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Match Review Monday: Best Win of the Season so far?!
44 Plays12 days ago
This is your Match Review Monday, where we look back on another goal fest at the Gtech. We discuss Thomas Frank's bold team selection, another dynamic attacking display and the perfect second half, as the Bees extend the best home record in the Premier League.
Host: Daniel Toppin
Instagram/X/TikTok: @gspnbrentford
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Transcript
Introduction and Support Request
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to another episode of the Daily Brentford Podcast with myself, Daniel, where today we will be reviewing arguably the best win of the season so far against Newcastle at the G-Tech on Saturday. Just before we get going, guys, we're a brand new company, so we're looking for your support 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 favourite podcasting platform or a recommendation to your friends, we are very grateful for any support that we receive.
Review of Brentford's Home Performance
00:00:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
to the next get into it Brentford's brilliant home record continues this season we were playing in my opinion one of the better teams in the league some ah a team that should definitely be a aspiring for Europe a team that despite many expecting them to have done more in recent years have spent a lot of money by Brentford terms and obviously have big ambitions for the future so It's brilliant and um um when we go into it in a moment it very much seems as you as you can tell by the result that it followed a very similar pattern to a lot of our home games this season against maybe some of the teams that we should be expecting to be or we consider more on our level.
00:01:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's start anyway with team news.
Lineup Changes and Player Availability
00:01:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thomas Frank rang the changes to an extent amongst a busy period following our first midweek Premier League game of the season. Christian Norgard was back into the starting 11, which I feel was big. I think he just provides a calming influence to the side. Even if you don't always notice him, even if he's not always a 10 out of 10, I think he's that calming influence he keeps just taking over. And he's a captain and and although he may not seem like your traditional imposing captain, someone like Pontus Janssen was. I think the the the team very much respect him and I think as Thomas Frank said, we are very much a better team with him in the side. Having said that, he came back in and Vitaliy Yannelt was out. ah I was thinking to myself before the game, you know it's bad when Vitaliy Yannelt is out because
00:02:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
He is always available. And that's one of the reasons why the players voted for him as their player of the season last year in a season where we were ravaged by injuries. Vitalia now is a robust footballer. He's always present. He's always available. His best of it ability is his availability. Um, he can obviously cover the number six role that Norgar plays so well.
00:02:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
he is perhaps not quite as good as it as Norgard but you know even alongside Norgard and like I've been saying in games like Villa Away and against Newcastle too I would want someone like you know alongside Norgard to just show things up as much as we can um given the way that we're we're playing this season and and we're being continued to be quite brave going forwards How he said that he was out and Jan Moliuk stayed into the side and now it's a difficult one with Jan Moliuk. I said that um after the Villa game as well, I think technically on the ball he is very good. You can see his quality. I think that's why he stood out in on some occasions last season as well when he came off the bench, particularly I think away at Anfield.
00:03:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
But obviously in that in that situation, we're already two or three nil down. So I think it's easier sometimes to play your football in those circumstances where, you know, perhaps the pressure isn't on too much. And I feel like where Jan Molek maybe does falter is his knowledge of when to press, um how close to be to an all guard. Obviously it it was, you know, the other night, but how to work as part of the defensive unit.
00:04:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
and you know where to be off the ball and what I did notice in this game against Newcastle, if I am to be slightly critical, is that sometimes when he picks it up in defensive positions, when what he really needs to do is just clear the ball, um, get out of immediate danger. I feel like at times he still just tried to play a little bit too much and he tries to play his way out. And you know, if it didn't result in a goal, um, against Newcastle at the weekend, I can see there being issues further down the line.
00:04:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
and perhaps has given away a cheap goal or two if he does play like that. But, you know, he's got the technical quality. You can tell he's a very good player. I just think he needs to grow with some experience and some time. And that's why it's it's not an ideal situation that we have to start. I mean, this type of game, I think there are games, perhaps against some of the lower sides in the league where we can afford to maybe only play one of Norgon and Janelle and someone like Yama League can come in and be a bit more offensive.
