Nick Bruzon outlines his 5 best Bees from their victory over Brighton on Matchweek 10 and updates his top 5 Brentford players over the season so far.
After the nightmare at Newcastle, Brentford fans were treated to the best possible form of recompense at the Gtech on Friday night.
The 2-0 defeat of Brighton on a quite beautiful way to start the weekend as Ivan Toney grabbed both goals and the Bees moved up to eighth in the Premier League. With them, the man so bizarrely discarded by Gareth Southgate after being called up to the England squad moving into second place in the top-flight goalscorers’ table. The only player above him being the machine that is Erling Haaland.
Ivan was on fire but he wasn’t alone.
If the game at St. James Park saw no points awarded to anybody for the only time since this column began, this time we’re falling over ourselves to limit it to just five selections. Albeit we do, now, have the names. Yet it was as much the defensive solidity that put a smile on the face. Pontus Jansson was again missing, as was Aaron Hickey.
Instead, a back four of Kris Ajer and Rico Henry with Ben Mee and Ethan Pinnock in the middle were as solid as one could ask for. When the back line was breached, or Brighton took it on from distance, David Raya was performing at Édouard Mendy levels of unbeatability (the home game, not the one at the Bridge 🙂
Let’s not forget the midfield, either. Mathias Jensen has fast become our ever present and first name on the teamsheet. No small feat, given the options available.
Whilst, of course, we can all see the gap left by the still-injured Christian Norgaard – and with the number of games left before the World Cup dwindling rapidly, I’ll be amazed if we see him before the restart on Boxing Day – the selections from Thomas have been more important than ever.
Whilst I doubt few would have had a starting trio of Jensen, Janelt and Onyeka on their bingo cards at the star of the season, fair play to a group who did just about everything to lock out the visitors and spread the play forwards.
Also, this was despite Brighton pulling that dirtiest of tricks for the second season in succession. Not so much in playing Trossard (a player whose departure on 69 was not lost on anyone) but switching ends in the first half. We all know the unsettling effect that kicking ‘the wrong way’ has and there was certainly no meteorological need to do it. The only gusts of wind coming in The Griffin beforehand and then, reportedly, the return of the phantom Ealing Road Trumper in the West Stand. Could the two be connected, perhaps?
Yet if the supporters were left on edge by this, the players didn’t seem bothered. Quite the opposite.
It was a game that, watching live, felt all Brentford. All one-way traffic. Oddly, the post-match stats point to Brighton having 73% possession and 21 shots to our 7 (seven) yet it was a game that seemed to have the Bees dominating it. A timely reminder that it is balls in the back of the net rather than statistics that win games.
Perhaps even more kudos to our midfield is needed from those choosing to berate individuals. You know who you are and who we mean.
The only real heart in mouth moment came in the final quarter with the switch to a back five. That’s meant with total respect to Mads Roerslev, who didn’t put a foot wrong in bolstering the back line and almost provided the icing on the cake at end.
As a supporter there’s always something awkward about watching a team set up to contain the game. See also : Saman Ghoddos replacing Rico Henry – one that can added to the list of phrases we never thought would be used. Fair dues to Thomas though. It worked. That’s why he’s the head coach and I’m the numpty sat in the North stand.
So, to business. Star man. Well for me there’s only one choice. A player who was absolutely stand-out and, despite his goals, we don’t mean Ivan Toney.
Brentford Player Ratings from Matchweek 10 (vs Brighton)
1st (Star Man) – David Raya
Wow. Just wow.
He was absolutely immense. Four times he pulled off world-class saves. Any one of them deserving the plaudits but to do it continually underlined just how much he means to this team. Just how valuable he is. The first two coming with the scores level including one reaction save from Veltman that must have had the former ghostbuster wondering how he hadn’t found the back of the net.
The same in the second half where, despite the Bees being two up by this stage, the stress levels that may have come from the deficit being halved would have been clear to all. It’s Brentford, innit? We’ve all been there and done it way too many times over the years. Relax, Raya was in control. Raya was on fire. His save from March one to rival that from Veltman.
Whatever happened last weekend put behind him in the most wonderful style. Ivan may grab the headlines but it was unquestionably David who had a huge hand (hands?) in grabbing the points.
2nd – Ivan Toney
The quest to find new superlatives for Ivan is about as impossible as saving one of his penalty kicks.
On Friday, he did it again. After being manhandled most of the game, Veltman committed the ultimate transgression in the box and there was Ivan to step up and do his thing. Sanchez in nets bamboozled by the one step, two step, walk up and score routine that has seen our man become, quite possibly, the best penalty taker in world football. Show me a more consistent or classy one? I’ll wait.
Before this had come the opening goal. It was about as filthy as they get. In the nicest sense. Frank the Tank taking the assist points in playing the final ball through but all credit to Bryan the architect. The ball fell to Ivan, side on and facing the North stand. There was no way he’d be able to do anything without a trap, a turn and then beating his man. Or so we thought. Instead, he barely moved beyond diverting the ball to the far corner with the most incredible of back heels.
For me, it’s up there with his third goal against Leeds United for sheer technique. He makes it looks so, so easy and showed again that there’s more to his game than scoring from the spot. Bravo, Ivan.
3rd – Bryan Mbeumo
He ran his legs off and deserves all the praise that came his way.
If Ivan’s first goal showed the best of the technical ability in our side, let’s not overlook Bryan.
With the scores level, he caught one cross with the most exquisite volley. The ball rose and fell as it curled through the air towards goal. Sanchez, not for the first time, was left powerless and could only cross his fingers as the ball went past him and headed to the far corner. Alas, the woodwork got in the way (see also: last season x 8) and the ball cannoned to safety c/o the crossbar rather than seeing Lionel Road erupt into what would have been an absolute explosion of noise.
Yet if Bryan was denied an award-winning goal, he more than played his part in creating one for Ivan. The pace and trickery down the wing were electric. He terrorised the Brighton defence like a seagull going for a holiday maker’s chips before playing the most delightful ball to Onyeka that totally wrong footed the opposition. The space was created and the rest is history.
4th – Ethan Pinnock
Like David, there was things that happened last weekend which we should never talk of again. Like David, he played out of his skin against Brighton and showed just what a key member of this side he is.
Ethan’s return to fitness will now, surely, see him a regular on the team sheet. His partnership with Ben Mee one that most fans have been desperate to see. Last night he was immense. The Colossus of Lionel Road.
5th – Mathias Jensen
As stated at the top end, let’s not undersell the role of our midfield. Mathias’ playmaking for Brentford and disrupting the opposition when they had the ball were key to our controlling the flow of a game. This despite, apparently, Brighton having most of the possession.
We could have gone for Vitaly, Frank or even Sergi Canos’ new hairdo in fifth but for sheer drive I’m giving my final point to Mathias.
Brentford Player Ratings – Top 5 Players Overall (after Matchweek 10)
All of which means we have changes at the top of the table in our bid to find the season long ‘top five’. Ivan Toney (23) leapfrogs Ben Mee (21) with David Raya now up to third place on 16 points. Rico Henry stays tied 4th with Aaron Hickey on 11 points.
1st – Ivan Toney (23 points)
2nd – Ben Mee (21 points)
3rd – David Raya (16 points)
T4th – Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey (11 points)
Next up, a visit from Chelsea on Wednesday evening. That could be fun. The last time our paths crossed was a certain 4-1 at The Bridge. I’ve got a feeling they won’t have forgotten that…
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2022-23 Brentford Player Ratings – Matchweek 10 by Nick Bruzon
