Aston Villa preview and pub guide: Ollie Watkins’ high-flying side having amazing season
Aston Villa are having an amazing season so far and go into the weekend third in the Premier League and only two points behind leaders Liverpool. They seem to be totally unaffected by the Thursday-Sunday schedule of playing in Europe and won their Europa Conference...
Sheffield 1 Brentford 0 – Bees Breakdown’s Tactical Breakdown
Beesotted contributors The Gowler and Paul Kowalczyk (@BeesBreakdown) give us the tactical and statistical lowdown of Brentford’s defeat against Sheffield. Thomas Frank switched back to a 4-3-3, while still dealing with the injury crisis. Mbeumo, the latest victim,...
Defeat Triggers Knee-Jerkers As Bees Battle Injury Crisis
Beesotted contributor Jim Levack shares his thoughts on some of the post-Brighton reaction as a depleted Bees team went down by the odd goal in three at The Amex. We live in a knee-jerk world where instant gratification and opinionated comment is the norm. And that’s...
Brighton 2 Brentford 1 – Bees Breakdown’s Tactical Breakdown
Beesotted contributors The Gowler and Paul Kowalczyk (@BeesBreakdown) give us the tactical and statistical lowdown of Brentford’s defeat against Brighton. The midweek match saw Thomas Frank rotate some of the starting XI. Brentford, surprisingly, deployed a 4-4-2,...
Brentford 3 Luton 1 – Bees Breakdown’s Tactical Breakdown
Beesotted contributors The Gowler and Paul Kowalczyk (@BeesBreakdown) give us the tactical and statistical lowdown of Brentford’s win agaisnt Luton Town. Thomas Frank switched to a 4-3-3 to face Luton town, shifting from the 3-5-2 deployed against Arsenal. The...
Arsenal Debrief and Top Hatters Tales Podcast
After the punch in the guts against Arsenal - with them scoring that late, later goal – the Bees pick themselves up and get back to Premier League action against Luton Town on Saturday afternoon. Billy the Bee Grant and Dave Laney Lane hooked up in the virtual joint...
Luton preview and pub guide: Hatters and Ogbene kick off our December fixtures
Luton will become the fifth club we have played in all four divisions when we meet at the Gtech on Saturday. The Premier League new boys will follow Grimsby, Huddersfield, Watford and Bournemouth as opponents of ours across all the leagues. The Hatters completed a...
This Christmas… I’m giving thanks for VAR
Beesotted contributor, Rev Peter Crumpler, offers his tongue in cheek thanks to VAR This Sunday Wembley Stadium will host a special celebration of the links between football and the Christian faith. As a Church of England minister and Bees fan, I welcome the...
Bees Breakdown’s Tactical Breakdown – Brentford 0 Arsenal 1
Beesotted contributors The Gowler and Paul Kowalczyk (@BeesBreakdown) give us the tactical and statistical lowdown of Brentford’s loss against Arsenal. Thomas Frank was, once again, forced into making some changes to his starting XI. Jensen, Collins, and Roerslev all...
Arsenal preview and pub guide: Raya ineligible for Gunners’ visit
Arsenal are in the thick of the title race once again as they visit the Gtech on Saturday evening. They went into the international break in third place in the table, behind Liverpool on goal difference and a point adrift of Manchester City. Those two play each other...
No Pressure for Bees as Arsenal Head West – Brentford v Gunners Preview Podcast featuring Turkish from AFTV
The international break is over. Brentford have put behind them the 3-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield - a scoreline that reflected Liverpool’s prowess in front of goal more than it did the match itself in which the Bees created a number of chances Billy The Bee Grant...
Liverpool 3 Brentford 0 – Bees Breakdown’s Tactical Breakdown
Beesotted contributors The Gowler and Paul Kowalczyk (@BeesBreakdown) give us the tactical and statistical lowdown of Brentford’s loss at Anfield. Thomas Frank switched back to a 3-5-2 to face Liverpool. Ben Mee was reintroduced into the starting XI next to Pinnock...
