HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday’s encounter at Griffin Park by delving into their forums.

“The least said, the better. I’m just utterly depressed at the way this season, including pre-season is unfolding”, “There was a quietness and negativity at our first game at Huddersfield and it seems to have carried forward to our Exeter EFL Cup game. I’m not sure why, as we are only two games in.”

“It’s not a good start, with a lack of fitness, a lack of players and press negativity already.” Having finished last season winning seven out of their last nine games, Bees are worried that their faltering pre-season form has been taken into the new campaign with losses to the Terriers and the Grecians.

“The frustration at a loss or at a performance that puts your mood down - welcome to the football season”, “I’m going to stay cool as it’s two matches in, but it doesn’t fill you with confidence so far”, “This side needs a win. I don’t care who wins it or who it’s against, but they need to beat someone.”

Dean Smith

“My kind of manager”, “Well done to Smith for turning our form around at the end of last season”, “He had us playing with a decent style in last season’s run-in.” The 45-year-old former Walsall boss “is a really decent and incredibly ordinary type of bloke, and I mean that in a positive way.”

“Our style is not as fluid or possession-based as [former manager] Mark Warburton’s, but boy has it been effective. We are now very hard to break down and we look to hit teams on the break. There is a mix from playing the ball to playing direct. It’s not as easy on the eye but it’s just as effective.”

“Our play reminds me of Middlesbrough’s set up, keeping it tight at the back and working to hit teams on the counter”, “He loves to talk football with anyone who loves the game and is aware of how important it is to be in touch with the fans”, “Smith talks about his players with real pride.”

The Need for Reinforcements

“It’s a tough league and there is no hiding place. We will need to learn and learn quickly, “The squad looks paper thin”, “Smith hears it and so do we, but boy do we need some width”, “We are forced to play with players out of position and many of the squad are undercooked because of injuries.”

Brentford have had an injury blighted pre-season. Centre-backs Andreas Bjelland (abductor strain) and Yoann Barbet (ankle), right-back Maxime Colin (calf) and midfielder Alan Judge (broken leg) missed the season opener at Huddersfield although the three defenders have not been ruled out for Saturday.

Striker Lasse Vibe is playing for Denmark in the Olympics while midfielder Alan McCormack (heel) picked up a knock at Exeter and is a major doubt for Saturday. With others players carrying minor knocks just two games into the season, Bees are worried about their lack of strength in depth.

There are no good alternatives to striker Scott Hogan and a lack of any width. “It’s very average and there is nothing up front. We play nice football up to the last third and then lose the ball or play in a cross to nobody”, “The world and his wife knows that we are devoid of any naturally wide players.”

Formation

“Please can we have a couple of wide players with some pace, to offer some sort of forward threat and assist Scott Hogan up front”, “We had five central midfielders playing at Huddersfield. We need two wide men and another striker”, “We have a lot of square pegs in round holes this August.”

“Our basic problem was our inability to keep possession.” Bees were critical of the midfield quintet in the team which started at Huddersfield (above). They failed to protect the centre-backs while at the same time offering little width or any support to an isolated Scott Hogan playing up front.

“We would benefit from a combative defensive midfielder sat in front of the back four away from home.” Smith had rejigged the midfield by full-time (above). Most fans felt that the introduction of Nico Yennaris for the ineffective Josh McEachran gave the midfield some energy and balance.

More widely, Bees feel that they would be in much better shape going into the campaign if they could add pace out wide and a decent alternative up front. “The lack of pace and flair in attack remains a worry. There is very little direct running in our play to put teams on the back foot.”

“We all know we lack a leader in midfield”, “Our central midfield looked like a bunch of kids playing against a man’s side”, “We gave the ball away too easily and at times Huddersfield were toying with us”, “The lack of goals and chances is starting to become a concern.”

