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Tactics Tuesday: Brentford stat pack
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This is your Tactics Tuesday, where we analyse the statistical quirks of the Bees' season so far, considering whether we are one of the most up and down teams in the Premier League, and how we can maintain our outstanding attacking numbers whilst tightening up the defence.
Host: Daniel Toppin
Instagram/X/TikTok: @gspnbrentford
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Transcript
Brentford's Season Overview
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to another episode of the Daily Brentford Podcast with myself, Daniel, where today we'll be analyzing the stats behind Brentford season so far and what an interesting season it is. I think what I've noticed from Brentford statistically is that we are very much on the opposite ends of so of the spectrum in regards to multiple different statistics. Before we get into it, 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.
00:00:41
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as we look to bring you the best and most in-depth coverage across the entire network. Whether this is a five-star rating on your favorite podcasting platform or a recommendation to your friends, we are very grateful for any support that we are able to receive. So then let's kick off with possibly or arguably the most um obvious um statistic to
Goal Scoring vs. Defensive Concerns
00:01:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
see. um Just watching Brentford's recent games on the eye, particularly the latest games at the G-Tech,
00:01:10
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3-2 win at the weekend against Borlaff, the-3 against Ipswich and the 5-3 against Wolves. Brentford have scored the second most goals in the entire Premier League this season with 22, which is level with Manchester City and one goal behind Tottenham, who hi who are the highest scorers in the league despite having their own issues and being actually level on points with Brentford.
00:01:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
On the flip side, we have not kept a single clean sheet this season, conceding 22 goals, which is level it level with It's Rich Town and only Wolves who have conceded 27 have conceded more. Following Wolves' is clean sheet at the weekend against Southampton, we are now the only side yet to keep a clean sheet.
00:02:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, as I've referred to, results have not necessarily been too bad at Brentford, with the wins coming at the GTEC. But how sustainable is this moving forward?
Sustainability of Key Players' Impact
00:02:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, as we discussed in yesterday's episode, Brentford and the number of goals that they scored are mostly reliant on Brian and Puma and Jana and Whissa. They have scored 15 of Brentford's goals between them.
00:02:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
leaving seven of the goals shared out between the rest of the side. I think having them two in the side, Brian on his best goal scoring season and Joanne Whistle also on his best goal scoring season but but but perhaps being given more opportunities and obviously playing in his, what I think is his favorite position down the middle. I think that has belled us out to an extent this season. There is perhaps a question mark over whether they can Maintain those runs over a full season and what would happen if they started missing more of the chances. I Hope that doesn't happen. I think a lot of the
00:03:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
reason that they've scored a lot of goals is because Brentford are very good at creating high quality opportunities. That's why I think even the likes of Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins before him, Neil Morepay before him, Brentford always in recent years seem to have a high scoring forwards and I don't always think that's just down to the ability of the forward I think it is.
00:03:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
very much also down to the ability of loads around him. I think someone like Whissa in particular, if you put him in a very low performing team who don't create many chances, I'm not sure his output would be as good. I think Whissa particularly relies on chances being created for him and him being put through on goal. Obviously he has he has to have the movement to be able to do that.
00:04:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
and he has to have the finish to be able to score the goals he's scoring, but it is definitely helped by, for example, at the weekend, you're now putting him through on goal for his second of the game. I think there will be some days, even if Whistler and Abuma both have generally good seasons where we won't take all of the chances that we create, I think,
00:04:29
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better teams that come to the G-Tech may be more solid defensively and we may struggle at times.
Home vs. Away Performance
00:04:35
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My one criticism at times of Brian and Bumo is that he doesn't always always turn up against the better teams and that is what maybe maybe is stopping him at the minute from being really considered amongst the elite.
