Nick Bruzon picks out the best 5 Bees from their Matchweek 4 draw against Everton, plus we see his updated Top 5 over the season so far.
A 1-1 draw in a game Brentford will surely be kicking themselves for not winning whilst Everton demonstrated their pioneering brand of anti-football.
There are no complaints about our visitors’ goal. Or their spoiling tactics. Anthony Gordon giving them the lead just inside the half-hour mark after latching on to a long ball from Conor Coady. Zanka, in for the injured Pontus Jansson, not close enough to his man as David Raya was beaten across the face of goal.
From that moment on, the clock was run down.
The injuries, sorry ‘injuries’, prolific. The dithering over every throw in and goal-kick interminable. Referee Mr. Brookes under the impression that cards were something which only came out on your birthday. A milestone mark which Jordan Pickford, in nets for Everton, finally reached in the 75th minute.
He celebrated by conceding an equaliser with full time approaching. The pressure from Brentford finally telling.
Vitaly Janelt steering home KLP’s flick on from yet another second-half corner. This one, finally, bringing the reward that our build-up play had threatened.
Bryan created three great opportunities, the first of which at 0-0 had us wondering how he’d not found the back of the net. The other two, could have gone either way. They went the other. Such was the theme of the afternoon.
Mathias Jensen hit the base of the post from distance in the first half. Ivan Toney found the same stick a bit later. Wissa, somehow, conspiring to lash the returning ball miles over the bar when unmarked in the box. Perhaps it came it him a bit high but it was the sort of opportunity that had us thinking it was going to be one of those days.
The second half likewise when a Christian Norgaard bicycle kick hit the bar with Pickford stretching. It was Chelsea home all over again.
In between, Raya had to stay sharp on his toes for those few, rare forays forward from Everton just to keep us in the game. That he did was arguably the reason we were finally able to secure the point which makes it five from the opening four games.
It could well have been all three. Many supporters will feel it probably should have been, given the chances created.
Yet Everton set their stall out and played a certain game. Compact and tight. All 10 outfield players permanently in close proximity to each other. The game plan one of smothering any attack and then crawling forward, rugby style.
The two real chances they created all game, including the goal, coming from Wimbledon style (Plough Lane rather than All England tennis) hoofs forward.
That Brentford were still able to create so many opportunities is as much testament to our determination as it is the struggle that now lies ahead of Everton. My word, they were turgid. Gritty. Desperate. Survival seeming to be the key trait to their game. When that’s the approach at this early juncture then you know its going to be a long campaign ahead.
Equally, though, too many of The Bees staring XI were off their normal game. One can only thing that Keane Lewis-Potter and Vitaly Janelt will be knocking on Thomas Frank’s door for Crystal Palace on Tuesday night. If only for the impetus provided when entering the field of play.
All of which brings us to the decisions over star man and top five players on Matchweek 4.
It was, perhaps, as easy to eliminate those who this time are out of the running. Which is a good half of the starting XI. Too many just not getting the run of the ball or making the best of it when in control.
Interestingly enough, the official club ‘Man Of The Match’ award (which is only reviewed after my own selection has been made) saw the vote between their nominated four players split pretty much 25% across the board instead of the normal runaway train such competitions normally are.
With just one vote available on these pages, we can’t shy away from the tough decision and, as such, our star man is…
Brentford Player Ratings from Matchweek 4 (vs Everton)
1st (Star Man) – Ben Mee
I thought he was immense on Saturday.
Thomas Frank setting up in a back four with wing backs was always likely to leave us exposed if our opponents chose to push forward. Especially given the injury to Pontus meant he was forced to select a brand new central defensive partnership.
Instead, Ben was as solid as the proverbial rock and looked pretty tasty breaking forwards too. We do like a ball carrying defender at Lionel Road and would seem to have found another one to add to that list.
2nd – Aaron Hickey
Like Rico Henry on the other flank, he was as comfortable taking the game to Everton as he was containing it when they did come forwards.
It was the former that made up the majority of his game with Brentford having to try and build down the wings after getting bogged down in the middle of the park.
With last season’s ongoing topic of supporter conversation being the question of how Thomas fills the right wing back slot, we’re going to need to find something new to talk about this time around. So far, Aaron has this absolutely nailed shut.
3rd – David Raya
Not his busiest game but when called up, was equal to the task.
Had little chance with the goal and did it all right to close the angle. Anthony Gordon perhaps showing why Chelsea value him at £60m, given the narrow gap he was still able to find. By then, David had already made one diving save from the same player and pulled off a smart double stop after half-time. The second stab at that one, from Mykolenko, a brave smothering of the ball from close in that kept us in the game.
Like Ben and Aaron, he looked totally comfortable when dealing with anything. An essential characteristic needed by all three in the sort of niggly, disjointed game where the opposition tactics could have seen frustration lead to us leaking further goals
4th – Mathias Jensen
Sometimes it’s hard to see the wood from the trees.
With the midfield battle a bitter struggle at times, Mathias was the one constant in an ever-changing sea of central players.
Whilst others around him had a less consistent game than normal, at least he was there doing his thing. The odd ball misplaced (seemingly, the theme of the day for just about everybody) but the majority of game time dedicated to finding a way through. Or trying to.
Had his wonderful first half effort found the back of the net rather than the post, it could well have seen the floodgates opening.
5th – Rico Henry
Another classic display down the left. Game after game he churns them out.
“I want to get more goals and more assists. I’m getting forward a lot, making the back stick and putting crosses in”, Rico would say in the post-match interviews. Which, very kindly, does my job for me in one sound bite.
The runs forward and crossing were clearly evident. On another day his team mates would have given him the ‘assist’ or maybe even a goal himself.
Brentford Player Ratings – Top 5 Players Overall (after Matchweek 4)
Ivan Toney remains way in front although failed to trouble this particular scoreboard for the first time this season.
Three players are now locked in second on 7 (seven) points – Josh Dasilva, Mathias Jensen and David Raya – whilst Ben Mee is up to fifth.
1st – Ivan Toney (13 points)
T2nd – Josh Dasilva, Mathias Jensen, David Raya (7 points)
5th – Ben Mee (6 points)
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2022-23 Brentford player Ratings – Matchweek 4 by Nick Bruzon