Brentford 3 West Ham 2 – Bees Breakdown’s Tactical Breakdown
Beesotted contributors The Gowler and Paul Kowalczyk (@BeesBreakdown) give us the tactical and statistical lowdown of Brentford’s win against West Ham. Thomas Frank switched back to his 4-3-3 from the 3-5-2 used against Chelsea and Big 6 sides. Aaron Hickey picked up...
West Ham preview and pub guide: Hammers aim to end Brentford bogey
West Ham arrive at the Gtech on Saturday for fireworks weekend after a sparkling start to November. After a difficult end to October, with no wins in four games in all competitions, they bounced back on Wednesday with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Arsenal in the...
The No Post Chelsea Blue As Bee Look To Hammer West Ham Again Podcast
Chelsea get battered was the chant emanating from Stamford Bridge on Saturday as the Bees won their third match in a row in Chelsea. With the euphoria almost blown over, Billy 'the Bee' Grant and Dave 'Laney' Lane sat down in the virtual joint to relive that brilliant...
Got ‘Im By The Jacobs – TalksportGate’s Brentford Bashing
Beesotted contributor Lewis Holmes admits he's spent too much time on Social Media in the past couple of days – here's what he thinks of TalkSport's Andy Jacobs' attack on Brentford's style of play post-Chelsea. We will also be talking about salty Jacobs, the Gtech...
Chelsea 0 Brentford 2 – Bees Breakdown’s Tactical Breakdown
Beesotted contributors The Gowler and Paul Kowalczyk (@BeesBreakdown) give us the tactical and statistical lowdown of Brentford’s win at Stamford Bridge. Thomas Frank switched to a 3-5-2 as he typically does against Big 6 sides. This sent Maupay and Onyeka to the...
Can Bees Win At Stamford Bridge Again? The Pre Chelsea Podcast
Bee and Laney chew the cud in the VJ ahead of the Saturday trip to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea under yet another manager. We look back to last Weekend's victory over Burnley, Monaco's visit to Staines to play the B Team, betting bans and some band names that...
Brentford 3 Burnley 0 – Bees Breakdown’s Tactical Breakdown
Beesotted contributors The Gowler and Paul Kowalczyk (@BeesBreakdown) give us the tactical and statistical lowdown of Brentford’s win against Burnley. Thomas Frank’s 4-3-3 looked a little different with Janelt starting at left back. Brentford’s long injury list, and a...
Brentford v Burnley Pre-Match Mini-Pod
Billy the Bee Grant found himself solo in the virtual joint after the Beesotted crew flaked out after over-celebrating on Beesotted’s 1000th party podcast. But no problem as he was joined virtually in the virtual joint by JB with some poor start of manager tenure...
Burnley preview and pub guide: Kompany’s Clarets enduring tough start to season
Burnley have had a tough start to the season and, like fellow promoted clubs Luton and Sheffield United, come into the weekend in the bottom four in the table. They have lost all five of their home games, but picked up four points from their three away matches by...
Beesotted1000 – Brentford. From League One To Premier League in 1000 Episodes
Beesotted is 1000 episodes old. Happy birthday to us. And in good old Beesotted style, the Beesotted crew went down the pub - The Castle Inn in Ealing - to celebrate fully And what a bumper podcast we have for your. Starting off with the first podcast recorded on the...
Manchester United 2 Brentford 1 – Bees Breakdown’s Tactical Breakdown
Beesotted contributors The Gowler and Paul Kowalczyk (@BeesBreakdown) give us the tactical and statistical lowdown of Brentford’s loss against Manchester United. Thomas Frank switched to his 3-5-2 to face Manchester United. Brentford’s back 3 consisted of Collins,...
Brutal End To Manchester United Match – Brentford Are Struggling
Beesotted's Jim Levack looks back at the heartbreaking end to the Manchester United match as well as the bigger picture as Brentford struggle for points this season. Thomas Frank’s mantra of dwelling on defeat for just 24 hours will surely be tested to the limit by...
