Derby defeats always sting, but Saturday night wasn’t just about losing to Fulham, it was about the way we lost. It was flat, disjointed, and left Bees fans walking away with more questions than answers.
We’ve been trying to spot patterns under Keith Andrews, hoping something would click. But right now, it feels every match is a different episode of a series where the storyline keeps changing.
Forest was dreadful. Villa better. Bournemouth gave us a glimpse of more positives. Sunderland? Straight back down again. Chelsea showed fight and we deserved a draw against the World Champions. Villa a much-changed team battled well and the shoot-out win should have had tails up. And then Fulham… a proper mess. Worse than Forest away in my book, because at least at Forest there were mitigating circumstances. This time, Andrews had a strong squad, freedom to pick his system, and we served that up. It’s a big worry.
Last night we looked brittle. I believe we have a squad that is good enough to be competitive every week, but we are only competitive some weeks.
There were poor individual displays across the pitch. Collins made mistakes but never hides, maybe that’s why he’s been handed the armband. Others went missing when Fulham applied pressure. Henderson’s effectiveness took a big dip… Kelleher looked hesitant and flappy at important moments, Thiago looked ineffective and exposed and it was only when Rico Henry came on that we had any threat down the left hand side of the pitch.
Straight after the match Beesotted spoke to supporters who didn’t hold back – disappointed, truthful, and searching for some kind of vision for the season ahead.
And tactically, we can’t be all about set-piece routines at the expense of actually getting the ball down, or out wide, and stretching defences with pace and skill. Two-hundred-yard throw-ins have their place, but I don’t think it’s an identity any of us want to watch all match long – it’s becoming predictable and dull.
After the game, Andrews admitted:
“I’m bitterly disappointed. I know what this game means to the fans. We started the game well. The approach from the players, around the game and the occasion, was outstanding. We took the lead, and then the manner of their two goals, and the timing of them, was really disappointing. We need to learn from this as a group. It’s a young squad and we need to analyse that period.”
Honest words. But Brentford fans aren’t just looking for honesty, they’re looking for identity and signs of progress as we rebuild. Understandably, with so much coaching upheaval, continuity has been lost. Andrews is still finding his way, and more patience is required, but supporters want to see the beginnings of a recognisable blueprint. I’m not sure we are seeing that.
Yes, we know the team has to be flexible and pragmatic… you can’t play the same way every week in the Premier League. Sometimes you adapt to the opposition, and rightly so. But Bees fans are worried that until we see a consistent identity emerging, defeats like Fulham will always feel bigger than just another bad night at the office.
Dave LaneÂ
I do worry about midweek games and their impact upon our resolve the following weekend. Our older players looked a bit depleted and lacked the creative spark that makes the Bees special to watch. I thought the 2-3-5 formation recognized that fact.
I know Brentford like to give themselves the best opport4unity for every shot, hence their xg per shot is amongst the highest. This is good however if you don’t shoot you won’t score . Schade in particular had opportunities for first time shots didn’t didn’t take them I hope he isn’t being coached into doubting his instincts I seem to remember a game possibly at The Cottage where 4 first time shots were all scored
Worrying thing for me is that we seem to be forgetting that defensive first attitude…it seemed to be a massive component of Frank’s coaching team. I’m not saying they are not throwing their bodies infront of stuff, but the fact we are conceding a lot of mistakes and being defensively a bit slow and frail, this is from a lack of understanding rather than some of the fundamentals not being there.
I thought we might be a bit more solid, and a bit weaker up top – not both weaker! If it doesn’t improve, judging on the other team’s start its gonna be a battle down the wrong end that I hope we have enough for (we are a team that has played the least together and therefore has more room to improve).
some games we look fine, other games we look hopeless..the truth is hopefully somewhere in the middle.