In the 19th of a series of pre-season reports, HarryfromBath assesses the pre-season mood in the Bees’ camp under manager Dean Smith by delving into their forums. Reports on Fulham and QPR will be on the site later today with the rest of the teams in the division covered between now and the start of the season.

“The Championship looks like where we belong”, “We will take what comes but we enter the season with confidence and optimism”, “I am happy that we are starting our third consecutive season at this level with confidence and no thought of relegation. Who would have thought that 10 years ago?”

After what was a rollercoaster campaign, Brentford finished last season strongly, winning seven of their last nine games. After decades in the lower leagues, Bees are now starting to see their side as being established in the Championship. “Aston Villa are our rivals, even if they don’t yet realise it.”

“It is frightening that this league has so many big hitters. The relegated Premier League teams with their high-value players and parachute payments, bankrolled clubs like Wolves, Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol City and add to that the clubs that can attract over 20,000 through their gates.”

“We can wait in the hope that an easier season may come along.” There is the familiar recognition of just how difficult the coming season will be. “The Championship is morphing into a Premier League Two right before our eyes. It’s increasingly difficult to run with these wealthy, entitled teams.”

Undercooked

“I do hope the pre-season friendlies are a meaningless as people say, because they reminded me of the very poor patch we had last season when we couldn’t score and just passed the ball around until we lost it. I hope to see a different attitude with lots of movement and quality in the final third.”

“I’m not entirely convinced we are as good as we think we are.” A series of colourless performances over a “disappointing” pre-season have left fans worried that the momentum from the end of last season may have dissipated. “I have to admit that pre-season has knocked my confidence a lot.”

“We lack game-changers, pace and aggression”, “It feels like we are undercooked going into next week, not knowing our best team and it looks like the chemistry is missing in some areas”, “I don’t know where we will finish but go into the next season with less optimism that in the last few years.”

Dean Smith

“I’m glad our manager is seeing our pre-season games as they are — average”, “He has a tough job keeping all these players happy. He can revert to a team similar to the back end of last season and integrate the signings”, “This is more Dean Smith’s squad so he should get the best out of it.”

“I don’t understand Smith’s thinking”, “I believe in the players and the club but I am very confused about our plan”, “I may have got it wrong, but I think Smith is using these friendlies purely for fitness and toning exercises. Team shape and make-up seem to have not been major considerations.”

Bees still have faith in the 45-year-old ex-Walsall boss, who guided the team to a ninth-place finish after arriving last November. “This season we will finally move on from the [former manager] Mark Warburton love-in some fans have and really sing ‘Dean Smith’s red and white army’ with passion.”

Selling to Local Rivals

Four players have departed Griffin Park this summer, teenage winger Courtney Senior to Colchester, defender Jack O’Connell to Sheffield United, left-back Jake Bidwell to QPR and keeper David Button to Fulham. Seeing two established first-team players depart to local rivals has angered some Bees.

“I remember how mental Button went when we went three-up against Fulham. It seems strange he cared that much at the time”, “I will not wish Button luck playing for that lot”, “I respected him and Bidwell for all they did when they were here but that respect has been lost for joining our rivals”,

Arrivals at Griffin Park

Three players have been signed from lower league clubs. Keeper Daniel Bentley, 22, from Southend, 23-year-old centre-back John Egan from Gillingham and 24-year-old midfielder Romaine Sawyers from Walsall. Also signed on a season-long loan is 21-year-old left-back Callum Elder from Leicester.

Pre-Season Line-Ups

“The Posh and Millwall games were a bit of an eye-opener of how we still require improvement in the squad”, “We need two wingers and a striker”, “We were more than a couple of players away from the top sides in the division last season and we haven’t made that gap up.”

The starting XI (above) for their final pre-season run-out, a 1-1 draw at Millwall is very close to the side everyone expects to see at Huddersfield. “We played some nice stuff but were not strong or organised”, “It’s difficult not to be disappointed given our momentum coming out of last season.”

The side (above), which started in the Bees’ previous friendly, a home defeat to Peterborough by a single Paul Taylor goal, contained several players who should feature in the first XI this season. “Why do we look so sloppy?”, “We looked rusty and toothless. I was surprised at how we were playing.”

Injuries have not helped. Defenders Maxime Colin and Andreas Bjelland, midfielders Nico Yennaris, Alan McCormack, Alan Judge and Konstantin Kerschbaumer have been unavailable for all or part of the summer. Danish striker Lasse Vibe will miss the start of the season to play at the Olympic Games.

Prospects for the Coming Season

“We were in transition last season and never hit top form”, “Finishing ninth last year was excellent in the circumstances given the difficulties we had to overcome, the pitch, three new managers, a long injury list and the transfer of key players”, “After the mayhem of last season it can only get better.”

“The way we played in the last stretch of last season suggests that we will be up there somewhere.” In a quirk of the fixture list Brentford return to Huddersfield for their season opener, having beaten the Terriers 5-1 on the same ground in the final game of last season in May.

Many take comfort from how they played in that run-in, but know how tough the division will be. “Mid-table for me, which is remarkable given the resources and quality at the disposal of our opponents”, “Injuries are going to be harder to deal with now the emergency loan system has gone.”

“The football seen at Griffin Park over the last three years has probably been the best I have seen in 60 years following the Bees”, “Belief on and off the field and a good team spirit will be vital”, “I’m determined not to worry and just enjoy it”, “As long as we give our best, what’s not to like?”

Websites

The busiest Brentford forum is the Griffin Park Grapevine, although registration is required to access some of the sections. The inimitable Beesotted is also well worth a visit with a selection of informative and often amusing articles.

@HarryFromBath

Photo: Action Images

sidtheswan added 10:50 - Aug 3 Relegation candidates or small club with an attitude that will see them top half ? Who knows . Time will tell .
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iaintaylorx added 11:14 - Aug 3 Romaine Sawyers will prove to be a great signing for them. Always looks a classy player when I have watched Walsall and one I wouldn't have minded if we snapped him up. Has that bit of flair, but for me Brentford may be one of few teams who will be there for the taking this season. Going to be a tough season!
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