Saturday afternoon sees Brentford finally back at the Gtech after a long summer and what feels like an even longer week just gone. Nick Bruzon previews.
Head coach Keith Andrews has to rally his troops after the 3-1 reverse at Nottingham Forest, as well as dealing with the incessant talk about wantaway Wissa.
There’s no real sweeping of Sunday’s performance at the City Ground under the carpet. The Bees were run ragged in the opening period and, being honest, lucky to go in just 3-0 down. Forest were electric – Brentford static. The midfield is non-existent, and the frontline disconnected. That’s the bad news. Look positive though – it’s been gone and put to bed. Time to look onwards and upwards.
If Keith has learnt one thing from Thomas Frank, it will be boxing things off 24 hours after a reverse. The same philosophy continues to apply, and at least he can take comfort in the fact that Brentford will have their most creative playmaker back. Mikkel Damsgaard sat out the game at Forest whilst his wife was giving birth, but any unexpected injury aside, an absolute guarantee to go straight back into the starting XI. To say he was sorely missed was something of an understatement – Brentford more reliant than ever on last season’s player of the year. You can be sure he’ll be treated like a returning hero.
Also, starting this one has to be Jordan Henderson. The decision to leave him on the bench seemed an odd one at the time. Moreso, given that Christian Norgaard has moved on. It ended up being exposed in the most brutal of styles, but, at the same time, a call that could be easily rectified if desired. The coach made his shout, and that’s that. We can’t dwell on it now. Albeit, there’ll be more than a few eyes on the team sheet, though, when the sides are announced around 2pm.
The other tactical change may well see KLP returned to the left flank that he performed so well on last season. Shoved out on the right at Forest, he looked out of sorts and struggled to get into the game. Then again, he wasn’t alone, and at least the second half saw Kevin Schade come on in explosive style. Again, another sure starter this time around.
The Bees still have the squad, and new faces take time to adjust to each other. All we can do is hope it has been a productive week on the training field. Keith has his press conference on Friday, although, as always, I can’t envisage too many earth-shattering secrets being revealed. Instead, the conversation is likely to be centered around the ongoing Wissa saga.
The club has this week turned down an increased offer of £35m + £5m in add-ons from Newcastle United. With the player having an Instagram-based hissy-fit and seemingly doing everything possible to alienate everybody in his path, Phil Giles and co are holding firmer than ever. The player will not win this one. I have no doubt he’ll be left to fester until such time as an acceptable offer is received or his attitude changes. Let’s be honest, there’s more chance of Peter Gilham whispering than there is of the latter.
If nothing else, his public strop is not the sort of stuff to endear him to any manager, whether current or prospective future employer. Boo-hoo. Never have I seen a player fall out of favour with the fans so fast. That’s all on him. If nothing else, at least it may serve to unite the supporters with a common distraction from talk of last weekend.
As for Aston Villa, Keith has been handed a bonus for the red card issued to former Bee Ezri Konsa against Newcastle United. This, after he ‘brutally scythed down’ Anthony Gordon. Yes, contact was made, but one almost forgets what Gordon is like. An absolute shoe-in to any sh*thousery starting XI. On the plus side, he has at least removed one obstacle for The Bees.
The other external factor that may help Keith is the speculation surrounding Morgan Rogers. Tottenham is the latest club linked with signing the player after missing out on just about everybody else they are going for. Spurs remaining as Spursy off the field as they are on it – as this week’s move for Eberechi Eze is showing. Yet if their involvement provides a disruption for Unai Emery and Villa, then all well and good.
Besides, there is the omnipresent threat of Ollie Watkins to contend with. You can bet he’ll be absolutely desperate to get on the scoresheet against his former club. Moreso after that thing in the other season. There’s no motivation like proving a point, but to be fair, I suspect he’s more focused on opening his account for the season than any other factor.
Our officials for the day, thankfully, have none of the names that send shivers up the spine. Tony Harrington is in the middle with Tim Wood on VAR. However, the bottom line here is that Brentford has a second chance to start the season. Last weekend has been and gone. Instead, it’s a first proper chance for Keith Andrews to show the home support their Premier League Bees MK II.
