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Forecast Friday: Fortress...Stamford Bridge?!
55 Plays9 days ago
This is your Forecast Friday where we look ahead to our visit to Stamford Bridge which has proved a happy hunting ground for the Bees in the past. We ponder over whether Brentford should switch to a back 5 against the revitalised Blues and who should/should not make the team if we decide to do so. Further team news, predictions and a look back at our previous visits to Stamford Bridge also explored...
Host: Daniel Toppin
Instagram/X/TikTok: @gspnbrentford
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Transcript
Introduction and Brentford's Upcoming Match
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 looking ahead to our trip to our second most successful ground in the Premier League after the G-Tech in Stamford Bridge as we face Chelsea at the weekend. 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.
00:00:35
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Whether this is a five-star review and your favorite podcasting platform or recommendation to your friends, we are very grateful for any support that we receive.
Thomas Frank on Vitaly Janelt's Return
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So let's get straight into the team news for this one. Thomas Frank alluded to the possible return of Vitalia Nelt.
00:00:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
that would not surprise me as compared to most other players who get injured in the side i feel like you know is one of our more robust players he very rarely gets seriously injured so i do hope to see him back in the side i think it would be very useful to have him alongside norgaard for such a tough tougher away trip and obviously i did say in the intro that We are generally successful at Stanford Bridge, which we will talk about in the second
Brentford's Tactical Setup Against Chelsea
00:01:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
half. But I think where Chelsea are in the table and how they're doing this season, they are a bit of a different beast. And I think having, you know, a Norguard in there would just give us that extra layer of security and stability as well as Yarmulik did um against Newcastle. We could also point to the Spurs game and the Villa game where perhaps
00:01:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
He wasn't as positionally aware and as aware as when to go into the press and defensively solid, perhaps as Janelle and Norguard when they are placed together. So I'd very much hope to see that change back in. And hopefully this week, no nasty surprises with um a first team player coming out of the pitcher like we've had for the last couple of games with Norguard and with Janelle last Saturday.
00:02:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
This game also poses a question as to whether Brentford set up with a back four or a back five. As we know over the years, typically Brentford set up with a back five against the bigger sides, the big six sides, especially away from home. That's something we did even this season against Liverpool, against City. We didn't do it at Manchester United, but I think that may may show where Manchester United are. um Nowadays, I think we did it away at Tottenham as well. So I would not be surprised to see Brentford back in a back five for this one, particularly given the threats at Chelsea pose that they score more goals than anyone in the Premier League. Brentford a second in that statistic. And they are very dangerous. And we know we all know about the likes of Cole Palmer, who I don't think has
00:03:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
yet had a real storming game against Brentford but there's not many teams that he's not had a storming game against and if he's on it on Sunday night then he's he's got the ability to unlock any defence and really cause havoc likes Nicholas Jackson as well massively improved this season and scoring goals for fun if we do go with the back five I expect Christopher Iyer to slot back in probably at right wing back and then Vandenberg to step across to form a back three with Pinnock and Collins. Keen Lewis Potter, I would expect to
Midfield and Forward Line Strategy
00:03:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
continue at left wing back, I think, even if we were to play a back four this weekend. I don't think you can justify taking Keen Lewis Potter out of that back four. I know earlier in the season, we persisted with Ira at right back and Vandenberg at left back. I think it was the other way around. Ira at left back and Vandenberg at right back. but
00:04:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just think King Louis Potters looks so promising since he's come into the side. He gives us an extra dynamism and an attack as well. He kind of covers the left side himself. When we've got the ball, he's bombing on. He's like a left-winger. When the opposition has the ball, he's very good at getting back into position and defensively and one-on-ones, he's been much more solid than I expected him to be. I still would not be surprised if there's a game gain that where we where we see him struggle a little bit.
00:04:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
further down the line, I think in a way that's a little bit inevitable considering that he's only recently turned into the left back that were we are seeing at the moment and he is traditionally an attacking player. I think we've seen even the likes of Vandenberg who is only slightly out of position playing at right back have struggled on occasion this season such as against Garnapcho when we played Manchester United, that is the one.
00:04:54
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I particularly remember where Seth Vandenberg did not have a good day at all um
Chelsea's Form and Lineup Threats
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Global Sports Podcast Network
at full back on that occasion and probably would be more comfortable at centre back and I think if you're going to put one of Vandenberg and I at full back I think you want to have Ia there. I think Ia on the ball in terms of making runs forward and he will have license to do that if it's a back five because you already have the three centre backs there to hold the line. I think there will be more um
00:05:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
more reason for him to get forward like Keen Lewis Potter typically does on the left I think I will be able to do something similar on the right because we don't want to get pegged back in this game. The difficulty is if we do go over back five who do you play out front because you can assume Norguard and Janelle or Norguard and another um more defensive type player will probably, um, line up next to him, whether that is Yarmulik in that deeper role, whether that is Michal Dam's guard in a deeper role, which I've alluded to in the last couple of weeks. I still think that's an option. I still think he can do a deeper role. I think you do lose things, um, as I've discussed.
