Beesotted Reloaded: The Years That Shaped Brentford. 2019 – Thomas Frank Lays Out His Brentford Blueprint

With Thomas Frank seemingly on the verge of taking the hot seat at Crystal Palace, we take a trip down memory lane and revisit two special Beesotted podcasts recorded with the man himself.

These conversations capture a fascinating period in Brentford’s history, as Frank was transforming the Bees from a decent mid-table Championship side into a promotion-winning team destined for the Premier League.

We caught up with the Beesotted crew of Billy TheBee Grant, Dave Laney Lane, Savvy Bee and Matt The Allard Allard – as they sat down with Thomas at the Red Lion pub in Barnes.

And that was part of what made these podcasts so special. Rather than sitting in a formal press room at the training ground, Thomas came into our patch, down the boozer, for a proper chat over a pint. It was an environment he seemed completely at home in, chatting openly, sharing stories and having a laugh with the crew.

The result was two wonderfully relaxed conversations that gave us a real insight into the man, his football philosophy and his vision for Brentford, at a time when something very special was beginning to take shape.

Well worth another listen, particularly with Thomas potentially embarking on a new chapter in his managerial career

Part 1

Huddersfield defeat dissected – Thomas Frank reflects on Brentford’s frustrating 1-0 defeat, discussing missed opportunities, time-wasting, refereeing and why the Bees struggled to break Huddersfield down.

Brentford’s improving form – Looking back at victories over QPR, Swansea and Millwall, Frank discusses the team’s growing confidence, improved performances and developing identity.

Dealing with criticism and pressure – Frank talks about handling difficult results, criticism from supporters and why he prefers to stay away from social media.

Players making their mark – The conversation covers key performers, including Christian Nørgaard’s Denmark call-up, Brentford’s attacking players and the importance of recruitment.

Looking ahead to Wigan – The crew previews the upcoming trip to Wigan, with opposition insight and discussion about how Brentford can build on their recent progress.

Part 2

Life in London – Thomas Frank talks about moving from Denmark to England with his family, settling into London life and embracing the opportunity at Brentford.

Joining Brentford – How he came to the club, why he was prepared to move from being a head coach to an assistant, and how his relationship with Dean Smith developed.

Coaching Philosophy – Frank explains his structured approach to coaching, ensuring training sessions reflect the team’s playing style, and the importance of trust between coaches.

Building a better Brentford – The importance of teamwork, shared footballing ideas and developing a side capable of dominating matches and playing attractive football.

Comparing Brentford teams – Frank reflects on the previous season’s attacking football, the current team’s defensive improvements and why he believes there’s much more to come.

Frank talking. In the pub. Before any of us knew quite where this journey was going.