Team Focus: Brentford's Bold Approach Paying Dividends in the Championship
The Mark Warburton story is well told by now but no less enjoyable. To summarise: Warburton was working in a good job in the City but packed it all in to become a coach. When Uwe Rösler departed Brentford in League One for Wigan above them, a face pretty much unrecognisable outside of a pocket of west London stepped into the dugout at Griffin Park. The Bees got promoted and now they are in the the play-off positions despite a difficult Christmas period.
An FA Cup loss at home to Brighton, who are living off the buzz of a new manager in Chris Hughton, last weekend after league defeats to high-flying Ipswich and fellow promotion pushers Wolves is not enough to make them panic. It may just be a blip, but even if they do tail off in the second half of the season, the Brentford story will remain one of the year's best Championship tales.
This Saturday they welcome fellow second tier new boys Rotherham, and while Steve Evans's visitors have been on a solid run (unbeaten in six but five of those have been draws) the clubs are at opposite ends of the table and playing very different brands of football.
The Warburton way is simple: get it out wide. They are quick, devastating on the counter-attack and, mostly using a 4-1-4-1 formation, have been more often than not winning the midfield battle. Jonathan Douglas assumes the holding role in the midfield, allowing the four in front of him and the first choice striker Andre Gray to take the attacking plaudits. At 33 Douglas is the team’s oldest player with the exception of Tommy Smith, who has only started once all season, as Warburton places his faith in youth.
He recruited well in the summer. Moses Odubajo was a leading light for Leyton Orient in League One last season and the 21-year-old has fitted in seamlessly on the right side. His statistics when it comes to goals do not appear immediately impressive – scoring twice and creating another three – but his link-up play and general ability to beat a man and get a cross in has been an impressive edition. Jota, the Spanish midfielder brought through the Celta Vigo youth structure, has also impressed on the opposite flank, scoring six times, while Alan Judge has become the leading creator with eight assists.
Their style of play is highlighted by the manner in which their goals have been scored. Of the 40 they have netted, only two have come from free-kicks and corners, one penalty and the rest from open play. They don’t create too many chances – a 13.7 shots per game average is only the division’s 12th highest – but they have the division’s best ratio of getting them on target and the division’s fourth highest average shots on target per game. Being clinical is one of their greatest strengths.
Brentford need to tighten up at the back though. They have shipped 35, more than double the 17 conceded by Middlesbrough who are in fourth and the worst defensive record of a team in the top half of the table. Their average shots conceded per game (15.4) is the sixth worst in the division and they also languish near the bottom of the standings when it comes to tackles and interceptions per game.
Warburton has channeled some aspects of his previous career into his management. He is understood to be keen on incentivisation, devising a scheme where players are awarded stars in training with the player with the most stars at the end of the week getting a prize to ensure there is no easing off.
It has worked so far this season but now without losing sight of the wider context, there are some areas which need improving if they are to sustain a play-off challenge. Last season Rotherham left Griffin Park with a 1-0 win, if Brentford are to keep going there cannot be a repeat on Saturday.
Can Brentford defy the odds and secure promotion this season or will they continue to tail off? Let us know in the comments below
