With the 2023/24 Premier League season about to kick off next weekend, The Hard Tackle assesses the prospects of Brentford.
Brentford finished ninth in the league table, and they will be looking to build on their impressive campaign and scale greater heights in the upcoming season.
This is Brentford’s third season in the Premier League, and the club has been going through a period of transition from the Championship to the Premier League. The Bees have impressed with their fearless brand of football, and their counter-attacking high press has impressed one and all since their promotion.
Apart from their steady growth on and off the pitch, Brentford have a progressive manager in Thomas Frank. And their approach reflects in their recruitment, philosophy and ambitions as well. The Bees have proven to be a match for any team on their day, and it remains to be seen whether they can put together another remarkable season next year.
The Prelude
Brentford have shown that they are a top-half side over the last couple of seasons. The plan for them will be to push for European qualification next season.
There is no doubt that the Bees have a quality squad at their disposal, and they have an outstanding manager in Thomas Frank. If they can keep their best players beyond the summer transfer window and bring in a couple of intelligent additions, there is no reason why they cannot climb further up the table and maintain last season’s impressive performances.
The Bees pulled off remarkable results against Premier League heavyweights Manchester United, Liverpool. In addition, Brentford they were the only club to do the double over treble winners Manchester City.
Despite the gulf in class and financial resources with the Premier League elite, Brentford have shown that with their fearless approach, they can give anyone a run for their money. Brentford have shown steady growth over the last few seasons.
Since 2018/19, they have improved with every passing season. After back-to-back third-place finishes in the Championship, they secure promotion in 2021 and finished 13th in the Premier League. They followed it up with a ninth-placed finish last year and will be looking for European football now.
Squad Update
Brentford have a talented squad at their disposal. Players like Bryan Mbeumo, Mathias Jensen, Mikkel Damsgaard, David Raya and Ivan Toney are all exceptional players capable of playing for bigger clubs, and they will look to make their mark in the Premier League once again.
Nathan Collins has been brought in from Wolverhampton Wanderers to strengthen the defensive unit. Mark Flekken has also been signed in case Raya ends up leaving the club amid links with Arsenal. Brentford will be hoping to bring in some quality additions before the window closes in order to supplement the talent they already have at the club.
The only downside for Brentford heading into the new season is probably the ban of Toney. The English striker has been suspended for breaching gambling regulations. So they must look to bring in another centre forward in his absence. The 27-year-old is expected to return to action at the turn of the year.
Kevin Schade has joined from SC Freiburg to add more attacking quality in the final third. As for the rest of the squad, Brentford have a strong spine right from the goalkeeper to the striker. The likes of Raya, Ben Mee, Jensen, Damsgaard, Mbeumo and Toney will all be crucial to their quest for European qualification and it remains to be seen whether these players can step up and deliver next season.
Key Fixtures
Brentford will begin their Premier League campaign with an exciting home game against Tottenham Hotspur on the August 13. They have been handed a tricky start against the London clubs. And the Bees will face Fulham and Crystal Palace in their first three outings as well.
There is no doubt that Brentford are capable of beating all three teams. But it remains to be seen whether they can make an impressive start to the campaign. Brentford will be pushing for European qualification, and they will enter a crucial phase of their season towards the end of October when they will take on Chelsea, West Ham United, Liverpool and Arsenal in four consecutive matches.
The month of February could prove to be a testing period for Brentford as well when they will take on the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and West Ham United. The Bees have been handed are relatively reasonable end to the season when they will take on the likes of Fulham, Bournemouth and Newcastle United in their final three matches of the league.
Despite a ninth-placed finish in the Premier League last season, Brentford will feel that they could have finished in the top six with a bit more consistency. It remains to be seen whether they can get through these periods of difficulties and emerge as a top-six club this time around.
Key Players
Mikkel Damsgaard
The 23-year-old Denmark international needed time to adapt to English football last season. But Damsgaard showed his quality towards the end of the campaign. He will look to hit the ground running this time around and establish himself as a key player for Brentford.
The Bees will need his ability to chip in with goals and create goalscoring opportunities. In the absence of Ivan Toney during the first half of the season, players like Damsgaard will have to step up and fill the void left in the final third.
Mathias Jensen
Jensen was one of Brentford’s key players last season, picking up five goals and six assists from the midfield. He will look to weave the Bretford play and create opportunities for his teammates. Brentford’s counter-attacking approach needs a skilled playmaker to dictate the transitions, and Jensen is certainly that man for Thomas Frank.
Season Expectations
Brentford are a side on the up, and Thomas Frank a number of talented players at his disposal. They will look to improve on their ninth-placed finish from last season, and there is no reason why they cannot push for a place in the top six this time around.
Apart from the ban on Ivan Toney, there are no problems at the club right now, and they should be able to deal with the absence of their talisman striker with the right signings and few tactical adjustments.
Brentford are likely to improve on their performances from last season, and they should look to add some consistency. The Bees might finish in the European places and secure UEFA Europa League football for the next season.
