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Midweek Match Review: Familiar Problems on the Road
46 Plays16 days ago
This is your Midweek Match Review, where we look back on a tough night at Villa Park as the Bees fell to a 3-1 defeat. We consider the impact of missing Norgaard and Jensen, Thomas Frank's substitutions and what needs to change in order to get our first three points on the road.
Host: Daniel Toppin
Instagram/X/TikTok: @gspnbrentford
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Transcript
Brentford's Defeat and Missing Players
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to another episode of the Daily Brentford Podcast with myself, Daniel, where today we we will be reviewing familiar problems on the road as Brentford fell to defeat at Villa Park on Wednesday evening.
00:00:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
just before we get going guys we are a brand new company so we are 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 favorite podcasting platform or a recommendation to your friends we are very grateful for any support that we receive So let's start with team news and although we half expected Matthias Jensen to be out following his injury where he had to come off against Leicester last weekend, missing Christian Norguard in the middle as well did come as a surprise.
Yarmolek's Performance and Challenges
00:01:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thomas Frank said after the game that it was a minor injury and he's hoping to see him back for Newcastle, but we will see about that.
00:01:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think to lose both Jenson and Norguard at once was a problem. It meant that Yarmolek came in for the second start of the season. Of course, he's a he's a young player and I i like Yarmolek on the ball. I think he is very good at picking passes. He's quite composed, but I think sometimes with younger players, what doesn't quite come naturally to them, is their positional awareness, when to press, how to support, you know, in that um position.
Midfield Vulnerabilities Without Norguard
00:01:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
And unfortunately, Villa away, I thought this was one where you need a double pivot, some nor garden, you know, um together with each other to provide a defensive screen to the back line. And I don't think your modiac provided that screen, I think,
00:02:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
having Janelle back was an obvious one um so if it was just Jens and Al I thought Janelle was slot back in there and there wouldn't be too many issues but missing Norguard as well I think Janelle again although he can cover Norguard's number six position I do think he's more better as a box-to-box player the like The last time, you know, and you know, I'm early excited. The game together was talking them away. And obviously that, that the gate, the pattern of that game essentially followed a similar pattern to this one. And I just thought it resulted in a gaping hole at times in our midfield. I think it was too easy to play through. I think there was too many one-on-ones going on in different areas of the pitch. And when you play a team,
00:02:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
With the quality of Aston Villa, you're going to get punished. And you know that's perhaps why we haven't been punishing some of our home games against teams that maybe we can consider ourselves slightly better technically than.
Paris Maghoma's Unexpected Role
00:03:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
um One player I did not expect to see at all in this game was Paris Maghoma. Of course, he spent last season on loan at Bolton Wanderers in league one, got to the playoff final, I believe, but which they lost, but he was voted their young player of the season.
00:03:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he picked up an injury in and around preseason, has been training with Brentford's first team since, has been on the bench a few times I think this season, but it was a shock in the second half when he came on. I'm not sure it's the ideal debut for a young player coming into the Premier League. It's quite a baptism of fire away at Aston Villa at a time when we're struggling.
00:03:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think really you want players like that making their debuts in games like Leicester at the weekend where we have fallen up, um doing well and then he can come on with some freedom and get comfortable in the team. Having said that, I thought Paris Mahakoma didn't really put a foot wrong. I thought he looked good on the ball, his passing was crisp. um And I thought, I do just think It, it, this situation occurred as a result of not having the depth, um, in central midfield, if you enter nor guard, you now are out. You've obviously got dams guard as well, but after them for you are looking at the likes of Yarmulio, my coma and Konak, who was on the bench as well, all of which maybe would benefit from maybe a loan. Obviously my coma has been alone before, but maybe he would benefit from a championship loan step and step up in the right way towards the premier league.
00:04:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Malcoma did well um and he he wasn't the reason we lost this game far from it but I think it just showed her lack of death in that area of the pitch on top of her lack of depth at full back which has been well documented throughout the season.
Thomas Frank's Tactical Decisions
00:04:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought during the game Thomas Frank made the wrong subs. Tiago and Carvale were the obvious two to come on and they did come on but I felt that they should have perhaps come on to add an extra attacker to the side.