Nottingham Forest 1 Brentford 1 – Bees Breakdown’s Tactical Breakdown
Beesotted contributors The Gowler and Paul Kowalczyk (@BeesBreakdown) give us the tactical and statistical lowdown of Brentford’s draw against Nottingham Forest. Thomas Frank stuck with the 4-3-3 that faced Everton with one change as Ajer came in at right back for...
VARcical Decisions Have Cost Brentford Again
Thomas Frank’s mantra that football is a game of fine margins has never felt more relevant than it does right now. Feeble refereeing compounded by panic-stricken VAR decisions mean his side have missed out on a potential six points already this season. Each blunder is...
Arsenal preview and pub guide: Will Raya make a playing return?
David Raya returns to the Gtech on Wednesday - but one of the key questions is whether he will start for Arsenal in their third round Carabao Cup clash with the Bees. Raya has replaced Aaron Ramsdale in the Gunners goal for their last three matches - in the Premier...
Brentford 1 Everton 3 – Bees Breakdown’s Tactical Breakdown
Beesotted contributors The Gowler and Paul Kowalczyk (@BeesBreakdown) give us the tactical and statistical lowdown of Brentford’s loss against Everton. Brentford looked to bounce back after the loss to Newcastle last weekend. Thomas Frank switched to a 4-3-3 with a...
Everton preview and pub guide: Maupay misses out as Toffees visit the Gtech
Neal Maupay will be sitting in the stands when his parent club Everton visit the club he is on loan to - the Bees - on Saturday. The striker rejoined us on deadline day, four years after leaving us for Brighton, but is ineligible to play against the Toffees. Everton...
Newcastle 1 Brentford 0 – Bees Breakdown’s Tactical Breakdown
Beesotted contributors The Gowler and Paul Kowalczyk (@BeesBreakdown) give us the tactical and statistical lowdown of Brentford’s loss against Newcastle. Thomas Frank expectedly switched to a 5-3-2 to face Newcastle. This meant Schade would go to the bench, while...
Brentford 2 Bournemouth 2 – Bees Breakdown’s Tactical Breakdown
Beesotted contributors The Gowler and Paul Kowalczyk (@BeesBreakdown) give us the tactical and statistical lowdown of Brentford’s draw against Bournemouth. Thomas Frank almost kept the same starting lineup for a third straight match, but Ben Mee’s return from injury...
Welcoming Brentford’s New Number Seven Back Home
Beesotted contributor Nemone Sariman shares her thoughts on the return of Neal Maupay The first time that I met Neal Maupay, it was at the Porsche showroom in Chiswick. We were at an organised Brentford FC event, but I often leave that part out when relating the story...
AFC Bournemouth preview and pub guide: Cherries searching for first win of season
AFC Bournemouth have had a difficult start to the season and thanks to an unforgiving fixture list, have only one point from their first three matches. That came from a 1-1 draw at home to West Ham on the opening weekend of the season, but since then they have lost...
Bakayoko, Balcombe and Bournemouth Deadline Day Podcast
On The Deadline Day Podcast we talk about the will-he-won't-he transfer deal with PSV for Johan Bakayoko after the Bees bid an eye-watering €34m-plus for the Belgum forward and Brentford's other targets and signings in the final day of the window... we look back at...
Brentford 1 Crystal Palace 1 – Bees Breakdown’s Tactical Breakdown
Beesotted contributors The Gowler and Paul Kowalczyk (@BeesBreakdown) give us the tactical and statistical lowdown of Brentford’s draw against Crystal Palace. Thomas Frank named an unchanged starting XI to face Crystal Palace. Brentford’s 4-3-3 was firing on all...
Strength In Numbers – Brentford Draw With Palace Yet Again
Beesotted contributor Nemone Sariman's latest article looks back at Brentford's draw with Crystal Palace and asks some very interesting numerical questions!! A great philosopher once wrote, “Nobody likes a draw”. I didn’t understand this at the time. After all, one...
Crystal Palace preview and pub guide: Is a fifth draw with the Eagles on the cards?
Crystal Palace have started their 11th successive season in the Premier League with one win and one defeat. On the opening weekend, they won 1-0 at newly promoted Sheffield United, before losing 1-0 at home to Arsenal on Monday night. It has been a summer of change...
