What's the one thing no-one is talking about?published at 16:36 1 April
16:36 1 April
Another very solid Premier League season is in the offing for Brentford but, without diminishing what is a continually impressive achievement, with nine games left to play there is relatively little to fight for aside from a top-half finish.
Are attentions turning to next season? Or is there still life to be squeezed out of the current campaign?
You know your club best, so tell us: what is the one thing no-one is talking about at Brentford, but really should be?
Frank on team news, 'integral' Norgaard and facing Newcastlepublished at 15:49 1 April
15:49 1 April
Brentford boss Thomas Frank has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game at Newcastle (kick-off 19:45 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
The Brentford squad to face Newcastle is looking "quite positive", with full-back Michael Kayode available for selection again after a knee injury. However, Mathias Jensen "is not ready yet" after a recent illness meant he missed some training.
Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey and Gustavo Nunes all featured in the Bees' under-21s match on Monday, but Frank confirmed it is "too short for them to be involved" on Wednesday: "All three looked good and ticked the physical boxes."
He added: "Rico is the one who is furthest ahead of the three - I think he is close to returning to the squad. It could be for Chelsea [on Sunday], but let's see. Hickey is on track. He had some minor pain which limited his minutes - we're being extra cautious."
On longer-term knee injuries for Igor Thiago and Josh Dasilva: "Thiago is progressing - going a little bit slower, but progressing. He is building the muscle volume and strength around the knee to make sure he ticks all of the strength markers. He is running, and he is also part training, so it's moving forward. Josh Dasilva is a little bit further off it than Igor."
Frank said it was "extremely important" Christian Norgaard signed a new deal with the club: "We've done quite well in the Premier League in the past four years and he's been an integral part of that. A big reason why we have done OK is our culture, and Norgaard is a big driver of that, on and off the pitch. At a club, there will always be transition of players in and out, but it's also important to have some stability."
He added: "Maybe this season is his best so far... Sometimes, you don't see it or recognise it as much when you are a holding midfielder, but he is so important in terms of breaking up play, interceptions and playing forward when you win the ball back. This season, he has quite a few goals and assists, too."
On facing Carabao Cup winners Newcastle at St James' Park: "I hope they had an unbelievable party because they deserved it. It's their first major cup in almost a lifetime. It's an incredible achievement for them and I'm really happy on their behalf. I'm pretty sure they will come flying out under the floodlights for a celebration."
Listen to full commentary of Newcastle v Brentford on the BBC Sport website and app from 19:45 on Wednesday
Norgaard 'the glue that holds the side together'published at 12:48 1 April
12:48 1 April
Ian Westbrook Fan writer
Image source, PA Media
It was a big weekend for Brentford - even though we were not playing - with the announcement of the tremendous news that captain Christian Norgaard has signed a new two-year contract.
I have mentioned before in this column that tying down Norgaard to a new deal was vital. His contract was due to run out in the summer, and although the club had an option for another year, the fact there had been no news on what was happening was alarming for us fans.
Norgaard has played a vital role in his almost six years at the club, making nearly 200 appearances in all competitions and being named captain in the summer of 2023.
His importance to the side can be shown by the fact that we have failed to win any of the four Premier League games he has missed this season, and only won two of the seven in which he was absent in the last campaign.
He is the glue that holds the side together in his defensive midfield role, protecting the defence, winning tackles and setting up attacks. This season he has also become a more regular goalscorer - with his five in all competitions (four in the Premier League) almost a third of his entire total of 17 for the club. We are a much weaker team without him.
It is also clear what a close relationship he has with Thomas Frank, who he previously worked with for both Brondby and youth level national sides for Denmark.
Norgaard joins compatriot Mikkel Damsgaard, Keane Lewis-Potter and Aaron Hickey in signing new contracts in 2025.
Brentford captain Christian Norgaard has signed a new two-year deal with the club which will run until the summer of 2027.
The Denmark international joined the club in the summer of 2019 and has gone on to make 187 appearances, scoring 12 goals.
Speaking to the club's official website about the midfielder's new deal, Brentford head coach Thomas Frank said: "This new contract was a no-brainer for us and Christian."
"Christian has been an integral part of the fantastic journey we have been on these past six years. He is our club captain and one of our most important players.
"The first time I coached Christian, he was a number 10; now he is one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League.
"I'm very happy. Hopefully we can continue to be successful together with Christian leading the team."
Premier League to have two summer transfer windowspublished at 13:57 27 March
13:57 27 March
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Premier League clubs have agreed the dates for the summer transfer window.
