So on the Eagles roll to the Gtech Community stadium to face an in form Brentford. Ahead of the game I caught up with Trevor from the Griffin Park Grapevine to get the lowdown on how Brentford fans are feeling.
Q – Things seem pretty positive around Brentford at the moment, is that how it feels to the fans?
GPG – Yes, all very positive and it has been for a few seasons now. We have never been near relegation trouble in the Premier League albeit we had a dodgy run this time last year when we had a few key players out. This season we’ve been lucky with injuries, so it all helps. Of course going to the Etihad and pulling off a last minute winner was glorious, but also demolishing Manchester United 4-0 at home this season and Chelsea 4-1 at their place last season is, well, just outrageous. Outrageous for a club that is more used to rattling around the lower leagues for 50 of the last 60 years.
Q – What’s the realistic ambition for the rest of the season – top 6? top 8?
GPG – Good question. A 7th place finish would be absolutely brilliant. Especially considering that the Big Six is now a Big Seven with Newcastle. Plus Brighton are a very well run club and a very good team. (TEB – Errr less said the better!) So to finish 7th you have to finish higher than two of those clubs, which we are at the moment. Just thinking that is surreal.
Q – Who’s been your player of the season so far? Toney continues to get a lot of attention, Norgaard seems to top in every relevant data set … Who’s going to be the difference maker for the rest of the season?
GPG – Mattias Jensen. Tops the match-by-match player of the season poll at the Griffin Park Grapevine that includes 7 MotM awards. His through passing is excellent. Second in the table is Rico Henry who has been indefatigable as our left back – he has the speed of a light photon and would be in the England squad if he were playing for any other club in this league. In third spot is Ben Mee who came from Burnley as cover for centre-back and has found himself playing a pivotal role as first one centre-back was out (Pinnock) and then Pontus Jansson has been out injured medium-term. Probably this season’s best free-signing!
Really, Toney aside, we’re a team without star players but the sum of the parts is better than the individuals. We’re a well-drilled club that works hard out of possession and no-one is above doing the donkey work when it comes to it.
Q- I get the Brentford ‘model’ and it’s clearly working, but from here a lot seems to stem from the very impressive Thomas Frank, is this misunderstanding the wider club?
Yes. Phil Giles (Director of Football) and owner Matthew Benham are responsible for the vast part of our success. They are the ones that have overseen the rise through the leagues, and funded it either by player trading or from Matthew’s pocket.
Saying that, Thomas is a very material cog in the machine. I’d say he’s probably the best tactician in the league and his job is to faithfully implement the style of football and strategy that Phil and Matthew demand. He’s very good at it though and it’s certainly not done under duress. They are all joined at the hip when it comes to how to play football.
Of course, there’s many more people that make a difference but too many to name.
Q – If you had a Magic wand – who would you be signing in the summer?
GPG – Haaland of course. He’s almost as good as Toney.
Q – What’s your perspective on Palace from the season so far?
GPG – Apologies but I’ve not been following too closely. Just rather Zaha stays out of the squad. From our previous encounters, a well organised team that won’t give away many chances but doesn’t seem to create many either.
TEB – Not a ringing endorsement, but not too far wrong to be honest.
Q – On to the match on Saturday, where do you think the match will be won and lost?
GPG – We’re on a run of 10 undefeated and are top of the form table. And at home. I suspect that we’ll be engaging in aerial duels quite a lot. And the outcome will depend on whether you can handle Toney in the air – he won 12 out of 13 versus Arsenal at the weekend… (TEB – Eek is Anderson back yet)
TEB – Cheers Trevor, here’s to a great match at the weekend.