“You can’t out-football everyone and the sooner we learn the better.” One other recurring theme is a lack of physical presence in the side. “We are the fancy-dans of the league, pretty at times but not potent enough. All over the park we seem incapable and loath or scared to tackle, meek and mild”,

Huddersfield 2 — 1 Brentford

“That sounded ghastly”, “A flat performance from the Bees, not good”, “Having watched our games in the pre-season, the scoreline doesn’t surprise me at all”, “Huddersfield totally deserved to win and should have scored two or three more”, “We made them look good”, “Fuming is not the word.”

“Just not been in this game.” After controlling much of the play before the break, the hosts went ahead on 50 minutes when Elias Kachunga headed home. Yennaris tapped in an equaliser on 77 only for substitute Kasey Palmer to put the Terriers ahead again with his second touch two minutes later.

“I don’t think we have anyone out there who can create anything, just a lot of ordinary players”, “More movement is needed. We seem to have fallen back into the static style of play which we had prior to our winning streak at the end of last season. There was too much sideways passing.”

Exeter 1 — 0 Brentford (AET) EFL Cup

“That was fairly predictable”, “The cup magic continues but don’t worry, we have another one in January”, “Here are our stats for our last five cup games in all competitions, played five, lost five, goals for none, goals against nine”, “Traditional cup humiliation gets wearing after a while.”

Ryan Harley’s 100th minute winner for the Grecians ensured that Brentford had a frustrating trip to Devon on Tuesday night. Dean Smith made seven alterations and one positional change (below), pushing right-back Josh Clarke forward, but there was no change to the outcome or style of play.

“We picked half a team and went out with barely a whimper”, “We controlled possession at times but never looked like scoring”, “We were poor tonight and that was pretty much across the board. There was some neat passing but no cutting edge. We lacked penetration and lacked ideas.”

Goalkeepers and Defenders

“Daniel Bentley is already a top lad for turning QPR down.” The 23-year-old summer arrival from Southend “will grow into the goalkeeping role and he will be able to put more trust in his defence once it is settled”, “He made a series of excellent saves at Huddersfield and kept us in the game.”

“It’s a proper coup getting this lad on board”, “Southend fans are convinced Bentley will play for England in the near future”, “He’s a big presence in goal and decent with the ball at his feet. Good distribution and a good shot-stopper, he can come for crosses with authority”, “A huge prospect.”

“We are desperate for width and Josh Clarke may give us that.” With Maxime Colin a possible starter at right-back after returning from injury on Saturday, many Bees see the 22-year-old youth product as an option pushed further up-field on Saturday. “He was our most dangerous attacker at Exeter.”

“Clarke was the stand-out player at Huddersfield”, “Our one player with a bit of pace”, “A bit of a liability defensively but one of the brighter lights in attack”, “He started nervously but improved and gave a spirited performance”, “The one player who looked like he would make something happen.”

“G’day Callum and welcome to the club.” Some Bees are more nervous about Australian 21-year-old left-back Callum Elder. The Leicester loanee “looked what he is at Huddersfield, a kid with a handful of League One appearances”, “He looked completely out of his depth and struggled massively.”

“Give him time to adjust to the league and he will fit in.” Others are more optimistic. “He looks to have the technical ability to fit in well and drive us on, but his confidence will need to be built up pretty quickly”, “He’s quick and likes to get forward”, “Looks promising technically and physically.”

“John Egan isn’t the fastest defensively but his goalscoring ability, reading of positions, his tackling and leadership abilities are superb.” The 23-year-old summer signing from Gillingham “is very much like Aden Flint of Bristol City who gets goals every season”, “He’s a really useful threat at set-pieces.”

“Egan looks composed on his less-favoured left foot as left centre-back”, “His positioning is very good and he has the ability to play higher”, “I was impressed by his fight at Huddersfield although he could have taken a yellow card and stopped their winner”, “He’s more competent than Dean.”

Harlee Dean

“Harlee may not be the most technically gifted but he gives 100 per cent in every game”, “He’s brave, committed and takes no backward steps, a Brentford legend in the making.” The 25-year-old former Dagger “doesn’t have silky skills but has steel, heart and character that this and any team needs”.

