Aaaaaaaaaargh! Brentford 2-3 Swindon

So where to begin. They’ll be a separate article for Andy Scott’s increasingly repetitive post match ramblings so lets start somewhere else, the flipside as it were to the tempo fixated one. What say you Danny Wilson:

“This was a tough place to come, I promise you, and when they play like they did in the second half, it looks an even better result for us“

Hmm… well that’s certainly diplomatic.

The truth is however that currently Griffin Park doesn’t look a particularly tough place to come to and that good second half performances count for little if the first half performance is such that the game is already lost.

But Beesy is getting ahead of itself. Far ahead of itself infact.

So to Griffin Park where we lay this scene. Brentford welcomed Ryan Dickson back into the starting line up along with a much improved Carl Cort. Nicky Bull started in goal, which means that Brentford are the only club with two fit goalkeepers but still have a keeping crisis and Scott persisted in the frankly ridiculous right side Wilson-Saunders policy.

Before going further lets start with a positive. This match marks so far the high point for Cort’s Brentford career. Both he and MacDonald looked like they have a chance of forming a partnership and whilst sometimes guilty not being near the goal its was heartening to see both win so much consistently in the air and show some nice touches.

It was Swindon who shaded the early exchanges and fairly dominated the opening half an hour. They looked sharp. were comfortable with passing the ball on the ground and were decisive, making nice diagonal runs and generally playing the style of football that I’m sure Andy Scott dreams of beating the tempo out on his special tactics bongos.

In fact they entirely overran the midfield, in particular the Celtic loanee Simon Ferry (the number 30) and bloody JP McGovern. It was McGovern’s ball into the area for Alex Revell to crash his shot past Nikki Bull after a break down in play after 8 minutes to open the scoring. Maybe Beesy’s being harsh but he should’ve done better with it.

This was just the beginning of the madcap defending for Brentford that saw Swindon squander at least one one on one chance, the defence ignoring the deep run from the midfield whislt appealing for offside against Hutchinson. Oh and there were corners for Swindon. Lots of corners for Swindon which were always played short and no one ever went to the man.

The inevitable inevitably happened after 21 minutes when a diagonal ball past Phillips was picked up by Hutchinson who had the simply task of avoiding Nikki Bull and his ample frame.

Hutchinson is another Celtic loanee and in fairness it was a good goal, albeit one where maybe a challenge should’ve been put in before the ball breached the defence and maybe the defence allowed themselves to drop back too far.

And then not much happened. Brentford if anything improved. It would be nice to say this is due in large parts to tactical changes, but Brentford didn’t do anything especially different. The team at present is currently just not working.

I mean lets take for example the right side. Saunders, I think its fair to say hasn’t exactly set Bees fans pulses racing. Its hard to tell at the moment whether he’s really cut out for the League of the Damned. It would be easier to tell if he had a proper right back behind him of course. James Wilson is a wonderful player but no right back. He’s probably the best centre back we currently have.

And frankly we have a lot.

But Right Back… no. With Phillips looking… well ok-ish and Bennett clearly shot of confidence it would make sense shifting Wilson back across. Foster is clearly out of favour with Scott and Karleigh Osborne… well no-one wants that. What Brentford need is a player who is competent at Right Back but has no bells and whistles.

Enter Kevin O’Connor who fans of the past 8 years or so will tell you has only ever looked half competent when played at Right Back despite playing in ever other position. Even Martin Allen spotted that. This would also mean we could partner a good loan signing with Marcus Bean. I don’t know like Jay Tabb.

O’Connor, despite being a good servant, is not and never will be a central midfielder. The organised teams in this division with progressive midfielders will always dominant a midfield with him in it.

There’s also question marks over Sam Wood and Ryan Dickson (surely a midfielder no?) but it must be remembered a lot of these players are having to prove themselves at this level.

Anyway rant over… the second half.

As suggested about 700 words previously Brentford did play better in the second half. Swindon, of course, didn’t have anything to play for as such but it was a more heartening performance. On another day Brentford may have got something from the game and would of if Sam Saunders curling effort hadn’t clattered off the inside of the post before bouncing to safety (we’ve mentally blocked out Charlie Mac’s ridiculous skied rebound from ten yards from Saunder’s post clattering shot).

Putting the ball on the ground did pay dividends and Brentford enjoyed the lions share of the ball hitting the post again shortly after with a header.

