Notes for the New Season — Part Seven: Brentford, Charlton and Millwall Monday, 4th Aug 2014 09:47 In the seventh of a series of pre-season reports, HarryFromBath assesses the mood around the Championship clubs by delving into their forums. Brentford, Charlton Athletic and Millwall are under the spotlight in today’s notes. Brentford — In Good Hands “There is a wonderfully positive mood around the club”, “We all deserve this success and the joy it has brought us. We’ve suffered a lean, long drought more than most fans. We need to support this set-up next season even if things get tough.” After the heartbreak of last year’s late penalty drama against Doncaster and the subsequent play-off defeat to Yeovil, there is a powerful sense of redemption at Griffin Park. “We have been through too much to blow this chance to test ourselves against stronger opponents.” “I was hoping that Mark Warburton would get away from Uwe Rosler’s conservative, avoid defeat strategy, and will his team to go for the win. I’m delighted to see this team going for it”, “Under Mark, we play poor sides without trying not to lose, but going out to win.” In ‘Bread’ We Trust “Mark Warburton (pictured above) has been a breath of fresh air. He is letting this team go for it. We are playing much more exciting football, win lose or draw”, “Players are given the freedom to hunt for the ball in numbers and create a goal threat when in possession”, “He has exceeded my wildest hopes and dreams.” Warburton was appointed manager after Rosler’s departure to Wigan last December, having been the Bees’ sporting director. He gave up a career as a trader and self-funded his coaching training, visiting and learning from leading clubs in Holland, Spain and Portugal before starting at Watford’s youth academy. “It has been frustrating hearing lazy journalists say that Mark is just picking up where Uwe left off. It’s disrespectful. The football is better and more positive, and his man-management seems better”, “Mark acquired many of these players and has taken us to promotion. This is Mark’s team.” Bees are quick to point out that Warburton’s change of emphasis has been critical in getting the team up. One Bee probably got it right when he said: “Let’s be honest and say that Uwe built some solid foundations and Warburton did a good job finishing it.”
“The Arsenal FA Cup semi-final exemplified Uwe’s style. Go a goal up and sit back and wait for a late equaliser, despite controlling the game”, “I just knew what would happen after Wigan took the lead, and it did. Rosler needs to change that aspect of his management style. It does not serve him well.” New Attacking Options Having secured promotion, a number of fringe and young players have left the club, including strikers Aaron Pierre (to Wycombe), Luke Norris (to Gillingham) and Farid El Alagui (to Hibernian). Full-back Shaleum Logan (to Aberdeen) and keeper Liam O’Brien (to Dagenham) have also departed. “I think the departure of Clayton Donaldson, coupled with the arrival of the new strikers and wingers will force us to play differently, with even more of an attacking threat.” Many Bees were surprised when the 30-year-old striker turned down a new contract in favour of a move Birmingham City. One player whose potential departure is a major source of concern is 22-year-old midfielder Adam Forshaw, the subject of a highly unwelcome bid from Wigan.
“There has always been a fear that Uwe Rosler would return to reunite himself with his favourite Bees”, “It will come down to the player. Forshaw has been sent away for a few days to get his head together, which is not a great sign for us.” “Our first choice backline is pretty solid, but there is very little back up.” The Bees have signed one defender this summer, 19-year-old Daniel O’Shaughnessy, a Finland U21 international (also eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland) arriving from Metz. Central midfield has been strengthened with the signing of 28-year-old Marcus Tebar from UD Almeria and the arrival on a season-long loan of 21-year-old Alex Pritchard from Spurs. Former ITFC target Alan Judge has joined permanently after a loan spell from Blackburn, and the Bees have brought in 20-year-old winger Moses Odubajo from Orient for a club record £1 million fee. “We certainly have goals in us”, “If our strikers can click as they have in pre-season, we will trouble our Championship opponents just as we did in League One.” With Clayton Donaldson gone and Marcello Trotta back at Fulham after being on loan at Griffin Park last season, two new strikers have arrived.
