Nick Bruzon picks out the best five Brentford players from their Matchweek 6 win over Leeds and updates his rankings over the course of the season so far.
Where to even start with any of that?
Brentford were quite magnificent as they moved up to 7th place in the Premier League table. This, following a 5-2 destruction of Leeds United on Matchweek 6.
It was an afternoon that saw yet another display of the Bees’ relentless attacking play so loved by Thomas Frank. Likewise the supporters.
A display that proved the 4-0 tanking administered to Manchester United was no fluke. That Frank Lampard really should be thanking the woodwork at Lionel Road. More than he already did. As this performance proved, it was only that which spared him a similar fate when Everton were the visitors last week.
This time around there was to be no let off. No talk of how on another day we might have had a hatful.
This WAS that ‘other day’ and the executioner in chief was none other than Ivan Toney. His hat-trick moves him up to third place in the Premier League goal scorer’s table – a ‘mere’ five behind Erling Haaland after just six games – but, perhaps more crucially, the leading English player. Surely Gareth Southgate will be unable to resist making the call much longer?
All that is to come, of course.
For now we need to reflect upon the magnificence of Brentford. A final scoreline so emphatic that whilst our star man award may be an absolute ‘gimme’, that wasn’t always the case as the game started in a very even battle of totems going for it. The Leeds’ supporters as vocal as ever with the pressure cooker like atmosphere also seeing bragging rights from last season still hanging heavy in the air.
Then, of course, The Bees had been left with the opportunity to relegate Leeds in the final game of the camapaign. A win for Brentford would have seen Elland Road hosting Championship football this time around. Alas, for once it wasn’t Leeds United who fell apart (again), but ourselves.
Yet if revenge is a dish best served cold, that still reverse feels so fresh in the mind that the plates are retaining their heat in the oven.
Not just for the fans but the players, too, who didn’t stop running all afternoon. Ivan with about as exquisite a hat-trick as you can get. Bryan Mbeumo, whose goal (our fourth) just seconds after the visitors had threatened to make the final ten minutes somewhat squeakier than they may have needed to be. Yoanne Wissa then getting in on the act from the bench with another ice cool finish. Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. Running in on goal after robbing Diego Llorente, he steered it home and made sure the score was truly reflective of the performance. Chances converted. Goal difference enhanced.
We could talk at length about the team and the game but this is as much about our ongoing quest to find out who makes the top five performances for Brentford? Who was the star man on Matchweek 6? Who might be picking up the overall award at the end of the campaign?
There were times last season (Southampton and Burnley away in particular) where we struggled to find even five names. Now, with the additional options offered up by the five substitutes, the challenge is more in making that brutal choice as to who misses out.
Regardless, we start with star man and there can only be one name…
Brentford Player Ratings from Matchweek 6 (vs Leeds)
1st (Star Man) – Ivan Toney
Quite possibly his greatest performance in a Brentford shirt.
His penalty on the half hour set The Bees well on the way to victory. Fouled in the box, he picked himself up and gave us yet another of those trademark spot kick finishes. The almost too casual looking walk up to the ball and then, boom – perfectly placed the other side of the goalkeeper. Don’t be fooled. The ability to score like this is a talent that Gareth Southgate must wish he could bottle. That almost nonchalant approach to the ball followed with the most laser-sighted of finishes.
Yet if the penalty was ‘trademark’ Ivan, what came after was next level stuff.
A free kick awarded outside the box just prior to half time was in the heart of Jensen territory. Possibly Bryan. Nobody expected Ivan to step up. Nobody expected a finish of such quality. Leeds’ goalkeeper Meslier left rooted to his line and only able to watch the ball rocket over the wall and curl into the top right corner. It was a first class delivery for the proverbial postage stamp finish.
His third, probably the pick of the bunch. Which is saying something.
Meslier came rushing out of goal to intercept KLP following a ball through from Pontus. The ‘keeper got there first but only found Ivan, well outside their box and a good two or three defenders between him and the goal. He waited. Waited. Waited. Picked his moment and then dinked the most delightful ball into the back of the net from distance. The retreating defence powerless to resist. It truly was a wonderful finish, as much because of the patience shown before shooting rather than snatching at the opportunity when it initially fell.
