The Brentford FC thread

[Saj]

Tough match against Spurs under Conte.

2 0 loss and sounds like they struggled.

[Saj]

Brentford manager Thomas Frank talking to BBC Sport: "On the day we lost to a better team. I am pleased with the attitude and work ethic - we were very brave. We came here and played our game. On the ball we could have played it a bit more forward, particularly in the first half, but we wanted to be on the ball. We were really in the game in the second half, and sniffing something, but there was one moment where we didn't track a runner and they scored and then we were very good again.

"If we want to get anything from the game we can't concede the second goal, end of. We shouldn't haven't conceded the corner for the first goal too, simple.

"We have to learn from the second goal. I always think you win or learn and today we definitely learn. We were on top before the second goal and then we switched off, didn't track a runner and goal.

"I believe that we could have won this game. For whatever reason we couldn't today. We have to do what we can to get three points against Leeds at the weekend."

[Technics 1210]

Disaster ensues.

[Robert]

Losing 0-2 away to Spurs is expected. Brentford will go to Etihad, Stamford Bridge, Anfield and expect the same. They didn’t get blown away 0-4 though, which is encouraging.

As long as they pick up home wins and away draws against the lower-ranked teams, and not get into losing spirals like Everton, they will stay up.

[Robert]

Massive game this weekend, lower table six pointer. My Leeds… against the London boys from Brentford :/

Surprised that your mob isn’t doing better @James. Injury crisis?

[James]

Surprised that your mob isn’t doing better @James. Injury crisis?

Yes, early injuries and a loss of form/confidence…though turning it around a bit now, slowly but surely. Our consistent top scorer Bamford has been out crocked for ages but now he is back in training.

[Robert]

He just saved your rear @James.

Unbelievable! Gave up a goal in the final minute of extra time after leading for 34 minutes!

Still, a point away is decent.

[Technics 1210]

He just saved your rear @James.

Unbelievable! Gave up a goal in the final minute of extra time after leading for 34 minutes!

Still, a point away is decent.

A point away vs big guns is decent, but otherwise a disappointment when leading only to surrender the lead!

[Robert]

A point away vs big guns is decent, but otherwise a disappointment when leading only to surrender the lead!

Like the bad old days of League One and Two. I lost count of the number of last minute equalisers they gave up.

[James]

Well done Brentford, unlucky not to take home all of the points. Leeds were very fortunate to have the ever reliable Patrick available for a runout so he could snatch that late, late equaliser. Leeds were slightly the better team in the first half, but I thought we performed appallingly in the second half and were deserved losers today just on the basis of that.

[James]

FNF, another big game for the Bees tonight.

At home to Watford. Really needs to be all three points to Brentford on this occasion for their season’s sake.

And this result would also help Leeds. LOL

[Technics 1210]

Watford up 1-0 at half time.

Utter shambles.

[KingKhanWC]

Fantastic comeback from Bretford.

2-1

[Saj]

What a turnaround.

2-1 win versus Watford.

Up to 9th in the table.

[SpiritOf1903]

A right sting in the tail!! Love it.

[Technics 1210]

Ha! No words!

[ssuhaide]

Superb from Bees. Would have been rough had they not got something from the game.

[Robert]

That’s better, after the final minute disappointment at Leeds.

[James]

Thank you Brentford!

Gave away a soft last minute equaliser against LUFC, and now have come back to win tonight’s game in dramatic fashion ensuring that Watford remain as the buffer between the relegation zone and the rest of the table.

Helping to keep Leeds in the division!

[James]

BBC Match Report

Friday 10th December 20:00

Brentford 2-1 Watford

Brentford scored two goals in the final 10 minutes to come from behind and deny Watford victory.

Bryan Mbeumo slotted in a stoppage-time penalty to make it 2-1, minutes after captain Pontus Jansson had equalised with a header at the back post.

Watford led for an hour thanks to Emmanuel Dennis' first-half header but a late surge from Brentford was eventually rewarded.

Defeat means Watford remain just three points above the relegation zone.

Dennis, who has been directly involved in nine of Watford's last 12 Premier League goals, was left unmarked as he nodded in the opener against the run of play in the first half.