Player Positions and Tactical Decisions
00:05:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
but he it worked he he had a better game than he did against Villa ah the week ah in midweek and I feel like especially second half he um help helped us control that second half and I think the second half was much improved from the first and another piece of news from the weekend was Christopher Iyer returning to the bench this was somewhat of a surprise as Thomas Frank didn't seem too confident that he would
00:05:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
feature a tool on this occasion. I don't know how fit he was because I didn't don't recall him warming up at any point during the game on the touch line. He didn't come on. I don't know if that would have been a different situation had something happened to Vandenberg, for example, at right back or whether or the Madros ever would have been the one to come on, given I's fitness or lack of fitness and where he's at. But It was a good time to see him on the bench because ultimately that means we're not with a week and a bit until we play next um from the game last Saturday until next Sunday against Chelsea. He should hopefully be back and ready to play a role in that game. One surprising change I thought we saw was Carvalho in for Dam's guard.
00:06:21
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In terms of Dam's Guard's point of view, surely that's just for fitness reasons. I can't see Thomas Frank dropping Dam's Guard um for performance-related reasons. Obviously, we know Dam's Guard in the past, the struggle of injuries, so I do understand it. um Thomas Frank said he's building him to be robust.
00:06:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And, you know, we want to ensure that Dam's guards availability has maximized this season. Cause I've said before, I think he's been our best player and even at Villa in midweek, he produced the one bright moment with the goal. Carvalho who came in for him, I thought he was bright. I thought there was still some occasions where he was perhaps running through with options either side, the likes of, um, with Santiago and, and boomo and I feel like his pass.
00:07:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Although it reached one of the targets, it maybe dragged them out of position slightly. For example, when he ran for, I think on the first occasion, he passed it left towards Wisser. I thought it dragged Wisser slightly wide because the pass wasn't as pinpoint as it could have been. I thought, and Boomer on the right was perhaps the right decision as well. And he he didn't take that correct decision, but I'm just being nitpicky here because Dam's guard has been so good in that position this season and and I feel like he would pick up pick out those players.
00:07:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And Carvalho ultimately needs to aspire to be as good as Dam's guard and um um perform um to that same level if he is to come in and they are to be battling for the same position this season. Otherwise I caught i thought Carvalho was bright, I thought he was good.
00:07:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
um the other thing I perhaps would have liked to have seen if Dam's Guard was fully fit and we didn't have, you know, and Jenson, like, was the case at the weekend, is, once again, could Dam's Guard play that slightly deeper role that Jenson's been playing in recent weeks that would allow Carvalho and Dam's Guard into the same side, and I think the outcomes from that I think would be very exciting I think you would lose something from Dammsguard in terms of his ability to get in the half spaces but I think ultimately with the cards that were dealt maybe I'd rather the slight bit more of experience that Dammsguard has alongside Anor guard or Iannelt who will just have that game know how he'll he's very good in the press as well Dammsguard I think he knows when to go and when not to go and
00:08:51
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Again, I think it would allow Carvalho more opportunities, which I think he deserves alongside Dam's guard also being in the team. The final part of the Brentford lineup I want to talk about is Igo Tiago coming in for his first start replacing Kevin Scharder in the starting lineup.
00:09:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now I do get the feeling that perhaps the front three of Mboumo, Thiago Wissau will become Thomas Frank's favoured front three. We will go on to talk about Shada again because I thought it was a great finish again from him, but as we saw in midweek against Villa, I think consistency may still be a problem for him. I think someone like Shada as well.
00:09:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
is very good at coming off the bench with his pace and power, and it's not something that opposition um want to deal with um at that stage in the game. But regardless, I think we have so many good options now. Obviously, Thiago, we've seen a couple of cameos from him prior to this. We know what he offers and what he offers is very different. To the likes of Wissarin and Bumo, he's very physical. He will win the jewels. He is not afraid to go up against any center back.
00:09:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
and he will help us up the pitch during times where what where we really need it and I think actually when when he came off the pitch and Newcastle had quite a good spell towards the end of the game I thought we missed that out ball in someone like Thiago but it doesn't it doesn't surprise me he came off early. First start for the club and he hasn't completed 90 minutes yet but it's another positive journey a positive point, sorry, in his journey back towards fitness. The only thing I still stand by in regard to him, I do think he's a little bit slow in the ball, is at his feet at times, but I am hoping that it's just him adapting to the Premier League. it's ah It's a much faster league. It does take some adaption to, I mean, we've seen from the likes of Dam's guard and King Louis Potter and Collins.