“Skill wins you fans, but without character and bravery it won’t win you games and points”, “Dean had a poor game at Exeter and spent most of it crashing into people, spraying 40-yard passes and trying a little too hard, but at least he was leading by example”, “He was lucky to stay on the pitch.”

Holding Midfielders

“I’m still not sure what Josh McEachran offers that makes a difference. He’s a tidy enough footballer but he just doesn’t influence games enough”, “I’m not convinced. He just doesn’t seem to fit in”, “Josh just hasn’t played well since we signed him. It’s sad, really”, “Ineffective and embarrassingly weak.”

“Whenever I see McEachran’s name on the teamsheet I worry. I just don’t see him as part of our future.” The 23-year-old ex-Chelsea man “will have to show that he can dominate and boss a game to deserve retaining his place”, “I just hope Smith realises Josh is not good enough at this level.”

News that former Swindon man Alan McCormack may miss Saturday’s game has not gone down well. “We are too light in the middle of the pitch without him”, “I was hoping he might bring some much-needed bite on Saturday”, “He scares the living daylights out of anyone who comes near him.”

“Ryan Woods lost most of his battles in midfield at Huddersfield.” The 22-year-old ex-Shrewsbury man “was industrious as usual but got muscled off the ball too easily”, “He have the ball away a lot and seemed to go missing for periods”, “He really needs someone with strength to help him out.”

“Woods isn’t a battler. He has talent and never stops working but he is still prone to being bounced off the ball”, “He’s ineffective at putting the boot in. He’s capable of going sideways but does not do enough constructively”, “He made himself available at Exeter without affecting play all that much.”

Nico Yennaris

“It’s no surprise we were better at Huddersfield when Nico came on”, “He made a big difference and put away a neat finish. He was a big upgrade on McEachran.” The 23-year-old ex-Arsenal youngster “looked good when he came on. He started to boss the midfield and may become the general we need”.

“Nico put in challenges and gave it a go”, “Some great covering runs and tackles”, “One of the few who knew what he should be doing”, “He’s an excellent combative midfielder who has now added goals to his game”, “He really looked the part with his tenacious tackling and box-to-box running.”

Many feel that he will blossom in a central role as opposed to playing at right-back. “I’m not sure he has the pace and strength to play as a modern full-back but he has the skills to play in a midfield three”, “He was a revelation in last season’s strong run-in”, “I have high hopes for him this season.”

Creative Midfielders

“Romaine Sawyers will get swift treatment as he is the kind of player who doesn’t put a 100 percent shift in”, “At Huddersfield he was poor, so slow and wanting time on the ball that he never had”, “He looked uninterested”, “His dreadful passing was typified by the ball that led to their second goal.”

“Too much aimless positioning out of possession and certainly too much pointing.” The 24-year-old summer arrival from Walsall “is no right winger and a waste out there with no width”, “Sawyers is going to be a Marmite player. He can pick a pass but there were concerning elements to his game.”

“When Konstantin Kerschbaumer has the ball he is constantly looking for his striker but when he is out of possession he looks lost”, “He’s improving with the ball but still a headless chicken without it”, “His main strength is that he is always looking for a forward pass. He’s acclimatising to the league.”

“Kerschbaumer covers loads of ground but in a way that doesn’t affect much of the play.” The 24-year-old ex-Admira Wacker man’s “non-performance at Huddersfield could hardly be described as a disappointment. I already knew he wasn’t very good”, “He was chasing shadows and looked poor.”

“The biggest disappointment for me at Huddersfield was Lewis Macleod. I was looking forward to seeing him play but boy, was he slow. I hope it’s a lack of match fitness but worry that his previous injuries may have taken their toll on his physicality. He lacked energy, mobility and athleticism.”