Last season’s Conference top scorer, 23-year-old Andre Gray has joined from Luton and 22-year-old Scott Hogan has arrived from Rochdale, both signing three-year deals. “It could be a master-stroke having two exciting young strikers coming in. Up front, we will be an unknown quantity.” Holding Our Own “The target is to stay up with a bit to spare, while playing decent stuff. I think this is realistic”, “I’m looking forward to the new season, but with trepidation”, “I’m quietly optimistic, but we will have a few tough moments.” Bees are quietly confident when assessing their chances this season. “I’m comfortable with where we are at the moment. We look like we have a very strong League One squad that could potentially cut it in the Championship”, “Importantly, I don’t think our defence looks that weak. If we can keep things fairly tight, we will hopefully have players with the skills to conjure up a winner.” “We have to be optimistic. It will be tough at times, and we still really don’t know how big a step up it is. With the people now at the helm, I am confident that we can adapt, and that issues can be fixed in time to keep us up”, “Charlton Athletic (The Bees first opponents), we’re coming to get you!” Charlton — Nobody Knows Anything “Normally, at this stage of pre-season, I have a gut feeling on how we will do in the campaign, based on performances last year and how we have strengthened the squad. This time last year, I was very pessimistic about the season ahead. This season, I haven’t got a bloody clue!” Addicks know that this is a season fraught with risks. Their manager — one who has no track record in this country - is the third to take charge since March. Eight new players have also been brought in by an owner who got his initial signings badly wrong when taking control in January. “This is a season that could swing either way”, “I haven’t a clue how good or bad our team is. I am expecting us to struggle, but some convincing pre-season games have made me optimistic”, “We could be strong or we could be rubbish. I’m desperately looking for evidence that it may be the former.” A False Start “The plan didn’t work last year, and I understand everyone’s worries, but it appears that a better standard of player has come in, and this time with the manager’s backing”, “It is clear Roland Duchatelet (who took over the club in January, and who also owns Standard Liege) is at least attempting to improve the squad.”
Duchatelet alienated fans with some poor initial loan signings while letting highly rated players like Dale Stephens and Yann Kermogant leave the club at the same time. Several Addicks have remarked that Charlton “is now a repository for cheap Standard Liege cast-offs”. “My biggest fear is that the owner’s scouts are useless. That may not be the case, but I am going on what I saw last season”, “I don’t trust the scouting team. There’s too much ‘he’s played at this level internationally’, and not enough making sure he’s the right type of player for the Championship.” Bob Peeters “Sounds like we’re in for an exciting ride with Big Bob”, “Peeters is a likeable, flamboyant guy. He’s a coach who is close with his group and who thrives on motivating his players. (His predecessor) Jose Riga was more of a professor, with an enormous amount of knowledge of the game.” Addicks manager Bob Peeters played as a striker for Millwall for two seasons between 2003 and 2005, and arrived from managing Belgian side Waasland-Beveren in May. His lack of managerial experience in this country is seen by many supporters as the weakest link in this project.
“I am worried that he may be a bit naïve regarding what is required. Other teams may have our measure and set themselves up to beat us. Bob and company will be constantly surprised by events in match after match”, “I know we’re only little old Charlton, but I think the job in hand is too big for Peeters.” “Peeters might be the new Roberto Martinez”, “Or he might be the new Ian Dowie”, “I seriously want Bob to do well for us. I hope he hasn’t got a touch of the Dowies about him.” A number of similarities in his management style have reminded fans of a manager who “spent a fortune and destroyed us”. A Busy Transfer Window “Obviously it’s nice to have eight signings, even though I have no clue how good or bad some of them are”, “It’s an exciting set of signings attacking-wise”, “It’s too early to say if we’ll have a better team than last year”, “I feel more confident with the current squad than I did this time last year.” The squad rebuilding at the Valley has been extensive. Leavers have included keeper Ben Hamer (to Leicester), defenders Cedric Evina (to Doncaster) and Richard Wood (to Rotherham). Midfielder Andy Hughes (to Bolton as player-coach), Danny Green (to MK Dons), Bradley Pritchard (to Orient) and Diego Poyet (to West Ham) have also departed. Poyet is the one player they are truly sorry to lose. At the back, 26-year-old former ITFC loan keeper Stephen Henderson has joined from West Ham. Former Reading defender and Cameroon international Andre Bikey has signed from Panetolikos, and 32-year-old ex-Pompey defender Tal Ben Haim has joined from sister club Standard Liege.
Midfield has been strengthened by the arrival of 25-year-old Franck Moussa from Coventry, 23-year-old Iceland international Johan Berg Gudmundsson from AZ Alkmaar and the season-long loan signing of 26-year-old Yoni Buyens from Standard. A new strike partnership has been forged, with 23-year-old Romanian George Tucudean (joining from Standard) playing alongside 22-year-old Angola international Igor Vetokele, who has signed from FC Copenhagen. Zak Ansak, a 20-year-old academy product from Arsenal, is a third striker to arrive. Expectations “I’m really looking forward to this season. I think we might be surprised at how it goes”, “I’m firmly in the ‘excited’ camp, but I understand why people have their doubts when you look at the loan signings we received last season.” Supporters have been annoyed that so many bookmakers have placed them among the three teams most likely to be relegated. “Do the bookies even monitor our activity or do they just associate the phrase ‘relegation’ with Charlton?” That said, there is little talk of making the play-offs or promotion. One Addick suggested that “we could finish as high as ninth if the plan comes together”. “I’m fairly optimistic that we can at least improve on last season’s final position and maybe push for a mid-table finish.” “We won’t know anything until we start playing for real. Let’s just wait and see. The biggest unknown is Big Bob. There’s never any guarantee with managers, but I’m cautiously optimistic”, “What’s wrong with some optimism ahead of a new season?” Millwall — The Ollie Factor “I just want a really f***ing boring season. I’d like to see some sort of improvement and I think we will see it. The squad hasn’t massively improved, but the squad wasn’t the problem. They just looked like they had no direction. I believe Ian Holloway has changes that already.” “This time last year I saw us play Crawley in a friendly. We lumped the ball long from the back and it was quite depressing. I could tell there and then that we were already in a relegation dog-fight.
