Just seeing these numbers make one realise two things. It’s not all about money. Some teams with big budgets do badly and little old tinpot Brentford do rather well. One example might be Norwich with a wage bill triple that of Brentford or Middlesbrough which approaches five times that of Brentford
Brentford is a town in middlesex not really known for anything but over the last year became fairly well known in the media for their football related antics. The Warburton issue reached the media followed by the discussion over Matthew Benham and his vision of football being matched with mathematical modelling to replicate the success of his own company SmartOdds.
However what else is there in Brentford? Brentford might be regarded as the gateway to the M4 motorway, or local even to Kew Gardens. However not so many are aware that Brentford sits on the River Thames. Fewer will be aware that the Watermans Centre provides a venue for cinema and drama. Even fewer are aware that the graffiti that covers the walls of the car park in the Watermans Car Park must rate as some of the best in London.
Graffiti Brentford in the Watermans Car Park Brentford. Copyright Chris Bushe 2015
Graffiti Brentford in the Watermans Car Park Brentford. Copyright Chris Bushe 2015
Graffiti Brentford in the Watermans Car Park Brentford. Copyright Chris Bushe 2015
Graffiti Brentford in the Watermans Car Park Brentford. Copyright Chris Bushe 2015
After the farcical events of the last month we need to briefly recap.
What has gone wrong? Last season the fans were all together as a unit. Crowds were growing. The ground was sold out most games. Away travelling fans increased in numbers. This season that is all in reverse with 126 fans travelling to Middlesboro for a midweek game. My own view is this. The results have been poor but the performances poorer. A definite lack of tempo compared to last season ( this translates in my language to lack of effort), lack of leadership on the field. Would any away fan during the game be able to spot who the captain was? The quality of the play has been poor. The new players have mostly failed to be as good as the departing ones and certainly not better. And the defence has got worse, and frankly it was bad last year. Brentford are regularly conceding two or more goals each game.
So we need this
Anyone who thinks we are immune from relegation please think again. We have beaten only two of the poorest sides in the division so far and lost to sides that frankly are mediocre. But importantly we need to see something from the players. management team and board that we as fans can identify as an explanation for what has happened. We need to be able to get behind the team again and give them support. This is not easy when we have no clue what is going on.
Putting out the fires at Griffin Park?
Putting out the fires at Griffin Park?
The sun going down on Brentford dreams?
Brentford fans woke up tuesday morning 10th Feb to a large article in The Times that announced that Mark Warburton would be leaving the club at the end of the season. Today 11th Feb it seems Sporting Director Frank McParland may well be also leaving. Why? Behind these unexpected and unwanted developments it seems there are two strands of thinking. Matthew Benham wants an all-powerful sporting director who makes all the decisions regarding new signings, unlike the current situation where Warburton does this. McParland is not seen as the man. The second issue relates it seems to the desire by Benham to want to bring in a free-kick coach and a sleeping expert. Warburton does not want to change things when things are moving so well this season. Further confusing aspects that may be primary or secondary problems relate to the news that Warburton it seems is on the radar for the Leicester City job, but seemingly not yet approached, and his name is mentioned in relation to the currently vacant QPR position, where any degree of interest is not reported on.
So what does this mean to Brentford? At the moment it is just a huge fog. Brentford have been in discussions with a potential Spanish manager of Rayo Vallencano, Paco Jemez. Again it is unclear what the sequence of temporal events might have been, but the comments yeaterday by Warburton that he will see the job through this season, is suggestive that he was being pushed before being potentially pulled for other roles.
The last piece of news relates to a posting by Benham on facebook this morning, where he says ” Its been a very difficult 24 hours. I will try to explain the situation more in the next couple of days. I’ve been a genuine fan since 1979 and try to honestly act in the best long term interests of the club”.
So the saga has a long way to go and might unravel in any direction. Lets see.
Mark Warburton
chris1957
Arcticterntalk.org 