By Alex Roberts
After seven years on the helm, a ‘massive’ membership lastly listened to all these pundits and took an opportunity on Frank. He’s the person tasked with main Tottenham into their courageous new period following their Europa League win below Ange Postecoglou.
Frank’s time at Brentford can be outlined by their potential to punch above their weight. The Bees have constantly been the staff with the bottom wage invoice within the Premier League. Final season it was reported to be £44,343,000 per-year, solely newly promoted Ipswich spent much less (£40,768,000).
In contrast to the likes of Ipswich, they’ve managed to ascertain themselves as mainstay within the English top-flight, with their lowest end coming in 2023-24, ending their marketing campaign all the way in which down in 16th with 39 factors, 13 above now League One facet Luton City.
Whereas many sides, and managers, refuse to deviate from their most popular philosophy, Frank is a uncommon bread. He’s a coach that has no drawback adapting; if the sport requires his facet to go lengthy, they’ll go lengthy, in the event that they should be affected person towards a low block, then that’s what they’ll do.
Final season, his Brentford facet primarily used a 4-3-3 or a 3-5-2, relying on the opposition. The formations could change however the normal concepts stay the identical, have a excessive again line when attacking, maintain the ball, counter press, create excessive xG probabilities, stick ’em within the internet. Easy proper?
Brentford had been seventh by way of massive probabilities created within the Premier League final season with 109, whereas overperforming their xG, scoring 66 objectives from the anticipated 60.2. All of it factors to a supervisor who is aware of find out how to get one of the best out of his gamers.
Now that the good Dane is gone, former set-piece coach Keith Andrews is the brand new gaffer. For those who watched any Brentford video games final season, it’s truthful to say they LOVED a set-piece, from each attacking and defensive views.
Andrews could not have been leaping up and down on the touchline like Arsenal’s Nicolas Jover, however he was almost as productive. Brentford ended their 2024-25 Premier League marketing campaign with 13 set piece objectives, the fifth most within the division, whereas solely conceding three, the least. All he must do now could be add extra nonsensical hand gestures.
Like Frank, Andrews is available in as an entire unknown amount. That is his first managerial place, however the boffins at Brentford don’t mess about, they’ll have crunched the numbers, hacked the system, and be assured they made the appropriate alternative. Let’s not neglect, Frank misplaced his first three video games when he took over from Dean Saunders.
If it was simply Frank leaving, then there wouldn’t be an excessive amount of trigger for concern, it’s these on the pitch which have added to the rising nervousness. Bryan Mbeumo, the person who scored simply over 30% of Brentford Premier League objectives final season has left to affix Man United.
A tasty £66.7 million revenue on the ahead, who Brentford signed from French facet Troyes once they had been nonetheless within the Championship will make the tablet a bit simpler to swallow, however he’s going to be an enormous miss.
Questions stay whether or not he’ll have the ability to sustain his type in entrance of objective, like Brentford, Mbeumo overperformed his xG fairly significantly, bagging 20 Premier League objectives from a predicted 12.26, however that’s not all he’s about.
Not solely did he rating objectives, Mbeumo’s work fee off the ball made him an absolute menace. He by no means gave the opposition a second’s relaxation, profitable 31 tackles, 179 duels, and making 156 recoveries. He additionally gained the ball again within the remaining third 32 instances.
As of penning this piece, Brentford haven’t signed a like-for-like substitute for Mbeumo. Antoni Milambo, who has joined from Feyenoord, is able to taking part in as a right-winger, however he’s extra of a midfielder. It’s arduous to see the place these varieties of numbers are going to come back from taking a look at their present choices.
Christian Nørgaard’s transfer to Arsenal appeared to catch everybody off guard, though perhaps it shouldn’t have. Mikel Arteta seems to be a fan of a 30-something defensive midfielder who can come on and shut the sport down.
Contemplating his place, Nørgaard’s numbers in entrance of objective final season had been fairly spectacular. He ended the season with six objectives and 4 assists, the best of his profession up to now.
Clearly, it’s on the different finish of the pitch the place he’s anticipated to make an actual distinction, and he did. Nørgaard gained 62% of his tackles, 61.9% of his aerial duels, and made 49 interceptions all through his 34 Premier League video games.
Past the extra tangible stuff, Nørgaard was an actual chief at Brentford. He was made captain again in 2023 when Pontus Jansson left for Malmö main the staff 65 instances within the Premier League and 68 instances in all competitions.
In contrast to the Mbeumo scenario, Brentford have introduced in a substitute for Nørgaard. Former Liverpool and Ajax captain Jordan Henderson has returned to England. He’ll completely make up for the void left by the Danish star off the pitch, but it surely stays to be seen whether or not he nonetheless has the legs for the Premier League.
On the intense facet for Brentford followers, Yoane Wissa continues to be on the membership… for now. Experiences suggesting he would go on strike to power a transfer away seem to have been fallacious after the membership shared photos of him again in coaching along with his teammates.
He was the opposite member of arguably one of the best attacking duo within the league final season, scoring only one objective lower than Mbeumo (19). Newcastle are getting fairly determined although, and the switch window stays huge open.
As the brand new season approaches, it’s arduous to foretell what’s going to occur with Brentford. What was as soon as essentially the most steady atmosphere within the league is beginning to present some cracks. We’re not saying it’s a full on disaster, but it surely’s value keeping track of.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
You possibly can comply with each Brentford sport on FotMob within the 2025/26 season – with in-depth stat protection and participant scores. Obtain the free app right here.