Brentford, Griffin Park, and a potential Groundshare

[The Southbank]

Can't they go to Loftus Road or something?

 

[MagpieBee]

From what our Chief Exec said the other day, looks likely that if we do groundshare, it'll be Fulham.

Would take the gloss off going up, but does look one of the better options unfortunately.

The club definitely haven't given up hope on Griffin Park yet, but it does look increasingly unlikely we'd be able to play there.

 

[mpmbee]

It sounds like the main problem would be with the media areas. Ours just aren't big enough and are pretty prehistoric. Not a bad problem to have to deal with mind you.

 

[Millersfan]

Stupid that. Let em stay ffs.

 

[Dazza]

Still cant see them playing at the Mad Stad.Steve Clarke is pissed off as it is with London Irish already playing there.

 

[FrimleyBee]

The rumour I'm hearing is Reading is the option of last resort IF we were to be promoted AND were unable to stay at Griffin Park - although being allowed to stay seems likely. Other grounds have ruled themselves out.

London Irish would move to GP

 

[Dazza]

The rumour I'm hearing is Reading is the option of last resort IF we were to be promoted AND were unable to stay at Griffin Park - although being allowed to stay seems likely. Other grounds have ruled themselves out.

London Irish would move to GP

That wouldn't be too bad for the Irish.A lot of their support are obviously from London.The only time they get a decent size crowd is when they play at home around St Patrick's day.

 

[Frank]

One or two rumours floating about that this is definitely on if you go up.

Rumour is we'd need to put seats into our terraces

 

[HertsWolf]

The rumour I'm hearing is Reading is the option of last resort IF we were to be promoted AND were unable to stay at Griffin Park - although being allowed to stay seems likely. Other grounds have ruled themselves out.

London Irish would move to GP

Reading's ground seems fairly remote for people who live in Reading. Let alone people from Chiswick.

 

[HertsWolf]

From what our Chief Exec said the other day, looks likely that if we do groundshare, it'll be Fulham.

Would take the gloss off going up, but does look one of the better options unfortunately.

The club definitely haven't given up hope on Griffin Park yet, but it does look increasingly unlikely we'd be able to play there.

You mean "it'll be with Championship strugglers Fulham"?

 

[Dazza]

So how much work does Griffin Park need to bring it up to Premier League standard?

 

[HertsWolf]

So how much work does Griffin Park need to bring it up to Premier League standard?

Pies replaced with ciabattas
Chips replaced with potato wedges
Carlsberg to be replaced by four different real ales with quirky names.
Seats to be upholstered by Laura Ashley
Turnstiles to be painted light green and distressed.
Big sign painted on stand roof saying "Fuck Off Emirates"
People in the dugout requested not to wave at the TV cameras each time they pan round.
Car parking spaces to be remeasured for Range Rovers

 

[hodge]

Would be nice for Brentford if they get promoted to be able to enjoy their season(s) in the PL in their own stadium

 

[Madejski]

I don't think it's a case of it being impossible to fit Griffin Park up ready for Prem football. But the reasoning is more that the costs are so high for what could only be a one season improvement as their new stadium is coming soon.

Guess it could be fan power of wanting to stay there versus board power of wanting to save money.

 

[WhiteRussian]

Pies replaced with ciabattas
Chips replaced with potato wedges
Carlsberg to be replaced by four different real ales with quirky names.
Seats to be upholstered by Laura Ashley
Turnstiles to be painted light green and distressed.
Big sign painted on stand roof saying "Fuck Off Emirates"
People in the dugout requested not to wave at the TV cameras each time they pan round.
Car parking spaces to be remeasured for Range Rovers

I just spat my tea out at that...

We have just about the best seats ever, we should get them upholstered by Laura Ashley

 

[FrimleyBee]

So how much work does Griffin Park need to bring it up to Premier League standard?

I believe terracing is a red line - but possibly the easiest to remedy (although couldn't vouch for the sightlines on some).
Other than that...

• Changing room sizes
• Segregated access to ground for players
• Media Facilities
• Floodlighting - needs to be upgraded for HD cameras and problem is actual voltage available to ground
• Under-soil heating

 

[HertsWolf]

I believe terracing is a red line - but possibly the easiest to remedy (although couldn't vouch for the sightlines on some).