00:06:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
from him playing deeper, but I also think he's able to dictate a game. and I think he's able to spray passes forward in that position. I don't think it will necessarily stop him. But if you are playing a back five and if you are playing nor guard and you know, there's only
Brentford's Tactical Dilemma: Attack vs Defense
00:06:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
three spaces left and you would assume we'd still line up with the number 10, which will probably be dams guard. Although Fabio Carvalho did give a good account of himself last week. I think dams guard is very much number one. I think he's our best player.
00:06:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
At the moment, he's won the Brentford Player of the Month award, which he started doing for the last two months. And he has been almost unstoppable. And if you get him in a good position, he will feed, whether it's a boomer, whether it's a whistle, whether it's even Tiago, he will feed them and um hopefully produce chances. If he is in that number 10 role, then you've only got room for two more. And with Tiago starting last week,
00:07:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
it poses a question who would miss out from Mbuma, Wisser Tiago. You'd expect Brian Mbuma wouldn't miss out. I think he on ah on his day can also be one of our best players. and Last week we saw him return to form and um I think he's one of our most influential players even if he is not necessarily playing well he can maybe be the one to produce a moment.
00:07:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Whissa has been so good in front of goal. And I don't think you can drop him. I think his finishing ability, he only needs one chance and there's a very good chance he'll score. There's no one I'd back more in the side to take
Addressing Brentford's Away Struggles
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Global Sports Podcast Network
those chances. And and obviously in a way game like Chelsea, we may not get many chances. So I think you'd want him in the team, but then Tiago on the other hand, he is the outlet, he is the out ball.
00:07:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
If we do get penned in by Chelsea, which could happen um technically all over the pitch, they probably have players who are at a higher level, which is not anything to be ashamed of from a Brentford point of view. They spent a lot of money on the squad and it's all clicking for them at the moment. I think we would benefit from being able to go a bit longer at times. And I think you need to go up there if you are to do that, because he will um be a hassle for the Chelsea centre backs. He will.
00:08:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
get up and close, he will wing not down, so he'll hopefully be able to flick um flick passes on to the likes of Mbuma running through. So Thomas Frank has a big decision here. we We could either go over back four, which would allow the front three to play, and Dam's guard can go in the team as well. Lewis Potter, as we've seen in recent weeks, will be bombing up and down, and whoever's at right back, whether that's Io or Vandenberg, will be much more conservative on that side. but Will that leave us too open defensively? The other possibility is a backfire but then I don't see how you can fit all of Wisser and Bumo and Tiago into the side and I think if you're purely looking at this game from a tactical point of view, maybe you do have Tiago in there and maybe you do put someone like Brian or Wisser on the bench and
00:09:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
If I'm being really analytical, and this is probably quite controversial, I think out of the three, if I had to put someone on the bench for this specific game, I think possibly Brian and Boomer, and and that that's not something I've ever said before, but I think if if we get a chance, if we get a golden chance, I'd want Whistler on the end of that. More than anyone, I would want Whistler on the end of that. And in terms of the type of game this might be, if we want an Outball, if we want someone to hold things up, if you want someone to be big and strong and maybe win fouls high up
Chelsea's Preparation Advantage
00:09:56
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the pitch. Tiago is the only option to do that and at times if we are going to criticise Brian Abuma especially maybe the bigger games where we create less chances he has been missing at times or he's not made the most of the chances that we create
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Global Sports Podcast Network
He sometimes does that thing where he kind of cuts in and um puts a cross in, but um it it doesn't beat the first man. So I don't know. It's something for Thomas Frank to ponder over. I'm not the one that picks a team. um And if one of those three, whoever it is, is on the bench, they will be a fantastic option to bring off the bench alongside the likes of Carvalho and Machada. If they're on the bench too, especially if the game gets stretched, we need a bit of pace in behind.
00:10:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
In terms of Chelsea then, they played on Thursday afternoon in Kazakhstan, I believe, in very cold weather, but they feel at a very youthful squad, so it's unlikely to impact their preparation for this one.