The window will open early, between Sunday 1 June and Tuesday 10 June, due to an exceptional registration period relating to the Fifa Club World Cup.
It will then reopen on Monday 16 June and close on Monday 1 September.
'Quality' Schade needs to improve 'his decision-making'published at 15:38 24 March
15:38 24 March
Ian Westbrook Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
We have been asked this week to say who at our club needs to step up for the rest of the season.
Nobody at Brentford has really been playing poorly this campaign - but as I have to pick someone, one man who could improve in a certain area is Kevin Schade.
There is no doubt that this is his best season for the Bees so far. He has played in every league game - starting 17 and coming on as a substitute in the other 12 - and is third top scorer with seven goals. He also has two assists to his name.
Schade has also taken on the role previously undertaken by Ivan Toney of being the target for goal-kicks or goalkeeper clearances when we go long, as he is great in the air and wins those flick-ons.
However, the area in which he could do better is his decision-making.
Schade is a brilliant, instinctive player - it seems that when he doesn't have time to think, the quality of his finishes is superb. Good recent examples of this came when he scored at both Southampton and Crystal Palace.
However, when he runs at defences down the left wing and gets into the area, the extra time to think almost gives him too much choice and often he gets caught trying to decide whether to shoot or cross - and ends up doing neither.
You end up thinking that if he received a pass in the area, rather than running in there himself, what he did next with the ball would be of high quality.
Despite this, there is no doubt that Schade, our record signing when joining in 2023, is a huge talent.
Earlier, we asked which two players have appeared in the most Premier League wins for Brentford.
Vitaly Janelt and Bryan Mbeumo have both played in 47 Bees victories, with Yoane Wissa close behind on 45.
Today's trivia challengepublished at 07:59 21 March
07:59 21 March
Which two players have appeared in the most Premier League wins for Brentford?
Come back to this page on Friday afternoon for the answer
Brentford agree strategic partnership with Gil Vicentepublished at 14:15 20 March
14:15 20 March
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Brentford have agreed a strategic partnership with Portugese Primeira Liga side Gil Vicente aimed at "sharing knowledge and improving player development".
A delegation from the Gil Vicente visited the Gtech Community Stadium and the Bees' training ground to discuss topics including football strategy, recruitment, coaching, communications, marketing and fan engagement.
Brentford technical director Lee Dykes said: "Football is always evolving, and one way to improve is by sharing knowledge.
"Gil Vicente has a proud history and are well-respected for their youth development, their resilience and their community spirit. This visit is an opportunity to exchange ideas, challenge each other, and most importantly, to learn.
"This partnership with Gil Vicente will help us improve all aspects of our player development model and allow us to have a close relationship with a well-respected club in Portugal which is a thriving football country."
Gil Vicente president Rui Silva added: "A partnership with a club competing in the world's most challenging league represents a unique opportunity to elevate our structure.
"Brentford has been a reference in data, player recruitment and development, as well as in its relationship with fans. These values align perfectly with our vision for the future of Gil Vicente."
'Continuity the key' to 'heady days' for fanspublished at 12:35 18 March
12:35 18 March
Ian Westbrook Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Brentford's achievement in notching up 50 Premier League wins in under four seasons in the competition - by beating Bournemouth on Saturday - should not be underestimated.
Only 10 clubs* have reached this landmark quicker than the Bees. All of them were original Premier League members and all got to their half-century before the end of 1995, meaning we are the first promoted side to do it this quickly.
On top of that, Brentford have still not spent a single second in the relegation zone in our time in the division – another great feat bearing in mind the struggles of promoted clubs in the past couple of years.
In the all-time Premier League table, our points per game total is 1.294 - putting us 12th of the 51 clubs who have played in the competition.
Continuity is the key to a lot of this. Thomas Frank, now the Premier League's second longest-serving manager behind Pep Guardiola, of course has been there throughout, as have several of his players.
Four of the starting XI which won at Vitality Stadium - the spine of the team in fact - signed for us in the Championship. They are: centre-half Ethan Pinnock, midfielders Christian Norgaard and Vitaly Janelt, and attacker Bryan Mbeumo.
Rico Henry and Mathias Jensen would also have probably figured on Saturday but for injury and illness, while another Championship signing, Josh Dasilva, is still recovering from a long injury lay-off.
These are heady days to be a Brentford fan - and long may it continue!
*The first 10 teams to reach 50 Premier League wins were Arsenal, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Leeds United, Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers, Tottenham and Wimbledon.