Brentford had controlled the first 20 minutes, coming close through Shandon Baptiste and Mbeumo but Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann made several smart saves.

Joshua King's curling effort then struck the post, giving Watford their first corner of the match, and Dennis converted.

Watford looked set to take all three points home too but Brentford burst into life late on when Jansson got on the end of a curling cross to nod in the equaliser.

Brentford piled on the pressure as the game went deep into stoppage time and substitute Saman Ghoddos was brought down by William Ekong to set-up a dramatic finale.

Mbeumo kept his cool to send goalkeeper Bachmann the wrong way and the win, which sparked jubilant scenes at the Brentford community Stadium, moves the Bees up to ninth in the table for at least a night.

With just six points separating 14th and 20th in the table, there could be a scrap to avoid relegation this season.

The bottom three is currently occupied by Norwich, Newcastle and Burnley - but Sean Dyche's side have two games in hand and will go above 17th-placed Watford if they win both.

In the 83rd minute, Watford were set to go six points clear of the drop until Jansson's equaliser dealt a blow.

It was Jansson's first Premier League goal and he celebrated heavily, calling on his team-mates and the crowd to lift their game for the final few minutes.

Brentford responded to his rally and pinned Watford in before Mbeumo showed composure to net the winner from the spot.

Watford have attacking threat in Dennis - who has been directly involved in 12 Premier League goals this season - but his last three have all come in defeats to Chelsea, Leicester and now Brentford.

[Robert]

Helping to keep Leeds in the division!

Recently promoted sides must stick together.

[Robert]

Brentford face Manchester United at Community Stadium tomorrow.

A draw would be be a decent result here.

[Technics 1210]

Brentford v Man U postponed.

[Robert]

COVID outbreak at one of the MUFC training grounds.

[Robert]

At home to mighty Chelsea tonight.

The Blues are not able to field their best squad due to COVID but a draw would still be a good result for the Bees.

[James]

At home to mighty Chelsea tonight.

The Blues are not able to field their best squad due to COVID but a draw would still be a good result for the Bees.

EFL Cup Robert! It’s a knockout game

[Robert]

EFL Cup Robert! It’s a knockout game

Draw will still be good

[James]

Draw will still be good

beat them on penalties!

[Robert]

Oh pants.

Held them for 72 minutes…..

[James]

Yes a disappointing result, but the performance was solid and the Bees did themselves justice.

[TeymurBlake]

They definitely look like there going stay up. There manager isn't half bad.

Could see him managing a big team someday. Maybe Everton.

[Robert]

Manchester City tonight. Yikes!

[Robert]

It's on Prime is anyone wants to watch.

[Robert]

0-1 at half time due to a genius De Bruyn pass to Foden.

These MCFC boys are a bit dirty and don’t need to be with their galaxy of talent.

[Robert]

Not bad to lose 0-1 to a team of internationals. Didn’t get blown away, and it took a sublime pass to break their defence down. For a while Giardiola looked nervous.

[James]

That was a good effort from the Bees. Not far off getting a point.

Man City usually win by several clear goals with energy to spare.

It took what was in my opinion a particularly brilliant goal to breach their defences.

[Saj]

Good win versus Villa after a bit of a sticky spell.

2-1 and up to 12th place in the table.

[James]

The Bees’ impressive first top division season continues.

[Robert]

The Bees’ impressive first top division season continues.

It’s beyond my wildest dreams that they are ahead of Villa and Everton at the season half-way mark.

Got to get some more of the team healthy @James as visits to Anfield, Etihad and Emirates loom. Goal difference is going to take a hit, but the Bees are already four games clear of the relegation zone teams.

[Robert]

Bees face Everton again at Goodison Park for the fourth round FA Cup tie.

[Robert]

Bad result at Soton. Heaviest defeat of the season, with Anfield coming up.

[ssuhaide]

We are struggling away from home. Conceding a lot of goals against lower half opposition. 3 vs Newcastle, 2 vs Leeds, 3 vs Burnley. Think as the season has gone on our ball retention has become worse and Toney has become isolated and playing more as a defensive striker than getting into the box. City and Liverpool away will be tough but they are free hit games. Its the home games against Newcastle, Palace, Burnley and the trips to Watford and Norwich where they will need to show some steel. Probably need a few signings to freshen up the squad. And boy do we need David Raya back.