00:10:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
with the likes of Cole Palmer not even registered in their conference e squad and the likes of Sancho, Fernandez, Quesedo, Lavia, Jackson. The list goes on. It's practically the whole first team did not travel to this one. I think Pedro Neto did play, but he only played half. um But that would probably tell me that the wingers on Sunday evening will be Sancho and Madeweke with um Palmer in the middle and Jackson up front. So the kickoff of Sunday at 7 p.m. UK time is was primarily because, to accommodate Chelsea because of this game in Kazakhstan, but as perhaps could have been predicted, because Chelsea had been playing very much a second string throughout this season in the conference league, it has not really impacted the preparation. So normally I'd be saying that, you know, Brentford have have had a whole week to prepare for this, which is true and to an extent. I don't think Chelsea would have done much work midweek um on this game with with another game in between, but in terms of the players,
00:11:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
a lot of them did not play on Thursday. out It also would not have surprised me
Brentford's Record at Stamford Bridge
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Global Sports Podcast Network
if Chelsea coaches were running two different sessions um in midweek, um one session to prepare, um the squad that played on Thursday and one session to prepare, um the squad that were going to play in this one. So I don't expect there to be too much effects of Chelsea's travels in midweek, even though, and so Maresca in his press conference was complaining a little bit about it, but That's what managers do these days, I guess. After the break, we will be going into our previous visit to Stamford Bridge and what we can expect on this occasion. And I will do my best to try and give you a prediction of the game at the end.
00:14:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to part two of your daily Brentford podcast. So let's have a little look then at our previous games against Chelsea in the Premier League era. Quite remarkably, our record at Stamford Bridge in the last few years is outstanding in the Brentford of one.
00:14:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Each of our last three visits there in the Premier League all by at least two goals and during that time we have outscored Chelsea by an aggregate of 8-1 and Chelsea got that one goal in a 4-1 defeat in Brentford's first season which is a screamer from way out made them take the lead that day but in the likes of Christy and Ericsson inspire Brentford to a comeback the last two years have been Two, two nil wins. I recall last season being one nil for a long time. So the game was very much in balance before Neil Malpe ran clear from, I think a Chelsea corner. um Robert Sanchez had gone forward for that corner too. He almost caught Neil Malpe running back to his goal. Neil Malpe wasn't the quickest, but instead of shooting into an empty net, Malpe opted to slide it to his left where Brian and Buma was there to tuck into an empty net.
00:15:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
By contrast to our and away our ah away form at Stanford Bridge, we only have two draws and a narrow one-nil defeat against Chelsea so far at the G-Tech. So I think um there's an element of going against the grain in terms of that record. I'm very much one to suggest that, unfortunately, I don't think we'll be winning at Stanford Bridge every season.
00:15:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I obviously came up with the opening line, but I do,
Strategies for Facing Chelsea
00:15:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I very much said that in jest and I, and I very much do think that this is one of those statistical quirks over the years. You know, we, we will probably have a sticky patch of standard bridge, especially as Chelsea start to return to form. Although I very much enjoyed it whilst it lasts and obviously Chelsea being another West London side, don't really see us as rivals given the history of the clubs and and where the clubs are typically been.
00:16:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
within the league pyramid over the years. But if there is one way to maybe start a little rivalry or make, or make Chelsea a bit wary of Brentford, then beating them eight one, um, by an aggregate score in the last few years in their own backyard is is one way to go about that. However, as I have raised in the first part of the podcast, Chelsea are a different beast this season. They are second in the premier league. They are probably quite clearly the second best team this season. I think they deserve to be there.
00:16:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
um one of their defeats is very early on against Manchester City. You can imagine if they played Manchester City tomorrow, or if they if they played Manchester City directly after their game in Kazakhstan, because both of the, most of the first team players didn't play, they they'd probably be able to beat Manchester City now. um Given Manchester City's issues, given Arsenal's issues early in the season with red cards, and even now they look a bit I don't want to say stale, but that they they don't look like their they're free flowing best. They're relying a lot on set pieces at the moment. Nothing wrong with that. But obviously that they got a draw last week at Fulham and they're not really going on a run. They're not convincing at the moment. Chelsea, however, are free scoring. As I said, they're the only team to score more than Brentford in the Premier League. So is this a game where Brentford needs to dig in and channel some of our previous performances away from home against the big six?
00:17:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is something that we have not managed to do this season, um whereas typically in our first three Premier League seasons, we've had so many brilliant results. um Obviously the game of the Etihad a couple of seasons ago now before the World Cup is a standout, but we've also had brilliant victories um at home as well against all of the big six over the years. So.
00:18:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
If I remember those games and how we played, Brentford were a much more compact side. we We accepted that the bigger club, Chelsea in this instance, will have most of the possession. We accepted that they will dominate large periods of the game, but we prided ourselves on defending the box, being solid and getting the ball forward quickly when we do get it. And and I think for the first time this season, this is something we can perhaps replicate at the weekend. And the difference is having Eagle Tiago in the side.