00:04:51
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it's obviously it's a very difficult thing to do it's an even more difficult thing to do playing for a team like Brentford who have less of the ball against those sides and it will be interesting to see when the big boys do come to the G-Tech how we can keep scoring goals if we do and whether the results will turn or vice versa
00:05:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Then there's also a question as whether the statistics, particularly regarding conceding goals, is affecting our waveform. We do have the very best home record in the Premier League, and we do have the very worst away record in the Premier League, but we are yet to earn a point on the road. It is our best home start, however, since 2004, and four the majority of those years we've not even been in the Premier League.
00:05:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's a difficult one when you look at our fixes as well. It's something we spoke about in pre-season. We were looking at our first few home games and they seem more favorable than the iron. We were looking at our first few away games and they seemed like some of the toughest games we'd have all season. So to an extent that can explain both the good home form and the away form. Like I said in yesterday's episode, I think Borma for the best team we've beaten this season, the best team to come to the G-Tech and we got the three points.
00:06:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
So where we are at, maybe it is. Maybe we are at a mid table level, top half level. I think it is probably yet to be really understood. Where exactly we are. I think the league is so close to the minute with three teams between three points sorry between third and 11th is extremely unpredictable. And I've not seen a Premier League table like that. It reminds me more of the championship. Sometimes we get teams just bunched together.
00:06:44
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I think away from home just generally is more likely for most teams in the entire Premier League to be better at home than they are away from home. And I think typically we are more likely to be under pressure away from home than at home. And it is harder to react to certain things away from home, especially when the crowd gets their tails up and the momentum is with the home side.
00:07:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And in those situations, I feel like it is valuable to be more solid defensively. And but perhaps our emphasis on attack when it doesn't work, like it gets fuller, it results in a pretty solid display. And although I would say at times we have got gotten away with being quite poor defensively, other teams perhaps not taking all their chances in the score line at the end, not looking too bad.
00:07:41
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but it is definitely something Thomas Strank will be keen on cleaning up. He, in his early stages at Brentford, in our first couple of seasons in the Premier League, Brentford prided themselves on being solid at the back.
Defensive Strategies and Challenges
00:07:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've still got some of the same personnel. Chrissie Norgard is still um but protecting the defence. We've got Ethan Pinnock still in the defence. A brilliant defender in his own right. I do think Thomas Strank will want that tightened up and He said in his press conference after the Bournemouth game that it's just a matter of time before we get a clean sheet. I do think we'll get one. i Whether that's sustainable though and whether we'll get regular clean sheets and whether we'll pull away from the bottom two or three in terms of goal conceded, I don't know. Which is something that could be of concern later this season and and there could be the odd game where we do get thumped by three or four goals as a result.
00:08:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
and if it doesn't work going forwards and if we do not improve defensively and that that is the concern about These highest scoring games perhaps being unsustainable throughout our whole season Is our attacking attitude resulting in more wins against teams that we could be expected to beat but less shocks against bigger opposition I Think so the results we've had so far would suggest so we have managed to get a head in games against teams that seem to be bigger and better, such as Manchester City, Tottenham, Manchester United, for example. But we cannot sustain that performance. We cannot sustain that attacking output for 90 minutes and we cannot avoid periods in those games where we're under pressure. And when we've been under pressure, perhaps we've crumbled a bit too easily. Perhaps we've been a bit bit too brave, a bit too brave in terms of going man for man at times.
00:09:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
the harlan goal when he was just one-on-one against pin next brings to mind maybe we could go back to basics a bit more often than just be a very difficult team to beat against some of these bigger sides which brought a success in in the first one or two seasons in the Premier League despite people some people maybe not liking the backfire formation that we used to put out against those sides but Maybe maybe it is it is affecting our results against those ties, but at the same time, it's very difficult to adapt your style week in, week out. And what we are seeing perhaps is the more attacking attitude resulting in more wins against teams around us that we perhaps could be expected to be, or teams that are considered to be more on equal ground with us. And I think that certainly paid off at home. And then the fact that we've avoided draws generally, apart from against West Ham,
00:10:27
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you can say that the fact that we're winning games more than we're drawing games that will ultimately result in more points because you can draw three in a row or you can win one and then lose the other two. So it is always, but I think, best to go for the win. And in terms of going forward, it's not something we want to lose, even if we do try to be more solid defensively.
