Brentford

Ian Westbrook
Fan writer

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With the transfer window shut, Brentford’s next job is to secure several key players’ futures.

Captain Christian Norgaard is into the final year of his contract, with an option for an extra year, while another eight have deals running out in the summer of 2026, most of them with the same possibility of an extra year possibility.

This is unusual as the Bees rarely let key players’ contracts enter their final year, or allow so many crucial deals to expire simultaneously.

A lot of the players involved have been a big part of the journey from the Championship and remain first-team regulars.

Norgaard is a prime example. Captain, and with more than 150 Bees games behind him, he is first choice whenever fit and keenly missed when out injured.

Not only is he a tenacious tackler in front of the defence, he also has an eye for a great pass and makes vital contributions at attacking set pieces.

It is hard to understand why he would not have been offered a new deal already, unless the fact he is one of three outfield players of 30 or over is counting against him, or maybe he wants to move on next summer.

Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, Rico Henry, Mathias Jensen and youngster Ryan Trevitt all have contracts ending in the summer of 2026 with that option for another year, while Vitaly Janelt, Mads Roerslev and Aaron Hickey’s deals also run out then, but with no current extension in place.

With the summer signings future-proofing the team, the number of new contracts offered will show whether the club think the new boys, rather than the established players, are our medium to long-term future.

Find more from Ian Westbrook at Beesotted podcast, external

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Brentford are set to complete a move for Millwall defender Joshua Stephenson this week.

The 18-year-old centre-back will sign a five-year deal and complete a medical as he makes the switch across London.

Stephenson is highly regarded within the London youth football system having had an excellent season at the Den last year, captaining Millwall to the FA Youth Cup semi-final.

The Premier League's summer transfer window saw clubs spend almost £2bn in all.

Data from Footballtransfers.com, external shows the biggest net spend by a club - that’s all the money spent minus all that came in from sales - was Brighton.

The Seagulls had a net spend of £153.5m.

On the flip side, the club who generated the biggest net summer profit on transfers was Manchester City, who made £115.8m, thanks in large part to the sale of Julian Alvarez.

Brentford had a net spend of £21.7m.

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We asked you to tell us one thing - good or bad - related to Brentford that nobody else is talking about.

Here are some of your replies:

Julian: No-one is talking about extending Christian Norgaard's contract, which is up at the end of the season. He is integral to the Bees' success. He does the dirty work and does it very well. When he doesn't play, more often that not we do not pick up points.

Brian: We need to get some new coaches in with fresh ideas. How we currently play hasn't changed in years - we just sit back and then break, while only having 35-45% of the possession. We get away with it against the poor teams, but the others don't even send anyone to watch us as they know exactly what we're going to do. We need new ideas and fast!

Chris: Why do so few of the B team make it to the first team? We sign these 'amazing talents' from various sources, yet hardly any of them get to play a first-team match. Does Thomas Frank not trust them enough or is it just that they really aren't as talented as was first thought? It is puzzling!

Will: Mark Flekken has proven himself. There were a lot of doubters last season. He looks much more confident and his solid play will hopefully help keep us from losing as many points from winning positions as we did last season. If we can just halve that, we will be in good shape.

Wolfgang: It has always been about Bryan Mbeumo not Ivan Toney. Toney was a decoy so that bigger clubs left our Bryan alone.

There's always so much noise at the start of the season and 2024-25 has been no different.

We've even asked you this week where you think Brentford will finish, based on the start to the season and how the transfer window unfolded.

But now we want a little more detail. When it comes to the Bees, what is the one thing nobody is talking about - good or bad?

Tell us over here, external

The joy and despair of football.

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Just the despair.

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Some things you wait for.

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And others never take long to arrive.

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There are awkward moments.

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There are planned moments.

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Chaotic moments.

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Sometimes there are moments of genius.

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And, occasionally, the moment just calls for romance.

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Image source, PA Media

We asked you for your views on how Brentford have started the season - and where you thought they might finish.

Some 56% of people predict the Bees to end up between 11th and 17th.