00:18:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
who wasn't in the side when we had visits to Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham earlier this season. and um He made his first start last week, so we we know he's fit enough now. And I just think here, do you want Brentford to go with a similar kind of tactic that we know that works? um
Predictions and Tactical Adjustments
00:18:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Much has been said this season of Brentford's new style of play. I love it. I think it's great. but We have struggled away from home and we have struggled against the top teams to get results against the top teams. If anything, this new style of play has helped us get results against teams that we're in and around um with perhaps exception of Newcastle who are a very good team um or teams towards the bottom of the table and in which a lot of our wins have come against. I think that is probably the best way to go in terms of trying to be a bit more compact. ah I would fear for Brentford if we
00:19:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
did try to play in the same way at Chelsea. I just fear that in terms of technical quality, they're better than us, that they will score goals. They will take advantage of our mistakes in defence.
00:19:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
it would potentially not be a very nice evening at Stanford Bridge if that happens. um Again, as I've discussed in the start, you do have the big selection dilemma um as to who you drop out of and boom and whistle around Tiago. If we do go with that back five and if we do go with that way of playing, and if we do go with that way of playing, as I said, you can't really drop Eagle Tiago in those circumstances. I think more likely out of the three, if if Thomas Rank is to go with two of them, although I said,
00:20:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'd maybe leave in Puma I think Thomas Frank is likely to more likely to leave Whistle or Tiago out the free and obviously if Tiago is left out you can expect to see Brentford approach this game similarly to how we have approached the games at the Etihad and Anfield earlier this season.
00:20:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
That poses a question, do Brentford play to that our strengths and go for an open game? As I said, Brentford have scored a lot of goals this season, only Chelsea have scored more. However, out of Brentford's 31 goals scored this season, only five of these have been away from home, which is a stark difference. and That's what I see in terms of our performances. I think we we try to play a similar way. Whereas at home, we still make those defensive mistakes at home and we do still can see goals at home. Hence the 4-2 victory last week and the 5-3 victory we've had this season. We've had a 4-3. I think we might have had a 3-2 as well. um And that shows that we are still making mistakes. We don't collect many clean sheets. Everton away is our only one.
00:21:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah in circumstances where we are perhaps forced to defend more than we wanted to um with being down to 10 men for more than half the game. so i My worry is if we try to play this way again, and this is something that we've done all season away from home, is that we seem to struggle to create the same chances going forwards.
00:21:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
on the road compared to at home, which means if we're still making the defensive mistakes but we're not getting those forward as regularly and we're not creating those chances that we create and take so often at the GTEC, then it doesn't point to a very good outcome. Having said that, is but it's prediction time now, so
00:21:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Unfortunately, i I do think that our winning run at the Stamford Bridge will end at the weekend. if If you offer me a draw now, I would absolutely take it. um I do expect maybe this not to be our day. I don't think we would get to this part in the season having not won away and then we can reasonably logically expect to go to Stanford Bridge and win given the shape that Chelsea are looking. So unfortunately, I'm going to go for 3-1 Chelsea. um I do think we'll score. I will always bat Brantford to score despite only having scored five goals away from home. We know that we can create chances. Logically, we are still playing on a football pitch. Logically,
00:22:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
That means that it should have made much difference wherever at home or away. um We know there are small
Conclusion and Listener Engagement
00:22:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
margins. We know the routines are slightly different when you play away. But you know this is a short journey across West London. um Obviously, the atmosphere will be more hostile than it is at the G-Tech and when we play in front of our home fans. But I expect Brentford to be back by a good number in the away end. And I do expect us to create some chances. And I do think we will score.
00:23:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I am going to hope for Igor Tiago's first goal in Brentford colours. That's quite a brave prediction as I'm not sure that Thomas Brent will start him. But in terms of my tactical preview, I think Igor Tiago will be key in this one and i and i and I think he does need to start. so that is my prediction we unfortunately so far have not been able to bring you across over episode this week there are some availability issues within the chelsea side um so there is a slight possibility we might be able to get you one before the game on sunday but if not this
00:23:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
is your preview episode. And I hope that I have covered everything that you need to know ahead of Brentford's game on Sunday. 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.
00:24:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Daily Brentford can be found on X Instagram and TikTok under the handle at GSPN Brentford. I'll be back again on Monday where we'll be reviewing the action from the weekend at Stanford bridge. It will be a full week of podcasts next week as we do have the cup quarter final next week. So I will prioritize getting out, getting you out an episode.
00:24:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
every day so we can get a preview and a review of our quarter final against Newcastle at St James's Park which I think is a massive game. I would love Brentford to win that and get to am the semi-final of a major cup competition, something that we've done once before but let's hope we can go a step further and maybe even get to the final this time. um Any semi-final of course will be two legged so There is every chance that Brentford can hopefully progress at another stage in and that we found difficult to play in. But we'll we'll we'll preview that next week. We'll review that next week. And then we'll, um towards the end of the week, obviously preview our game next Saturday at the G-Tech. But that will do for today, as I said. We'll be back again on Monday for the next episode, where I will be reviewing the action from Stamford Bridge. Until then, from myself, thank you for being with me.