a matter of time before it came and now, kicking towards the travelling faithful, that mood only intensified. Eventually, Wissa was bundled over by Ream as he burst on to the ball in the six yard box with only Leno to beat.

If the referee had let most things go early on, this time around Mr Bond proved to be the spectre of doom. The finger pointing to the spot. Ream shown a second yellow and taking the walk of shame. Mbeumo making no mistake as he rolled it home. Bees fans climbing over themselves in ecstasy behind the goal. The home supporters distraught and not even having a foam finger to hide behind. The much mocked accessory – like their cheese boards, G&T, sponge cakes and clackers – conspicuous by their absence this time around. The only weapon they had being their voices and, as ever, they failed to use them.

From that point on there was only one winner. The last 25 minutes played out with The Bees going for the jugular. Our possession and high shot count – of which 17 efforts at home would have been impressive, let alone on the road – eventually rewarded when Bryan wrapped it up late on. More on that in the top five review.

The only sour note being Josh Dasilva going off injured late on, just ten minutes after coming off the bench for Wissa. Fingers crossed that one’s not as bad as it looked.

For Brentford, another unbeaten start to a Premier League campaign. Four points from the opening six. Third place in the fledgling table and a visit from Crystal Palace next up. For Fulham, the only way is down with Marco Silva using post-match to whinge about the penalty and confirm that Aleksandar Mitrović had, indeed, been sold to Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal. That’s their problem, of course, and we’ve better things to look at.

Namely, the post-match review of the top five performers as well as continuing our season long quest to declare The Bees’ overall top performer. Five points being awarded for every ‘star player’ award, four for second place, three for third etc and then the totals counted up over the course of the 38 Premier League games played.

With last season’s winner Ben Mee once again missing through injury, the chance to steal an early lead in our own table remained open.

2023-24 Brentford Player Ratings from Matchweek 2 (vs Fulham)

1st (Star Player: 5 points) – Nathan Collins
Oh. My. Word. He was absolutely gargantuan. Starting a West London derby, away from home, with a more attacking formation than normal Thomas Frank needed everybody to be 110% on their game. Completely focussed on the task at hand. New boy Nathan answered the call in some style.

If we’re being honest, the home side had their moments in that opening period. That these were limited to opportunity rather than clear attempts at goal was primarily down to Nathan.

Every time that ball was played in to the box he was under it. Every time they came close it was him snuffing the threat out. One move early on in the second half saw him mop up the ball, again, then run. And run. And run. The Fulham midfield unable to get a foot in. It was a sortie that deserved more but, if nothing else, to see a centre back breaking forward with the ball at his feet can only be a wonderful thing. Moreso given our love of playing it our short.

Nathan didn’t get the goals. He won’t get the headlines. Waking up on Sunday morning, he wasn’t even named ‘man of the match’ on the ‘official’ social media vote. Yet for me it was his authority, in the first half especially, that was the difference between the two sides. Anybody lamenting Pontus moving on need have no worries about his successor. Good luck Thomas Frank once Ben is fit again.

2nd (4 points) – Bryan Mbeumo
Wow. Just wow. When all of this is over, don’t be surprised to see him and Ivan opening their own penalty taking academy. Bryan’s first was yet another masterclass in ice cool nerve. In calmness under pressure. In grasping the opportunity and stroking it home in style. Leno left no chance as the ball glided home via the inside of the post – perfect precision.

Whilst this was the moment that nullified an already flaccid opposition, it was nothing more than evidence of what Bryan had been doing all game. Causing havoc down the right hand side, he ran Fulham ragged. One first half ball to Wissa opened them up like a packet of crisps and almost provided the opener just prior to us doing it for real.

His second and the proverbial icing on the cake was earned through nothing more than his will to win. Of Bryan’s desire to keep running right up until the final whistle. Of getting himself into the perfect striker’s position to round off a move that saw Rico Henry and Kris Ajer sliding through what remained of the Fulham defence like a knife through butter. A glorious move played out in front of the home support and a celebration to match.

3rd (3 points) – Mathias Jensen
Brilliant, again. I know we should be looking forward but sometimes to do this one needs to look back. With Christian Eriksen again labouring on the bench for Manchester United in their own defeat at Spurs yesterday, Mathias used his countryman’s decision not to sign for the Bees last season to step his own game up a level or ten. It is something that has only continued this time around.

He was top five last week and gets another place on the board after a performance that saw him just about everywhere in the midfield battle. One glorious 360 turn was the stuff of videogames whilst such was his movement and skill on the ball that Fulham had no choice but to try and kick him out of the game.

Some players take to it immediately. Some build in to a new set up. Last season Mathias showed that he was maturing like a fine win and the evidence already is that this time around, he’s going to be absolute vintage.

4th (2 points) – Yoanne Wissa
Ivan who now? If we talk about how Mathias has grown then what about Wissa? For somebody so long labelled by the cliché mongers as a super sub. As a last half-hour destroyer. As the fresh legs to provide a final push then he’s not half bad as a starter, either.

All jokes aside, we’d love Ivan to be available but fan favourite Wissa is absolutely seizing the moment. Last week’s goal against Spurs was followed up with another. For me, it was such a tough opportunity but taken so, so well. Facing the ranks of the home support whispering down at him to miss, he held his nerve, took his time and then picked the perfect spot despite the presence of three opposition players in close proximity.

It’s true he might have scored just before. From the far end it was hard to tell just how clear cut an opportunity it was but, if nothing else, he was there. Getting in position, creating mayhem and making chances. Get enough of them and all being well it will pay off. Something, something, something XG.

5th (1 point) – Rico Henry
The last slot is always the tough one. Especially after a fine win when so many played so well. Kevin Schade’s pace down the left and Ethan Pinnock’s partnership with our star man both had them in contention. In the end though, it comes down to Rico’s ability to play in two positions – left back and left wing.

He was brilliant in both, even if this was one of those games where playing with a back four rather than five it was his defensive side that was more in evidence than normal. He didn’t put a foot wrong and, like Mathias, left the opposition so unable to cope they had to try and kick him out of the game.

Yet for me his moment came at the death. All of a sudden he was burning down the right, freeing Kris Ajer to play that delight full ball across to Bryan for the third goal. Rico had no right to be so fast or so versatile that late on in a game. He could have been forgiven for seeing this one home yet that insatiable desire turned a regulation 2-0 victory into a moment that is knocking on the door of our best ever at the Cottage.