Two defeats in a row has left Thomas Frank looking up at the sky for a break. Instead of a break, Frank has Sky Blue problems in the shape of Mark Robbins and Gustavo Hamer coming his way.
After a 20 game unbeaten run, narratives will run away with themselves. Brentford haven't turned into a bad team in 7 days and neither were they Manchester City in Red and White.
For any team that isn’t Manchester City or Liverpool, 20 match unbeaten runs like the one ended by the defeat to Barnsley rarely come around. During the run, it’s up to coaches to keep players feet on the ground and not allow them to get ahead of themselves or begin to believe in the external narratives.
It’s why we often hear the phrase “we only concentrate on the next game”.
We often use these previews to focus on whatever we find out of interest about the opposition before a game.
From a professional perspective entering the latter half of the season and playing teams for a second time presents coaches and analysts with more information.
Evidence from the reverse fixture, previous relevant matches the opponent has played and most used formations or playing styles leave little to no hiding places.
Coventry are an interesting team and like those to have inflicted recent defeats on Brentford play with a back 3 slash back 5 system.
Formation choices are by no means the sole reason behind the defeats as Barnsley and QPR go about deploying their systems in differing ways. QPR produce slower deliberate possessions and Barnsley commit players high and aim to rush an opposition who like patient build up, for instance. Concern can be drawn from how little foothold Brentford were able to get in either game against good functioning wing-backs. Out wide, Brentford were vacant. Whether we’re about to enter a string of difficult games because teams are working out that going 3v3 with Brentford forwards gives you better percentages. It worked last season, teams going with 3 CBs + 2 well tuned in wingbacks might keep Thomas Frank’s latest iteration quiet too.
Frank’s lack of rotational options in defence could be contributing to things appearing bad “all of a sudden”. All teams in the Championship would miss a defender like Pontus Jansson and his loss has only started to be felt dramatically as defensive tactics both from the front and the back against Brentford improve.
With Goode sidelined, Mads Bech Sorensen and Pinnock have taken the brunt of Jansson not featuring and QPR looked to exploit both Jansson’s and Pinnock’s absence with Kane and Wallace crossing long into the box at almost every available opportunity. Circles are successful from our friends at Wyscout.
Blocking off link play in the wide areas has worked against Brentford in the last two games and in return it becomes an exploitable weak spot with both of the previous opponents having three forwards and wingbacks supporting attacking situations.
Stoke are soon to follow after the match against Coventry leaving Thomas Frank minimal time to get a solution to this wide problem enacted.
Compared to opponents, Brentford is still in the top two teams in the division strong team. As mentioned earlier, a team doesn't turn bad overnight and xG by game state and how Brentford generate generate chances broken down by the minute of the game indicates this is a team good enough and strong enough to go the distance.
Blue Sky thinking isn't needed here. If Mbeumo can create some strong links with Toney and force his side to defend deep, Dasilva can join in on the right hand side and drag midfielders away from the centre. Canos and Henry on the opposite wing are due a good run of attacking luck so let’s hope this team of wingbacks don’t get their positioning right all night.