[Robert]

We are struggling away from home. Conceding a lot of goals against lower half opposition. 3 vs Newcastle, 2 vs Leeds, 3 vs Burnley. Think as the season has gone on our ball retention has become worse and Toney has become isolated and playing more as a defensive striker than getting into the box. City and Liverpool away will be tough but they are free hit games. Its the home games against Newcastle, Palace, Burnley and the trips to Watford and Norwich where they will need to show some steel. Probably need a few signings to freshen up the squad. And boy do we need David Raya back.

Two away points out of a possible last fifteen.

It was always going to be hard this season. They are doing better than expected. The injury crisis has hurt them.

[James]

eek… Bees need to be careful they don’t get dragged into a relegation situation here.

[Robert]

eek… Bees need to be careful they don’t get dragged into a relegation situation here.

The drop zone teams are so bad that it’s unlikely. They need three wins to catch up with the Bees. Though Burnley have three games in hand. The bottom three have won just four matches between them all season.

Brentford have got a hard four weeks ahead (Liverpool, Man U, Man C) but then it gets easier.

[James]

Burnley (even with the games in hand) and Norwich are flipping atrocious. Surely they will go down. Even Leeds beat these two

Watford or Newcastle for the other spot. Newcastle could potentially buy their way out of trouble into 17th place with their oil money.

[MenInG]

Brentford is among the Premier League clubs interested in Christian Eriksen after he was released by Inter Milan last month because Italian rules do not allow someone to play with an implanted cardioverter defibrillator

[Robert]

Burnley (even with the games in hand) and Norwich are flipping atrocious. Surely they will go down. Even Leeds beat these two

Watford or Newcastle for the other spot. Newcastle could potentially buy their way out of trouble into 17th place with their oil money.

Still got MU and then Arsenal in the next three games, but then the three current relegation zone teams one after the other. Should be safe after that.

[Robert]

Gutting against MUFC. Had the Bees taken their chances they would have been 4-0 up at half time.

You can’t fail to convert chances against a side with several internationals including Ronaldo.

In the end a predictable result.

Just three points from the last eighteen now. The three bottom teams are still all three games behind the Bees, so we should be safe from the drop. Easier games are coming.

[James]

Well Burnley are surely going down. They have missed 4 games, their squad is a shambles, they have just lost their star striker to Newcastle, and the club has underlying financial troubles. This will help to simplify things for the Bees. Surely they are also better than Norwich and Watford.

[ssuhaide]

I'm not buying the fact that Burnley are down. No team right now is cut adrift. Even Norwich with their atrocious goal difference still have a chance. Every chance Brentford get dragged down. The big must not lose game is the home game with Crystal Palace. Expect us to lose to Wolves and City next two games. Really need 3 quality signings in the window. Yes please to Christian Erikkson.

The other thing that irks me is the performances against the big boys have been mostly creditable. We have played really poorly against the lower half teams. There is no guarantee we will pick up the points we need. We were rubbish at Southampton, Brighton, Burnley and home to Norwich.

Long way to go but we need extra quality in the side.

[Robert]

@ssuhaide we beat Wolves at Molyneaux so I reckonwe have a good chance at home.

[Robert]

Or not.

Darn, this is bad. Three points from the last 21 available, while both Newcastle and Norwich pick up wins.

Watford are in freefall though.

[James]

Very bad losses for Brentford and Leeds today. Not quite squeaky seats time yet, but a few seeds of doubt have now crept in.

[OldWarHorse]

Getting sucked in. Still think Norwich are worse and will go down with Burnley and Watford

[ssuhaide]

Yup. Man City and Arsenal next two away games. News however that Christian Ericsson is likely all but signed. Raya and Josh Da Silva due back in a month

[Robert]

Yup. Man City and Arsenal next two away games. News however that Christian Ericsson is likely all but signed. Raya and Josh Da Silva due back in a month

Maybe Eriksen will be the boost Brentford need to arrest what has become a tailspin.

