Goal Difference Means Saturday Is Now A Seven Pointer - Notes for Brentford Saturday, 7th Mar 2015 05:48 by HarryFromBath HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday’s game by delving into their forums. “This is the season that keeps giving”, “What a season it has been. There are routinely half-a-dozen moments of skill in most games that are just out of this world. I never thought I would see Brentford play football of this quality consistently throughout this season.” “Who knows where we’ll end up?” Confidence was high after the Bees recorded their third consecutive home win with a comfortable 4-1 win over Huddersfield on Tuesday night. They have however struggled in their last two away fixtures, losing 1-0 at Birmingham last Saturday and 3-0 in their previous away trip to Charlton. The mood was understandably upbeat after Tuesday win. “What a very great mystery this game is”, “What is it coming to when we play a safely mid-table Championship team and win so easily that we are actually bored at times?”, “We just need to rediscover our away form again.” “We need to become a little more professional, cynical and clinical if we are to have any hope of staying in the play-off slots.” The atmosphere was a good deal darker and more determined after the Birmingham defeat. “It doesn’t matter where we have come from. What matters is where we could be.” Mark Warburton“To those being critical of Warbs, please have a bit of perspective. We are one of the smaller clubs in the league with a tiny playing budget compared to some teams marginally above us”, “Criticism of his selection for the Birmingham game is justified, but how much has the bloke got right this season?” The former Watford academy manager is held in the highest esteem by supporters, but he was taken to task for being too loyal to players after making only one change to the starting XI for a difficult away game at Birmingham from the one that easily won at home to Blackpool. “Warburton needs to be careful with the loyalty policy at this stage and just pick the side that has the best chance to win a particular match”, “There is no sentiment in football and he should have changed the team after Blackpool”, “Reluctance to change areas that needed strengthening cost us three points.” An Amicable Separation“Mark has performed near miracles, turning good players into stars and ordinary players into good ones as well.” Bees were shaken when the news broke last month that their manager would be leaving at the end of the season, and the subject has led to polite disagreements on their message boards. “Warburton is not being sacked. He is walking away - it is his own decision. Matthew Benham [the Bees owner] wants him to stay but he doesn’t want to be part of the new structure”, “However much we support Benham and even understand and support his plans, it’s a bizarre situation.” The High Pressing Game“Our game is all about high pressing and quick movement off the ball.” Brentford have kept faith with the energetic pressing game which has served them so well this season. “James Vaughan [Huddersfield’s striker] did his best to stop our controlled possession from deep, but doing this is not easy.” ButtonOdubajoTarkowskiBidwellDouglas (c)DiagouragaJotaPritchardDallasLongMoore
The starting XI against Huddersfield (above) is unlikely to change a great deal on Saturday, the one likely swap being the replacement of Chris Long up front with top scorer and regular front man Andre Gray. Attacking midfielder Alan Judge has featured little lately with a knee injury and his energy is missed. The two full-backs are encouraged to overlap the wide midfielders whose instincts are to cut inside. In central midfield, Douglas normally screens the defence allowing Diagouraga to bomb forward and link up with the attack. The emphasis is on high tempo pressing and on turning over possession. “We’re becoming soft on the road. Our ability to grind out a draw when things aren’t going well is a worry”, “When we are off our game we start to look very predictable”, “We need to approach away games in a different manner.” Supporters are concerned about their fragility away from home. Brentford 4 - 1 Huddersfield“All in all a classy and professional performance”, “If we play at Portman Road like we did in the last 45 on Saturday, I am confident we can get a result at Ipswich”, “We should have been three up in 15 minutes but we then fell a little flat and kept trying to walk the ball in.” Two goals from Chris Long, who was making his full debut, helped Brentford ease to a comfortable win over the Terriers on Tuesday night. Having reached the interval on level terms, they upped their game after the break to score three times. The visitors caused them a few headaches before the interval. “Huddersfield closed down space and forced us to play from the back so that we struggled to build any momentum late in the first half. “We should have been three up by half time. We need to make our possession and amount of play count.” “We were at our best in the second half with flowing passes, great triangles and running off the ball”, “We were totally dominant, but it was the usual story. We need to convert our chances and are not testing their keeper enough”, “Another memorable win in East Anglia please.” Birmingham 1 - 0 Brentford“The reason we are not in the top two and why we will struggle in the play-offs is because we don’t turn possession into goals often enough and we let in stupid goals in virtually every game”, “We have been given a massive opportunity and it is now less likely that we will take it.” “Can we please stop giving the ball away?”, “We are weak at the back and have no tempo in the middle. Birmingham are poor but they are making us look rubbish”, “The passing game is just not happening. We are a yard too slow”, “There are going to be poor games for all the top eight teams.” ButtonOdubajoTarkowskiMooreDallasDouglas (c)DiagouragaJotaPritchardToralGray