00:05:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's quite usual and Thomas Frank does this a lot where he will add an extra attacker, even some games when we're winning, if to to go for the next goal, to go for the win. And I feel like we didn't really do that here. I feel like yeah even at 3-1, when we started to have a lot of corners and we started to look like we might create something, we didn't want to take that next step and go for it. I do i do then think that You know, when he came off, could you have brought Carvalho on and put Damsguard in the deeper role alongside, you know, but we know how creative Damsguard can be anyway. And i think I think he can do that in some role. um And although you might lose something from him in the final third, you'll have Carvalho there too. Obviously, see if we're, if we've got a period of sustained pressure, Damsguard can still support with that.
00:06:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I also felt that I would have liked to see Tiago and Whistler on the pitch together rather than a straight swap between them. I think I would really like to see Tiago obviously try and winning the jewels with um opposition centre backs, knocking the ball down, trying to get Whistler onto the ball and seeing what could come off of that. But we never tried it. and we've We've still not seen them together. and I just feel like what situation are we going to see them together if this isn't the kind of situation that We look for it because, you know, these subs, if we had made them, could have resulted in us losing by more goals, but they could have also resulted in us getting back into the game. And I think in those circumstances, it is a risk worth taking. On Thomas Frank's third, fourth sub, sorry, um after Mekoma, Carvalho and Tiago, we saw Roslev come on for Keen Lewis Potter. And now I'm really not sure what was going on there.
00:07:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
mainly because the key Lewis Potter out of the back four is the only one who will offer some kind of attacking threat. I've spoken about a lot on the podcast that King Lewis Potter is the one that tends to go forward. Vandenberg or or whoever is at right back kind of sits in then to enable King Lewis Potter to dive forward. And again, I think taking King Lewis Potter off took that option away.
00:07:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mads Ross level though at times can be quite solid defensively is not an attacking fallback in the same way I would have perhaps understood that substitution more if it was Vandenberg making way.
Aston Villa's Exploitation of Midfield Gaps
00:07:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
In relation to Aston Villa, Emi Martinez did make the squad in goal despite coming off injured at the weekend against it's Chelsea. Tyrone Mings made his first Premier League start following a long injury layoff and I think perhaps on the defense in general, but particularly on him having not had too many minutes. I don't think we put enough pressure on him. I think we could have done more. And that is something that we might be disappointed about. Apart from that, we saw from fellow, the usual suspects, Ollie Watkins, who I said, always goes against Brentford scored again. And Morgan Rogers was very, very good as well. He ran the show and took advantage.
00:08:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
of gaps in our midfield and the lack of presence that someone like Norguard would give us just in terms of being a calming presence and helping us retain the ball and getting getting interceptions in and holding our shape. After the break then I will be going into the game itself and analysing goal by goal.
Defensive Mistakes and Conceding Goals
00:09:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, welcome to part two of the daily Brentford podcast with myself, Daniel. Let's go into the game. Then I thought Brentford started okay. I felt we were in the game and I think you could sense a couple of nervy moments from Aston Villa, um, particularly losing the ball in quite deep positions. I thought they moved the ball very slowly at times. It looked a bit like we, like we referred to in the preview, a team that have played a lot of games this season and not used to being in the champions league.
00:09:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And that catching up on them a bit and obviously the lack of confidence they would have taken from their recent form Not being very good, which is why they started the day below Brentford in the table Having said that I thought we then gave them confidence and Started from their first goal. I thought it was a great finish from Morgan Rogers curling it into the top corner There's nothing Flecken could have done Could we have got out team quicker? I think so. I think i think we should be looking to close that down. I do also think that Brentford in general were quite happy to concede long shots against opposition, knowing that it would take an effort like that, a top effort to result in a goal. Generally, we're happy to concede long shots and most of the time they won't hit the target or Flecken will make a comfortable save. Then we move on to the penalty incident.
00:10:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
First of all, regardless of whether it's a penalty or not, it is not nice to see Ethan Pinnock getting the wrong side of his man. Ethan Pinnock being beaten to it. Ethan Pinnock perhaps not looking as quick and sharp as he has done in the past. We have given Pinnock a lot of praise in the past. um He was Brentford's Player of the Season last season. He's been such a key member of our team for many, many years now.
00:11:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
he there was a period last season where I was saying um that he's one of the best centre backs in the Premier League but perhaps outside the top six clubs and I think this season we are seeing slight signs of him slowing down a but little bit. um We have obviously changed our style um and we're trying to be braver on the ball and I don't think it suits him. I think He is not a modern center back in the way that someone like Collins is, and even Vandenberg and Chris Iyer when he's fit. I think he struggles playing out from the back as effectively as Collins. He's not terrible at it, but he he does struggle um more than Collins does. I think there's often in games you see one of Brentford's center backs.