[MenInG]

Brentford boss Thomas Frank has signed a new contract with the club that runs until the end of the 2024-25 season.

Frank led the Bees to promotion to the Premier League last season as they ended a 74-year exile from the top flight.

His assistant Brian Riemer has also signed a new contract until 2025.

"They have been integral to the success that we've shared over recent seasons," said Brentford director of football Phil Giles.

"We want to continue to take Brentford forward, to compete with clubs far bigger than us, and to see how far we can progress.

"I am sure that we can build on the success that Thomas and Brian have helped deliver along with all of the other staff and players and look forward to what I hope will be a successful conclusion to the season and beyond."

BBC

[James]

Huge show of faith in Thomas Frank. The club clearly believes that he is the man to establish Brentford as a Premier League side.

[Maher96]

Brentford striker Ivan Toney has apologised for using an expletive in reference to the club.

On Friday, Brentford launched an investigation after a video of striker Toney appearing to say "f*** Brentford" was published on social media.

The video was taken in Dubai, where Toney has been on holiday during the Premier League's winter break.

In a statement released on Twitter, Toney apologised to Brentford's fans, but also claimed the video had been "cut short and edited".

Toney said: "I am aware of a video of me that was published on social media today, taken in Dubai where I have been on holiday during the winter break. In it, I used language that was unacceptable.

"The video was cut short and edited, but I have to accept the impact this has had and I realise I should not have put myself in this position.

"I have explained to the gaffer what happened and apologised to him but I also want to apologise to all Brentford fans. I respect the way you all support the team and I have to say how much I love playing for the club and for you.

"I'll be back at training next week, working hard to score more goals to win us more games for the rest of the season."

Toney has struck six goals in an impressive Premier League campaign so far.

Brentford are currently 14th in the top flight, eight points clear of the relegation zone.

https://www.skysports.com/football/n...al-media-video

[James]

@Robert what’s going on here with Ivan?

[Robert]

@Robert what’s going on here with Ivan?

You know as much as me @James. I live far from Community Stadium now….

[Robert]

Christian Eriksen is a Bee!

What a coup! He will bring much needed midfield creativity.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/60140816

[ssuhaide]

@Robert what’s going on here with Ivan?

James. Ivan went to Dubai. Was on film with a female instagram star - one of these ladies with stunning looks and great assets but intent on causing him trouble. Its a short edited clip so we are lacking context but he said F Brentford.

Foolish from Ivan. A dumb thing but in keeping with how some of these premiership players behave. I'd be more worried about what Mrs Toney might be thinking after seeing you out there with her.

[MenInG]

Premier League side Brentford have signed Christian Eriksen on Deadline Day!

[ssuhaide]

Christian Eriksen is a Bee!

What a coup! He will bring much needed midfield creativity.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/60140816

A brilliant signing. Need his skills in set pieces something we totally suck on. His presence and experience will also help. I'm hoping we sign a couple of other bodies as the squad is pretty thin on quality.

[Robert]

James. Ivan went to Dubai. Was on film with a female instagram star - one of these ladies with stunning looks and great assets but intent on causing him trouble. Its a short edited clip so we are lacking context but he said F Brentford.

Foolish from Ivan. A dumb thing but in keeping with how some of these premiership players behave. I'd be more worried about what Mrs Toney might be thinking after seeing you out there with her.

Aye @James, looks like a few drinks went down messing up his judgement, and he got dared by a pretty girl to say something silly on camera.

[James]

Thanks for the info gents!

[James]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60116469

Christian Eriksen: Former Tottenham midfielder joins Brentford on six-month deal

Brentford have signed Denmark and former Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen on a six-month deal.

Eriksen has not played since suffering a cardiac arrest during Denmark's match against Finland at Euro 2020 last June.

He was subsequently fitted with an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) - a type of pacemaker.

"We have taken an unbelievable opportunity to bring a world-class player to Brentford," head coach Thomas Frank said.

The 29-year-old won the league title with Inter Milan last season, but the Italians and Eriksen agreed to cancel his contract in December as players fitted with an ICD cannot compete in Serie A.