City’s David Cotterill gave Stuart Dallas a difficult game at left-back, while former Bee Clayton Donaldson played well against his old club. They were most annoyed with what they felt was a lethargic attitude displayed by the team. “The problem was more to do with attitude than personnel.” “Today we were just a bunch of overpaid wasters waiting for someone else to spark something”, “The players looked like they thought they could walk it”, “We were far too cocky and paid the price”, “I thought we would have taken the game by the scruff of the neck.” Brentford 4 - 0 Blackpool“Well, that was a nice change, wasn’t it? Twenty minutes in and it was all done and dusted”, “It was probably one of the weirdest games I have ever seen. It felt like a training session for most of the second half”, “Blackpool were simply atrocious”, “Their lack of fight was simply unforgivable.” Brentford coasted to victory courtesy of a Jon Toral hat-trick and a goal from Andre Gray. Bees slated the Blackpool team while sympathising with their supporters. The Opta Index diagram highlighting their 43 shots on goal was widely circulated online. “It made for painful viewing.” “How can you write a match report for that?”, “It reminded me of one of those England internationals against someone like San Marino where you have the ball for 85 minutes. It was hard to build tempo when their whole team was on the goal-line”, “It was a surreal experience.” Defence“Our tempo at the back against Birmingham was poor. The centre-backs were out for a Sunday stroll when in possession”, “I worry about our passing across the back. We got caught out once and there is an accident waiting to happen on bobbly pitches.” Supporters have regularly voiced concerns about a habit of making defensive errors. “Our ‘goals for’ are good enough. It’s the ‘goals against’ that is the issue”, “We start bright and dominate possession. We fail to turn it into goals and then comes the obligatory defensive slip.” David Button“It makes me laugh when people dig out Button over the occasional duff kick. In most cases he’s trying a precise 40-yard pass or tidying up a sloppy back pass. The bloke has been exceptional this year”, “One Huddersfield fan after the game commented that he passed the ball better than any outfield player.”  The 26-year-old former Charlton keeper “is increasingly getting the ball quickly into advanced positions. When the quick long punt isn’t on, his passing out to defenders and midfielders is good”, “His quick sweeping was instrumental in creating quick breaks and causing chaos in Huddersfield’s defence.” Button is also praised for his shot-stopping as well as his work in initiating attacks. “His save against Clayton Donaldson was incredible. He literally scooped the ball out of the net. I thought it was nestling in the corner”, “He has saved a few points for us this year with his fantastic saves.” “Moses Odubajo was ponderous against Birmingham.” The 21-year-old former Orient right-back “could have got closer to Huddersfield’s winger who twisted past him and fired a left-footed shot past Button”, “They gave Moses a hard time when the ball went wide on his side”, “He was well off the pace.” “When other teams double up on Jota, Moses should make the most of it and currently he’s off his game”, “He offers so much coming from deep. His pace at the back is a massive bonus.” Odubajo can play right wing and “is always looking behind the opposition full-back” but has struggled for form lately. “I had a feeling Jake Bidwell would be dropped to the bench against Birmingham. I’m shocked Warbs has not played one of the best left-backs in the league”, “As reliable as he is, he has had the odd shocker on big pitch away days before.” Many believe they would have taken a point had he played at St Andrews. The 21-year-old former Everton youth product “started rather tentatively against Huddersfield but was playing like his old self by the end”, “Bidwell links well with Dallas on the left”, “He is reliable and adds to our forward play when he can”, “It balances the side more when he overlaps and doesn’t go infield.” Centre-back Harlee Dean has been dropped to make way for Liam Moore in the last two games. The 23-year-old ex-Dagger is seen as error-prone and a League One level player by many fans. “He should be shown the door and advised that his level is more Wycombe than Brentford.” “Every time I see James Tarkowski play he just looks made for the Premier League. His play was effortlessly good against Huddersfield and he was not extended at all.” The 22-year-former