Results in recent weeks, and arguably more importantly the team’s performances after questionable team selections, have divided supporters opinions on our manager’s ability to bring success to Brentford this season. Expectations regarding our promotion chances are understandably high – few Brentford managers have ever enjoyed this level of financial support and professional backing in terms of coaching, scouting and medical staff – but are we losing perspective following the third defeat in a week by demanding to be up there at the top. Dominic McHugh thinks so.
Football is notorious for having its’ ups and downs. This was encapsulated none more so than in the 60 seconds that passed at Griffin Park at around 4.55pm on the last Saturday of April in 2013. What is always hard in the modern game is to appreciate and remember the highs after a defeat, and even more so after back to back defeats and a poor run of form.
Now is the time for Brentford fans to think about the position we find ourselves in and to put it into perspective. We currently lie 11th, 4 points off the play offs, after having a ‘poor’ start to the season. This is 4 points behind clubs like Preston who are having a ‘brilliant’ start, when we have yet to hit any meaningful form.
I have read a lot of questioning surrounding Rosler, and in some cases justifiably so. The recalling of Button was curious in the least; the persistent faith shown in Trotta is wearing thin; and the decision to field 4 central midfielders behind 2 strikers against Stevenage was mystifying. The continual tinkering with the team after victories is also difficult to understand, but we have to believe he will get this right in the long run. The players at our disposal – Dean, Logan, Forshaw and Donaldson – will ensure there is always the potential for another great run like last season.
In Rosler’s defence, injuries have hampered us as well – McAleny being the most notable; Grigg has not looked quite the same since his injury; Douglas should provide a missing steely link in the heart of the midfield; and the lack of a recognised left back was evident at both Bradford and Tranmere.
Yes, we may be 13 points and a long way off the automatic spots, but how many Brentford fans hand on heart thought we would finish above Wolves and Peterborough this season. Although we have a lot of resources by our standards, it is still not comparable to theirs. Yes we are underperforming right now, but should 6 weeks of mixed results cast doubt over a man who has brought much higher expectations to the club through continual progress.
Expectation can weigh heavily on some clubs. Take Leeds United for example, struggling to shake off the enormous weight of expectation every season from 30,000 fans expecting promotion to the Premiership. For nearly 10 years this has helped contribute to a consistent underperformance in a team struggling to get rid of the shackles of previous eras. That we have such high expectations of the club today just underlines the improvement, which has been made under Rosler; such that we now expect rather than hope for Championship football. Murmurings in the terraces all too easily eek onto the pitch and filters through to the players – we need to stay positive and get behind the players we know can perform, through the ups and downs.
It is time for us to put our position into perspective. I remember standing in the rain on a Tuesday night in February 2008 whilst we lost 1-0 to Accrington in front of a crowd of just 1,100, leaving us rooted in mid table in League Two. So ask yourself, are we really that bad off the way things stand right now?
Dominic McHugh
Dominicmchugh02
What are your thoughts on the current situation at Brentford, share them below by leaving a comment.
Great article that really puts our position into perspective. Our playoff hangovers have ended in relegation before now so we should count ourselves lucky that we kept the core of the team and have improved in all areas (except in goal!). The finances, the youth development, the strength of the squad and a realistic Championship ambition is down to 3 men in particular – Matthew Benham, Mark Warburton and Uwe Rosler. I for one have never seen my beloved club in such a strong position.
My understanding is that the fans are frustrated with the odd selection choices and our strange midfield set up. Why are we playing Forshaw and Mccormack on the wings? We’ve got the best central midfielders in the league and they don’t know what they’re supposed to be doing! And why on earth is Trotta keeping Farid out of the team? We should be hammering teams with the players we’ve got.
I have faith in Uwe and I hope that more fans get behind the team but I’d like to see the club listen to the fans and see where we think the obvious problems lie
My own views differ. It is not about Stevenage nor 3 defeats. It is about the poor management at the end of last season and the continuing poor management this season. Combined with some abysmal signings. Let us recall we have scored 4 home goals the lowest in the league. We have even scored 3 of them in one game against arguably the worst side in our league. We have conceded 13 away goals almost the worst. This persistent poor form is down to Rosler not down to injuries nor bad luck. It is clear where our deficiencies are . Goalkeeper. Central defence. Defence generally. A roulette wheel approach to team selection. Our best players were on the bench last week.
This is not a panic opinion but a considered one that also notes Roslers refusal to explain to the fans any of his more bizarre selections. We cannot waste any more time nor money . Finally I am not enjoying this brand of football this season.
My expectation with our budget and this owner was to be up there with Wolves and Peterborough from the start. Surely for MB the playoffs are only an option near the end of the season, as a last resort, with the money he is pumping in. This is Uwe’s third season and surely he needs to deliver or go. Personally I cannot see him getting us automatically promoted and if it was up to me he would already be gone.
