Category: Sport

Olympic stadium

A Sunday afternoon visit for football rather than athletics and only 9 years late for the latter.

Brentford were playing West Ham and managed to pull out a last minute win when really a draw would have been reasonable.

I think this was the first away game I have been to since seeing them play Cheltenham Town when in League 1 about 20 years ago when I took Joseph. And then In was in the side stand with the home supporters.

The stadium was full which I think means 60,000 with about 5,000 of us. A strange experience. The stadium is clearly not designed for football with the pitch a long way from the fans. I was ‘on my own’ with 5,000 others, ie. no AP to discuss the finer points or moan to.

The end where the winner went in @94′.

A positive write up:

West Ham

  • Jarrod Bowen 80

Brentford

  • Bryan Mbeumo 20
  • Yoane Wissa 90 +3:43

Brentford’s Yoane Wissa claims win against West Ham with last kick of game

Yoane Wissa (left) celebrates scoring Brentford’s winner at West Ham with Ivan Toney.
 Yoane Wissa (left) celebrates scoring Brentford’s winner at West Ham with Ivan Toney. Photograph: Tony Obrien/Reuters

Last weekend, Yoane Wissa emerged from the bench and equalised against Liverpool within four minutes. It took the man from the Democratic Republic of Congo double the length of time to hurt West Ham, but a winner with the game’s final action was a stunning outcome when his team appeared content with a point.

Playing with the big boys

A little late as the game was on Saturday, but all the same, it needs to be recorded. So, after so many times when we ‘dreamed’ of playing in the top flight, we though of playing Manchester United and Liverpool and the likes of them. So now Liverpool came to visit. Before I assumed that a tight loss was likely. In the end a great draw after a great event, a great game with noise and ambiance.

It was a great game to be at, somewhat unbelievable, taking the lead, fighting back and with such great noise. Keep enjoying the ride!

Brentford

  • Ethan Pinnock 27
  • Vitaly Janelt 63
  • Yoane Wissa 82

Liverpool

  • Diogo Jota 31
  • Mohamed Salah 54
  • Curtis Jones 67

Liverpool held to thrilling draw at Brentford after Wissa grabs his chance

Yoane Wissa scores Brentford’s third goal against Liverpool
Yoane Wissa scores Brentford’s third goal against Liverpool. Photograph: Ian Tuttle/Shutterstock

Ed Aarons at Brentford Community Stadium@ed_aaronsSat 25 Sep 2021 19.35 BST

At the final whistle, Jürgen Klopp could not stop shaking his head in disbelief. Somehow his Liverpool side had contrived to throw away victory against a Brentford side that simply never stopped believing.

And from the BBC

It’s what we dream for’ – Mohamed Salah’s big Liverpool moment spoilt by brilliant Bees

Last updated on 25 September 202125 September 2021.From the section Premier League 3-3 Liverpool: Thomas Frank delighted with ‘fantastic’ performance

It was described as a “crazy game”, a “wild ride” and something Brentford could only dream of as the newly promoted side came from behind twice to draw with title-challengers Liverpool. 

“That’s football,” Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said afterwards.

In a memorable and topsy-turvy encounter at the Brentford Community Stadium, the hosts scored a dramatic late equaliser to make it 3-3 after Curtis Jones looked to have sealed victory for Liverpool.

Former Arsenal and England striker Alan Smith was impressed, claiming on Sky Sports: “If Brentford can do this to Liverpool, they can do this to anyone.”https://emp.bbc.co.uk/emp/SMPj/2.43.13/iframe.htmlMatch of the Day analysis: How Brentford’s ‘perfect’ gameplan caused Liverpool problems

Brentford manager Thomas Frank said they “went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in Europe”.

His players did a lap of honour at full-time, the fans were singing long after the final whistle and Brentford goalscorer Vitaly Janelt was in disbelief.

A great Friday evening of football

Well. possibly against expectations the Bees wind their opener in the Premier League against one the big boys. A team as one of the articles noted who considered themselves big enough to be one of the original participants of the proposed Super League in Europe.

Well the evening was great; the atmosphere great, full stadium and with a solid win to boot.

An it would seem the game, the event and the whole positive feel of the win and Brentford making an impact has been appreciated and the emotional side noted.

