A line has been crossed

Wally Downes. Leroy Rosenior. Scott Fitzgerald. Is this really where we want to be?

These are the three that have provoked us to use the “staying up” tagline before now, as opposed to the – unexpected – “going up” Martin Allen sired, or the “finishing exactly midtable” cop-out we opted for this year while we tried to figure out who Myles Weston and Cleveland Taylor were, or whether Lewis Price was that good Derby keeper who had been unlucky (we were thinking of Stephen Bywater).

Hmm. We’ve seen enough now to tell us we aren’t pushing for promotion, and will be lucky to finish midtable. Andy Scott has placed himself in danger of getting – whether deserved or not – the Downes treatment (he should be very grateful for the nocturnal allegations emenating from Gloucestershire). This summer’s signings have by and large been poor. As the other correspondent on this website wrote very early in the season, we’re the only club in Europe with three fit goalkeepers and a goalkeeping crisis.

Foster is probably cheaper than John Halls, but his better work ethic doesn’t compensate for not being as good. Saunders is functional. Weston and Taylor are the two most expensive players Brentford have acquired in many many years, and are both utterly dreadful. Carl Cort has done very well and looks to be a good signing. Steve Kabba is on a two year contract and can’t get near the team. He could become a Brooker of a signing. Strevens has time to prove himself, although we have a very strong suspicion how he’ll fare at this level.

The issue of the two goalkeepers is well documented and what seemed a bizarre pair of signings at the time seems utterly insane now.

So, we fear the drop. And some real transfer activity is needed if we are to avoid it. Let’s start with a goalkeeper, a central midfielder and a striker.

A few positive words about this Brentford team

They would absolutely walk the Conference.