Lucas proved the busier keeper without making particularly searching saves. He will also be known as the keeper who Carl Cort opened his Bees account. Latching onto a direct ball and using his strength to find space at the edge of the area Cort proceeded to lash the ball in (if you were at the ground) or hit a trundler (as it looks on TV) in. In doing so ending Beesy’s great hobo challenge and meaning that my fellow correspondant will soon be enjoy a delicious Plough lunch in the near future.

I hope Steve Kabba is melted done for glue as a result.

This seemed only to angry-fy Swindon who promptly scored the goal of the game with Revell being given too much space was allowed to run on to a through ball cut in side and fairly smashed in a shot into the top corner past Bull.

And so the match ended. Well there was ten minutes left and time enough for Brentford to pull another back… Charlie Mac scoring a header whilst on he’s knees from a corner. Quite what he was doing it such a precarious position in the six yard box Beesy can’t say but seeing as the ball went directly to him it can only be summised he was praying that the ball wouldn’t hit the first defender.

Did Brentford strive to get back into it? Yes. Did they stand a chance… no.

Match Ratings:

Nikki Bull 4 – Being harsh he should’ve perhaps done better on the first but what the hell was he thinking kicking the ball at (not into) the crowd in the second half. He did get a torrent of abuse and Swindon certainly seem to know a lot about he’s parents sexual predilictions but this was clearly evidence that he lacks not only the ability but the temperament to be a professional footballer.

James Wilson 5 – Ok. He’s not a Right Back. It completely neuters our right side and comprimises our defence.

Mark Phillips 5 – Looking a bit one paced.

Alan Bennett 4 – Clearly struggling at the moment

Ryan Dickson 6 – Played solidly. Beesy isn’t sure he’s a Left back but a welcome return

Sam Saunders 5 – Having to go off wing to get the ball. Jury’s Out but decent second half performance

Marcus Bean 5 – Solid

Kevin O’Connor 4 – NOT a central midfielder

Sam Wood 5 – Unlucky header against the post. OK-ish

Charlie MacDonald 6 – Good link up with Cort. Promising.

Carl Cort 7 – Man of the Match comfortably. More please.

Sub:

Weston 3 – Didn’t very little although didn’t have a great deal of opportunity.

Andy Scott press conference telepathy

“we ddn’t start at the tempo I expect of my teams…. We played a much better tempo in the second half… I’ll be having words with the players… They didn’t play the pattern I wanted…”

A few positive words about this Brentford team

They would absolutely walk the Conference.

Re our Bristol Rovers restraint

This is what we were going to write:

“As our preview intimates, some of Beesy didn’t bother with this one due to family commitments. They didn’t need to – the main points about the team at the moment are glaringly obvious, so here goes:

- We only just got promoted from a very mediocre Division Four, and even then only because of the loan signings of Jordan Rhodes and Billy Clarke. Anyone who thought we would be contenders for promotion is insane – the reason Peterborough and MK Dons were is they have vast amounts of cash to lavish on their squads.

- Our squad is not obviously stronger than that promotion year. Strevens may be the new Pele – we’ll find out in November – but the other signings don’t thus far seem much of an upgrade on their forebears.

- Kevin O’Connor may well be a loyal servant of the club (although by the same definition a man who is repeatedly turned down for new jobs is loyal) but he is not good enough to play central midfield in Division Three, seemingly lacking the mobility to impose himself on a game. It should not be forgotten he played the same role in possibly the worst Brentford team ever seen, and only a competence at right back saved him from being bombed out when Allen first joined.

- Against combative, well-organised teams neither is Hunt, mainly due to his lack of pace. We need a proper central midfielder in to partner Bean and fast.

- Don’t give us this Wilson at full back bollocks. Pair him with Bennett and have the guts to pick the strongest team.

- Saunders is alright but lacks pace and is lightweight, lord knows what we were thinking commiting transfer fees for Taylor and Weston on current evidence.

- Price is rubbish.”

We’ll stand by that.

Brentford 1 – 3 Bristol Rovers

We’re giving them a game before publishing our conclusions on this one.

Charlton 2 – 0 Brentford: pretty much as expected

Remind Beesy to follow it’s convictions and start betting on scores… Oh, and shame on Charlton for ruining football’s premier boozy viewing platform.

