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00:00:01
Ep23 Forecast Friday: Can the Bees deal a Hammer Blow?
19 Plays26 days ago
This is your Forecast Friday, where we look ahead to our weekend clash against West Ham at the Gtech this weekend, catching up on the latest team news and pondering on how we should set up in order to get the three points.
Host: Daniel Toppin
Instagram/X/TikTok: @gspnbrentford
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Transcript
00:00:10
officialgspn
Hello and welcome to another episode of the Daily Brentford Podcast with myself, Daniel, where today we will be looking ahead to our game against West Ham at the GTEC on Saturday. Just before we get going, guys, we are a brand new company, so we are looking for your support of over the coming season and beyond, as we look to bring you the best and most in-depth coverage across the entire network. Whether this is a five-star review on your favorite podcasting platform or a recommendation to your friends, we are very grateful for any support that you are able to give us.
00:00:41
officialgspn
So then let's look ahead to the weekend and let's start with some team news. I guess the first piece of news to look out for in relation to Brentford anyway is the return of Christian Norguard. Thomas Frank did give a strong indication last week that you only just missed out on the game against Spurs and that he should be back for this one. Again, given our recent injury record and given Thomas Frank's track record of perhaps not being entirely honest in in um press conferences, perhaps to lull the other team into a full sense of security. I very much hope that he is back, but we we can't guarantee it until we see his name on the clean on the team sheet at I think 145. Now it is on on on a Saturday. So that's the first name for Brentford fans to look out for. I would expect him to slot back into the defensive midfielder role where you know, played last week.
00:01:37
officialgspn
I felt that he was missed in there last week, especially for his calmness and just his ability to help us in possession. I think, and and I've said this on a number of podcasts now that, you know, is a brilliant, brilliant squad player to have, but maybe in terms of his calmness in possession, isn't the sort of player we want to be starting week in week out if we are to become more of a possession based side.
00:02:04
officialgspn
Additionally to that, I would like to see us return to a back four following obviously tough away games at City and Spurs where the likes of King Louis Potter was mainly primarily used as a left wing back with obviously three center halves and a right wing back. I would like to see us return to a back four. That would allow, of course, a three up the front. um I would love to see Kevin Shada, the likes of him back on the left. Obviously Brian and Bummo's got the right side nailed down.
00:02:33
officialgspn
and I feel like we could be seeing the lights of Fabio Carvalho again as a false nine. I think for the foreseeable future, unfortunately, that striker spot is going to be a bit awkward for us at the moment. I think Kevin Schader, I see him as more of a winger. I definitely don't think he has the finishing ability to play through the middle at this stage. I don't think he really has the link up playing him to play centrally at this stage.
00:03:01
officialgspn
I think what he is good at, the dribbling, the getting in behind, the pure pace is very um qualities that you would associate with a winger. And I just feel like he is probably best on that left-hand side, perhaps cutting in and and obviously seeing what he can do in terms of end product, which I feel from him needs to still be more consistent and needs to be improved. I feel with Carvalho in the middle,
00:03:27
officialgspn
Whilst he's not a striker, I feel like his ability to link up is there. I don't really see him as someone who would play in the midfield free either, so I think his spot in the team probably is that spot in the middle, given that we don't typically play over an out-and-out number 10. I feel like he can be very intricate on the ball. He can link up well, and if he's able to develop a relationship with the likes of Mbumu, I really do think that that could flourish.
00:03:56
officialgspn
i don't expect him to score as many goals as perhaps Whistler would have. I think Whistler again is probably the best finisher in the side. I think his cover will offer a different threat and a different player, but obviously see goals will not need to be spread around the team, but I hope he can at least be part of creating those goals and creating those chances for others as well. The only attacker I haven't really mentioned is Keen Lewis Potter. Again, I feel for him a little bit.
00:04:25
officialgspn
his chances this season tend to come as a left wing back, whereas he's not a left wing back plainly and simply. I think it limits him to some extent. I think he's done a very, very good job there. I've seen the assists for Mboumo's goal in the first minute last week. Brilliant cross, which obviously Brian converted, but I do feel he's slightly limited at left wing back in terms of his he's restricted in terms of being able to take on defenders he's restricted about in terms of being able to express himself because he's always got one eye on getting back in position for when obviously the opposition win the ball and it's a different game then it's a different game when you're having to exert your energy defensively rather than unleashing yourself in the attacking third which is in my opinion where he should be i would not be completely opposed to him starting on the left instead of sharda i do think
00:05:16
officialgspn
whoever out of the two of them starts. I think it's a massive opportunity for them to step up. It's a massive opportunity for them to nail down that left spot because they're both there and they both had good games at times. They both produced at times, but we need consistency from them. And we need you know their numbers to start showing in that for like, the you know, Brian's obviously laid down the right hand side spot. Whistle was doing the same up front prior to his injury. I just feel we need to see ah run a runner form from one of them on the left for for them to make that spot their own. In my head, it feels to me like Charda would also be a better impact sub in a way, given his pace and power um against a tired defence perhaps who took 20 or 30 minutes to go. But I suspect Thomas from Frank will go with Charda from the start and Keenan has plotted to be used off the bench as he has done in the other games where we started with a front three.
