Christian Eriksen has joined Manchester United and, in doing so, ended weeks of speculation that the Bees were in with a shout of re-signing the Dane ahead of the new Premier League campaign. Money talked, it’s as simple as that. Brentford, we understand, were prepared to break their wage structure to keep Eriksen in West London, but United’s rumoured £1m-plus per month package clinched the deal. However, while it lasted, we all enjoyed a great affair with a catwalk model on the rebound, now we have to move on with a head full of happy memories.
As readers of this fanzine, and listeners to the Beesotted Pride of West London Podcast, will be aware, I had personally convinced myself that #CE21 would be staying at Brentford, for the next transfer window or two at least, so that guaranteed first team football would prepare him for the World Cup, playing alongside two of his Danish national team mates. Because of the player’s brush with mortality at last summer’s Euros, I felt he would place other priorities higher on his list that just finances, especially after settling in leafy Richmond with his family.
Christian Nørgaard and Mathias Jensen, as well as Thomas Frank (who had coached him at youth level and visted him for dinner in Copenhagen recently), would have done all they could to convince Eriksen to stay, and I firmly believe our club could have done no more without risking instability and wage problems down the line. My prediction may not have come to fruition, but thankfully, Brentford will not have put all their eggs in one basket and will have weighed up alternative options.
It goes without saying that Eriksen will be a big miss, the scramble and non-stop media speculation underlines how in demand the out of contract player was this summer, but all Brentford fans were becoming frustrated with the situation – the players are now back in training, the fixtures have been announced and the transfer window is open – it couldn’t drag on any longer and needed closure, we now have that. Director of Football, Phil Giles, is now unenviably tasked with filling an Eriksen sized hole – whether that will be with a new signing or restructuring players already at the club – only time will tell. But we have to go back to the Brentford way, unearthing and developing young starlets – Eriksen was a fascinating moment in time though.
Brentford fans will have mixed feelings about Christian Eriksen’s departure – some knew this day was coming, some will feel he’s used Brentford, some will be totally gutted, some will have moved on already. All will wish him well.
Dave Lane
Brentford fan Jason Wils sums up his feelings about Eriksen’s departure a little more poetically
Thank you Christian Eriksen it was short but oh so sweet! you had us eating out your hand and jumping out our seat.
We had a special partnership, and things were working well, but the way you’ve gone, has left a nasty smell.
It could have been so wonderful, you’d be smiling every day, but all it seems your interest was, who offered the biggest pay!
We may be just a little club, compared to some around, but don’t forget who picked you up, and got your feet back on the ground.
We gave you time and the chance when others turned their back, and now you’ve done the dirty, so that my friend is that.
We feel like we’ve been left standing on our wedding day, all the words have left us, We don’t know what to say,
You could have been a legend, the greatest ever Bee, but instead your just another player with no loyalty.
Look back on this I’m sure you will, for us its hard to take, but one day your realise it was a huge mistake.
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It was that 80% (74%) confidence that jinxed the deal Dave!
I have to say i was pretty sure he would be back at Spurs at the beginning of the saga, and i would not have blamed him for that. CL football, a team he played at for years and being coached by the manager who prised him away. That and the insistence his family were settled and wanted to stay in London. So Utd coming in and stealing him away was indeed a kick in the teeth. A 3 year £150k pw contract however is hard to turn down. Whilst im sure he’s fighting fit, and blip in his health for whatever reason will be amply compensated by that wage; a player’s career as they say, is short.
And maybe (he said clutching at straws) its no bad thing for a club of our size and limited wealth to not have a star who’s earning 2 to 3 times the salary of the other lads fueling their own financial aspirational gains.
As you say, it was fun whilst it lasted.
CoYBees
before criticising Eriksen for leaving, ask yourself a simple question – If I was offered that much money would I take the money or say, that’s very kind of you, but really I feel obligated not to accept. I doubt there would be many who would stay and turn away the offer of multi millions.
Spot on Mr Carney. A touch of balance would not be amiss lads and lasses. It is not just money that Utd can offer. I don’t know Christian well enough to judge all the motivations behind the decision, and don’t really care that much. We are not loyal to players; it is arrogant to expect them to be loyal to us.
We gave a lot to Christian, and he rewarded us amply. I have no intention of souring the memories by any self-inflicted bad taste. We move on, and hopefully upwards.
There are 25 odd players remaining that we can get behind, so I am not going to lose sleep over it. Good luck Christian
25 odd, I apologise to the twenty or so Bees players I have just libelled
He’s done what any other top level pampered, somewhat ego-centric sportsperson would do. I liked the way he played but nowt else. Everything else prior to united wadding in was just noise. Enjoy the money and the prawn sandwiches Chris. It’s not the Brentford way to do deals with the devil. We move on with a young ‘united’ (see what i did there?) squad. Proud to be a bee.
If Manchester United came calling for any other player or indeed coach at our club how many would say no? Could you imagine Toney, Norgaard or Rico turning them down? We have Thomas Frank for now but I can’t help but hear the clock ticking. Let’s stick to our plan that has worked so well to date and maybe seek to emulate Brighton’s trajectory in the EPL.