Brentford 23/24 season preview
Top scorers
Player | Goals |
Toney | 20 |
Mbeumo | 9 |
Wissa | 7 |
Jensen | 5 |
Da Silva | 4 |
Top assisters
Mbeumo | 8 |
Jensen | 6 |
Toney | 4 |
Norgaard | 3 |
Wissa | 3 |
Ivan Toney was Brentford’s most productive player this season scoring 20 goals and assisting 4. The striker was Brentford’s main source of goals, scoring twice as many a their second placed score Brian Mbeumo. Toney almost doubled his output from the season before managing 12 goals in the 21/22 season, Brentford’s first in the premier league. Toney was the main set piece taker for Brentford last season scoring 2 direct free kicks and 6 penalties. Toney had on average 2.8 shots per premier league fixture last season, which was the 9th highest in the league.
Bryan Mbeumo was Brentford’s second most productive player, he like Toney had his most productive season in front of goal, scoring 9 and assisting 8. This is Mbeumo’s best numbers in a premier league campaign and the Frenchmen may be heavily relied upon in the upcoming season with the absence of Ivan Toney.
Brentford’s 3rd man in there attack, Yoane Wissa, scored 7 and assisted 3 last season. Having played a significant amount less game time than is fellow attackers, Wissa still produced decent numbers and is an important part tot eh way Brentford attack teams so directly when he plays.
Raya
Hickey
Mee
Pinnock
Henry
Janelt
Jensen
Norgaard
Mbeumo
Toney
Wissa
4-3-3 was Thomas frank’s preferred starting line up, deploying it 21 times during the campaign. This gives the team a good balance of direct attacking from the forward players, a defensive stability in the back 4 and progressive full backs that are good enough on the ball to go froward, and midfield players that could do both in Jensen, Janelt/ Da Silva and Norgaard.
They used 3-5-2 system 10 times throughout the season from the start of games and 5-3-2 was used 7 times. The 5-3-2 would often be used when facing the possession based teams in the league. Because Brentford aren’t much of a possession team, only clocking up 43% average possession in their games, when they play teams that like to have the ball often they refer to a back 5 to allow the absorption of pressure and possession and then hit the team on counter attack, using quick precise passing between the forward players.
Brentford often don’t keep hold of the ball longer than they feel is necessary, they play with a lot of purpose ad directness. They completed more long balls than any other premier league team last season, completing 2312 long passes with Everton 2nd (2280) and Liverpool 3rd (2186). They often play through the lines of the team very quickly or play over the top of teams and allow Mbeumo or wissa or Toney to run at teams 1v1 and use there skill and ace to attempt a shot on goal.
Wissa and Mbeumo are both strong runners on and off the ball and often are left in 1 v 1’s whilst waiting for support from teammates. Often when Brentford win the ball back they will either look for one of them down the sides of the pitch or will look to play a long ball up to Ivan Toney who looks to win the header or control the ball to pass to the wide players. Often if Toney has the ball on the centre spot or deeper he has the range of passing to put the ball into one of his attacking players path or area. Toney is impressive at heading, winning an average 3.3 aerial duels a game (4thhighest in the league) which provides a big threat for Brentford going forward and as a general out-ball when in possession. Mbeumo is very good at picking up on the knock one that Toney provides for him and winning the second phase of the attack which then in turns often leads to a shot creating opportunity.
As well as Toney being impressive at heading and winning his aerial duels, the Brentford squad as a whole had the highest amount of aerials won per game. Winning on average 17.6 aerial battles per match, Brentford were the masters at winning headers last season. In fact 3/5 of the top headers of the ball last season were Brentford players.
Player | Aerials won PG | Team |
Aleksandar Mitrovic | 4.2 | Fulham |
Ben Mee | 3.6 | Brentford |
Ethan Pinnock | 3.5 | Brentford |
Ivan Toney | 3.3 | Brentford |
Tomas Soucek | 3.2 | West Ham |
It may come as no surprise that being in the top 5 aerials won, Pinnock also topped the charts for the most aerial clearances made in the league last season as well. Pinnock cleared the ball successfully 131 times, which was 12 more than second place (Everton’s James Tarkowski - 119).
Pinnock was a key player for Brentford last season, he was in there top 3 performers in tackling (1.9 PG), interceptions (1.2 PG), clearances (7.1PG) and blocks (1 PG). Such statistics earned him an overall who scored rating of 7.11, which was 2nd only to Ivan Toney (7,25) but was enough to earn him in the who scored team of the season. He was partnered at CB by Newcastle’s Fabian Schar (7.0)
Defensive shape
One of Brentford’s main strengths last season was having a fairly settled back line, David Raya played every minute (3420) of the league season, Ramsdale and De gea were the only other goalkeepers to play every minute. The only outfield player to play every minute was James Tarkowski of Everton.