00:12:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
high up the pitch man marking someone like Watkins whoever whoever's up front for the opposition and it results in a lot of one-on-ones because the other centre back is back in the defensive line marking somebody else Villa or any other opposition, if they have good movement, they can find a way and they can find holes in our defense because of that movement that that we do and the brave style that we go with and the fact that we try and go one on one with the opposition to try and win those jewels and therefore dominate the game. I think Pinnock does struggle for that a bit. I think he would appreciate some more support from the likes of Collins and defenders nearby him to and ensure that he is not isolated.
00:12:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
in so many situations. Having said that, Watkins did get through on goal. He swung a foot at the ball, completely missed the ball, went down. I have to say even dating back to his Brentford days, only Watkins does have a bit of previous when it comes to going down quite easily in the box. I remember the cup game against Barnet many years ago where he um basically robbed, robbed Barnet of getting something out of the game by by diving for a penalty, essentially against a national league team at the time, and obviously they still are. and I think this was a little bit similar. I think ethan piock if there was contact, it was very, very minimal contact. It's certainly not enough to um cause him to go down in a heap like he did. you know so Strikers do these days ah what Kinz, although I've just said that about him, I don't suspect he's the only one or will be the last person to do it.
00:13:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
i am think that is one that if it wasn't given by the referee it wouldn't be overturned but it's also probably one of them if it is given given there is a slight touch pink Pinnock doesn't get anywhere near the ball um does therefore result in a penalty and again is it clear an obvious error I don't know but I think it was harsh I think it's very harsh Um, Flecken came so close to saving it.
Halftime Struggles and Momentum Loss
00:14:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
The ball wasn't quite in the corner. He got a hand to it. It just needs to be a stronger hand. I suspect he'll be a bit disappointed with that. But obviously we're two down at that point. and And all of a sudden we went three nil down. We're in a 13 minute first half period. We've seen that happen before. We've spoken about that many times in the podcast at Brentford.
00:14:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
sometimes struggle to manage the gate the state of the game. We sometimes struggle to wrestle momentum back. We sometimes struggle to to slow the game down and frustrate the opposition during periods where they are dominant. um And I don't think we're very adaptable when it comes to doing that. I think, um you know, we've spoken about before and I won't go into it too much now, but, you know, perhaps going longer or just just not doing the same thing over and over again regardless of the score in the game situation you've got to be a bit clever in certain circumstances and recognize that you're under the cosh and just you know do everything you can to stop that momentum even if it is making more files even if it is stopping villa picking up a yellow card at times i think that is something we need to do slightly more
00:15:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
There was a question with a third goal of Ollie Watkins interfering with play from an offside pet position shades of the decision that wasn't given or something that was given um in the Southampton Brighton game last week where Southampton gate goals ruled out. Perhaps it was similar.
00:15:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah what kids did make an attempt to go for the ball, whether this affected Flecken, I pretty much doubt. I didn't really agree with the decision in the Southampton Brighton game. So I can't say I'm too aggrieved with the decision here. However, I just wish there was some consistency and I appreciate that. It's very difficult to achieve when football is a subjective game. A lot of these fouls are subjective fouls or subjective or size chords and it is down to the interpretation of the individual. and Anyway, that put Brentford 3-0 down at the break and after the break I will be trying to sum up how Brentford tried to get back into the game in the second half.
Brentford's Tactical Bravery and Challenges
00:17:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome to part three of the Daily Brentford Podcast and let's get into the second half. I thought the second half started quite similarly. We were quite sloppy. We gave away a number of corners, three or four in a row at one point. We did continue to concede chances. There was a good Mark Fleckens say from a Watkins header. And it does pose a question as to whether Brentford are to open on the road and whether we do perhaps need to be more conservative at times.
00:17:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
not go so much one-on-one, um be a bit be a bit less brave. I think we're being too brave at times, which can sometimes go into naivety. And I think against maybe the better teams in the league, we've got to recognise that you know there there there are different ways to win a game and and we've got to be a bit cleverer with our approach, a bit more conservative.
00:18:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like we have done successfully over the years, it's not like this is something that Brentwood haven't done in the past. We've had many results in the three and a bit years in the Premier League, um where Brentford have beaten and either the best teams in the country or or teams that are considered on paper to be better than us. This year, we've kind of had the opposite problem. We've beaten the teams that are lower down than us who are newer to the Premier League than us. um But we tend to be struggling against these teams. And I understand it's it's difficult to coach.