00:10:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
how long it's taken them to adapt to the Brentford side especially Collins who had also played in the Premier League regardless ah before his move
Game Highlights and Defensive Issues
00:10:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
to the club. So I think it's all looking very positive on the Igo Tiago front um and what we saw at the weekend was kind of a 4-4-2 hybrid formation. Wisser was not playing on the left as I thought he might if Tiago came in They were playing together. I very much like that. I think Whistler is better up front as we've spoken about this season.
00:11:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I don't feel that we really played of a left-winger. I felt that the likes of Carvalho would drift over there now and then, but I think with our in-possession shape and the fact that Zep van den Berg kind of drops into a back three with Pinnock and Collins, and Keene Lewis-Potter has the license to run up and down the left, I feel like that is why we can play this kind of hybrid formation um as Keen Lewis Potter is the one that's able to get forward really really well down the left hand side and I would like to see his um running numbers maybe maybe I'll bring that up on ah on a future um podcast but Keen Lewis Potter must cover a hell of a amount of ground um
00:12:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
on a game week basis. I've not checked the stats, but I just feel like that must be the case with him covering the left so well because he's also rarely, rarely caught um not being back in time for a Newcastle's attack. It'd have to be a very but quick counter attack for him to not be back there. So praise to him and his fitness levels and being out of position and still doing well.
00:12:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just a little bit of team news then for Newcastle. They dropped Anthony Gordon and Sandra Tenali to the bench, two of their best players, especially Anthony Gordon, um both of which came on later in the game when they needed to get back into the game. I would assume that these changes were likely due to similar reasons that Brentford left, Dan's got out the side. Newcastle obviously running Liverpool very close for a free, free draw in the days prior, which must have taken something out of them.
00:12:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Having said that, the likes of Harvey Barnes and Alexander Isaac both started and always seemed to score against Brentford as they did again here. So that is your team news. After the break, I will be going into how the first half unfolded.
00:14:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to part two of your daily Brentford podcast. So then let's get into the first half. It was hectic down at the G-Tech as we have grown used to Sean Longstaff crash one off the bar in the opening minutes. And then Brian and Bumo produced a brilliant finished moments later to put Brentford one nail up.
00:14:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
This was great to see, given that we have brought this up in recent episodes, that Brian and Puma perhaps hasn't been at his best in recent weeks. He was massively over-performing his expected goals when he scored his first eight of the season. so I guess to an extent it was expected that the girls would dry up a little, um but I was surprised to see that he had only taken one shot in his five games before this Newcastle game.
00:14:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought here we saw him return to something towards his best. And I think he is best when he is brave and willing to take on opponents. He's not just looking for that little cross, which often hits the first man um that he does a bit too much for my liking when he cuts in sometimes. um But this time he was not afraid to run at Newcastle, get in the tight spaces that were barely there.
00:15:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
and he got a bit of luck with the finish, it took a slight deflection which took it into the top corner and Nick Pope couldn't have done anything about it. It may well have gone in any way but the deflection made it impossible to save and it was a great finish and I guess he kicked on from there because because he was positive and you he later got an assist as well which we'll go on to talk about.
00:15:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
However, Brentford could not hold on to the lead for very long at all. Alexander Isaac turning home across into the box just minutes later. I think it was a bit of a disappointing goal to concede. You want to see the likes of Nathan Collins, who was closest to the ball, um dominating those situations. You want to see him being aware of where Isaac is, where he's trying to get to, and you want to see him you know, given given the size and and the presence of Pinnock and Collins, you want to see them, you know, winning those balls. And I think it's ah it's a bit of a cheap goal again, just minutes after we take the lead. And and you do have to wonder why this has happened quite regularly this season. um I suspect it's something to do with the way we're playing and and it's quite brave and ultimately we often create chances, but give away a lot as well. and
00:16:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, as we said in the early part of the episode, Newcastle could well have been ahead in this game anyway, um if Sean Longstaff hadn't hit the bar in the opening couple of minutes. Having said that, Newcastle didn't react too well to coming back level either, as Harvey Barnes gifted the ball to Whistle, but he still had a lot of work to do. He ran at the defence, the defence retreated away from him, which is something that Brentford are often quite guilty of um when we defend opposition chances. um And what Brentford also allow quite often is long shots so at goal, um banking on the fact that it would have to be a very, very good effort to make its way in. And that's exactly what Whistler did. He managed to curl it again into the top corner and
00:17:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Brentford, again, statistically this season are very, very clinical in front of goal. We have, we are, we are taking our chances with some regularity, particularly at home. And I think Wisser is such a big part of that. And the reason why he needs to stay playing down the middle as he did at the weekend, even with Igor Tiago and the team, I think is finishing.