Ben Mee played 3272 minutes which was the second highest of the Brentford squad with Rico Henry placing 3rd playing 3244 minutes. Pinnock played 2700 minutes (7th highest of squad) and Hickey 1931 (9th highest of squad). Primarily playing with a back 4 consisting of Mee, Pinnock, Hickey and Henry with Raya in goal, Brentford have played with a familiar defensive unit which is a big part of their success in the league table, finishing 9th, their highest ever finish.
Pinnock and Mee are amongst the best aerial players in the league, as mentioned above Mee and Pinnock both finished in the top 5 for most aerial duels won. Brentford tend to like crosses coming into their area for this exact reason knowing that Mee and Pinnock will often be able to clear the ball and beat most of the leagues forwards to the ball.
Pinnock also averaged the highest amount of clearances in the premier league last season. He averaged 7.1 clearances per game, which was 1.3 more on average than second place, Crystal Palace CB Joachim Anderson (5.8 clearance per game).
He averaged more than double the amount of clearances per game than his centre back partner Ben Mee, who averaged 3.1 clearances per game.
As well was the back 4 being solid, Brentford’s midfielders also have a big impact on there defensive game. Christian Norgaard averaged 1.5 interceptions per game, which was the 8th highest total in the league. As well as this, he finished 17th highest in the league for most tackles per game. He averaged 2.4 tackles each game he played.
When playing against teams who have more possession in a game, Brentford can revert to a back 5 and play 5-3-2, with Pontus Jansson coming into the back line. When playing this formation Brentford can drop in nice and deep and close the gaps between lines, allowing the ball to go wider and invite crosses into the box knowing with confidence they will be able to deal with it. They tend to drop off very deep when defending this way, playing a low block and not allowing teams to play through the centre of the pitch.
Style of play / going forward
Brentford aren’t a side known for their patient build up and possession based approach. What they are known for and very good at is making possession they do have effective. They focus more on key areas and making intelligent passes and runs at the correct time. They often play over the top of teams and allow Toney, Mbeumo and Wissa to run in behind teams where they are at their best. Brentford are one of the best at playing to their strengths, the play long balls to cut out too much possession in midfield and they play very direct, fast paced, purposeful football.
Brentford were the league leaders when it came to playing the ball long. They clocked up 2312 long balls over the course of the season, closely followed by Everton and Liverpool who had 2280 and 2186 respectively. This may be in part to the presence of Ivan Toney at the the top end of the field. Ivan Toney won 3.3 aerials per game, the leagues 4th highest amount. Often the ball will be played long from Raya in goal and Toney will try to win the header, which he often doe, to flick the ball on for Wissa or Mbeumo to run onto. Raya averaged the most long balls by a keeper per game averaging 10.8 long balls per game.
Brentford are also one of the best teams in the league from set pieces, with their aerial presence from corners and Toney/ Mbeumo’s ability to score direct free kicks. They are the Ed highest goal tally from set piece goals scoring 16 goals from set pieces directly and indirectly. Toney also is a master of penalty kicks scoring 5/6 penalties taken in 22/23 only missing against Newcastle’s Nick Pope, in a game he later scored in.
Brentford’s shot map shows they have a large majority of there shots inside the box. ¾ of there shots come from inside the 18yd box or the 6yd box (15% inside 6 yds box, 58% inside 18yds, 27% outside). This could be down to the fact they like putting in crosses into the box – they were the 5th highest team for crosses into the box. Mathias Jensen made the most crosses of the Brentford squad with 158, Mbeumo was second with 156 and Rico Henry was 3rd highest on 87.
23/24 season
The major concern for Brentford this season will be the huge loss of striker Ivan Toney who is banned from playing football until January. Toney plays a huge role in the way Brentford play, not only is he there too goalscorer he is also crucial to the hold up of the ball to bring others into play to start attacks. His range of passing and decision making is an important part of the way Brentford set up.
Toney scored 20 goals last season, the 3rd highest scorer in the league. He was accountable for 34% of Brentford’s goals last season (20/58), which was the 3rd highest tally in the league (behind Haaland and Kane). He also has the 9th highest shots per game (2.8) and was the 6th most fouled player (2.2 pg) in the league last season. As well as his technical ability his aerial skills will also be a huge miss for Brentford.
Brentford may have to completely change the way they play accommodate other players into the team, meaning a potential change in shape / formation or a new singing or 2. Toney will certainly be a huge loss for the team but Brentford have enough quality in other players to make up for the loss of Toney.
Predictions
Premier league
12th
Fa cup
4th round
Carabao cup
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