Brentford travel to the Etihad as the last team to have defeated Manchester City at home in the league. Can the Bees repeat the trick this weekend? Nick Bruzon previews.
Saturday welcomes the return of exciting football after the tedium of the Nations League saw a fortnight-long handbrake applied to the Premier League.
Stirring though it was to see former Bees’ head coach Lee Carsley manage the National team, that momentary burst of szalmaláng-lelkesedés (what the Hungarians call ‘straw-flame enthusiasm’) rapidly burned out into what was ultimately a lot of meaningless back-slapping about muted celebrations and goal scoring records.
Thrilling stuff for the insomniacs amongst us but nothing compared to the allure of this Saturday’s top(ish) of the Premier League clash. Leaders Manchester City at home to a sixth-placed Brentford side who know victory will see them go level with the champions. Possibly even overtake them with a sufficient goal-difference swing.
OK. Stop sniggering at the back. We all know about City’s abundance of talent, of trophies, of cash. Of their virtual impregnability at home. Of their record that has not seen a top-flight match lost at the Ethiad since November 2022. When the visitors were, err, Brentford. You see, it IS possible.
Of course, Ivan Toney got the goals that day but he’s now following the dream out in the Saudi retirement league. Thomas Frank using the build-up to this game to praise his former player but also looking to move forward.
“We got good practice last year. We had, six-seven months, two thirds of the season without him. We also started this season without him. The players have already stepped up and they’re growing, like trees….I’m not worried, we have fantastic players, others will step up.”
One player he’ll have to do without is Mathias Jensen. The midfielder was confirmed as missing the next couple of weeks with a calf issue. The obvious question being who fills the midfield berth with Thomas having several options available. Presumably, Mikkel Damsgaard will look to pick up where he left off in the tonking of Southampton last time out.
As ever, defensive selection is a teaser. There are choices with the previous road trip, an eventual 2-0 reverse at Liverpool, perhaps offering clues. Kris Ajer – declared fit in Thursday’s press conference – started out on the left of a back four with Keane-Lewis Potter playing ahead. Vitaly Janelt is also an option although this will leave captain Christian Norgaard as the only one of the regular midfield trio.
It’s not the biggest selection headache Brentford have ever faced with plenty of variety. The better news being that Rico Henry sounds even closer than ever to a return that would be more welcome than even that of Harold Bishop in TV’s ‘Neighbours’ after being lost at sea. Harold, not Rico.
Thomas also telling reporters that the player has suffered “a minor, minor, minor muscle injury” but will be out on the pitch Friday after missing last week’s friendly.
As for Manchester City, Oscar Bobb is the only guaranteed absence although Phil Foden has barely featured and missed Nations League duty (one positive for him) due to illness. He’ll be doing well to feature although as we say every time we look at City, Pep Guardiola could pick just about any starting XI from his squad and they’d beat most teams.
Erling Haaland is looking deadlier than ever with a stonking 7(seven) goals in those opening three games. He’s already a country mile ahead of second-placed Bryan Mbeumo and a clutch of others in the Premier League goalscorer’s chart. Brentford can at least take comfort in the equally solid start from Ethan Pinnock and, in particular, Nathan Collins at the heart of the back line.
Could off-field matters also cause headaches for City? Perhaps distraction caused by the presence of one / both Gallagher brothers from recently re-formed Oasis – a story only the most alert of fans would have picked up on.
There’s also the visit of Inter in the Champions League a few days later that will no doubt be on Pep Guardiola’s mind. I’m sure he’ll be hoping things are all wrapped up by the time he can give some of his players a rest.
Perhaps most telling are the long outstanding 115 charges laid out before City for allegedly breaching Premier League financial rules. A saga more drawn out than the return of the aforementioned Harold which took five years to resolve until eventually reunited with his beloved Madge.
The ten-week hearing into those charges begins on Monday at an undisclosed location. That is, of course, subject to no further legal delays.
With one source close to the club telling me, “The only reason it’s taken so long already is that we’ve got better lawyers than Forest and Everton” don’t be surprised if that is indeed the next step.
Still, if focus on the courtroom helps Brentford by even the smallest amount then we can only applaud due and fair process being carried out. Until then, it’s all aboard for the trip to City and the chance to go to the top of the table