The 22-year-old has overcome medial ligament and hamstring tendon injuries since arriving at Griffin Park last year from Glasgow Rangers. “Macleod looked a really tidy intelligent player, but was on the wide left due to our lack of wingers when he is an attacking midfielder”, “He was wasted out wide.”

Sam Saunders

“A wide old head in the dressing room”, “Sam is a positive influence and a great ambassador on and off the pitch.” The 32-year-old one-time Dagger “will be an important player for us this season if he keeps injury free”, “It is however worrying if we are having to rely on him to make things happen.”

“Saunders is a good servant but I am afraid he has had his day”, “He’s too bloody slow both on the ball and off it”, “He can’t beat a man, slows the play down and his severe lack of pace gets him in trouble”, “Sam’s crosses are excellent but his play with his back to goal loses us possession.”

Many Bees feel that his leadership will be very important this season. “Sam was great straight after the Alan Judge injury incident at Ipswich. There was only one team going to win that day”, “He’s a classy player who is so easy to underestimate”, “Saunders seems to enjoy playing against Ipswich.”

Strikers

“I am sure people will say Philipp Hofmann hasn’t had enough games and needs a chance, but he just doesn’t look good enough.” Bees were annoyed with the 23-year-old ex-Kaiserslautern frontman’s performance at Exeter. “He should be ashamed that a big bloke like that gets outfought so easily.”

“Hofmann was the biggest player on the pitch at Exeter and he should have caused their defenders nightmares. I think they slept pretty well the night after the game”, “He’s about as useful as Nelson’s Column, and as mobile. A 15-year-old Exeter centre-half had him in his pocket which was worrying.”

Scott Hogan

“Unless Hogan scores we have no scoring options at the moment.” The 24-year-old ex-Rochdale man “always gets into good positions but his confidence is a bit down at the moment. Once he gets going he should score a hatful”, “He was too isolated when we broke. It was too easy for Huddersfield.”

“Hogan looked sharp and lively but he was so isolated that he might as well have been playing on a different pitch”, “He was unsupported”, “He looked dangerous, but Huddersfield learned from last season’s 5-1 drubbing and defended deeper, crowding him out and making his runs ineffective.”

“He’s a proper centre forward who will make a big difference”, “He looks a bit lost at the moment.” Many feel that he needs a goal. “Hogan will do the business. I have money on it, but it won’t happen given how we are set up as he is so marginalised”, “Once Scott gets going, he will score a hatful.”

Brentford Fans’ Thoughts on ITFC and the Game

“This is going to be a tough match”, “A tough game now compared to three weeks ago when I would have been confident of a Bees win. We just don’t look ready and I would love and take a point right now”, “We're weak at the moment and we desperately need injured players back.”

“I can’t see where the goals are coming from and sadly think we will struggle.” With 37 per cent of Bees forecasting a home win against 57 per cent saying a triumph for us, their mood is pessimistic. Many feel that their lack of width or a scoring threat will count against them.

“It's going to be a while before we get going.” Some fear that the team have regressed into the side which went on a poor run in early spring. “Nil-one, they are just simply better than us”, “Are they? I thought we smashed them 3-1 not long ago”, “We beat Huddersfield 5-1 not that long ago too.”

“Macca is a massive loss for us.” They are also worried that we may be physically too strong and that they may be unable to cope without Alan McCormack’s presence in midfield. “It's a game where we badly need Macca but that looks doubtful”, “With no Macca we will struggle against this lot.”

Despite Grant Ward’s heroics on Saturday, he is not seen as the danger man. “We will have to stop Murphy on Saturday. If we contain him we have a chance, but sadly I think he'll be the difference.”

“I’m slightly concerned also about the ball playing abilities of our centre-backs John Egan and Harlee Dean, as I expect Ipswich's forwards to get right in their faces and try and disrupt our build up play. Millwall did this so successfully against us in pre-season.”

Bees’ Thoughts on Last April’s Game at Portman Road

“A momentarily-famous backwater club is developing a track record of reckless challenges that their fans and manager seem to think is modern football”, “I wonder what Sir Bobby Robson and the great managers Ipswich have had in the past would think of the current management and their practices?”

