Brentford FC 18/19
As we can almost taste the new EFL Championship season, I thought I’d have a top level look at the shape of the squad, reviewing departures, and picking out areas where improvements may be needed in an attempt to try and second guess some of the clubs on and off the field activity before the Rotherham opener. Squad sheet inspired by twitter users @NathanAClark & @WolvesAnalytics
Squad Stock Take 18/19 -
Well Balanced, Flexible, Young, Attacking. (and another year wiser).
As everybody knows by now, to fit the Brentford FC mould you have to be able to pass exceptionally well. The ability to manipulate the ball in tight areas as well as having pace to burn, topped off with the confidence to execute a possession game in any area of the pitch are prerequisites. Easy hey.
These fundamentals are what give the squad its flexibility. There isn’t a single player in the above grid that can’t occupy at least two positions in Brentford’s main system.
As the financial position of the club improves, the summer departures to date make particularly interesting reading, especially in the case of Egan.
Summer Departures (so far) -Bjelland, Egan, Jozefzoon, Kerschbaumer(KK)
Bjelland is an international level CB, he reads the game well and is great in possession. But what he has in knowledge he lacks in recovery pace and fitness levels to execute exactly what’s needed from a CB in the Bees system. At 30, he was easily the oldest player in the squad; I don’t believe his body possessed the robustness for another season of Championship football. Departure a loss in leadership and experience, but no surprise.
It’s a similar story with Egan. There’s a real drop off in athleticism when compared to Mepham, Barbet and the incoming Konsa. Couple the pace issue with Egan probably being the weakest footballer at the club, and a tendency to not be as physical or aggressive as his frame would suggest, the BFC hierarchy would have been licking their lips with Sheffield Utd opting to break their transfer record for arguably Brentford’s weakest defender. Egan is however an Ireland international and you’d assume that he’d fit seamlessly into an ideology closer to the one of Wilder, as did another player that didn’t quite fit in at Brentford, the impressive Jack O’Connell.
Jozefzoon was possibly Brentford’s most important player in the 17/18 run in. He really grew into his season and if he shows similar form for Derby, at a bargain price, they could have a dangerously creative and direct player on their hands. He’ll be missed but the model rolls on.
KK spent the 17/18 cycle out on loan in Germany. There would have been very few who expected him not to make a permanent move away from the club. Smith didn’t really give him a fair crack in his favoured position and as he signed in a batch of players during a period of a time when foreign signings were unfairly stigmatised as inadequate, in my mind he leaves with a serious question mark over what might have been.
While these departures are key for the on and off the field systems to progress, they do leave with an average age of 27. For most squads this wouldn’t be such a concern but as it currently stands the Bees average squad age is an incredibly youthful, 23. If the season were to start today, it would be one of, if not the lowest average in the league. Not so much in the case of Kerschbaumer, but the three first team departures walk out of the door taking genuine leadership with them. The youthful nature of the squad is an asset but at the same time, a clear weakness.
There is technical ability all over the pitch but incoming experience in the CB area looks like an obvious requirement. It’s a continuation of a problem the Brentford decision makers have toiled with since the return to the Championship. How to wedge experience into the squad, while keeping the wage structure as prudent as it is. I must add this was somewhat answered with the clever signing of Bjelland and without a serious injury we’ll never know if the club ever saw the player they thought they were signing. In short, the answer, as with lot’s of Brentford questions has been to “look to undervalued leagues”.
Barbet could finally be given the green light to partner Mepham in his favoured CB position but you’d still have to question whether what has left with Bjelland can be filled without another incoming transfer. Ezri Konsa may disagree entirely and will be doing all he can to prove he can step up to this level.
If we shift further forward to the midfield and the attacking end of the pitch, the squad remains largely unchanged but does possesses a slightly baggy feel. Benrahma joins, adding to the AM/WF list and is another typical BFC signing. He strikes the ball well and looks gifted in possession. He’ll fit right in.
In the engine room, the disappointing McEachran somehow remains but more notably for now, so does the majestic Ryan Woods. Yennaris offers tenacity and moments of magic from range. The imperious Sawyers, with support from Marcondes will be the ones again asked to receive or move the ball into dangerous areas. The bagginess mentioned, droops in the shape of Macleod & Judge. Both players can be upgraded significantly, maybe by just a single player doing the best parts of what both can offer.
A front line boosted with the power of Ogbene should suggest a more crude directness than the deep dropping predictability of the Maupay option of much of last season. Brentford create a huge number of chances, comfortably a top 6 side in this department. Chance conversion and finishing is mid table to bottom half. This has to improve and with another year of development you’d expect increased output in this area. Be ready for exciting seasons from wide men Watkins and Canos, with the latter having a point to prove.
Football does however, tend to bite you in the backside. The transfer window is a daunting time for all clubs as there are always bigger vultures circling. The elephant in the room is Ryan Woods, with interest from the recently relegated EPL heavyweights and current Premier League clubs. You’d view him to leave or stay as a coin-flip and if he is to go, I immediately see increased championship minutes for “The General” Kamohelo Mokotjo or the B Team promoted, Reece Cole. A delightful talent who really does have the ability to control a football match. Similar in style to Woods but with more of an eye for goal, 18/19 could be a breakout season for Reece.
The overall aim has always been to have two first team level players competing for each position and with the current gang plus one or two sprinklings it seems that we’re very close.
The squad has serious minutes at Championship level and if you were told a few years ago, Brentford would have a player on their books that got regular playing time at the FIFA World Cup, only narrowly getting knocked out in the Round of 16 by the eventual finalists; many would think you’d need your head checking.
Hr Dalsgaard we salute you - https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/players/player/318477/
We’ll re-visit around Transfer Window close time.
18/19 Most Exciting — Marcondes & Watkins.
18/19 Most Intriguing — Woods to stay or go, Reece Cole emergence.
18/19 Biggest Conundrums — Bjelland replacement, Neal Maupay & minutes for Alan Judge.