Ivan might even have had a fourth when anther free kick clipped the top of the bar but to feel hard done by would be trite.
It was a truly stunning display. “I think I showed what I’m capable of” he would say afterwards. Too true, Ivan. Too true.
2nd – Ben Mee
Just before half-time, with the scoreline still at 1-0, one of our group turned and asked who was in the running for the top five. Ben Mee was the hands down choice for star man at that point, albeit with the caveat that, “I’d keep Ivan in there, given his goal has been the difference”. Then Ivan did what he does, made all the headlines and perhaps stopped casual observers from talking abut anything else.
Which is a real shame for Ben Mee because he was the real standout man in that opening period. His solidity at the back and comfort on the ball there for all to see.
His partnership with Pontus restored after the later returned from injury and crucial in a game where Leeds picked up where they’d left off at themed of last season. This time, however, there was to be no away win. Instead, it was Ben Mee who snuffed out all threat of attack before the team were able to build on his strength.
With Brentford letting one through just before the interval, 2-1 could have been tense. Leeds came out the traps once more but my second half-notes simply start with the phrase: Mee. Again.
Ivan got the headlines but on any other day it would have been Ben picking up the star man.
3rd – Vitaly Janelt
Another game where Christian Norgaard was missing though injury. Another game where that midfield trio of Vitaly, Shandon and Matthias Jensen demonstrated the strength in depth now available to Thomas.
Where to start? The tackling. The close control. The breaking up attacks from our visitors and, instead, using them to take the ball forward ourselves. He was at the heart of everything until eventually being replaced by Zanka as the game approached the final twenty minutes.
By that point, the Bees were two up and in control. Another game where Vitaly went about his business and delivered yet another of those understated yet absolutely essential performances.
4th – Shandon Baptiste
I thought Shandon really gave us added dimension going forward.
As with Crystal Palace last time out, the rejigged midfield gave us fresh options and he was at the centre of everything. Driving forward with the ball at his feet, opening up attacks. Feeding Bryan.
Much like Vitaly, his performances can sometime be overlooked given the options and excitement presented by the flying full backs and the attacking trio.
Yet, if anything, it is games like this where that beating heart of the midfield and the centre-backs behind them that provide the building blocks from which all comes. Let’s be clear, this was not the walkover it eventually proved to be. That first half-hour really could have gone either way but it was Vitaly and Shandon who really started to take the game to our opponents
5th – Bryan Mbeumo
Wissa – I’m sorry. Likewise, Aaron Hickey. If there was any justice either could, probably should, have been a shoe in for the final spot. The former in particular, given he also missed out at Palace having performed yet another Jota tribute act from the bench.
Sadly, there’s only room for one more name and that goes to Bryan. He didn’t stop running and one early chance selflessly set up KLP when he could have been forgiven for taking it on himself.
However, the real reason for his inclusion was the speed and technique with which he took his goal (our fourth). With Leeds pulling things back to 3-2, it should have been a nerve wracking wait for full time. Instead, Bryan showed the same calmness of finish as Ivan had done the goal previous.
With Leeds’ players appealing for offside, nobody seemed to realise it was actually their own Koch that had headed it forwards for Bryan to run on to and guide under the advancing Meslier. Ten seconds earlier we’d been hanging by a thread. Straight from kick off, that two goal cushion had been restored thanks to Bryan’s presence of mind.
Brentford Player Ratings – Top 5 Players Overall (after Matchweek 6)
All of which means that Ivan Toney remains way out in front after Matchweek 6. His second star man (and fourth ‘top two’ placing) sees him on 18 points.
Ben Mee moves clear in second on 11 with Aaron Hickey and Vitaly in third (9).
Josh Dasilva, David Raya, Rico Henry and Mathias Jensen are tied in a very crowded fifth place with 7 (seven).
1st – Ivan Toney (18)
2nd – Ben Mee (11)
T3rd – Aaron Hickey, Vitaly Janelt (9)
T5th – David Raya, Mathias Jensen, Rico Henry, Josh Dasilva (7)
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2022-23 Brentford Player Ratings – Matchweek 6 by Nick Bruzon