It is worth noting Brentford fans’ anger after the collision in the April game at Portman Road which saw Alan Judge stretchered off after a Luke Hyam tackle. The Town midfielder was later given a second yellow card for retaliating to a Ryan Woods challenge just before the interval.

Bees were angry with the nature of a challenge which deprived one of their most popular players of the chance to play for the Republic of Ireland at Euro 2016, and many were also incensed by Mick McCarthy’s comments after the game. They also had some sympathy for the aforementioned Woods challenge.

“It was a strange game as it's bitter to watch a great win after Judge's horrible injury. I've got no doubt Hyam went in to hurt him and it was sickening to watch. How that wasn't a red card is beyond me”, “For what it's worth Ipswich fans gave Judge a warm round of applause as he was taken off.”

“I used to like McCarthy but his post-match interview was disgraceful. No acknowledgement that a player’s dream was ruined by a shocking tackle and he said it wasn't even a foul. He then blamed the referee for the defeat and said that he was proud of his team’s performance with 10 men.”

“Having seen his interview post-match, the guy is a disgrace to that profession”, “I couldn't see the challenge clear enough at the time and haven't seen it back but from what he has said it sounds like load of rubbish”, “I was so angry watching him trying to blame the referee for them losing.”

“I’m pleased to see that there are no comments supporting McCarthy's views”, “Any tiny vestige of respect for McCarthy now gone forever”, “The FA should charge McCarthy for his comments. To say Hyam’s challenge was not even a yellow card brought the game into disrepute.”

“A lot of Tractor Boys are moaning about Woods and his yellow card tackle”, “I don’t blame Woods for trying to leave a bit on Hyam, maybe it was a bit excessive though”, “It was afters and nasty but not in any shape dangerous”, “It was naughty but understandable under the circumstances.”

Lingering Ill-Feeling

This ill-feeling has not dissipated for some ahead of Saturday’s game. “I might just go on Saturday to see the thugs break a leg or two. Our players better wear double shin-pads”, “I wonder who they'll try and break this time? I don't suppose there's any chance of a Kevlar kit just for this one game.”

“We don’t want to risk any injuries against that nasty Ipswich team”, “With Ipswich's previous record we cannot do without any of the squad for an extended period. I wonder which player is on their hit-list this time. I suspect it could be Hogan”, “If they injure another of our players I will go mental.”

“I just hope we smash Ipswich and McCarthy’s team”, Let’s hope we put five past those Tractor Boys. There has been no sign of Hyam in the first two games but Douglas got a run-out. Rather than give him a standing ovation on Saturday, let’s not forget about his assault on Jota last August.”

“I think we should just pick the 11 largest fellas from the paddock and throw the game and break a few legs”, “I worry that they will be fitter and stronger than us and we need to stand up to them and, if it comes to it, kick them harder than they kick us”, “It's a shame Hyam isn't playing.”

Websites

The busiest Brentford message-board is the friendly and well-informed Griffin Park Grapevine. Registration is required to access several parts of the forum.

The other Bees site which is well worth visiting for a terrific selection of blogs, podcasts and witty and informative articles is the inimitable Beesotted.

@HarryFromBath

Photo: Action Images

RoyKeanesDog added 11:11 - Aug 12 Nice one Harry. They really are sensitive about what a clean tackle. It's a massive shame that Judge got injured and nobody wants that, but I really don't think it was a terrible tackle, just unfortunate.
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essextractorboy93 added 11:11 - Aug 12 A real shame about what happened to Judge, great player and hopefully he'll be back soon! Hyam won't be playing tomorrow which I think is a good thing as they would probably have singled him out. Surprised to see how much their team has changed over the summer, thought when they beat us at Portman Road they looked a fantastic side in the making, Vibe in particular was impressive. Going to be a tough game but hopefully the team that played in the second half against Barnsley will turn up! Really like the terraced away end at Griffin Park! COYB!