However, the Premier League does not have the same regulations.

After leaving Inter, Eriksen started training alone at Danish side Odense Boldklub - where he was previously a youth player - and outlined his aspirations of resuming his playing career in order to play for Denmark at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

He joined Inter in 2020 following a seven-year spell at Tottenham, during which he scored 69 goals in 305 games and helped the club reach the 2019 Champions League final.

Frank added: "He hasn't trained with a team for seven months but has done a lot of work on his own. He is fit but we will need to get him match fit and I am looking forward to seeing him work with the players and staff to get back towards his highest level.

"At his best, Christian has the ability to dictate games of football. He will also bring experience of top level football to the club. I expect him to have an impact in the dressing room and at the training ground."

Speaking to Danish broadcaster DR earlier this month, Eriksen said: "My dream is to rejoin the national team and play at Parken [Denmark's home stadium] again and prove that it was a one-timer and that it won't happen again.

"I want to prove I've moved on and that I can play for the national team again."

His agent, Martin Schoots, told the BBC: "Playing in England again would absolutely feel like coming home for Chris and his family.

"Christian has been treated exceptionally well by the British public, not only because of his top football skills, but also because of his human values, his modesty and altruism."

[James]

Brentford's Racic heads to Denmark

Brentford's Danish defender Luca Racic, 22, has gone on loan to Danish second-tier side HB Koge, managed by ex-Liverpool defender Daniel Agger.

Phil Giles, Brentford's drector of football, said: “Luka has not played a lot of football since his loan at Northampton came to an end and this is a great opportunity for him to get time in meaningful matches.

"He will be able to work with Koge head coach Daniel Agger, who was an excellent central defender, and will have a good environment to develop. We wish Luka all the best for the remainder of the season."

[Firebat]

Christian Eriksen: Dane can be Brentford's 'greatest ever signing' - Thomas Frank

Christian Eriksen's free transfer to Brentford could be the club's "greatest signing ever", says boss Thomas Frank.

Eriksen, 29, joined the Bees on a six-month contract on transfer deadline day after his release by Inter Milan.

The Denmark international suffered cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 in June and was subsequently fitted with an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) - a type of pacemaker.

Frank said midfielder Eriksen is still unavailable for "a few weeks".

The former Tottenham player will miss Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round tie at Everton and Frank said they will "know a bit more" before Wednesday's Premier League game against Manchester City.

"We got over the line. He is potentially the greatest signing ever for the club," said Frank, who may not take charge of the Bees at the weekend after testing positive for Covid-19.

"It is going to be an unbelievable day, the day he steps on to the pitch. We all saw what happed to him. It was crazy. To see him out on the pitch soon will be a good day."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60250469

[James]

Hopefully Christian can make a successful return to the field of play and becomes a Brentford great.

[James]

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira says talent alone "is not going to be enough" for his side after Saturday's goalless draw with Brentford left them still searching for their first Premier League win of 2022.

Jordan Ayew skewed a shot wide in the Eagles' best opening of the match and they also had a late penalty appeal turned down, but other than that the visitors rarely looked like finding a breakthrough.

"It's fantastic to have talent in your team, but we need a plan together," Vieira told BBC Match of the Day.

"How can we create chances and score goals? At the moment, that's a step forward we need to make as a team."

Brentford, who were without top scorer Ivan Toney through injury, just about shaded the first half and went closest to breaking the deadlock when Bryan Mbeumo was denied by Palace keeper Vicente Guaita in a one-on-one.

Guaita made another fine save to keep out Pontus Jansson's powerful header in the second half, but there was precious little to shout about in an encounter that lacked both quality and urgency.

The draw lifts Palace above Leicester into 12th - two places and points above Brentford, who sit seven points above the relegation zone.

There were jubilant scenes before kick-off as the Bees' January signing Christian Eriksen was introduced to the Brentford Community Stadium crowd.

The Dane received a warm reception from both sets of supporters - eight months to the day since he suffered a cardiac arrest in a match against Finland at Euro 2020 - but Bees boss Thomas Frank admitted it would be "too early" to play his 29-year-old compatriot against Patrick Vieira's side. He will instead feature in a friendly on Monday.

