Brentford head to Spurs on Saturday afternoon with one major talking point on everybody’s lips. Who plays up top?
Yoane Wissa has, of course, been confirmed as now missing for a couple of months. This as a result of the ankle injury sustained when Mateo Kovačić ploughed through him in the narrow reverse at Manchester City last weekend. A game which began so brightly for the in-form player – scoring after just 22 seconds – ended late in the first-half as he hobbled off. Everybody’s worst fears confirmed later by Thomas Frank.
With Igor Thiago already out until December and last season’s other options in Ivan Toney and Neal Maupay both gone, we are once again in the realms of alternative cover. It’s Brentford, innit? At least there are permutations as Thomas Frank will be looking to an all-round team performance.
Kevin Schade played through the middle as Brentford eased in to the fourth round of the League Cup on Tuesday night. His pace apparent to all and if he can time those runs, it could be devastating against a Tottenham back line that on occasion this season have displayed the reaction time of sleeping oil tankers. His run to set up Fabio Carvalho quite incredible as he went past what felt like most of the visiting players before his goal bound effort was pushed out by the ‘keeper.
Fortunately, Fabio Carvalho was there. Connecting perfectly with a bicycle kick to level things up whilst, at the same time, giving further pause for thought about what might have happened had Bryan been able to achieve similar at Manchester City.
Then, turning provider with the most sublime of assists for the transformed Mikkel Damsgaard. Somebody who has absolutely shown all his potential this campaign – especially critical given the absence of Mathias Jensen.
Whether Thomas starts all three of Carvalho, Mbeumo and Schade or goes five at the back remains to be seen. With Nathan Collins and Ethan Pinnock bossing it in front of Mark Flekken, there may be scope to go with two rather than three centre backs and free up space further ahead. It would be harsh on Sepp van den Berg, who has impressed, but there you go.
Let’s not forget Keane Lewis Potter, either. He has the versatility to play left wing back or ahead of Kris Ajer on that side. The point being that despite missing a traditional striker, Thomas still has options. These aren’t the days of playing the wonderful Alan Judge as a false 9 at Loftus Road (let’s never talk of that game again).
Likewise Thomas is not automatically going ‘defence-heavy’ when playing at the big clubs or Spurs. The starting XI at Liverpool was set up more attacking minded than many had suspected whilst the opening blitz of Manchester City took everybody by surprise. Including Pep Guardiola. The Bees could well have been out of sight within 20 minutes had fortune smiled a bit sweeter.
As for Spurs? Time to go for the Alan Partridge shrug. Their sole league victory has come in what now seems everybody’s compulsory right to tonk Everton. Long may this tradition continue. Ange will give it some straight talking. James Maddison will give the chance for pantomime theatrics (oh, for Maupay to still be amongst us). The tourists will be taking pictures. The silence will be deafening. Something, something, something Chas and Dave.
Frankly, this one is all about Brentford. This one is about how well Thomas and the team adapt to the first significant positional challenge of the campaign. It is a lesson that will need to be learned fast with no respite coming until late November earliest, being realistic. Yet it is something The Bees have been well used to over the last few campaigns.
Enormous squads don’t win games. Look at how Chelsea and Nottingham Forest have fared in recent times. Tactics and available players do. I’m sure all from TW8 would love a natural centre-forward available but that’s an option which is currently denied.
What Brentford do have is a tactical genius at the helm, an approach that is becoming more and more ‘total football’ and a squad who would run their socks off for the boss. Here’s to more of that at Spurs on Saturday.
See you there and enjoy!