00:06:13
officialgspn
In midfield, I would like to see Yarmoliet keep his place alongside Dam's guard with Norguard in behind. I don't know how controversial that is, but I just think the way Yarmo keeps the ball, the way he moves the ball,
00:06:32
officialgspn
He looks quite assured. I don't think he looks too overwhelmed by the prospect of Premier League football. He started some games now away at very difficult places and he's not come out of it any worse than perhaps others in the side. I know Thomas Frank seems to trust, you know, so I would be surprised if he actually went with this. I would probably expect a midfield free of Dam's guard, you know, a nor guard, but I feel just keeping Yama in there.
00:06:57
officialgspn
would give us someone like, you know, to bring up off the bench later on in the game, who's a very useful player to bring off the bench. He's very hardworking. You know what you're going to get with him. And also it would allow us again, this midfielder to feel a little bit more dynamic. Each one of them would have their own strengths and they would be slightly different strengths. And I just like Yahweh's ability on the ball. And if he can just keep his game simple, help Dam's guard in the middle there and help create chances then.
00:07:27
officialgspn
You know, I, I, I do think that could work. And, you know, if someone like him is to score, I think it would do a great deal for his confidence. and that And I would love to see something like that. I think perhaps in recent years, Brentford haven't used a young midfielders enough and it's resulted in us losing them ultimately. And I'm thinking about the likes of maybe bid strip who played, you know, and a decent part, our first Premier League season, but never really pressed on.
00:07:54
officialgspn
And since then, he's obviously gone on to play Champions League football for Salzburg in Austria, where where he's gone on to. So I just think if we're serious about him as a talent, if we're serious about, you know, him stepping up for the side sooner or later, we're going to have to give him game time and we're going to have to let him go in the Premier League. And I think for him, maybe he's ready for that now. And especially with, you know, ah sorry, Jensen still injured and I expect him to still be injured this weekend. I think there's a space there for him.
00:08:25
officialgspn
In terms of defence, again, i I feel it would be hard to drop Vandenberg after the last two games. I think he would be the obvious one to come out the team if Thomas Frank is to go from a back three to a back two in terms of centre backs, but I just feel like he's done very well in the last two games. Again, he seems to be he seems to be someone who's comfortable on the ball, which again is something that we need to value, and we need to look out of importance if we are to start playing out from the back more like we seem to be doing. I think if you're going by form, then perhaps Pinnock is the one that's dropped below the standards in the recent weeks. But I do feel that Pinnock would need to stay in the team um for balance, if anything, given that he is left-footed. And because he's been so consistent for us over the years, I'm still a big fan of Pinnock. He was obviously the fans player of the year last season, I think. I've seen some suggestion that he's perhaps adapting
00:09:19
officialgspn
um To you know a more a more possession style of play, but whether that's the case or not I think he's he deserves You know to continue in defense and I would be a bit worried about the defense ultimately if he wasn't there Given how consistent he's been for us over the years and although I i maybe think he dropped below his down as compared to the likes of Nathan Collins I still don't think for a second that you know if you look at his season as a whole he's been very bad obviously he made that mistake last week, but Otherwise, you know, I still think he's been OK. I just feel like he's maybe slightly below the very high standards that he set over the years, which which are very high. So it's obviously difficult to keep up with them all the time. My argument in order to fit Pinnock, Collins and Vandenberg all in the team is perhaps a shift of Vandenberg to right back. I've seen that he has played this position before. I understand he played the position at times in Germany last season for Mainz.
00:10:18
officialgspn
I think he's good enough on the ball to be able to do that. I wonder whether he has any sort of Christopher Iyer style burst forward in him. We obviously will find out if he does get placed at right back. And I think that could be a possibility. And obviously that would like allow Iyer to move over to left back where he's depusized well enough in the games early this season. And, and you know, a back four of Vandenberg, Collins, Pinnock and Iyer is Something to be feared, I think, in terms of their sheer height and physicality, also being a threat from set pieces. I think you know that that's got the makings to be a very astute back four. And obviously, if you look at the big teams nowadays, the likes of City and Arsenal, you know more and more of their full backs tend to be more center back type players. And maybe that's something we can make work with the likes of Rico Henry still out.
00:11:15
officialgspn
And that is my next talking point, I guess. Where is Rico Henry? it I understand and the latest on him. He's had a setback, the latest update that he is joining part of training now. but There's no indication as to when he will be ready to be available for B Team friendlies in order to gain fitness. So I do suspect we will be out without him for a little longer, which again is is ah is a shame. And it's again, another sign of our medical department trying to get players back and, you know, they're not hitting the the milestones that we're hoping that they're hitting. Let's just quickly then cover West Ham and their team news. They had a tough defeat in midweek. I think it was 5-1 in the end against Liverpool. Perhaps there will be a bit less fresh coming into the back of this. I said i saw the likes of Bowen did start that game in midweek. So, you know, they did start with a decent squad.
