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Brentford Preview in Association with EZE Group
Lee Clark takes his side to Griffin Park this morning hoping that they can bounce back from the last minute heartbreak on Tuesday night that saw Ipswich deny Blues back to back home wins.
Brentford
Like Blues, Brentford come into this game having won one, drawn one and lost one, but with a slightly better goal difference. The Bees have failed to keep a clean sheet this season so far, conceding six in an amazing League Cup tie that saw them defeat Dagenham and Redbridge on penalties after drawing 6-6 with them after extra time.
Adam Forshaw is back in contention to play after having a hamstring injury and Nico Yennaris will have a fitness test to see if he has fully recovered from a back injury.
Blues
Blues have no new injury worries; Andrew Shinnie will continue to miss out having gotten injured in a development squad game and Matt Green is still not fully fit in his comeback from long term injury.
Clark will have to decide whether to stick with the 4-4-2 which has served him well at home or to go with his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation away from home. My personal preference would be to stick with two forwards; both Wes Thomas and Clayton Donaldson (who will be up against his old team) work hard from the front and I think Blues can maintain their shape well off the ball in a 4-4-2. Hopefully Clark will be able to stick with the same eleven that has played pretty well in the two home games and can start to build on the team spirit and organisation that has been shown at St Andrews.
Tags: Andy Shinnie, Brentford FC, Clayton Donaldson, Wes Thomas
77 Responses to “Brentford Preview in Association with EZE Group”
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Against Brentford I think 4-4-2 would work due to their style of play, we need to continue the high line even when we score and stop this dropping deeper before it becomes habit forming.
Donaldson will certainly be up for this one and if there has to be change then Duffy should come in to give the forwards better service and the team more width, other than that more of the same please.
KRO+DNM
no game in the championship is easy who ever we play….but blues are in a much healthy state than last season. A striker who knows where the goal is without paying a fortune out on his wages….my personal views Donaldson to cause absolute havoc today, and maybe get himself a double on the score sheet…as a ex-player should show no remorse……..blues win on cards today…………kro
i believe there something like 1500 fans travelling to today game if so fabulous support from the bluenoses….kro
Today is where the early optimism will be vindicated or crushed. Consistency is the key, throughout the team and in results. I feel expectations starting to grow already and if the team is better prepared this year, it will be seen today hopefully.
Personally I would like to see Gray on the left in place of Novak in a 4-4-2, as his pace will be more beneficial if we’re trying to hit them on the break (which I suspect we will be). At the very least have him on the bench for a last quarter introduction.
i did lol we should be 11th in the table if it wasn’t for goal difference……..see c all later
I want Duffy to have a go on the left, Novak seems unwilling to cross it in, always cuts inside
I would guess LC will go 442 with Novak on the left, I’m not a fan of novak in that position. its clear that Gray, Cotteril and Duffys best position is on the right. I do wonder why lc bought duffy. That part of the wage bill should have gone on a left footed left winger.
General consensus is to play any 2 of 3, Cotteril, Duffy or Gray, giving us a 2, pronged wing attack, Got to be worth a shot, Eh, ?.
Dan., can I use the Blog to see if anyone has lost a Blues Scarf at the back of the Main Stand ? My mate found one and would like to get it back to it’s owner, it is a commerative scarf and whoever lost it would be able to say what it was for . If anyone could pass the message on to any Forums, thanks.
Not at the game today so reliant on BBC and radio as I don’t get any live commentary in Nottingham.
Not sure as to the logic of taking both strikers off, especially as Brentford only had 10 men for around 75 minutes and bringing on a striker for the last 5+ minutes.
Funny how we conceded after we went on the defensive again, I said after the last two games, If we are going to play the high line it has to be for 90 minutes and not dropping deeper when we score as we will be punished. We were lucky against Brighton and Ipswich capitalised on it.
I look forward to comments from those lucky enough to get a ticket.
KRO+DNM
I still can’t understand why he won’t play Cotterill and Duffy together. That would have contained their full backs more and kept them from going forward so much in the second half. It could have also given Donaldson more chances, who he should have kept on. He must have been itching to score against his old club. I have to admit that Clark remains tactically naive and that fills me with surprise and disappointment. Two steps forward and one step backwards once again. I had new faith in LC but it’s destroyed now. Time for a new manager Even this early in the season I have to admit my optimism has faded.
Have to agree re Duffy, apart from the friendlies he hasn’t kicked a ball in anger yet.
From comments and reports the game was there for our taking, I wasn’t a lover of Thomas when he came on lone and he hasn’t really done much to change my view, yet. He seems to work hard and hopefully both he and Donaldson can be a force to be reckoned with, but they have to be on the pitch.
Our midfield is a little raw and naive at the moment so the only option is to attack and give the opposition something to worry about, unfortunately this result and tactics is going to send the wrong message out to future oppositions.
KRO+DNM
Can you think of a way thet the present owners can get rid of the present manager and who would you suggest as a replacement? It’s sad isn’t it I would like to be rid of both! What a conundrum! After supporting this team for most of my lifetine 58 years) I feel sad but I suppose that you do too!