'Football is everything and nothing' - Frankpublished at 16:36 17 March
16:36 17 March
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In a wide-ranging chat with BBC Radio 5 Live's Rick Edwards alongside club psychologist Michael Caulfield, Thomas Frank has opened up on how he deals with the pressure's of elite football management.
"For me, football is everything and nothing," he said. "I'm devastated after we lose, I'm irritated and every single fibre in my body hurts after the game because I'm irritated in different ways.
"But, on the flip side coming in on a Monday there's hope again. I'm working with good people and I believe and dream again and go one more time.
"I know what's the most important thing for me - family and friends."
Caulfield has been at the club since 2016, around the same time Frank arrived as assistant head coach, and believes the relationship between the two has developed naturally over time.
"When you're in this it's not friendships at the minute because we're too busy, too committed," he said.
"And we are genuinely committed to what we are trying to do. A lot of trust has been developed and it hasn't been through force.
"You've got this Danish person and British person who had never met before and eight years later something has happened. I don't want to overthink it because like any good relationship it just happens.
"I know when to talk to Thomas and vice versa and when to leave him alone. We've worked out a way of handling each other because football is so totally irrational and completely emotional.
"There's a lot of trust, a lot of empathy, a lot of understanding. I like to think one skill I do have is to know when to shut up and leave a room."
Mark: We started well and looked dangerous. Then we just switched off. Poor goalkeeping and he lacked the confidence needed for the game. The goal drought from Semenyo is worrying. We need him back popping them in for fun. Europe is now slipping through our hands. We need a hard look to work out if the FA Cup or the league is more important to us.
Alex: Good performance, just not when it was needed. Shocking refereeing.
Chris: Compare the team placement now against the line up and positions before Christmas. That should answer a lot of questions.
Brentford fans
Fred: How we won that I don't know. We have to make a Norgaard chant, he was so good, and shoutout to Keane Lewis-Potter. Is he England's best left-back? It shows real character for a team who could make a late European charge potentially.
Geoff: Captain fantastic again. Brilliant from the skipper.
Jason: Took my mate Jim to his first away game. Not pretty but they all count!
Catch up on the Premier League actionpublished at 12:40 16 March
12:40 16 March
Highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures.
'We want to aim as high as possible'published at 19:57 15 March
19:57 15 March
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Brentford manager Thomas Frank, speaking to Sky Sports: "I think we played a good first half, I am very pleased with it in many, many ways. We had six big moments where we didn't get a shot off. Those are big moments we need to get more.
"Second half Bournemouth started better than us for the first five,10 minutes, then I think it was relatively even. Then we go up 2-1 and from there it was not a pretty game but that happens sometimes.
"I think it was the first time in a long time where it was an even game and we edged it, so I'm really pleased.
"Keith Andrews [Brentford set-piece coach] is doing a very good job, the players are doing a very good job and the coaching around is very good. Set-pieces are crucial and they won us the game today.
"This is our 50th Premier League win and there's only 10 clubs who have done this quicker than us. That's crazy. Taking it into consideration, our journey, our size, I think that's a day we should be proud of.
"Of course, we want to look up and aim as high as possible. Big win, a little break and then we go again."
Bournemouth 1-2 Brentford: Another win on the roadpublished at 19:56 15 March
19:56 15 March
Phil Cartwright BBC Sport journalist
Image source, PA Media
Brentford failed to win any of their first nine Premier League away games this season but have now won five successive away matches in the league, their best run on the road since 2010 in League One.
That is in contrast to their form at Gtech Community Stadium, where they were unbeaten until losing to Nottingham Forest on 21 December - and have not won since.
Yoane Wissa had scored the winning goal in Brentford's previous two meetings with Bournemouth and his fourth goal in his past three appearances against the Cherries set the Bees on their way to a comeback win.
He nodded in the equaliser with Kepa Arrizabalaga stranded, the Bournemouth goalkeeper having travelled off his line to try to punch away Bryan Mbeumo's corner.
That equaliser was the spark for Brentford's best spell of the game, with Mbeumo's effort from 20 yards flying just wide and Kevin Schade shooting off target after Bournemouth failed to clear a set-piece.
It was another delivery into the box that brought Brentford's winner, Christian Norgaard reacting first to fire in from close range after the ball slid under the feet of two players at the near post.
Bournemouth 1-2 Brentford: Did you know?published at 19:52 15 March
19:52 15 March
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Brentford are unbeaten in all six of their Premier League games against Bournemouth (W4 D2), their best ever unbeaten run against an opponent in the division.
Bournemouth 1-2 Brentford - send us your thoughtspublished at 19:22 15 March
