[Albion] Just what was Brentford's gameplan?

[Farehamseagull]

Seemed like they were just trying to get to the last few minutes a goal down to give them a chance of snatching a point.

For much of the second half if you didn't know the score, you'd think we were a goal down trying to get back into the game, not that Brenford were trailing.

Or are they just really shit?

In fairness to Brentford, their missing player list is worse than ours when you consider the number and importance of the players missing which was further compounded when their best player went off injured. They have a weaker squad than ours too which you’d expext when they’ve only been in the PL two seasons and they’re not in Europe.

Thought they did well and made life difficult for us in the circumstances.

 

[DJ NOBO]

At the very start they pressed our defence hard, forcing some mistakes. And I thought uh-oh.
I think they got spooked by some Mitoma magic and before long they lose their way.
Agree we were there for the taking last night.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

They have a weaker squad than ours too which you’d expext when they’ve only been in the PL two seasons and they’re not in Europe.

And got rid of their academy a few years ago. Ours has turned out to be useful this season.

 

[Rookie]

And got rid of their academy a few years ago. Ours has turned out to be useful this season.

But they do have their ‘B’ team which seems to work for them

 

[London Irish]

Seemed like they were just trying to get to the last few minutes a goal down to give them a chance of snatching a point.

For much of the second half if you didn't know the score, you'd think we were a goal down trying to get back into the game, not that Brenford were trailing.

Or are they just really shit?

They are running on fumes as their injuries are even worse than ours. For all that they could still have won the game through Gross’s mistake

 

[Oh_aye]

10 of their first team injured and I think so much of their gameplan relies om Toney and Mbuemo.

They were a nightmare for us last season but were pretty toothless last night. They didn't seem to have a particular plan. Especially on the ball. Their attempts at passing at the back were amusing.

I think our pressing was back on point last night too. Really pressing ad a team and causing them headaches.

 

[maltaseagull]

Yes, I thought it was strange that they played so deep when they were 2-1 down - often 11 men in their final third.

I think that was forced upon them by us continuing to attack and not sit back at 2.1.

 

[Napper]

equalising quickly massively helped us. That game had real potential to become very very frustrating before getting hit with another sucker punch.

At 1-1 and Mbuemo going off , they seemed to lose all belief

 

[dwayne]

At the very start they pressed our defence hard, forcing some mistakes. And I thought uh-oh.
I think they got spooked by some Mitoma magic and before long they lose their way.
Agree we were there for the taking last night.

Other way round. THEY were there for the taking.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

I think a lot of their game-plan revolved around man-marking right across the pitch. That went out of the window very early with our two full-backs tucking inside the wingers and Baleba dropping into a sweeper role, almost impossible to man-mark when our positioning was so unorthodox and continually changing

 

[BBassic]

equalising quickly massively helped us. That game had real potential to become very very frustrating before getting hit with another sucker punch.

At 1-1 and Mbuemo going off , they seemed to lose all belief

Yeah I think if we went into half-time 1-0 down we probably wouldn't have won that game. We may not have lost it either but the 2nd half would have been one of those horrible 2nd halves where we huff and puff but can't blow their house down.

That early equaliser, as you say, was crucial.

 

[jessiejames]

Seemed like they were just trying to get to the last few minutes a goal down to give them a chance of snatching a point.

For much of the second half if you didn't know the score, you'd think we were a goal down trying to get back into the game, not that Brenford were trailing.

Or are they just really shit?

Shit. A
Lot of people go on about how well run both clubs are but that is were it ends.

 

[JBizzle]

Weird match. It was like a training match where the scenario was: We'll give you a one-goal start and then see how long it takes to get to 2-1. Weirdly apathetic performance from Brentford, I thought

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

I think they had 9 out and then lost the best player they had on the field, I don't think their sqaud depth is quite as good as ours.

In his post match interview, the interviewer says "it's great that you give so many young players a game" and RdZ replies "it's better than playing with seven men".

He clearly feels we are beyond the bare bones.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

And got rid of their academy a few years ago. Ours has turned out to be useful this season.

This is a huge part of it yes. They don't have the quality of young players to bring in, in the same way we do

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Brentford tried exactly what Fulham tried, exactly what Sheff Utd tried, exactly what Everton tried.

Sit deep, stay in the game, it doesn't take many chances against us to score.

 

[brighton_tom]

Brentford fans on the p&r bus basically said injuries & fatigue meant an unusually flat performance for them. I didn’t want to add to their misery by pointing out our long injury/suspension list and the fact we’ve played 5 more games than them travelling around Europe.

 

[7dialssouthpaw]

Looked to me like our players have got used to performing mid-week.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Brentford fans on the p&r bus basically said injuries & fatigue meant an unusually flat performance for them. I didn’t want to add to their misery by pointing out our long injury/suspension list and the fact we’ve played 5 more games than them travelling around Europe.

I would have. Deluded fools.

 

[DJ NOBO]

Other way round. THEY were there for the taking.

Literally in the first 20 seconds of the game they were on us and we looked vulnerable.
We were generally more flimsy in possession without Dunk.
If they‘d have kept badgering and pressing igor, JPVH and Baleba in particular they’d have got something.
West Ham / Everton tactics.
You are right that they had plenty of frailties too, so it was probably easier said than done.