📰 Table Of Contents
The Bees continue to break new ground
Having finished 13th last time round in, what was, their first top-flight campaign for 74 years, many expected Brentford to struggle, possibly even going down as a result of second-season syndrome.
On the contrary, the Bees excelled, earning 13 more points and finishing ninth, representing their best campaign since 1938.
The Brentford Community Stadium continues to be a fortress for Thomas Frank’s team, who were beaten at home only twice all season, defeated by Arsenal in September and Newcastle in April.
Way back in August, in their home-opener, the Bees demolished Manchester United 4-0, with all the goals coming in the first half, and this really set to tone.
Upsetting the established elite has become Brentford’s identity, also recording wins over Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs, as well as being the only side to do the double over champions Manchester City.
In the end, having won five of their last six, supporters were slightly disappointed that their team missed out on European qualification, which is remarkable given where this club was not so long ago.
Expect more memorable nights in West London again next season.
Can Brentford cope in Ivan Toney’s absence?
The big news towards the end of the season was that Ivan Toney has been handed an eight-month ban for breaching the FA’s betting regulations.
Their talismanic striker was forced to sit out Brentford’s final two games of this season and, given that he can’t play until 17 January, will miss over half of the next campaign too.
Since joining the club in 2020, Toney has scored 68 goals for Brentford, 32 of which have come in the Premier League, so he’ll leave a huge void.
In his absence, the Bees did manage to beat West Ham, Spurs and Manchester City in May, with Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa and January signing Kevin Schade looking dangerous together.
Nevertheless, Thomas Frank will surely want to strengthen in attack this summer.
Elsewhere, club captain Pontus Jansson has joined Malmö on a free, while Saman Ghoddos is out of contract.
It’s widely expected that first-choice goalkeeper David Raya will be sold, with his replacement having already arrived.
On Wednesday, the club confirmed the signing of Mark Flekken; the Dutch international has joined from Freiburg, after Brentford triggered his €13 million release clause.
Frank will also be hoping to see more next season from last summer’s signings, namely Keane Lewis-Potter and Mikkel Damsgaard, who are both, to varying degrees, yet to live up to the hype.
All in all, expect some more shrewd business this summer, probably buying whoever FC Midtjylland’s best player is, as the Bees seek to further consolidate in mid-table next season.