A very difficult game to describe, with Charlton clearly superior to the West London tyros throughout, yet coming away from the game counting themselves lucky to get the win.

Brentford set out to contain Charlton and play on the break, a strategy quickly undermined by Sam Wood’s horrendous attempted back header to the communication void that is Lewis Price. The nod-down was intercepted by the infinitely-too-good-for-this-league Lloyd Sam, who teed up Deon Burton for the opener. Burton’s performance could not have served as a better reminder of what an intelligent target man can bring at this level, and his movement, anticipation and shrewd manipulation of the Bees defence was a masterclass his more illustrious opposite number could have noted.

Brentford toiled to get a foothold in the game, and those who watched on TV tell us we had a decent penalty shout, but Charlton ascended to a higher plane of passing and moving that slashed a chasm through the Brentford team creating a chance well-taken for Sam to make it two. Shelvey and Bailey are likely to be among the best midfielders we meet in many seasons, although that does little to excuse the level of performance turned in by O’Connor and particularly Hunt, who looked completely out of their depth throughout.

Charlton took their foot off the pedal in the second half with the result that Brentford created a few half chances – mainly squandered by the dire Cort – inbetween three absolute sitters pelted wide by Charlton. Cort did come closer than he has previously to scoring, but his performance was still a long way short of acceptable. Yet presentable chances missed by Cort and Weston, a fantastic save from a Cort header and David Hunt’s belting freekick onto the crossbar, allied to the first half penalty shout, meant Charlton could still count themselves somewhat fortunate.

Highlight of the game was the welcome return of Charlie Macdonald as a second half substitute, although his addition to the fray without a reserve comeback has to be taken as a tacit attacking mea culpa from Andy Scott, who left Steve Kabba kicking his heels on the bench.

So, points to note:

- Sam Saunders: for the love of god stop hitting corners at the first man;
- We need Bean back now, no excuses;
- What exactly are Cleveland Taylor and Miles Weston bringing to the party?
- New strikers please.

Price 6 – Foster 4 (Osborne 5) Phillips 5 Wilson 6 Wood 4 – Taylor 4 (Macdonald 5) Hunt 4 O’Connor 4 Saunders 5 – Cort 3 Weston 4

Norwich 1 – 0 Brentford: how many?

Of course we didn’t go, but has no-one explained this competition to the good people of Norfolk? Nearly 13,000 for the Painted Vans?!?

It’s still a marginally more important competition than Milk Cup though.

Bee today… gone tomorrow

Or what we found out when we google-d old players names.

Nostalgia is, in the main, nonsense. Music wasn’t better in sixties, you were younger, likewise your views on fashion, books, crime rates and the taste of vegetables will all be totally out of synch with reality in the same way your crazy Grandparents insistence that Count Bongo’s Big Band Orchestra is real music and that 63 doodads make a pound.

Now this is no doubt an odd way to begin an article subtitled “when we google-d old players names” and yes you would be right. But given that it was a slow day at work and I had free access to Google and Wikipedia the thought of what exactly is Eddie Hutchinson doing now, turned into how many players have moved on in Kevin O’Connor’s years at the club to what exactly is the prospect of player’s future careers, what can the current crop look forward to? These questions may be answered at a later date but for now lets pick an abitrary team at random (sort of) and lets hope none of them have been involved in low level Criminality and all are in the Premiership.

Or at least have done something funny.

Setting the scene the first season Beesy came into existence (2003-4) saw the early coverage of a Brighton visit to Griffin Park. Brentford went on to secure a thumping 4-0 win over the recently relegated Seagulls with then Beesy Custodian C missing two early goal thanks to Transport for London. The match itself represented something of the high water mark for then manager Wally Downes and by the time of the return leg Wally’s grasp on the position was to prove untenable and a new era under Martin Allen was due to begin.

So, the players…

Paul Smith – Smith has always baffled Beesy by how damn popular he is. Apparently we are wrong and the terms strange and baffling should not be used to describe his career. Currently bench warming at Nottingham Forest he first left the club to act as Anti Niemi’s understudy at Southampton. Left for Nottingham Forest Smith has faced Brentford several times in his career, often conceding goals.

Joel Kitimarike – Journeyman Right Back or drug related criminal?? The British Criminal Justice system decided in Nov. 2008 when it convicted the former Chelsea, Brentford, Dundee, Colombus Crew (in the MLS), Fisher Athletic and Weymouth “player” to 20 months in the jail for possession of Class A drugs. Presumably now turning out for HMP Slade.