He has the safest job in football Raymondo.
Probably why they want to release more shares to raise his compensation. Unfortunately I think he is probably sitting comfortable as we can ‘t sell the club or afford to sack him.
I did think we had turned the corner, I can’t remember the last time we played the same team twice let alone three times on the bounce, but he just can’t help but tinker and can he justify his substitutions because they go completely against all he has been saying re high line and tempo.
KRO+DNM
Same here-unable to attend the game but listened to live coverage.I’m at a loss to understand how 10 men can dominate the second half and how Blues can fade so quickly.As for the tactical changes in the second half only Clark knows why he decided to defend the lead.What message does this send to his forwards?
I actually thought that he was beginning to learn from last years tactical mistakes but sadly it appears not.Im looking forward to his explanation and no doubt the players will get the blame.
It’s going to be a long frustrating season!
Not being there I can only surmise, from the last two games we have scored and dropped deep causing undue pressure on a back four who are still learning and working on an understanding together.
I was always taught the best form of defence is to attack, with them being down a man I would have thought putting either Duffy or Johnstone on would have been a more logical option.
As you say, we thought LC had learnt, but no it IS going to be a long frustrated season.
KRO+DNM
As you say Chris a long long season, all the optimism has been shattered by this result, We should have been 3 up at half time.
How can we be overran by 10 men? how did that donkey Thomas head over the bar from 1 yards range? what was the centre back playing at for their equaliser?.
Why take Donaldson off thereby leaving no strikers on the pitch, {that’s just inviting the opposition to attack us )and then putting one on for the last 3 minutes. Clark goes on about playing a front foot pressing game then their sub races 50 yards clear without a challenge.Its normal service resumed as far as I’m concerned Clark lost two points today in the end we were lucky to get anything.
Tony, I’ll bet you didn’t call Thomas a donkey when he scored the winner against Brighton, 1 yard, whatever, watch it tonight, also watch Novak’s header, I’m surprised you didn’t “see” that one too.
Better than last year, definitely, but still room for improvement.
Having said all that, we still lack that bit of tactical nous in midfield IMHO
KRO
Dave you have to be kidding i will be in bed
No,we lack a manager with tactical nous.
Steve, the managers not on the pitch, you have to be able to read the game as a minimum requirement, pass to your own man, it seems our mid two don’t do the simple things well, yet.
absolutely right Dave the players in the dressing let themselves down not the manager, But steve in his wisdom like to throw the sh*t long with others….no change there lol
i was fortunate to catch the interview with caddis with TR ON THE RADIO just to back up the argument regarding the managers Tactics. Caddis reply nothing to do with formation or tactics we as players never retained the ball enough……so the barmy bunch continue with their Clark witch hunt…..laughable really
I’m not on a witch hunt with Clark. I agree that there were players who probably could have done more, naivety or something else only they know, but you do not take of both strikers when the opposition are putting pressure on, you have to counter attack to relieve that pressure,
We haven’t got the experience or understanding yet to sit back and soak up pressure, we should have learnt that lesson against Ipswich.
KRO+DNM
Come on Mark.
Do you honestly believe that Caddis would have criticised Clark on the radio and let’s have some honesty from you.
Clark not for the first time got it wrong today and even Andy Walker said we could easily have lost the game towards the end.
I don’t think its a witch hunt it’s more about being frustrated with Clark for his none stop tinkering with the tactics and his bewildering decisions which clearly cost us two points against 10 men.
Do you really think he would go on the radio and blame the manager? Dear God,you get worse.
Even TR has had enough of the Clark knockers
Well if TR has had enough i’ll stop.
HaHaHaHaHa.Brilliant.
The manager picks the system they play. The fact is we were comfortably beating 10 men and he takes off a striker. That isn’t the players fault. That is all down to Lee Clark.They didn’t score against the run of play.They were all over us.To change it back would have mean’t Clark admitting he got it wrong.As we all know,that will never happen.
Again you in are incorrect we lost the midfield battle, try for once listening to caddis interview again…..we had a striker in Novak, who I might add has scored goals at this level…..
Try for once listening to the Caddis interview again ? Doesn’t matter how many times you listen to it,HE ISN’T GOING TO PUBLICLY BLAME THE MANAGER. We was overun because we had no outlet up front.
Actually caddis firmly put it at the players feet, so why should he blame the manager he’s not on the pitch….
Mark read the Brentford players interview, they were delighted when we took Donaldson off because it meant we were not going to get in behind then we had no pace. Novak cant run its just a physical wrestle with him and they handled that well enough.
tactical nous by our players spot on DAVE
UNBEATEN AT HOME LOL
sorry what Novak a goalkeeper?
When LC went on that long unbeaten run a Huddersfield he managed to draw more games from winning positions.
He goes on about high tempo and the high line then goes and does something stupid like taking off BOTH strikers for two midfielders, somewhere there is some logic but only LC can work that one out.
