Holmes_and_Watson

Caught again playing it out. Stephens is in midfield. I do get the logic, but we now have players in to do that role. So, he's there for "leadership" qualities. Archer for AA is like-for-like . SO, basically just hoping that he doesn;t mis hit whatever we stumble into providing.

Nice ball across from Berentford. Damsgaard is someone I'd have loved for us to have.

HT: Martin will look at our high possession. We've had just fewer shots, the same on target, and we have missed a couple of very good chances. We were already under pressure as our temp and transation were not up to PL standard. Shooting ourselves in the foot on multiple occassions cost us. Ramsdale's long kicks give away control. KWP is still better on the right. Both fullbacks give us some moments of happiness, as it looks as though we'll get an attack. Howver, neither was great at adding to our controlled passing through the midfield, in the way we used inverted fullbacks last season. Suga's cross to AA was our best chance though. THB is a better player than this. A couple of odd wobbles of late. Bedders and Ramsdale lpaired up well. Our midfield offered very little in terms of transition. Aribo a bit more physically, and Downes doing a lot of lifting for all three, and also ran through. Smallbone is having one of those games where he's not able to add anything. He's not linking up with anyone, not being pushed forwards either. Stephens in the side often means he gets bypassed too. His bodyshape makes him look a bit slower than he actually is. But has been caught out more than once. AA has had chances. He suffered when not scorign early on in his last PL season. Clearly feels some pressure on him. BBD hasn't done much yet. Wayward shooting.

Oh will, finally space to move into and a pretty poor sideways pass. Overshadowed by BBD's hoof well wide. Not long after AA's miskick.

Aribo got past someone a while back in a one on one. Had he lost it, we would have been in trouble. There is was our player against 2. I'ts a throwback to Holgate. The players are instructed to play a certain way. It's drummed into them, and over common sense. With 3 at the back, we should always have passing options to get the ball out, and into midfield. There, we were static, took a daft risk and got punished. Martin will say individual error. But it's more than that. We've been here before. Managers who set us up to play a rigid style, should basically be asking how we can score two, because we will concede at this level.

Sod. We just gave them a goal. 2 dreadful defensive errors.

On Toney sitting I was about to type "The cameraman saw a static player, and thought it was our midfield."

Oh, just picked off of AA's feet there.

Just before we started running out of funds to buy Old Firm players a few seasons ago, Ajer was one I was disapointed we didn;t go in for.

Much better from Aribo there.

We have put players straight in though. I remember Holgate...ah...bad example...

Nice pressure from us there. They;ve also picked up a silly yellow. That was Downes running through. We can only hope Les and Fernandes are bought as starters. Having 3 versatile midfielders will make such a difference to us.

Not offering any out balls in the midfield. Defence therefore a bit brittle under any press, which happens when we see no passes on and drop back. Long passes defeat MartinBall, yet we are playing them, and just giving Brentford control. Brentfort look stronger and pacier at this level. There was one lovely pick up and through ball splitting the midfield. Shame it was for Brentford.

A lot of similarities between the two sides. Ramsdale has twice kicked very long. Good lengths to the kicks. But we have noo one who is going to win any challenge. Both have resulted in Brentford gaining possession, control and opportunities. Just the sort of thing we would like to be doing.

Everyone put off by rumours they were terminating Ryan Fraser from the club. 🙂 I can only hope they have a horrible season.

A round of applause for the CoT. Sailing calmly and cooly through what turned out to be an major squad overhaul by the club. Never sinking into the churning waters of hyperbole and conjecture. The CoT kept to its course through the ebbs and flows of the window. When so many others speculated and worried about a becalmed window, the CoT were there to remind us of the various destinations waiting ahead. Where others thought they were sharks attacking the CoT, they saw only minnows, never getting flustered. Well done guys!

They're just keeping him ticking, ahead of his return to us next summer. 🙂

Yup. I did mention some markets still being open. Shame there's not more options, but hopefully for all concerned they will move on.

2 mins! A bit of a shame we've not moved a number on. Still markets open, but a very large squad, players who aren't going to get minutes. Broja to Ipswich unlikely

Carlton Cole referring to himself in the third person. 🙂

Rangers apparently pulled out of Edozie deal!

10 mins until it slams shut!

There was more to Che's game than missing sitters. Hopefully, we've got a finisher without losing out in other areas (either with Archer, or through others picking up those roles)

They are unforgiving, so he'll soon be reminded about an end product. Big support, big expectations and a bit more room. So, if he can deliver he will do really well from the experience. Well, if we stay up there's always next summer.

Window: We really needed McCarthy, Downes, Stu, Fraser. Brooks/Tella, Che replacements and DM cover this window. We got Ramsdale/McCarthy, Downes, Fernandes, Fraser, Cornet pending?, Archer/BBD (also playing left), Les. We also look to be keeping KWP and Bednarek. And strengthened with Sugawara, Taylor, happily obligated to sign THB, added squad depth with Lallana, Wood and Edwards. Dibling, SAA coming through too. Arguably, we don't have a like for like Che replacement. Martin looks to be trying different things there. Fernandes and Les are young, but both seem to have been brought in to push for starts. With Will,Aribo and Lallana we've got some depth there now.