Brentford 18/19

[Ale18]

Will they reach the playoff and what about the team?

another new player has signed up.. SAÏD BENRAHMA

 

[Red Deserato]

Will they reach the playoff and what about the team?
another new player has signed up.. SAÏD BENRAHMA

I think they'll be in the mix but a lack of a goalscorer may scupper them in the end

 

[Ramblins]

As long as you lose your season opener im
Happy wherever you finish.

 

[91SPP]

It’s hard not to like Brentford. Last season when we beat them 3-0 at our place, it was one side who were doing things the right way vs a team doing this the quick, easy way. Quick and easy won on the day, but I was envious of how they played. I’d like to see them do well, but I wouldn’t put money on them finishing in the top six. Top ten definitely & within six points maybe.

 

[Ale18]

The beginning is not bad..

2 goals from Maupay, it will be him the ours goalscorer?

 

[Abertawe]

Can someone tell me how Brentford became so good? Like I've paid no attention to the bum leagues for years but it seems Brentford have been playing good football and developing talents before selling on for big money. They are the example for the rest of the FL to follow - how have they done it?

 

[toshj]

Can someone tell me how Brentford became so good? Like I've paid no attention to the bum leagues for years but it seems Brentford have been playing good football and developing talents before selling on for big money. They are the example for the rest of the FL to follow - how have they done it?

There's a weird belief that people who've spent their lives playing football are the best at running football clubs. Instead, the most competent owners and management teams come from a variety of backgrounds - this applies to most industries, not just football.

Our owner (Matthew Benham) has made a fortune developing, selling and betting on sports data, but has never played competitive sport himself. One of our Directors of Football had his football career ended by injury in his first professional game and then studied sporting excellence and motivation - wrote a successful book on it - and his co-Director of Football has a PhD in Statistics and worked for our owners data company.

Benham got involved when the club was at its lowest - loads of debts, club running on a month-to-month basis, selling our best players on the cheap just to survive, etc. all a legacy left by Ron Noades' terrible ownership of the club. Benham has spent a fortune, there's no doubt about that. But it's mostly gone on a complete upgrade of the infrastructure of all areas of the team. The management team have therefore been able to focus long term on building a strategy of playing fluid and quick football, getting players in at a great price for us and then selling them at their peak. We're never going to be a side who spends a shit load one season trying to reach the promised land, but lacks the groundwork for it to succeed - look at Villa, Birmingham City, etc. last season. For instance, we've sold around £8m in players this summer, but those players originally cost us just over £1.25m combined. If we get the £7m-£8m for Woods as we're holding out for, it'll be £15m in for players that cost us £3m. That's our model.

The whole moneyball thing was over-exaggerated in the wake of Warburton leaving. We have access to the best data around but that side of the game is becoming more and more saturated and difficult to maintain a competitive edge in. One of the best uses of data that we employ is that, because our scouting budget is so much less than other teams, we'll statistically run the rule over players to gauge whether they're worth scouting instead of sending scouts out immediately.

We've now got a very settled and calm environment at the club, with an excellent background staff who get the best out of players. We only buy players with long term personal and value development to them - our oldest player is 29! And we get these players because we can demonstrably show them that they'll get loads of first team opportunities with us whilst we'll develop them well, and then won't stand in the way if a big side comes in for them (once our value has been met). Tarkowski, Andre Gray, Hogan, Jota, etc.

We're getting loads of hype this season, but best to take a view after 15 games rather than a 5-1 opening day hammering against a newly promoted side. We've had four top ten finishes with four bottom three budgets since promotion, so we're doing something right. Hopefully this will be the year it all falls into place.

 

[MagpieBee]

There's a weird belief that people who've spent their lives playing football are the best at running football clubs. Instead, the most competent owners and management teams come from a variety of backgrounds - this applies to most industries, not just football.

Our owner (Matthew Benham) has made a fortune developing, selling and betting on sports data, but has never played competitive sport himself. One of our Directors of Football had his football career ended by injury in his first professional game and then studied sporting excellence and motivation - wrote a successful book on it - and his co-Director of Football has a PhD in Statistics and worked for our owners data company.

Benham got involved when the club was at its lowest - loads of debts, club running on a month-to-month basis, selling our best players on the cheap just to survive, etc. all a legacy left by Ron Noades' terrible ownership of the club. Benham has spent a fortune, there's no doubt about that. But it's mostly gone on a complete upgrade of the infrastructure of all areas of the team. The management team have therefore been able to focus long term on building a strategy of playing fluid and quick football, getting players in at a great price for us and then selling them at their peak. We're never going to be a side who spends a shit load one season trying to reach the promised land, but lacks the groundwork for it to succeed - look at Villa, Birmingham City, etc. last season. For instance, we've sold around £8m in players this summer, but those players originally cost us just over £1.25m combined. If we get the £7m-£8m for Woods as we're holding out for, it'll be £15m in for players that cost us £3m. That's our model.

The whole moneyball thing was over-exaggerated in the wake of Warburton leaving. We have access to the best data around but that side of the game is becoming more and more saturated and difficult to maintain a competitive edge in. One of the best uses of data that we employ is that, because our scouting budget is so much less than other teams, we'll statistically run the rule over players to gauge whether they're worth scouting instead of sending scouts out immediately.