Ivan Toney – Unfiltered Facts or Unnecessary Attention?
Ivan Toney broke his silence about his betting ban from football, and from Brentford, when he appeared as a guest on the popular podcast Diary of a CEO, which is hosted by entrepreneur Steven Bartlett. Toney opened up about growing up in Northampton, his strong bonds...
Striking Gold At The Cottage
Beesotted writer Nemone Sariman looks back at her day out at Craven Cottage and a brilliant away win for The Bees. As Forrest Gump once almost said, “Life is like a Premier League away day; you never know what you’re gonna get.” A huge part of what I’m gonna get on an...
Fulham 0 Brentford 3 – Bees Breakdown’s Tactical Breakdown
Beesotted contributors The Gowler and Paul Kowalczyk (@BeesBreakdown) give us the tactical and statistical lowdown of Brentford’s win against Fulham. Thomas Frank switched to a 4-3-3 to face Fulham, with Kevin Schade replacing Ajer in the starting XI. Pinnock and...
West London Derby Countdown – Fulham v Brentford Podcast
After their opening day point against Tottenham, Brentford head up river for a second London Derby in a week, this time against the River Rats from Fulham, who got off to a winning start at Everton last weekend. Brentford place played out three 3-2 matches with our...
Brentford 2 Tottenham 2 – Bees Breakdown’s Tactical Breakdown
Beesotted contributors The Gowler and Paul Kowalczyk (@BeesBreakdown) give us the tactical and statistical lowdown of Brentford’s opening match draw against Tottenham. Brentford kicked off Premier League Season 3 against Tottenham at the GTech. Brentford came out in...
Brentford’s Opening Day Excitement As The Premier League Returns
I don’t yet know enough about football to understand how they - whoever “they” may be - decide the order of matches in any season. Is it an IT software package into which they input in all the team names, plus any mitigating factors (for instance, it’s probably not a...
Spurs came to Brentford for the opening match of the season. The match ended up an exciting 2-2 draw with both Spurs and Brentford going ahead and plenty of VAR action Billy TheBee Grant hung out in The Red Lion in Manhattan for the day with the NYC Bees to watch the...
Spurs preview and pub guide: Kane transfer saga disrupts Tottenham plans
Spurs' plans for the season have been disrupted by the ongoing Harry Kane transfer saga. At the time of writing (Friday afternoon) the England captain was due to be having a medical at Bayern Munich ahead of a potential move to the German club. If the deal goes...
The Truth Behind Tottenham’s ‘Bid’ For David Raya And The Arsenal Deal
The season is well and truly back. a Harry Kane-less (probably) Spurs gear themselves up for a trip to West London to take on an Ivan Toney-less (definitely) Brentford for the second time in three league matches. Billy The Bee Grant (@BillyTheBee99) and Dave Laney...
Brentford FC in the USA – The Beesotted Daily Podcast
Brentford FC embark on their first ever USA tour this summer taking Fulham on in Philadelphia, Brighton on in Atlanta and Aston Villa on in Washington Beesotted will be Stateside every step of the way and we will be (trying to) dropping a podcast a day - bringing back...
Transfers. Friendlies. USA Tour. Brentford Are Back – Beesotted Mid-Pre-Season Round Up Podcast
The Beesotted crew are back after a brief sojourn with Billy The Bee Grant ( and Dave Laney Lane () hooking up in the virtual joint to chat transfers, pre-Season friendlies and lots more. Plus we chat USA tour ….. listing all the pre match bars for fans travelling to...
Third Season Syndrome Or The Difficult Third Album?
This time last year almost every football pundit and know-it-all armchair football bore was writing Brentford's chances of Premier League survival off – 'Second Season Syndrome' we all know has been proven to be nonsense in any case – but these hacks tend to hunt in...
Changing Fan Part 3 – The Journey Home
Maybe I’m feeling the years, but season 23-24 still feels like a date set way in the future. Surely it should only have come to pass in a long running game of Football Manager; one anchored in the real world accuracy of Stuart Nelson and Charlie Ide at the start....