Michael Dobson – Ever dreamed of a former professional footballer getting you into shape… well here’s your chance. Dobbo was exiled North after leaving Brentford joining Walsall, presumably because he enjoyed playing underneath a Motorway. After a reasonably successful time in which he helped them secure promotion back to League One he through a curveball, jacked it all in and started his own business.

Now I like Dobbo so here’s a plug… www.flexercise.com he also offers Premier Massage at competitive rates.

Ibu Sonko – Reading then Stoke. Possibly the only ex Bee in the Premier League if Stephen Hunt doesn’t move to Hull (which lets face it probably isn’t the best career move).

Matt Somner – Astonishingly still a footballer carving out a niche for himself in the midlands with Mansfield. I think watched him on Setanta last year. He wasn’t very good.

Stephen Hunt – Presuming he doesn’t join Hull Stephen Hunt’s star is still in the ascendancy. But then you know that already. The first thing Hunt did upon finding himself surplus to requirements in Allen-era Brentford was grow a frankly ridiculous mane of hair. Rumoured to be the source of his new found footballing talent he is guaranteed to be the most successful former Bee of his era until he succumbs to scissors (or joins Hull).

Jay Tabb – Oh, you know he’s at Reading.

Eddie Hutchinson – Now at Crawley Town, Eddie took his multi-faceted head and joined Oxford in 2006. Staying there long after manager Darren Pattinson got fed up of him, his “sticktoitness” (it’s a word) earn’t him a recall when John Smith took over. I saw him on Setanta, he was alright. In hindsight maybe he should have gone to Barnsley when they came in for him in his final year at Brentford. But still who can forget his elaborate cross pitch run against Colchester the year of the Great Escape or his shinning it in past Paul Smith in the Southampton Cup Replay

Ben May – Hang on… What? Ben May was fined for stealing bathroom fittings from B & Q with Glenn Johnson?

I know that sounds unlikely, what with Glenn Johnson being a millionaire and all but its on the BBC website so it must be true.

Anyway still goal shy but now at Scunthorpe. Hopefully has enough taps now.

Kevin O’Connor – The Grey Goose himself. The only one still at Brentford; which says a lot. I will of course let you decide exactly what it says. Interesting to note looking at the players in the team I’m guessing this was The Grey Goose playing up front.

Tony Rougier – Still Plays!! Astonishingly enough. Bristol City took on Rougier after Martin Allens arrival before my personal favourite USA team the Rochester Rhinos signed him up. But the A-League proved unappreciative of Rougier and his madcap wingplay and he moved back to Trinidad laterly with FC South End.

The Rochester Rhinos mascot is a man dressed up as a big old Rhino. It looks superb.

Subs

Josh Lennie – What do you do after you play for AFC Harrow? Why you become a Sales and Marketing Executive. Lets face it our club is shocking for bringing on young keepers. Josh joined AFC Wimbledon after his spell at Brentford before a string of local clubs.

Stephen Evans – Suffering from a heart condition while at Brentford former Beesy favourite Evans dropped down to the conference with Woking and later Crawley Town.

More surprising he then joing the Premier League… the League of Wales Premier League. Still its nice to know he’s still playing/ living.

Jay Smith – Was/ maybe even is at Havent and Waterlooville. I kind of vaguely remember him starting a fitness company with Lloyd Blackman (remember him?) but I may be getting mixed up with another shambolic player from the early Beesy days, maybe Dean Wells.

Andy Frampton – Fampton came alive after leaving Brentford cementing a place in the Millwall first team.

Competent rather than inspiring Frampton best game was the frankly bizarre match at Rotherham where literally everything went through him. Which may explain why/ how we bottled promotion during Allen’s final season.

Mark Peters – QPR leveller aside Peters proved to be an enigma at Griffin Park. Having completely gone off the radar since turning out for Gosport Town it appears he may have fallen into the abyss never to be seen again.

So what have we learnt? Well frankly not too much. That the conversion to young player to seasoned professional player isn’t high? Maybe. That the third division is no place to learn your trade as a young footballer? Probably. Or that maybe playing for Brentford is a tortuous way to further your career? Undoubtedly.

Milk Cup: Bees 0 – 1 Some nondescript championship side

Ugh, why bother?