We've now got a very settled and calm environment at the club, with an excellent background staff who get the best out of players. We only buy players with long term personal and value development to them - our oldest player is 29! And we get these players because we can demonstrably show them that they'll get loads of first team opportunities with us whilst we'll develop them well, and then won't stand in the way if a big side comes in for them (once our value has been met). Tarkowski, Andre Gray, Hogan, Jota, etc.

We're getting loads of hype this season, but best to take a view after 15 games rather than a 5-1 opening day hammering against a newly promoted side. We've had four top ten finishes with four bottom three budgets since promotion, so we're doing something right. Hopefully this will be the year it all falls into place.

This.

 

[MagpieBee]

This.

The only thing to add is that, through the strategy of buying potential for low fees, and selling high, we are largely self sufficient at the moment, though if we go through a lean patch sales wise that might change. The investment from the owner is largely on the stadium now.

The aim of the club is not just to meet FFP, but to break even.

 

[Leewilson]

I remember us spanking Brentford 4-1 when Andy Scott was in charge in League 2 (think that may have got him the sack actually).

Remember walking back to the station and being behind some despondent Brentford fans who couldn’t see a future for the club.

How things change in 6-7 years,

 

[toshj]

I remember us spanking Brentford 4-1 when Andy Scott was in charge in League 2 (think that may have got him the sack actually).

Remember walking back to the station and being behind some despondent Brentford fans who couldn’t see a future for the club.

How things change in 6-7 years,

Yeah, I was there for that. League One it was, and our goalkeeper coach had to go in goal for us - thankfully it was his only appearance. I recall us being 2-0 down at one point despite you only having 1 shot.

That was a dreadful period for us. Andy Scott was getting more and more defensive and paranoid, refusing to listen to advice and publicly blaming his players. We'd lose, he'd go and sign a new centre mid on loan, play them on the wing in the next game, we'd lose, etc. etc.

Thankfully that was his last game in charge of us, but returned as Head Scout several years ago and enjoyed a good rapport with the fans. I actually reckon that loss was one of the key moments in where we are today. Rosler took over during the summer, and we really kicked on from there with Benham getting more involved.

The next time we played you lot was one of the weirdest games I've been to. The 6-6 League Cup game where the rainstorm hit - the rain was so thick we actually couldn't see the goal we were attacking from the stands. I miss going to your ground - seem to recall it had great food. Living in East London I'd come along to games during the international breaks every now and then.

 

[Muzzle]

One club we don't have a good record against

 

[Leewilson]

Yeah, I was there for that. League One it was, and our goalkeeper coach had to go in goal for us - thankfully it was his only appearance. I recall us being 2-0 down at one point despite you only having 1 shot.

That was a dreadful period for us. Andy Scott was getting more and more defensive and paranoid, refusing to listen to advice and publicly blaming his players. We'd lose, he'd go and sign a new centre mid on loan, play them on the wing in the next game, we'd lose, etc. etc.

Thankfully that was his last game in charge of us, but returned as Head Scout several years ago and enjoyed a good rapport with the fans. I actually reckon that loss was one of the key moments in where we are today. Rosler took over during the summer, and we really kicked on from there with Benham getting more involved.

The next time we played you lot was one of the weirdest games I've been to. The 6-6 League Cup game where the rainstorm hit - the rain was so thick we actually couldn't see the goal we were attacking from the stands. I miss going to your ground - seem to recall it had great food. Living in East London I'd come along to games during the international breaks every now and then.

That 6-6 was nuts. Think it was the same season we got relegated unfortunately. Ashley Hemmings scores a worldie!

Unfortunately, it may be a bit of time before we’re back in the football league again.

 

[Red Deserato]

I hope that Brentford does well this season as I really admire their style of play and when you stand back it's amazing to see how many top players they've signed on the cheap and then sold for lots of money. It would not surprise me if Mike Ashley looks at Brentford and what they do and attempts to emulate it without seeing everything going on n the background and realizing the investment needed to get a system like this up and running

 

[Gerry Gow]

Very good scouting system.

 

[Frank]

I hope that Brentford does well this season as I really admire their style of play and when you stand back it's amazing to see how many top players they've signed on the cheap and then sold for lots of money. It would not surprise me if Mike Ashley looks at Brentford and what they do and attempts to emulate it without seeing everything going on n the background and realizing the investment needed to get a system like this up and running

Wouldn't know his arse from his elbow when it comes to trying to emulate what we do.

 

[Ale18]

What do you think about our new coach Thomas Frank?

Can Brentford reach the play off?

 

[SMH]

No.

 

[Ale18]

No.

Why?

 

[SMH]

Why?

Too inconsistent.

 

[JJH]

Too inconsistent.

+ no good away from home.

 

[Frank]

Won once in ten and we're 5 points off the play offs. Can't see too many runs of form like that coming up, still think we'll finish top 6

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Sorry to hear, Robert Rowan the technical director, has died at the age of 28.
No age at all.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46197440

 

[Ale18]

Brentford is a team that can fight for playoff this year..

I cannot understand why with the manager changed there are so many problems.

It is a very good team!