brentford_lad
Member
From the PFA:
What a difference a summer makes! The Bees from Brentford had a splendid season last time out and under the shrewd tutelage of Steve Coppell went into a winner-takes-all finale against Reading at Griffin Park knowing that three points would take them back into the First Division. It was all going according to plan until ten minutes from time when Jamie Cureton snatched an equaliser for Reading.
A play-off semi final victory against Huddersfield meant a day trip to the Millennium Stadium for the final against Stoke. Two set pieces cost them dearly, including an own goal from the normally prolific Ben Burgess and it was back to the drawing board for this season.
During a summer of turmoil for the Bees, chairman Ron Noades, repeatedly thwarted in his attempts to re-locate, has decided to make swinging cuts to the playing budget, which has left last seasons promotion hopefuls decimated. Lloyd Owusu (20 goals), now at Sheffield Wednesday, Ben Burgess (17 goals), who has been snaffled up by freshly relegated Stockport County and inspirational skipper Paul Evans (14 goals), who was awarded with a free transfer for his efforts, have all gone. If you throw in the mid-season transfer of Gavin Mahon to Watford and the free transfer deal during the last week of Ivar Ingimarsson to Wolves then the Bees squad looks threadbare to say the least.
The men from Griffin Park won't be assisted by a very tough start, which incorporates an opening day visit to the McAlpine Stadium where Huddersfield will be hell bent on revenge for last seasons play off traumas. Brentford then host two real contenders in Bristol City and cash rich Oldham before the opening months fixtures are completed by two tricky trips to Colchester and Notts County with a visit from Swindon sandwiched in between.
Noades may need to repeat the experiment of last season where he let spectators in for free against Peterborough to boost attendances. The public responded with a gate of over 12,000 but whether they will recreate that atmosphere this season is open to debate and leaves a massive task ahead for manager Wally Downes and his youthful looking squad.
CLARKYS VERDICT - FINAL POSITION: 21st (Relegation)
Rookie boss, Wally Downes is really going to have to create the old Wimbledon 'Crazy Gang spirit' if Brentford are going to survive in the second division this season. The loss of fifty goals is a massive blow to any team and the experience of Evans in midfield will prove hard to replace. The constant rumblings of change in the background regarding ground moves and the threat of extinction if it doesnt materialize means that a 'them and us' spirit could well be Downes best bet for success. I don't wish to be the harbinger of doom but the last time Brentford lost in a play off final they were relegated the following season!
A play-off semi final victory against Huddersfield meant a day trip to the Millennium Stadium for the final against Stoke. Two set pieces cost them dearly, including an own goal from the normally prolific Ben Burgess and it was back to the drawing board for this season.
During a summer of turmoil for the Bees, chairman Ron Noades, repeatedly thwarted in his attempts to re-locate, has decided to make swinging cuts to the playing budget, which has left last seasons promotion hopefuls decimated. Lloyd Owusu (20 goals), now at Sheffield Wednesday, Ben Burgess (17 goals), who has been snaffled up by freshly relegated Stockport County and inspirational skipper Paul Evans (14 goals), who was awarded with a free transfer for his efforts, have all gone. If you throw in the mid-season transfer of Gavin Mahon to Watford and the free transfer deal during the last week of Ivar Ingimarsson to Wolves then the Bees squad looks threadbare to say the least.
The men from Griffin Park won't be assisted by a very tough start, which incorporates an opening day visit to the McAlpine Stadium where Huddersfield will be hell bent on revenge for last seasons play off traumas. Brentford then host two real contenders in Bristol City and cash rich Oldham before the opening months fixtures are completed by two tricky trips to Colchester and Notts County with a visit from Swindon sandwiched in between.
Noades may need to repeat the experiment of last season where he let spectators in for free against Peterborough to boost attendances. The public responded with a gate of over 12,000 but whether they will recreate that atmosphere this season is open to debate and leaves a massive task ahead for manager Wally Downes and his youthful looking squad.
CLARKYS VERDICT - FINAL POSITION: 21st (Relegation)
Rookie boss, Wally Downes is really going to have to create the old Wimbledon 'Crazy Gang spirit' if Brentford are going to survive in the second division this season. The loss of fifty goals is a massive blow to any team and the experience of Evans in midfield will prove hard to replace. The constant rumblings of change in the background regarding ground moves and the threat of extinction if it doesnt materialize means that a 'them and us' spirit could well be Downes best bet for success. I don't wish to be the harbinger of doom but the last time Brentford lost in a play off final they were relegated the following season!