“This time around I feel much more positive. We don’t have enough quality or know-how to mount a play-off challenge, but we have enough to keep a decent distance from the bottom three.” Lions’ confidence at avoiding another relegation scrap is based on manager Ian Holloway having had a full pre-season to set his team up properly. “Holloway is the key. I think we are very lucky to be one of the smallest clubs in the division, but with one of its most proven managers and biggest personalities.” Ian Holloway “Ollie’s a total f***ing fruitcake, but he has us well and truly in the right place”, “With Holloway, the one thing we will be is organised”, “I expect better quality football, more possession, more spirit and fight and a lot more organisation. That’s what Holloway does.” “I’m not sure the squad is stronger than last season. We should however see a marked difference in attitude and fitness”, “I expect us to start where we left off last season, hard to beat and a real threat against anyone in the Championship on our day.” Transfer Dealings “Holloway looks like he is building a strong squad, although we haven’t sorted out a goalscorer”, “I like the fact that he’s bringing a lot of youngsters in.” Millwall have been purposeful in their summer signings, buying intelligently to address known deficiencies in their squad.
There have been several noteworthy departures. Midfielders Liam Feeney and former Blue Liam Trotter have moved to Bolton. Defenders Shane Lowry (to Orient) and Jack Smith (to Wimbledon) have also left, while attacking midfielder Andy Keogh is now playing in Australia with Perth Glory. Former ITFC captain Carlos Edwards signed a one-year contract after his loan spell finished at the end of the season. Two other defenders have also arrived, Byron Webster (from Yeovil) and Matthew Briggs (from Fulham), and it’s worth adding that goalkeeper David Forde has signed a three —year contract extension.
Three strikers, Lee Gregory (from FC Halifax), Magaye Gueye (from Everton) and veteran ex-Town loanee Ricardo Fuller (from Blackpool) have also signed for Millwall. Lions have also been very complimentary about 20-year-old striker and youth product Aiden O’Brien. “He’s strong, works hard and could be a great player.” Two other former Blues are worth mentioning. Ed Upson, of FA Youth Cup final winning goal fame, moved to the Den from Yeovil in January but has not featured regularly in pre-season games, while wide-midfielder Lee “pink f***ing boots!” Martin has signed a two-year contract extension.
Lions are happy with the squad’s balance, but would welcome more fire-power. “We definitely need a proven striker, and not one who is in his mid-thirties or who has only played non-league football. The good news is that’s only one player”, “Defensively we look good, but there are still a few things to do up front.” Not Another Relegation Battle “I think we’ll do better that last season, but definitely bottom half”, “I have zero expectation levels. I just don’t want to be in another relegation battle such as we have had for the last three years. We are lucky to still be in this division. Let’s not give it up.” Having endured several relegation scraps, many Lions would just welcome a quieter league campaign. They were incensed last season more by a lack of commitment from certain players than they were by poor results, and are confident that this won’t happen under Holloway. “Mid-table would do after the last two seasons”, “I think we will avoid relegation and maybe finish mid-table”, “The most important things is for us not to be in the relegation mix. After that, I want to see a committed season by all, and us taking on a few of the bigger clubs and turning them over.” Some things about Millwall will never change. “It’s nice to remember that it’s not all bad supporting this small, hated football club. We do at least have quite a lot of personality on and off the pitch.” As one seven-year-old said to his father shortly after the start of their pre-season friendly against Real Mallorca: “Dad, I’ve heard every swear word I know.” Message Boards The best Brentford forum with open access is Vital Brentford. The busiest and most balanced Charlton message board is Charlton Life. There are two Millwall forums, House of Fun is the busiest and requires registration, while the best message board with open access is Millwall Online. The final set of pre-season notes will appear on Wednesday. In these, we will look at how things are progressing up the road at Norwich City, before the mood at Fulham is assessed in 2014/15’s first pre-match notes on Friday. You can find Part One of Harry’s pre-season notes here, Part Two here, Part Three here, Part Four here, Part Five here and Part Six here.
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