00:10:53
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In terms of our strengths and weaknesses, and it's really an interesting one. We are changing our style this year. We are trying to be more progressive with the ball. We are more going to a way that's perhaps similar to how we played in the championship, whereas our strength in the first one or two seasons in the Premier League are probably our directness, our defensive ability, our ability from set pieces, which I do think is still there and these days. I think we have definitely kept that.
00:11:22
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Is the loss of Ivan Tony a reason for the way we're playing with how we're playing now? Will it will we see an adaption back to being it a bit more adaptable when a bit more changeable depending on the circumstances, depending on the game, when Igor Tiago returns to the squad? Possibly. I think it would be definitely helpful against those those top teams in the league. I think perhaps the weakness in defence is down to the system rather than in individuals within that system because I think Pinnock has been there throughout the Premier League years. I still think that his ability on the ball, although that can be improved, I think his defensive ability and his ability to be a real defender, winning tackles, putting his body on the line, winning aerial draws, I think it's there still.
00:12:12
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Nathan Collins, I think, has got so much better this season. We've seen a consistency in his performance. He has been brilliant and imperious at the back. Christopher Iyer, when he's played at full back, has looked quite impressive. Vandenberg, on the whole, has looked at his settles in quite well, and if anything, his strength is playing out from the back. There are still question marks about full backs, the lack of them.
00:12:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
and it will be interesting to see what changes if anything if Rika Henry is back fit and firing perhaps that is the answer to our defensive weakness in some ways or perhaps if we are still trying to be brave it is more down to the system and if you're going to score more goals ultimately you've got to accept conceding more at the other end All in all it's good to watch and rent for in a good place in the league tab at the moment so I don't necessarily think there's an urgent need for things to change but it is frustrating and it will be something that we continue to talk about the long longer this clean sheet takes and the longer we are putting up numbers in terms of goals conceded up there with the very worst in the league which is concerning in terms of sustainability
00:13:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
and because it's a pattern of us conceding lots of goals.
Points Dropped from Winning Positions
00:13:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
We have shown this season in terms of scoring goals that we score a lot in home games but we struggle a bit more away from home and I hate to keep bringing up that full-on game but I think that was a game where we showed that we really did struggle to play as an attacking force that day and therefore it's something that we have to keep up. We have to really keep going from an attacking sense if we are going to keep playing like this defensively and that is the only worry that it may not be sustainable for the season. After the break we'll be looking at over some other trends that have emerged from the Brentford squad so far this season.
00:15:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to part two of the daily Brentford podcast. We are looking at some statistics and trends which have involved Brentford so far this season. We've already spoken about how we are free scoring going forwards, but perhaps quite leaky at the back and how that might be sustainable or not sustainable going forward this season. Now I want to talk about some trends that have unfortunately in most part run over from last season that includes a number of points Brentford had dropped from winning positions. Now last season Brentford dropped 30 points from winning positions which was the most in the Premier League and second most was Burnley I believe on 27 points. We are currently on 14 points dropped from winning positions this season which is also the most in the Premier League and given we are not halfway through the season yet
00:16:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
We are on course to pass last season's total of 30 points. What is the reason for that? Obviously, of this season, we've seen Brentford score a number of early goals, including early goals at the Etihad, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. And I think in those circumstances, it is just perhaps a lot to ask Brentford to still, you know, with 90 minutes to go win at those stadiums, we'd have to be perfect to win at those stadiums. I don't necessarily think it is something we should be ashamed of the fact that we did not manage to see out a 1-0 at the Etihad with 90 minutes to go. So I think to some extent, we have created a Rodfro back in that extent. I think if anything, d do you have to consider where the brethren just take the lead a lot, which is not a
00:17:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
negative thing. I've looked back at every Premier League game this season and Brentford have been in the league in every game at some point with the exception of Liverpool away. And if we had won all those games, we'd be sitting top of the Premier League at the moment. But that's not how it works. The Premier League is a very challenging league. Brentford and Brentford's ambitions, although we'd love to win the league, are not at that level. The players that we have are not at that level. We can't expect that of the team. So the fact that We have dropped the 14 points, the 44 points in a season and a half. It doesn't sound good, but perhaps part of that is just due to Brentford taking the leading games a lot. On the other hand, we've spoken a lot about Brentford being unable to see our leads, Brentford even late on in games throwing away leads, the Fulham game, the Manchester United game,
00:18:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's been a number of games this season where we have had good periods in the game and then we've fallen away and we've been succumbed to extreme pressure and the fact we can see so many goals doesn't surprise you that we then go on to concede goals. Is there an inclination from the squad to sit back late on? I think sometimes when you are aware and the players must be aware of the points they drop from winning positions going back to last season,
00:18:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Perhaps there's an unconscious need or want to protect the lead when you've got the lead. Now Thomas Frank is very anti-defense sometimes. He loves to make positive changes. He loves to try and see out a win by getting that second goal, getting that extra goal, getting two goals ahead.
