Brentford should not be in a position to make Manchester United envious but here we are. Mikel Arteta and Nathan Ake are also flying.
Mauricio Pochettino
Keep dodging that bullet, my guy.
Thomas Frank
It is not intended as a disservice to suggest that Thomas Frank has simplified Premier League management more effectively than any of his coaching contemporaries. That naturally undersells the more intricate aspects of his approach both generally and for specific games, but it is a fair reflection of a blueprint which seems perfectly suited to the top flight.
The Brentford manager spoke of the need to be more “pragmatic” against the established elite following the 4-0 victory over Manchester United. He highlighted a handful of things that are perhaps neglected or even frowned upon as rudimentary by some – their low block, set-pieces and long balls – but which paid the ultimate dividends in a statement victory.
Brentford have mastered those fundamentals. They collectively ran much further but crucially with infinitely greater purpose. They have a solid central base but will contribute extra runners from midfield when necessary. They recognise pressing triggers in their sleep.
Frank noted that he and his team followed what Brighton did so well against Manchester United – while acknowledging the Seagulls are ever so slightly further ahead in their development – but that Brentford put their own inimitable spin on that homework rather than explicitly copying it. His players were drilled to phenomenal effect in what they had to do because their manager had absolute clarity in disentangling the complexities of what he was asking of them.
Steve Cooper
“We’re not finished, go away,” works simultaneously as a plea to the overbearing Sky Sports cameras and to those who reckon 14 new signings is excessive.
Steve Cooper, for a variety of reasons covered in tiresome depth, had to restructure and reimagine his Nottingham Forest squad. He and they have done so with such breath-taking, almost video-game-like expedience.
That would ordinarily lend itself to a greater bedding-in period as new players grow accustomed to new teammates, new roles and new coaching ideals. But Cooper is no ordinary manager and so eight summer signings can be thrown into a game against perennial Europe botherers West Ham and emerge with all three points.
Not that Forest are done. Emmanuel Dennis joined too late to be considered for selection and Remo Freuler has been…
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