00:12:12
officialgspn
you know that that may always have a slight effect on the on the performances and impact going into the game at the weekend particularly as we had the week off. Edson Alvarez was sent off so he is banned for the game with the weekend so again that's a bit of a blow for West Ham but I still do expect us to come up against the likes of Peketa and midfield and of course the attacking talent of Boeing, Kuda, Somerville which isn't easy you know on paper, they've got the makings of a side that could be you know really quite exciting. And although it may not have been the case for them so far this season, I do think you know we still have things to be wary of. After the break, I will be discussing more how I think the game will go, including tactical aspects, and I'll be making my prediction for the game.
00:14:14
officialgspn
Hello and welcome to part two. So then let's get into how I think the game will pan out at the weekend. Obviously I do think there's reason for Brentford to be confident with our record against West Ham in recent years. We've won all but one of our Premier League appearances against them, but the exception did come on the last occasion last season at London Stadium where I think we considered four goals.
00:14:38
officialgspn
They have changed manager this time, but there's already murmurs discontent and not to me does not strike as a manager with super attacking philosophies, much like David Moyes before him. And obviously that's where he was coming in for some criticism, despite on the pitch on the whole, getting good results with this side. I do think in their current state, they can be got out. Obviously there was some discussion on the crossover episode yesterday.
00:15:06
officialgspn
that they don't know they're quite best 11 yet. I feel like things have clicked for us slightly more this season. I think we've played generally well in most of our games, and we've had definitely spells in in all the games. um And of course, we've won the two home games you've had so far, which are the games we we kind of needed to win without with our away games and and who they were against. So I do definitely think they can be got at,
00:15:35
officialgspn
And I don't necessarily think, despite their attacking talent, that they will come into this organs blazing. I think they'll be rather conservative. And that's what leads me to believe that, you know, things like the midfield battle will be important. Hopefully we can impress upon them more of a possession style. And we can look to control things from there and release the likes of Mbuma, Carvalho, Eshada to combine and produce magic in the right areas equally.
00:16:03
officialgspn
If that does pan out, we need to be very wary of the counter with the likes of Bowen and Kudas going the other way. But also if we allow West Ham to get on top, the likes of Bowen and Kudas can hurt us in a similar way to the likes of Mbumu. They've got quality. If you get them on the ball, they're able to to finish and they're they're they're able to provide despite the West Ham might need. I think it would be interesting to see what team coach better without top number nine. Obviously, whether West Ham go with Bowen up top you know which it in a sense would be like Brentford maybe starting and Bumo up top and or whether they go with someone like Antonio but but either way I think that's a problem area slightly for both teams for different reasons at the moment obviously I know they also have full crook who is an injured striker just like we've got Tiago and Whistler out injured so
00:16:57
officialgspn
I just hope on a Brentford side of things I can start to see a relationship developing between Carvalho and Abumo and that we can see more intricate link-up play and they're able to create chances. In terms of my prediction and what I think will happen, I'm going to go 2 on Brentford. I do think it will be pretty tight. I think it won't be the most entertaining game, I think.
00:17:26
officialgspn
The way West Ham will set up will end to quite a conservative game. They probably won't be too disappointed if we have most of the ball and they can counter us. I feel like we've got to be better on the ball if we are to do that. We can't afford any defensive errors like we had last week or cost the errors in possession near our own goal. We can't afford to concede goals like that at home against anybody.
00:17:54
officialgspn
this season or anywhere against anybody this season, if if we want to win games. But all in all, I do think things have clicked for us a bit more this season than they have West Ham. I think we know more where we're at. We know despite the injuries, you know, what sort of 11 we can expect to see at the weekend. And I think that the the team would have worked on that this week. Obviously we've we've had that week off compared to West Ham only having half a week. So I have gone 2-1 Brentford. I think Brian and Puma would get on the score sheet again.
00:18:25
officialgspn
And then I'm going to go... I'm going to go somewhere like Dammsguard. I think Dammsguard obviously scored his first goal against Slayton Orient. I think he's been unlucky at times not to have scored before then. I think hopefully now we can see him settle into a rhythm and I think he's really, you know, probably enjoying one of the best runs in the squad. He has done his time. So I'm going to go Dammsguard on the score sheet for his first Premier League goal, which will only boost his confidence further.
00:18:52
officialgspn
So that is my prediction. hopeful Hopefully I'm right and we'll be talking about happy things on Monday's podcast. Anyway, thank you for listening to today's Daily Brentford podcast. We hope you enjoyed today's episode. And once again, we would be extremely grateful for your support as this will enable us to go bigger and better moving forward.
00:19:13
officialgspn
Daily Brentford can be found on X Instagram and TikTok under the handle at GSPN Brentford. We'll be back again on Monday where we'll be reviewing the action from the weekend. Until then, from myself, thank you for being with us.