00:18:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
is superb, his link up is quite good as well and I think with Whistler and the team you're always guaranteed goals and I think the way he's scoring goals it's more sustainable. There's someone like Brian Abumo who often relies on some, you know, absolutely, maybe maybe maybe slightly some fortune at times, obviously he takes penalties too so it's always going to up his numbers but Yeah, Whistler especially is is a deadly striker. He will get those tap ins and then sometimes when he gets the ball like he did here, he will not miss and it's so useful to have him to side. And I think he has got to be perhaps our most underrated signing of the Premier League era. Cause I don't think, I don't think we give it enough credit and considering how well he's done.
00:18:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ever since he joined, really, but even more so this season, now he has got that number nine roll down the middle. Having said that, again, ran for a peg back within minutes. Harvey Barnes making up for his error, turning and shooting into the far corner in the box. And my issue with this one this time is that we just gave him far too much time. He should not be able to receive the ball facing the opposite way.
00:19:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
turn round and get a shot away before anyone can get near him or even block the shot it is you know it it wasn't the greatest of angles I think the finish is quite good into the far corner so I wouldn't blame Flecken but I just think again we need to be getting tighter in these situations and it did seem at the time that we were having a bit of problem managing the game and you know when when we go ahead stay ahead for a bit longer or if Newcastle are giving us a period of pressure we need to manage this better and that is something we did go on to in the second half so I won't
00:20:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
criticized them too much on this occasion but having said that i thought we rode our luck a bit before half time alexander izak could have got another collins unlike him rarely got caught out um yeah he he got caught out um as izak came onto the ball by the touch line normally it's a situation we've seen pinnock get in this season but Collins was in the situation, like and I guess it shows just how good Isaac is and why our brave approach sometimes, where we often leave men one on one, is very brave, especially against the likes of Alexander Isaac, who is one of the best strikers for me in the Premier League. And, you know, you're backing our centre-bats, which is a very brave thing to do. Some may call it naive to consistently win those one-on-ones against him so that he is not presented with a golden chance.
00:21:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, on this occasion, he's acted when they did win that one on one. He got round Flecken even, and he did, and he delayed the shot. He delayed the shot and he should have got it away much earlier. I do wonder whether the conditions, it was very stormy and windy in the UK this weekend. So I do very much wonder whether the conditions meant that he took an extra touch or two to try and get the ball under control and make sure he got the shot in.
00:21:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
But whatever was the cause, the delay allowed Flecken to get back in, stick out a hand. And that was a very crucial moment of the game. We had, of course, obviously we hadn't been behind up until then. um We didn't go behind in the whole game as it was. But I think in that moment, I think it's fair to say that Flecken earned us a point on three there because Things could have been very different if they had scored that one, and I think Isaac's movement was very difficult to deal with all all game, and I think if Fleckin had got that wrong, it could have very much resulted in a penalty and and ah and a possible record if he didn't make an attempt to get the ball. Obviously, he did make the attempt to get the ball, so like I guess it would have just been a penalty, but you never know with referees' perceptions these days, you never know um how it may have looked if he got it wrong.
00:22:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But yeah, absolutely outstanding save for Flecken and you know that that's something that perhaps at times you've been calling from him. um You know big contributions like that, which resulting us getting some Premier League points. There is another occasion in the second ah in the first half. Sorry where Newcastle headed narrowly over from across and it was literally from. You know inside the six yard box and.
00:22:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Again, you get the feeling that they could be scoring these and it could be a very different game. And again, maybe we should be dealing with these crosses better. However, you have to be content at the break. I think Newcastle edged it in terms of big chances, but Ramford were very much competitive and in the game, even if they were a little too open defensively.
00:23:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
In the second half or in the third part of this podcast, then I will be going through the second half and summarizing how Brentford got the win.