• Segregated access to ground for players

Eh? What's that? Most visiting teams roll up to the Palace of the Dreams of Others in their black coach, park by the front door and the players shamble in with their neatly pressed trousers slung low, their Beats by Dr Dre headphones buzzing, and their wallets bulging.

What's this about 'segregated access'? "Mate, you're CM rating's pretty shit this season, you'll have to go up the tradesman's entrance. Yeh, in you go Benik. Yeh, you too Danny. Sorry, round the back, Kevin"

 

[MagpieBee]

Maybe not the right thread for this, but very interesting interview with our owner. Doesn't come out and speak that often.

http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2015/05/15/soccer-analytics-brentford-midtjylland-matthew-benham

 

[Millerski]

Interesting stuff.
I think Howard Wilkinson was into forms of this way back in the 80's notts county days.

 

[MagpieBee]

Interesting stuff.
I think Howard Wilkinson was into forms of this way back in the 80's notts county days.

Mmm. All very positive for us, and makes me think we are in very good hands, trying something different from everyone else is the only way we'll succeed.

Though the comment about the Champions League worries me, just sounds stupid and like they don't know what they are doing...

 

[Camdenite]

Mmm. All very positive for us, and makes me think we are in very good hands, trying something different from everyone else is the only way we'll succeed.

Though the comment about the Champions League worries me, just sounds stupid and like they don't know what they are doing...

Have any of you Bees fans seen the film Moneyball? It's pretty much the standard now in U.S. sports, and has already been attempted here with Liverpool (with varying degrees of success). What Benham is doing isn't new, but I would say that he probably has the advantage that he's got access to better data.

My own reservations about this approach stem from the fact that football is more, for want of a better word, chaotic than the other sports it's been implemented in (baseball, NFL etc). It doesn't stand up to the same level of statistical analysis, as there are far too many variables.

As for the Howard Wilkinson post above, I'm sure his approach was solely moulded by the Charles Hughes mantra that "most goals are scored by three passes or less", rather than looking at the data for individual players, which is what this is about.

 

[Frank]

Mmm. All very positive for us, and makes me think we are in very good hands, trying something different from everyone else is the only way we'll succeed.

Though the comment about the Champions League worries me, just sounds stupid and like they don't know what they are doing...

He doesn't suggest we'll be in the Champions League at all, that quote was referring to FC Midtjylland.

He doesn't make any statements about our intention but does hint towards it, the level play field thought suggests he has bigger fish to fry than those languishing around mid-table...let's see how well it works.

 

[Millerski]

Have any of you Bees fans seen the film Moneyball? It's pretty much the standard now in U.S. sports, and has already been attempted here with Liverpool (with varying degrees of success). What Benham is doing isn't new, but I would say that he probably has the advantage that he's got access to better data.

My own reservations about this approach stem from the fact that football is more, for want of a better word, chaotic than the other sports it's been implemented in (baseball, NFL etc). It doesn't stand up to the same level of statistical analysis, as there are far too many variables.

As for the Howard Wilkinson post above, I'm sure his approach was solely moulded by the Charles Hughes mantra that "most goals are scored by three passes or less", rather than looking at the data for individual players, which is what this is about.

ive had the idea in my mind over the years that Howard wilkinson maybe had more than just a passing interest in the contributions statistically from individual players.
Stemming from a conversation with a mate back then who had a uni footy team mate whos dissertation was on the subject. He was on placement at notts county. He was treated warily by the players, they thinking his work affected team selection.
Of course Howard could clarify if he's reading.

 

[MagpieBee]

He doesn't suggest we'll be in the Champions League at all, that quote was referring to FC Midtjylland.

He doesn't make any statements about our intention but does hint towards it, the level play field thought suggests he has bigger fish to fry than those languishing around mid-table...let's see how well it works.

But FCM will be in it next year. I think he was referring to us. At least that's how I read it given FCM have already got that.

 

[Frank]

But FCM will be in it next year. I think he was referring to us. At least that's how I read it given FCM have already got that.

"That’s what we’re trying to do. Even for Midtjylland, we’d like to push for being at the top of the Danish league against next year, and our ambition is to play in European group play, in Champions League or Europa League, every second year. That’s the next step we want to take.”