KRO+DNM
Re: Thomas and Grounds. That’s what you get from players who are League 1 standard.
I don’t think today’s decisions were do with the standard, after all Brentford have only just come up.
It was a LC decision to change the personal on the pitch and I agree if a player warrants substituting fine but change like for like, you don’t take both strikers off without having a alternative option, and certainly not for a quarter of a game, to me that is foolhardiness. We were lucky to come away with a point in the end.
KRO+DNM
He only went back on the attack after they scored.We did well to hold out for so long.
He is well known for it. Most of that unbeaten run at Huddersfield was drawn games from winning positions. I feel sorry for the players,they,re playing their hearts out and they have a negative manager that obviously doesn’t trust them to go on and finish teams off.
Playing 10 men and we take both strikers off at 1-0 up , LC hasn’t changed one bit from last season , all very disappointing
I can only summise that because Thomas and Donaldson work so hard and do a lot of running, Clark rested them and brought fresh legs on.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Sometimes substitutes win games and the manager is a tactical genius, other times they don’t work and the manager doesn’t know what he is doing.
As Kipling wrote “If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two impostors just the same”.
He bottled it.He cost us two points today.We were so comfortable at Half time.But,we have to take our chances.The game should have been in the bag.There was no need to make such drastic changes.He blew it and his reputation from Huddersfield is proving to be right.
Lee doesn’t seem to learn, stay on the front foot, occupy their defence. Having said that, the Bees have to be commended on a stirring comeback, I hope my ticker can come back as successfully, just about right result, but should have been out of sight at half time.
We had enough chances to win 3 games, sigh :)
My original post is waiting to be approved.It won’t because of my language. 1 up and dominating against 10 men at half time.What does the fool do ? Packs the midfield and goes defensive.We were lucky in the end to get a point. His negativity has cost us 4 points in the last two games. Will he accept responsibility? Not a chance.He has the safest job in football and he knows it.
Without seeing the Match, I cant really comment, but my view from ther BBC and Mail reports is the same as yours Steve. He cocked up on Tuesday by putting Robinson on and trying to defend one goal lead and according to Tatts he did the same thing yesterday. His use of the Subs, as the Huddersfield Fans told us enough times , leave a lot to be desired. Everyone bar Mark can se it and cant all be wrong.
i believe this was a point gained, and it is simply disrespectful of a brentford team that came out fighting in the second half if we had taken the chances first half they would have been out of sight. we have done teams in the past with 10 men ourselves, so fair play to brentford today. More importantly we are unbeaten…..kro
5 points from 4 games is relegation form Mark -just like last year.
It’s not as if we’ve played teams from the top of the division.
Maybe have a look there Fulham are….
I think you’re Lee Clark.
Yes and if their results don’t improve the manager will be sacked.
We would have been out of sight at half time and we were playing well. So tell me oh wise one.Why change it ?
But we wasn’t was it steve, we did take our chances did we Steve, we lost the midfield battle Steve in the second half, we did not retain the ball enough Steve, we had a striker on the pitch Steve called novak….must I go on…..kro
WTF ?We did take our chances.Plenty of chances and we scored one.Go and have a lie down in a dark room. Two up front,all over them. Tactical change to one up front and they’re all over us.Novak is not the man to play up front on his own.
Formation 4411
Sorry Steve a correction to my above comments….
Also this is brentford team that’s come up and are collectively molded together, we are still finding our feet,
And i am in full agreement with Clark that there are other players on the pitch who could have equally measured up in this game……
http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/20140823-caddis-we-werent-good-enough.-1862190.aspx?
The saying…You are only as good as your last game…….is so true.
If we win against Sunderland and Wigan, Clark will be praised.
Of course he will.So he should expect the criticism when he messes up like yesterday.
I agree with you it shows how fickle fans can be.
I don’t think questioning Saturdays decisions is fans being fickle. Bewilderment or frustration maybe.
KRO+DNM
I’m not expecting any shocks against Sunderland, it depends on how serious they take this game and ideally it is a time for LC to experiment or rest individuals.
Against Wigan I’m more optimistic as they seem to be in the same boat as us results wise.
KRO+DNM
It may be that Sunderland will not field their strongest team, as is typical of Premiership teams in the early rounds of this cup competition.That might give us a chance, but with the way that Clark’s tactical lack of know how let us down on Saturday I don’t know!
Only hope we have is LC is a Geordie and they hate the Mackems, as shown when he wore his now infamous t-shirt at a Wembley cup final.
KRO+DNM
We have well over a million in the coffers with transfer money, we could use that to pay of the dishonourable clown.
Unfortunately for us mate BIHL are losing a million a month.
They WERE losing it , Steve, they aren’t now . Those figures were for last Season up till June.
Wll,get rid then Chas.
Of what, Steve , Clarke ? I agree with that . One other question, do we get a share of QPR’s Parachute payment when they went straight back up does anyone know ? I know that we had to give ours up when we got promoted straight away.
Clark ,yes.Don’t know about the other mate.
I thought that was now Chas.