That’s a different take from mine,I could go back to wherever you want over the last 50 years and I have never known a time when we have had so much financial support for a manager to get a team together.This is his 3rd season and yes I did expect us to be up there with wolves and Peterborough and look who’s above these super powers Little Leyton Orient.You are taking the Uwe line of prepare to fail which has been the undercurrent to his football profile,worry or big up the opposition like he did last week with Rotherham then look at their result Saturday.We have a squad capable of better and we as fans should expect better from a manager who has had the best part of 12 million to spend over his time at the club.Martin Allen got us to the Playoffs with a budget of 1.2 million not suggesting we bring him back,although it sounds an idea how much better off are we on the field from those bucket rattling days.We need a change Now
My frustration is the same as all the Bees fans, I genuinely thought we would start strong and with our core squad remain consistent enough to be top or there abouts. Rosler has got us playing some effective and at times really attractive football, but I don’t understand why he wouldn’t play his strongest side, especially at the moment. I agree that this looks like a hangover from the end of last season, confidence and belief is flat and we desperately need to put together some convincing wins in order to get the team gelling and moral back. I say we stick with Rosler as he’s better than any alternatives and has earned our trust and patience for at least this season!
I totally agree, we need to put things in perspective. Take Bournemouth last season for example, they lost 7 games on the bounce at the back end of the season and still gained promotion. Thinking further, we’ve only been back in League one three seasons, this being our fourth. Yes we’re in a bit of a sticky spell but I have every faith in Uwe, Matthew Benham and the very, very god squad. Lets wait until after Wolves away and see where we are then.
Personally, I think we’re all looking at Rosler’s last season at Brentford anyway. I can’t believe Matthew Benham will put up with this mediocrity for any more than this season especially considering the wages some of these players are on. If on the other hand, Rosler does turn it round and we do go up from our current position – he’ll probably be ‘nicked’ by a bigger club! I for one think he will turn it round but it will probably take another couple of months – the question for me is – will he be given the time?
My feelings swing from one extreme to the other, from wanting to ‘beelieve’ and stand by the Uwe and the team to total despair and anger wanting him gone along a lot of the team. When I look back at last year I did notice one thing, for the first half of the year we did seem to play a very settled team and also did really well with injuries. But many of us started to raise an eyebrow of two when Uwe started to decide to select teams to counter the oppo. We seem have followed that trend this season rather than saying “this my best 11 – go play week!” (like those east end boys are doing) But I also think there was a far better team spirit last season – the team seemed closer and more content with each other. I am not so sure the dressing room is so united this year, has that come about by the 10 new players Uwe brought in at the start. Great having 3 players for each position but that has to put noses out of joint and players on the fringe can become restless. Has Uwe been trying to ‘squad’ rotate to keep players happy only for that to backfire not just on the pitch but in the dressing room? I also think we have been a victim of hype – everyone including ourselves thought we would be favorites, we kept most of the squad and good additions. We all (and I include Uwe and the players) it was only a matter of where in the top 3 or 4 we would finish – but with that tag comes a whole bunch of its own pressures. Not to mention 23 other teams who all know we have the tag and all set out to disrupt, park the bus, foul etc in stopping us from playing. Throw all the above together and suddenly confidence goes, form dives and terraces start (quite rightly) to complain! What to do? First choose the best team, stick to it, play them for 4-6 games – someone gets injured then bring someone in but don’t make wholesale line up tweaks each week. Second, concentrate on our game and stop worrying about the oppo. We don’t have to worry about their strengths if we believe in our own. Thirdly, us lot, have to give the team and the management team our support – after 46 years of watching some pretty dire stuff at times I know that all the bitching and complaining has never ever made players perform better. Lastly, Uwe – stick or twist? I have a lot of time for him, and over two seasons he has improved the finishing position each time. We play some really attractive football and I am not sure I could live with hoofball again, even if it did mean we might win occasionally! So in my book, we have the players, we have the best supporters and I hope the best manager. I don’t believe changing at this stage will help, I could of course be wrong, but I think we have to give this bunch of players and the manager till the end of season. It was good to hear they had 90 mins clear the air meeting maybe a fans forum so Uwe and lets be honest some of players as well heard how we feel. Anyway thats my view, beauty of football is we all have an opinion!
Have to agree with Rob’s comments above regarding the dressing room, I think we are a bit overloaded in some positions but short in others.
Not sure if the players are all pulling together a team like last season.
Uwe must play Richard L in goal for the next match as we badly need a result on Sat.
To all you doubters out there please get behind the team and the management it wasnt uwes fault we missed that penalty last season .i think we are all still hurting from that unique moment .we have to give it til the end of the season to make our judgement then.we will turn it around.