Brentford's Victory and Key Contributions
00:24:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to part three of your daily Brentford podcast. So in the second half of the G tech on Saturday, I thought Brentford really went up another gear. I think this has to be the standard for performances this season. I know we have said that before. I know how difficult it is to maintain that standard throughout 90 minutes, but I just really thought in that second half, we found a way to create chances without giving away any real clear cut chances at the other end. And that has got to be.
00:24:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
The goal standard and the way forward in future. From a Newcastle perspective, however, they will be disappointed, I suspect, with a third goal. It was a free kick, very deep. Mark Flecken took it and it was a ball straight over the top. Igor Tiago went up for a header with Fabian Shaw. I believe both of them missed it and Collins was there to tap home.
00:24:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
First of all, I'd like to say Eagle Tiago just being there. He didn't have to win the header, but you you can see he ruffled a few feathers. um He gave them something to think about. He obviously caused a share to misjudge a header. And I think that played a big part in the goal. And then Nathan Collins, we've spoken a lot about his technical quality this season, as well as his pure defending. And I think this is another example of it. I think it was a striker's finish. Wasn't easy to take that on the first touch. and um guided into the corner like he did but you you can just see his quality and it is premier league quality and it is you know very exciting to see where Nathan Collins can get to in the next few years as you know he is still a young player of early 20s and he could be a mainstay and I very much hope he'll be a mainstay of that Brentford defence at least in the next eight or nine years um and that is very positive to think about
00:25:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Following this the likes of Damsgard and Sharda were introduced as finishers as Thomas Frank would say and Ben Mee was also brought on for Whissa to shore things up. I have to say I was a bit unsure when that sub was made given We all know Ben Mia slowing down a bit and given the fact it was also a negative so substitution, you could say, switching to five at the back. We haven't done that too often this season, but I do remember Brent for making that change when we were under the cosh away at Fulham and it backfired. um Thomas Frank made that change. Fulham got two goals and we know what happened there. It did look like for a little period around that time as well, like we may have been content just to soak up pressure as well, which
00:26:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
concern me given that we're in the 88 for 89th minute and these days we know games carry on for at least 95 96 minutes with the amount of added time added on these days however Brentford did manage to come again for another spell and Brian and Bumo fed Kevin Shada again I thought his first touch looked like it may have got away from him um as it does quite regularly with Kevin Shada but it turned out to be brilliantly weighted actually it took him away from the defenders and it didn't quite go as far as landing at Nick Pope's feet. I wonder whether a better goalkeeper in terms of um being able to get off his line. They think Pope is the greatest at that in terms of playing out and getting off his line. As much as a good chopstopper he is, I do wonder whether someone else may have got there quicker and may have managed to get there before Shada. But you've got to give him credit. Again, brilliant and
00:27:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Brilliant quality in the finish, dinking it over Nick Pope. And again, several weeks ago, you could see someone like Kevin Charder missing those chances and um firing it straight at the keeper. So it is is really great to see from him starting to slow show flashes of quality in front of goal. And it is just a testament to the attacking talent that we have on display this season.
00:27:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that wrapped up what I think was our best win of the season so far. Newcastle, as I said at the start, a very, very good team but could not handle us offensively. And it does make me wonder to an extent why we're not able to repeat these to these offensive performances away from home we seem to find chances and goals a lot harder to come by away from home but this gives me confidence that we have shown we can do it against a really good team and ultimately in the end the pattern of the game didn't look too dissimilar to the likes of the Leicester game um last week and obviously some of the games before that as well so
00:28:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was great to see and I'm really excited to hopefully see Brentford continue to push on over the tough Christmas period. As the games do start to mount up, we are we are playing a lot of other teams um in and around us in Newcastle.
00:28:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah in some cases better as well. As we look ahead to Chelsea on Sunday, um although we have a very good record there, we will talk about it later in the week. But I think Chelsea are very, very good at the moment, better than they have been in previous years. so But that will do for today. Thank you for listening to the Lady Brentford podcast. We hope you've 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
Episode Conclusion and Future Outlook
00:29:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
forwards.
00:29:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Daily Brentford can be found on X, Instagram and TikTok under the handle at GSPN Brentford. We'll be back again tomorrow where we'll be having a deep dive into more tactical aspects of our weekend victory and asking, is a European charge this season realistic? Until then, from myself, thank you for being with me.