Jim Levack looks back at yesterday’s win over Forest and the news that Lee Carsley will be staying on at Brentford, even if that’s not in the role of head coach.
Spend several minutes in the company of Lee Carsley and you can see why he’s done so well in the game. He’s a bloke who smiles with his eyes and I like those kind of people. It means they’re honest, genuine and won’t try to flannel you.
What you see with Carsley is pretty much what you get and that’s why I am so pleased that Brentford, and in particular Matthew Benham, are doing the right thing by him.
Football, once you get to a certain level, is a pretty ruthless business where the nice guys don’t necessarily prosper and success isn’t always rewarded.
But in Carsley and Kevin O’Connor, Brentford now have two guys who have been there, done it but who both have the humility to accept that they’re still learning… as indeed we all are.
Had Carsley walked out of yesterday’s post match press conference with no job to go to within the club and nothing but a thank you handshake from the owner, I would have been hugely disappointed.
It would have meant a chipping away of what Brentford means to me, and I’m sure, many other Bees supporters.
Fact is he will now go back to looking after the academy and those young players’ respect for him will be sky high after his achievements with the first XI.
His stock and his CV are impressive now and I wouldn’t mind betting there will be clubs sniffing round him at the end of the season, but if Brentford are serious about bringing quality academy players through to the first team, then securing him on a long term contract should be a priority.
His work in steadying the ship was based around that honesty I mentioned before, and the fact that he knew the English game inside out. He is a footballer’s footballer.
After settling on a steady first team who knew the way the Championship worked, he slowly integrated the continental players with 20 minutes here and there. Not rocket science, you might say. No, but he knew what was needed and did it.
Training was stepped up and as a result the intensity in games grew. I had to laugh at people who were moaning after his first game and a half in charge that they couldn’t see any difference. He’s a good man manager, not a wizard.
His record is a testament to the way he’s gone about his business, but for me the way he has changed Philipp Hofmann in just five games is perhaps the greater achievement.
The German has changed from a languid, sluggish-looking target man to a potent goal threat, with great feet for a big bloke. His link up play has improved beyond belief but most important of all he’s quicker off the mark to get to loose balls and once he gets there uses his physicality to give defenders a nightmare.
His goal was a fitting reward for the way he has worked and I’m sure adding presence to his game will not have gone unnoticed by the German FA.
His 95th minute winner was also hopefully a lesson learned for the posing prima donnas of Forest who sullied the once great name of their club.
Their diving, injury feigning and general petulance would have made Cloughie roll in his grave, and are quite possibly the reason why that set of players have lost their last four away games on the bounce.
The less said about Jonny Williams Oscar-winning performance the better, but perhaps now is as good a time as any to thank the delicate flower of a wing man.
He saw an opportunity to turn a moment of silliness on Harlee Dean’s part into the flashpoint that would eventually win the game for Brentford.
After a tepid first 50 minutes I told my mate “this needs a really big tackle or a sending of to get it going”. How right I was.
The Bees players and fans’ sense of injustice at Williams’ dying swan routine – which strangely ended as soon as the red came out – was the catalyst for this win.
Williams was not alone though. Eric Lichaj and Matt Mills both suffered “potentially fatal” head injuries until they realised play was continuing and then hopped to their feet.
Rather than looking at missed chances, Dougie Freedman needs to take a leaf out of Carsley’s book and perhaps demand a little more honesty from his players.
Jim Levack
As ever a spot on report. I didn’t watch yesterday’s game because I live nearly 300 miles away, but I gather that Forest in general, and Williams in particular, were trying for Oscars. As you say Jim, the late, great Brian Clough would be turning in his grave.
You comments about Lee Carsley are equally pertinent. The team has been transformed from the spineless bunch I watched against Burnley in August. I didn’t mind losing ( after 54 years I am used to that), but I did mind the lack of passion. So thank you Mr Carsley for putting the passion back into Brentford FC.
Agree on the most part, although we we’re 1-0 up when Deano saw red, and were already pressing for a second goal which I felt was imminent. The fact that Forest caught us napping from the resulting free-kick just made the injustice sting all the more.
We then looked nervy for all of about 5 minutes as ten men but the substitutions were spot on, with Sergi straight into them as soon as his boots touched the pitch, which I think sparked the rest of the boys back to life a bit.
After that, it was only ever going to be a Bees win, although when we hit the post it started to look like it might not happen. We definitely needed a bit of luck and the three Forest deflections that encouraged the ball in to the net were greatly (and wildly) received!
Delighted with the result, delighted that LC is sticking around and optimistic that a(nother) managerial change won’t upset the apple cart too much. COYR.
Lee staying is good for the Bees. continuity, a decent handover – it’s almost like Liverpool post shankley. I liked your comments about Hoffman. I was starting to warm to him and wondered if it was just me. He is a good target man, good at holding the ball and his distribution is good. The goal had shades of luck, but if a shot is on target, it always has a chance. Great spirit and with Jota reportedly on the way having played a friendly, I think we can start looking forward to an interesting period.
It is a shame Lee doesn’t want the job full time but you have to respect his decision . I just hope another foreign manager won’t upset the squad again.