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TR11BLU added 11:11 - Aug 12 Great work, par for the course Harry. I wish I was as confident as their fans that we will win this, Id take a draw but dreaming of a win in the sun! You cant blame them harbouring a grudge, it was a shocking challenge.
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boroughblue added 11:20 - Aug 12 at least brentford fans are mature about luke hyam and mick ma...
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LankHenners added 11:30 - Aug 12 Thanks Harry. Wow! 1 unfortunate incident and apparently it represents our entire club? A great shame Judge was injured in the tackle but it really was nothing more than a piece of extreme bad luck. It is convenient how they forget or alter the truth about the subsequent "retribution" on Hyam - including the high five celebrations once he'd been sent off. A real shame as well they feel like this towards us now. Ah well, I hope we smash them off this planet in terms of goals scored and they pick up more bookings than us.

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flimflam added 11:32 - Aug 12 I like Brentford, love their ground and the away day that results so am sad they think we are a team of thugs as we are not actually. We are big and strong but not dirty and its unfortunate that the few serious injuries we have committed in past few seasons two have been against them.
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Bluebell added 11:37 - Aug 12 Good to see you have something to occupy your time with now Harry. Great report as always. Something I always look forward to reading on Fridays.
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Superblue95 added 11:47 - Aug 12 Well Brentford you've successfully put yourselves on the hate list. Will be nice to see you back in league two in a few years time where you belong
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theipswichman added 11:58 - Aug 12 God I used to like Brentford but they've become as winey as Bournemouth when they were in the championship. It's obvious that Hyam didn't go out to hurt Judge, the tackle was an attempt the ball that unfortunately went wrong and ended in a horrible injury. Then they talk about an 'assault' from Douglas on Jota, does any one actually remember this at all? Let's hope we beat them and they go back down the leagues where they belong.

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RRanger added 12:08 - Aug 12 I thought Hyam's tackle was reckless and could have been a straight red. To my mind his enthusiasm means he is constantly a yellow card waiting to happen and so will probably get sent off at least once a season.
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omuircheartaigh added 12:22 - Aug 12 The Brentford supporter who suggested they should pick the biggest 11 and "break a few legs" is an idiot. I hope we beat the soundly playing the football we can. They can then place their depiction of our team, manager and club where the sun don't shine. We're not the bunch of thugs they suggest.
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DBaldy added 12:50 - Aug 12 Sounds like a few of their fans need to grow up. Although I guess the same could be said for most teams... Could be a hostile atmosphere, so hope we can get an early goal to quieten things down.
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Carrotblue added 13:53 - Aug 12 Brentford fans move on Great reporting Harry
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radiogaga added 14:56 - Aug 12 Forget double shin pads, maybe Brentford fans need reminding that Judge chose not to wear any whatsoever that day...
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Jimmy86 added 15:36 - Aug 12 I hope we absolutely smash them like boxing day couple of seasons ago. Was a great shame what happened to Judge, who is a class player, but to imply Hyam set out to do him, both from their manager and their utter melts they call fans was a disgrace. Will be a tasty atmosphere and we should get in their faces
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Fatcatevans added 15:54 - Aug 12 Have to agree with RRanger. It was an awful tackle and the fact it was on their best player in the opening minutes was hardly surprising. Their fans are right to be upset about it as would we if one of our players had been on the end of a Hyam like challenge
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jas0999 added 19:50 - Aug 12 That Hyam challenge was abysmal. It's time to move on.
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Jimmy86 added 00:18 - Aug 13 The tackle wasn't abysmal at all!! Judge had lost control of the ball, which then made it there to be won. Hyam then won the ball with a hard, robust, physical tackle. It was a freak accident as a result of judges standing leg being caught with Hyam's trailing leg. It was an old school tackle, full blooded, but committed, which us fans want to see. Woods tackle was worse and was malicious.

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