"I hope someone could record [Eriksen's reception]," Frank told BBC Match of the Day. "I'm pleased that the Crystal Palace fans applauded him. It'll be a big moment in world football when he steps out on to the pitch to play.

"We're pleased he's with us, but we'd have supported him whichever club he was with."

This game could have done with a player of Eriksen's calibre, as both teams struggled to assert their authority in an underwhelming first half. Mbeumo almost poked Brentford ahead from Sergi Canos' pass just before the half-hour mark, before Ayew sliced horribly wide at the other end after Odsonne Edouard dispossessed Christian Norgaard.

Brentford also felt they should have been given a penalty when Palace defender Marc Guehi handled the ball under pressure from Norgaard, but Simon Hooper's decision to award the visitors a free-kick for Norgaard's shove was confirmed by the video assistant referee.

Both teams appeared increasingly content to settle for a point the longer the second half wore on. Wilfried Zaha went to ground under Rico Henry's tug-back in stoppage time, but the challenge was not deemed worthy of a penalty by VAR.

Frank's side were offered more warm applause at full-time after picking up their first point since 2 January - not to mention a first clean sheet since a 1-0 victory over Everton on 28 November.

"We created good opportunities," said Frank. "We gave one chance away which was our only mistake, I'd say. If we can keep that up, we'll be in a good place.

"There are a lot of positives to take from this game."


BBC

[James]

Only 3 points between Brentford and the relegation zone now, and they’ve played more matches than everybody else.

Looking tough for the Bees at the moment.

[James]

Norwich 1-3 Brentford

Ivan Toney scored a hat-trick as Brentford ended an eight-game Premier League winless run at the expense of relegation-threatened Norwich City.

Toney scored two second-half penalties at Carrow Road to put the game beyond bottom-side Norwich, as Thomas Frank's side moved six points clear of the relegation places.

Following his emotional return as a substitute last weekend - 259 days after suffering a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 in June - Christian Eriksen made his first competitive start for Brentford.

It was from an Eriksen corner that Brentford punished the hosts' first-half profligacy, with Kristoffer Ajer's near-post header falling to Toney.

Toney's first spot-kick arrived after 52 minutes as referee Anthony Taylor reviewed a high foot by Ben Gibson on Pontus Jansson as the Norwich defender attempted to clear a cross.

A second penalty in six minutes, awarded after Toney was felled by Gibson, allowed the 25-year-old to complete his treble.

The damage had already been done when Milot Rashica had a response ruled out for offside midway through the second half, while Bryan Mbeumo was denied adding a fourth for Brentford the same reason.

Teemu Pukki gave the home fans something to cheer in added-time but an otherwise miserable day for Dean Smith's Norwich left the Canaries five points from safety with 11 games remaining.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60531464

[James]

Brentford 2-0 Burnley

Burnley's survival hopes took a huge blow as Ivan Toney's two late goals for Brentford settled their Premier League match and took the Bees closer to securing safety.

The Clarets looked set to move out of the bottom three until Toney headed in Christian Eriksen's lovely cross with four minutes to go.

Toney then won a penalty deep into injury time, with Nathan Collins sent off for bringing him down, and he slammed in the spot-kick to seal the win.

Burnley remain a point behind 17th-placed Everton, who have two games in hand, while Brentford are now nine points clear of the Clarets.

Burnley had the best chance of the game until those late strikes when Jay Rodriguez's swerving 30-yard strike cannoned off the crossbar.

They only had one effort on target, when a terrible Rico Henry backpass played in Maxwel Cornet but his shot was stopped by David Raya.

[James]

Well done Bees.

30 points on the board with this latest win.

Getting very close to securing their Premier League status now.

[ssuhaide]

Super week for the Bees. Erikson showing his class. Toney on fire. 4 more points I think will be enough for safety.

[Saj]

I thought they'd go straight back down to the Championship, but what a fantastic effort from them.

To perform how they have takes a lot of class and skill.

[OldWarHorse]

Eriksen been the game changer, what a signing he has been!!

Mbuemo has been terrific recently as well, well worth their spot in this division.