00:19:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
and that showed in his substitutions against Bournemouth, bringing Charder on for Norguard, I think it was. Alternatively, against Fulham, we saw him bring on Ben Meath with Brian Abooma to try and see out the lead, which did not work, and you wonder whether Thomas Frank has learnt from that. Maybe that encouraged the team to sit back even further. Maybe that encouraged the team to just sit in. We saw Ross have made that rash clearance, and Fulham came straight back up with us. We didn't really intend to play football in those last few minutes.
00:19:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
and maybe that punished us and I think we saw an element of nervousness in a way in the last two minutes against Bournemouth perhaps maybe that was just because we had had an experience just a few days prior where we had lost a lead in added time. It's something to think about and it's something that Thomas Ragg I'm sure will want to address And again, it's something that's in contrast for our first couple of years in the Premier League, where for a long, long time, Brentford did not drop any points when we went ahead in games, yet we went ahead in less games, ultimately, back then. So it's something to think about. There's positives and negatives to all of that.
Game Management and Key Performances
00:20:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I also want to talk about some difficulties Brentford had in managing game stay at certain times in a game. It was raised to Thomas Frank before the Bournemouth game that Brentford have conceded 15 goals within a 20 minute period.
00:20:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
and nine goals within a 10 minute period of taking a lead in the Premier League since August 2023. I have said on the podcast before that we have a habit at times of conceding in twos, sometimes Ipswich being a good example when they raced into a two nil lead and we just couldn't soak up the pressure. And in my eyes, sometimes Brentford are not adaptable enough in game. This is situations when maybe we're playing out from the back and it's not working, we're getting regularly pressed, we're we're losing the ball high at the pitch regularly. In that moment, I feel we need a leader to, whether that comes from the sidelines, whether that comes from Christian Norgard, we need someone to say, okay, next five minutes, let's just get the ball up the pitch. Let's just go along with our goal kicks. Let's try and ease some pressure. Let's try and get momentum back. Let's try and get ourselves back in the game. And then,
00:21:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe after that, once we soaked up the pressure, we can start trying to pull out for a bit um um and we can try again. Ultimately, if we go long sometimes, it might make the opposition aware that we could do that. And it might mean that they have less men prepared to come forward in the press in case they get caught in behind. So it's something, and that's just an example, I think there's there's many things you can do in different game states sometimes as well.
00:22:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've seen perhaps Flecken be a bit too quick with his distribution from a goal kick. A bit too quick when he's just caught the ball and he he wants to try and release someone on the counter. We saw against Sheva Wednesday in the cup. Him trying to do that when he was in a very comfortable position and it maybe wasn't needed in the time and obviously the the the throw was intended for Sharda. Sharda may have got a touch on it but ultimately it led to a Sheva Wednesday goal. This is something that I think Brentwood can get better in I think.