Oldham centre-back “is comfortable in possession and he times his headers to perfection.” “Tarkowski can be bloody awful but also does things that take your breath away”, “He gives us an extra dimension by bringing the ball out of defence into and through midfield. He gets us back on the front foot. It’s a little risky at times but it is what Warburton asks for.” Liam Moore“Moore playing on the left allows Tarkowski to play at right centre-back.” The 22-year-old joined on loan from Leicester at the end of February. “He brings the ball out and helps the attack. He is also willing to hoof it into Row Z when the occasion warrants it. That’s my kind of centre-back - keep it simple.” “Moore’s passing can be sloppy”, “He can lose the ball in key areas”, “He looks okay. He tends to hit a few longer passes which is not our way, but I am sure he can be moulded over time”, “He has been brought in to eradicate the basic errors which our back four have been making all season.” “He is a young centre-back who has experience of promotion from the Championship and Premier League games under his belt.” He has started the last two games and is “bedding in very well”, but not everyone is impressed. “We signed the wrong Leicester player. In my view he went to Ipswich.” Central Midfield“We were comfortable in midfield and controlled at times, but Birmingham’s deep backline didn’t allow us in behind them”, “We controlled the tempo and there was nice interplay but a lack of a final product. We were making poor decisions under pressure”, “They didn’t move the ball quick or wide enough.” Tempo plays a huge role in the Bees’ play, both when turning over possession and when supporting their frontman. “With one striker, we need more people bombing into the box to give the attacking player with the ball more options to target before opponents get back and regroup.” “Jonathan Douglas mops up and allows Toumani more of a free rein to break forward.” The 33-year-old former Swindon holding player “didn’t hide against Birmingham. He was ineffective, but still put in a lot of work getting up and down the pitch while others around him looked uninterested.” “Douglas has to work hard doing the work of others who are not so defensively minded.” He was blamed for “dithering and doing nothing useful with loads of possession” in the Charlton defeat. “Poor Douglas gets in to some great scoring positions but seems to discover that he had two left feet.” “Toumani Diagouraga was like Vieira tonight but better [against Huddersfield]”, “It says it all that he was taken off to keep him fresh for Ipswich.” The 27-year-old ex-Peterborough man “powers through the middle like Yaya Toure”, “He takes the ball out of defence, making us tick”, “His energy is astonishing.” “Toums did not have his best day against Birmingham”, “He was almost anonymous and his passing was atrocious.” He can have his off-days and his shooting is regularly raised as an issue. “I wish he could add some goals and assists to his game”, “His shooting is quite appalling - quite the worst part of his game.” Alex Pritchard“Pritchard was the only outfield player to come out of the Birmingham game with any credit.” The 21-year old attacking midfielder is on a season long from Spurs. “He is one of the best footballers I have seen at Griffin Park. He is fantastic with his ball control and in the way he can pick a pass.”  “How did Alex get the ball to move like that for his goal against Huddersfield?”, “He was at his impish best and delivered a footballing masterclass apart from his shooting”, “He tried but lacked any quality around him”, “We put pressure on him when struggling. ‘Give it to Alex and he’ll do something magic’.” He annoyed some fans during the Blackpool win. “Alex was very self-indulgent with his over-elaboration or shooting with better options available”, “He seemed to want to score every time he got the ball in the last 20 minutes. He slowed us down by showboating or shooting when not the best option.” Wide Midfield“Left-footed players on the right and vice-versa - it is how to get the best out of the modern winger. Their stronger foot takes them towards goal and the danger areas instead of away from it. I’m impressed we play like this and long may it continue.” “Jon Toral is going to be a hell of a player. Some of his touches are out of this world.” The 20-year-old is on a season-long loan from Arsenal and scored a hat-trick against the Tangerines. “He has been under the radar this season but is now pushing hard for a regular start”, “He is a very good finisher.” Some Bees feel that his work-rate lets him down. “Toral is supremely gifted but he is a stroller. When you need to work hard he is probably not the right man”, “Toral had an off-day and the ball was getting stuck between his legs a lot”, “He was daydreaming against Birmingham about his Blackpool hat-trick.” “I am always happy when Tommy Smith comes on.” The 34-year-old ex-Watford, QPR and Cardiff right winger is a regular substitute. “He keeps the ball, doesn’t waste it and creates openings”, “He guarantees a good cameo every time he comes on, holding up the ball so well.” Stuart Dallas“Stuart Dallas has been tremendous this season with great goals and a work-rate second to none.” The 23-year-old ex-Crusaders left-sided player “works twice as hard as any other winger and Bidwell must love having him play in front of him. He tracks his man back and blocks a huge percentage of passes.”  “His footballing intelligence is striking. He moves into threatening positions just wide of the opposition goal from which he can head the ball back in”, “He helps the defence, chases lost causes, runs at opponents, is good with his head and can play great passing football. He is also a great finisher.” “Warburton shouldn’t be playing square pegs in round holes when he doesn’t need to.” Dallas “was given a torrid time” playing at left-back at St Andrew’s. “It doesn’t take much to realise that a right-footed player would struggle against Cotterill who prefers to attack down the outside.” Jota Peleteiro“I have no idea how Jota squirmed through two defenders to make our second against Huddersfield.” The 23-year-old former Celta Viga player “was having one of those drifting through type of games when he suddenly found his mojo in the second half, scaring the life out of their defence by running at them.”  The Spaniard plays on the right flank while being left-footed. “He glides really as he doesn’t seem to touch the turf when in full flow”, “Jota is a bit lightweight but is one of the best footballers I have seen in a Bees shirt. He has a lethal shot, changes games and is worth the entrance fee alone for some games.” “Jota was muscled out of the Birmingham game and nearly off the pitch and into the stand”, “He was ineffective and went missing”, “There are too many games where the opposition work him out and he is a passenger”, “He is often marked by two or three players but this has to create space for others.” Strikers“I am getting bored watching our possession football but with no end product”, “We overplay a little around the 18-yard box”, “There seems to be a lack of confidence creeping in in front of goal”, “We need another first team Championship level striker who can start games if we want the play-offs.” Andre Gray“Gray will welcome the little bit of pressure Chris Long has taken off him now that we are not solely relying on him for goals.” The 23-year-old former Luton striker “looked far more like himself when he came on against Huddersfield”, “It won’t hurt the team to have him occasionally coming off the bench.”  Gray was rested on Tuesday, but Mick McCarthy expects him to start at Portman Road. “Gray has been brilliant but we should not be relying on him like this at this stage of the season. He has been running on empty. His confidence is gone and his body language is terrible. Frustration has been born from fatigue.” “Gray has been burnt out since the beginning of the year”, “He has gone from being a cat on a hot tin roof looking for the ball to an inanimate object who always plays with his back to goal. The boy is trying but needs some rest”, “He wasn’t at the races against Birmingham and was running on empty.” Chris Long“We are finally giving Gray a rest tonight. It will be interesting to see how he does from the start.” The arrival of Chris Long and his success on Tuesday could not have come at a more welcome time for Bees. “People were saying he’s not ready. He’s just what we need right now.”  The 20-year old was signed on loan from Everton in January and made regular appearances from the bench before starting on Tuesday. “The young lad has a great strike on him and he’s always alert and sniffing for chances. He’s a real fox-in-the-box and has a nice turn of pace about him.” His two goals on Tuesday were very different. “The first was a proper striker’s goal. He made it out of nothing, turned the defender and fired home from the edge of the area. The second was poacher’s goal”, “We are able to play the ball to Long’s feet. His touch is so good that the ball sticks to his feet.” Bees’ Views on ITFC and the Game“Buzzing for Ipswich”, “We move in to Ipswich and it’s a massive game”, “Goal difference could come into deciding who finished higher between us and Ipswich - attack, attack, attack”, “With an 8-1 aggregate score over our last two home games, our goal difference is closing on Ipswich.” There has been little specific discussion yet about Saturday’s game, but our defeat at Elland Road was greeted with much excitement and there is a definite feeling that they can avenge their Boxing Day defeat. I will update the forum on Saturday with their thoughts on what is now a massive game. “We have got to get something at Portman Road”, “Saturday will be a much trickier proposition. We will really need to be back to our best for that crucial match”, “Saturday is a massive game now. A draw will be fine but I reckon Ipswich are there for the taking now and we'll win. It could be a proper good one.” WebsitesThere are two good Brentford websites worth visiting. Griffin Park Grapevine is busy, polite and knowledgeable although registration is required to read some message boards. Beessotted, co-run by Brentford fans Billy Grant and Dave Lane, is well worth a visit and is full of interesting and amusing articles, videos and podcasts, the latest of which is on the Town game [and features Billy speaking to our own HarryFromBath - Phil]. You can hear it below:
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