In the 18th of a series of pre-season reports, HarryfromBath assesses the mood around the Championship clubs by delving into their forums, looking here at how things have progressed for the Bees under manager Dean Smith this summer. All of the teams in the division will be covered by the start of the season.
"It seems like we are setting a higher bar than just avoiding relegation this season. How far have we come?”, "For us, top 10 is a realistic and achievable aim”, "The current squad is incredible, and this is probably the best we have had since we have been in this division”, "We need to find consistency.”
"Most opposition fans accept us as a decent Championship side.” There is a positive mood around Griffin Park this summer. A good transfer window has seen no important players lured away while promising additions to the squad have helped the team remain unbeaten throughout pre-season.
"It has always seemed that anyone can beat anyone in the Championship, but I wonder this year, with a lot of big spenders, if the league might split into two groups”, "Logic says that a tiny club like ours can’t compete and should struggle, but we have confounded the experts for three years now.”
"What a great job Dean Smith has done with the squad. He has won me over”, "He is not a media darling and hasn’t come in with passion and flair, but he is building something and sustaining it”, "He is a real old-fashioned football man who relates to the fans and is highly respected by the players.”
The 46-year-old arrived at Griffin Park in November 2015 after a successful reign at Walsall, and his "modest, grounded and hard-working” style of management has won the respect of Bees. "He has taken on board how we do things and is open to ideas. He is likeable and a credit to our club.”
Fans feel that he has blossomed in the second half of last season and is getting the best out of his improved squad. "Dean has become more attacking and adventurous and his tactical decisions have improved with time”, "He has added that bit of steel and tactical organisation we had been lacking.”
"We need to keep Harlee Dean and Jota.” Brentford have traditionally been a selling club. Fans have been relieved not lose the services of both their centre-back and their talismanic right winger. "Keep Jota and strengthen in the areas we all know about. Let’s hope we don’t get any last-minute offers.”
Three players have moved to Germany. Winger Akaki Gogoa has joined Dynamo Dresden after a loan spell with the club last season. Striker Philipp Hofmann has moved to Greuther Furth and midfielder Konstantin Kerschbaumer will play on loan this coming season at 2.Bundesliga side Arminia Bielefeld.
Two midfielders have departed, veteran Alan McCormack has joined Luton and 20-year-old James Ferry has switched to Stevenage on a two-year deal. Goalkeeper Jack Bonham has gone to Carlisle on loan until January because, in the words of Dean Smith, "he needs to play matches”.
"I have a very good feeling about the season mainly due to the stable squad we have at the minute”, "The current squad depth is incredible. If no players were to leave, top six would be achievable.” It may be early days, but Bees have been impressed by how the new arrivals have fitted in to the side.
"I like Henrik Dalsgaard and think he will give us some much-needed height and physical presence behind Jota on our right flank”, "He is a beast. I can see him overlapping Jota with pace, strength and intent down that side.”
The defence has seen the arrival of 27-year-old right-back and Denmark international Henrik Dalsgaard from Belgian side Zulte Waregem, while steel has been added to midfield in the form of holding player Kamo Mokotjo, 26, a South Africa international who has joined from FC Twente.
"Mokotjo makes such a difference to the side. It’s unfair to pick one player but he has been stand-out for me. He is the tough-tackling, ball-winning midfielder we have needed for so long”, "A step in the right direction of being able to deal with the less pretty stuff, and he reads the game so well.”
Luke Daniels, the 29-year-old keeper from Scunthorpe and Danish striker Emiliano Marconedes, 22, from Nordsjaelland have not featured greatly in pre-season, but Bees have been impressed by new strikers Neal Maupay, 20, from St Etienne and 21-year-old Ollie Watkins, who joined from Exeter City.
"Maupay looks lively when he has come on, He gives the ball away with inaccurate passes, but he needs time to bed in with his team-mates”, "He is a striker who defenders hate playing against. He won’t get bullied”, "He has the air of a real poacher about him, getting into the right positions.”
"We no longer look a tiny side with Ollie Watkins”, "He works hard and is a real unit but has not produced any real magic just yet”, "He is playing on the safe side and needs to back himself a touch more”, "He plays a different role in attacking midfield, pressing and joining the attacking three.”
The Bees kicked off their pre-season with a 4-1 win at Aldershot and followed this with a 1-1 draw against Swiss side Lausanne in France. After winning 4-3 at Oxford, they held Southampton to a 2-2 draw, before beating Milton Keynes 3-2 and finally winning 2-1 at home to Celta Vigo on Saturday.
Smith set Saturday’s starting XI (above) out in his favoured 4-3-3 shape and many Bees see this as their season-opening line-up. Right-back Maxime Colin was excused as he had just become a father while centre-half Harlee Dean did not play as he is suspended for the opening game of the season.
"McEachran made some wonderful passes. With so many quick runners in front of him, some of the first touches were a joy to watch.” Bees have noted an immediate connection between him and his new midfield partner Mokotjo. "Josh and Kamo seem to have struck up an intuitive understanding.”
The final XI for Saturday’s win over Celta Vigo (above) highlights the balance of the wider squad. Three longer-term absentees are Alan Judge, who broke his leg at Portman Road in April 2016, fellow midfielder Lewis Macleod and striker Justin Shiabu, respectively recovering from knee and ankle injuries.
"The downside against Celta Vigo again was the lack of intensity after the break when we seemed to run out of energy, sit deeper and let them have possession”, "McEachran can’t last more than 60 minutes even after a full pre-season”, "Mokotjo worked hard but he also faded after the hour mark.”
Fans commented that the side faded similarly in their Southampton friendly. "We lost our intensity and allowed Celta Vigo possession and ultimately they scored. We were not running and pressing as we were in the first half. This alarmingly repeated the same pattern of our Saints warm-up game.”
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