00:18:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
style and then be able to change it all the time depending on who you're playing it's difficult to then be good at everything and it probably is easier just to train one thing and get really really good at that and keep getting better at that.
00:18:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
However, i do I do think, as I said, we we could be a bit more adaptable.
Michal Dam's Guard's Goal
00:18:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Brevard did, however, threaten more in the second half, and it was a great finish from Michal Dam's guard, my player of the season so far, who continues to flourish. It was a great goal. It was into the roof of the net. its From the away end, actually, it didn't look as good as it was. um I thought there were less bodies in between him and the goal.
00:19:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
um and and the finish he chose was perfect right into the roof of the net. you know I imagine in those circumstances it's hard not to blast a ball over, but it is so great to see Dam's guards continuing to flourish and the confidence coming from him and he is really becoming that player now who can run things for the team, who creates everything, everything good we do seems to go through him and that's probably why I would have started in the deeper role um next to Janelle in the event that um
00:19:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Norgard and Yezza couldn't play, which was they couldn't. I just think that he has more authority in the team and that he would have been able to dictate, play better. And he would have been more intelligent in terms of his positioning. And he is a hard worker as well. He will press, he will do that work. And I think he can do that role.
00:20:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Obviously, ideally, you'd have Jens in there or you'd have Norgard and Janelle together there. But if needed, and Dam's Guard has done it this season in in one of the home games, I think Dam's Guard can do that deeper role too. Let's then... Not too much happened in the rest of the game in terms of Brent for getting back into it. It was very much half and half. We had a few corners. Never really threatened to get back into the game. and It's never a nice midweek at an away game. Don't get home till 1 a.m. I didn't get home till 1 a.m. Wasn't the fall away end. Wasn't the best atmosphere. These things happen, I guess. But we will move on to the next one.
Key Player Performances
00:20:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just in terms of performances, I want to talk about a few players. Kevin Schadler, I thought, was back to his usual self, which is not a good thing from what we've seen this season anyway. um
00:21:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think he struggled a bit more. I think this is a level up from what Leicester produced against us at the weekend, which obviously he thrives in. I do want to see or see more confidence coming from him. I thought he would get that from the hat-trick of the weekend, but I still had to see that. he's He's proven he can do it and he's he's just got to now work on his consistency. And talking of consistency, I thought Brian and Buma was quiet again and my thoughts are that he should not be immune from being subbed I don't necessarily think he should have been subbed yesterday because I think Shada probably was um performing at a lower level to him so Shada was the one to come off and I think rightly so but in in the past you know even at the weekend when Shada came off I think bryan was Brian was quieter and I think there's been games in the recent past the last three or four weeks where Brian has been quiet and I don't think
00:21:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
He should be immune to being subbed off if if um others are doing a better job and we want to bring an extra tackle on. Having said that, you know he's still one of our best players. He's a brilliant player. I still expect top teams to be interested in him, but it is something he needs to work on. um I think the thing that frustrates me most is when he he cuts in from the right-hand side and he cuts in an awful lot. He doesn't often go the other way. um Often he'll put a cross in that doesn't really beat the first man. i think That's why he needs more chances. I think, I think if he just gets one or two chances, you know, often he doesn't take them, which is something I want to see him work on. Um, have we got to change things away from home or against better teams? Obviously we'll find out in the new castle game, whether our issue lies more away from home or it is that we are just struggling against better teams.
Long-term Style vs. In-game Adaptability
00:22:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll, we'll see with that. I think it's interesting. I think.
00:22:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
this is This is a style that Brentford are trying to build for the long term. I don't doubt that at all. I think every transfer window now needs to be tailored towards improving in this style. And if that's the case, I can see why we're trying to persist with it and because that's the only way to get better. But I do think there are areas for improvement and I do think we should be perhaps a bit little bit more adaptable in game. You don't have to completely lose your identity to be a bit bit more adaptable for five, 10 minutes whilst you're soaking up pressure and you're trying to change the momentum. Anyway, I won't go too much into the Newcastle game that we've got at the weekend as there is a preview that will be in your ears tomorrow morning.
Conclusion and Newcastle Preview
00:23:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that will do for today. Thank you for listening to the Daily Brentford podcast.
00:23:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
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 as I said we'll be previewing our game against Newcastle at the weekend. Until then, from myself, thank you for being with me.