00:22:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Momentum is such an important thing, especially in the Premier League, when when the quality is so high and every team in the league has quality to hurt you, as do we to other teams, which is why we've scored so many goals. And when we've got momentum, we've shown that we can do it too, and we've shown that we can score in quick succession, like we also did against H-Witch, making it 2-0 from 2-0 down. Equally, at times, Brentford have kicked off from within a minute or two, scored a goal. So again, I think it,
00:23:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's you got to read the room to an extent. You've got to. There's nothing wrong with that kickoff routine. We do it get against the ball up the field. If we don't score from it, then usually we're not in danger of imminently conceding. If we do, then it's a great way of getting momentum back straight away. I love that. And I think he found deserves loads of credit for that, for coming in after a highly rated set piece coach and Bernardo Quaver is now at Chelsea.
00:23:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
and he's almost reinvented the kickoff, which has not been seen before, not turned, not to this regularity in the Premier League and such success that we've had this season. There are other situations where I think we should just be a bit more adaptable in game in order to try and get momentum back, which is not an easy thing to do, but we're in front of playing at a very high level now. Moving on then, I i just want to finish this podcast and point out the some some of the high achieving individuals Brentford have this season. Again, the obvious obvious one here is Brian and Bummo and Jan Wisser's goal rates only earning Harlan a score more than Bummo. And Wisser has seven goals in seven games. Brian obviously has the eight goals, but has played every game. Wisser, especially I said in yesterday's podcast, very underrated. I can see Bummo maybe going on to bigger and better things.
00:24:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Whistler is slightly older, I just don't necessarily see the interest in him from other clubs, which I am incredibly pleased about, of course, but I think his ability in front of goal is underrated. I think, again, at the weekend against Bournemouth, we saw him back with the link-up play. There had perhaps been slightly lacking since he returned from injury. He was slightly rusty with that, but we saw how good he can be in linking up the attack.
00:24:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
again at the weekend. In defence, even though we could see the most goals in the league, Nathan Collins has made the most blocks in the Premier League of 24 and he's won the third most aerial battles. I think that shows again how much he's improved this season and how he's really standing himself out as a commanding centre back who is also pretty comfortable in the ball. Ethan Pinnock has the second most clearances with 65 and he's won behind the leader in that category.
00:25:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that's something Pinnock's always been good at. It would surprise me if he wasn't always up there. I would expect him to be up there in aerial battles as well. Mark Flecken has the most saves in the Premier League with 55. I think that's a lot of attitude to Brentford, perhaps allowing a lot of long shots on goal. Full in games brings to mind, I think before they scored their goals, we did restrict them to a lot of long shot efforts, which I think we're pretty happy to concede, knowing that it had to be a very good effort to result in a goal.
00:25:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Miquel Damsgaard is joint fourth in the assist charts with four only behind Pekaya Saka, Mohamed Salah and Cole Palmer. So these are the kind of company that some of our best players this season are making and I've pointed out Abumo, Wisser, Collins, Pinnett, Flecken and Damsgaard there but there are more players this season who are performing for Brentford. I think Kenos Potter is getting better every week just needs to add some kind of numbers I think Norgard is always quietly brilliant.
00:26:33
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A lot of the time it may go unnoticed. He must be very high up in terms of interceptions in the league. Janelle has improved in recent weeks. He's really starting to show quality on the ball. So there's a lot to be excited about um about Brantford, which is what I want to raise.
Optimism and Future Improvements
00:26:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think it shows how good Thomas Rank is at ultimately getting the best out of the squad.
00:26:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
and raising their level and challenging the best in the world and the best in the country in the best league in the world. And going into the international break with the league as close as it is, I think there is everything to be optimistic on, but at the same time, a lot to work on, which I think is a very good position to actually be in because we will not be sat there thinking we're in the finished article, yet we'll have a lot of hope that we can move forward. So that will do for today.
00:27:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you for listening to Daily 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 get bigger and better moving forwards. Daily Brentford can be found on X, Instagram, and TikTok under the handle at GSPN Brentford. We'll be back again tomorrow where we will have your wildcard Wednesday. Until then from myself, thank you for being with us.