At the end there was a lap of recognition, if you like, with the singing accompanying it.

An of course, now for a few moments, maybe, top of the table:

The season beckons

Premier League 2021-22 preview No 3: Brentford

Punchy, front-foot style will be a welcome addition to the top flight and plenty of the team should take step up in their strideby Ben FisherTue 3 Aug 2021 00.01 BST

Guardian writers’ predicted position: 18th (NB: this is not necessarily Ben Fisher’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)

Last season’s position: 3rd in the Championship

Odds to win the league (via Oddschecker): 750-1

The plan

These are exciting times at Brentford. A couple of months on from Thomas Frank being ambushed by his players during his pitchside interviews at Wembley, and conducting his press conference with a towel draped over his shoulders, it is time for a club that outperformed heavyweight rivals in the Championship to put to the test in the biggest league in the world an intriguing theory built on smart thinking and shrewd recruitment.

Jack Grealish in a swimming pool with an inflatable

Read more

How will they measure up? Everything points to Brentford being a welcome addition to the Premier League. They play a punchy, front-foot style, promote youngsters from a novel and budding B team, established after they scrapped their academy five years ago, and in Frank they have a box-office head coach. Before May’s play-off semi-final comeback victory against Bournemouth he embarked on a pre-match lap of the pitch to rev up the crowd and, last year, he got a ticking off from the English Football League for using drinks breaks to fine-tune tactics on a magnetic whiteboard.

Brentford have a core of players who seem destined to take the step up in their stride, from the goalkeeper David Raya to Rico Henry, a force from left-back, the classy Christian Norgaard, Vitaly Janelt, a defensive midfielder picked up from Bochum for £500,000, Bryan Mbeumo and, of course, Ivan Toney. For the first summer in a while, Brentford did not have to worry about losing their best players to predators. They have received no offers for their talisman Toney and instead have focused on strengthening in key areas.

Next season fixture list

Looking at the names seems a little wild, unreal.

Saturday 14 August Arsenal H

Saturday 21 August Crystal Palace A

Saturday 28 August Aston Villa A

Saturday 11 September Brighton and Hove Albion H

Saturday 18 September Wolverhampton Wanderers A

Saturday 25 September Liverpool H

Saturday 2 October West Ham United A

Saturday 16 October Chelsea H

Saturday 23 October Leicester City H

Saturday 30 October Burnley A

Saturday 6 November Norwich City H

Saturday 20 November Newcastle United A

Saturday 27 November Everton H

Wednesday 1 December Tottenham Hotspur A

Saturday 4 December Leeds United A

Saturday 11 December Watford H

Tuesday 14 December Manchester United H

Saturday 18 December Southampton A

Sunday 26 December Brighton and Hove Albion A

Tuesday 28 December Manchester City H

Saturday 1 January Aston Villa H

Saturday 15 January Liverpool A

Saturday 22 January Wolverhampton Wanderers H

Wednesday 9 February Manchester City A

Saturday 12 February Crystal Palace H

Saturday 19 February Arsenal A

Saturday 26 February Newcastle United H

Saturday 5 March Norwich City A

Saturday 12 March Burnley H

Saturday 19 March Leicester City A

Saturday 2 April Chelsea A

Saturday 9 April West Ham United H

Saturday 16 April Watford A

Saturday 23 April Tottenham Hotspur H

Saturday 30 April Manchester United A

Saturday 7 May Southampton H

Sunday 15 May Everton A

Sunday 22 May Leeds United H

Rugby Debut

After showing no interest in rugby when growing up in New Zealand, the land of rugby obsession, IQ had developed his career in east London. He has been learning the skills and playing with the renowned club King Cross Steelers.

After a training/ learning schedule disrupted by the pandemic he had his end of training showpiece game. M&D were in attendance to watch him run round for about 50 minutes out of 80.

There was some fine line-out lifting, big tackles and carries, all done at pace while at times needing a little rest to ‘suck in a few big ones’.

All he needs now is to buy some boots that fit.

Next up the touch rugby season before the winter season starts again?

Lovely afternoon sitting on the bank, in the sun, watching a good standard for players who have been learning and listening to the banter.

Who would want to watch a football match?