Here are some comments about this season:

Ian: A nice little squad is being developed by Thomas Frank. Shrewd signings in the last two windows has added the layers requested by the manager. There's cover across the squad to hopefully eliminate the problem caused by the injuries last season.

Andy: I think this season will see us bounce back a bit and be reasonably comfortable mid-table but not pushing into the top 10 (I hope to be proved wrong). It will take the new signings a while to bed in and the same with some players coming back from injury but I think we'll be stronger than last year when that happens and push on again next season.

John: The young signings of two years ago are starting to come good. Schade, Daamsgard and Lewis Potter are all poised to become regulars in the starting 11, more examples of the amazing recruitment policies we have.

Chris: So far Damsgaard has been a revelation. Finally we're seeing him deliver on the promise we always knew he had. Glad the Ivan Toney saga is over but sorry so see him waste his talent in the desert. New signings look great; can't wait for Rico to be fit and for Thiago to play his first game for us. He will definitely scare some opponents!

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Bees forward Bryan Mbeumo has been nominated for the Premier League player of the month award for September.

Mbeumo has started the season in fine form, scoring three goals in his first three games and easing any fears Thomas Frank's side might struggle for goals after the departure of Ivan Toney.

The dust has settled on the transfer window, the Premier League is well and truly back, and we are into the first international break of 2024-25.

So we want you to predict where Brentford will finish in the Premier League this season - thinking about the start to the campaign and summer transfer business.

Submit your prediction here

And also, please tell us what is the one thing - good or bad - you have learned about the Bees so far in the campaign?

Let us know your thoughts here, external

Ian Westbrook
Fan writer

In the end, it was a good transfer window for Brentford.

We signed five players - including finally a left-back – and got a fee for Ivan Toney.

The new arrivals seem to be future-proofing the team – all are under 24 with two of them younger than 20 and each has been put on a long contract of at least four years, and mostly more.

This is important for many reasons – one of which is that, with the exceptions of Ben Mee and Yoane Wissa, almost all of our previous Premier League signings have taken time to bed in.

The likes of Mikkel Damsgaard, Keane Lewis-Potter and Kevin Schade, for example, are now in their third season with the club, and none has yet established a regular place in the starting XI.

So with the heart of the team still made up of players who starred for us in the Championship, it is important for the club to think of long-term succession planning.

It has been brilliant to watch those who got us promoted grow with Brentford to establish us as a Premier League club, and I hope they are with us for years to come.

But, as happens in football, they will slowly move on and it is good that the club is, as usual, already ahead of the game.

As I said the other week, we are grateful for all that Toney did for the Bees, but the saga over his move needed to end, and it is good that it did with some money in the bank for us.

Find more from Ian Westbrook at Beesotted podcast, external

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We asked for your views on Ivan Toney's move and for the England striker's legacy at the club:

Here are some of your comments:

Mel: I can't believe he has left European football. We'll miss this incredible but as yet unfulfilled talent, and to lose him to the Middle East game is frankly astonishing. Toney could have become the most versatile number nine England has ever had and playing there will jeopardise his chances of squad selection.

Nick: I think Ivan is generally quite misunderstood. He had made some throwaway comments that he probably regrets, but I do think he appreciates what Brentford have done for his career. Going to Saudi Arabia, it may turn out that the best days of his career where in red and white. I will miss him on a matchday, especially when we are next given a penalty.

Tim: He'd become a bit of a distraction and propped up the myth of a team based around him, which is a shame. He was a major driver in the resurgence of the Bees, but it was Thomas Frank who should be credited with bringing his strengths to the fore. We'll miss him - hope he enjoys the money.

Bertie: Great player who will be remembered as a legend by Brentford fans. Just a shame he went to Saudi during his prime. Choose football, not money.

Adam: For me he has been Brentford’s greatest ever player and we have a lot to thank him for in the past four years. Such a shame to see him leave the Premier League! I think he will be back.

Mike: Delighted with the Toney money. Whether he's risking his international career, or if he's just gone there for the money - that's up to him. He fired us to the Premier League and then helped us stay there. He's got a spot in our modern folklore and I doubt any Bees fans will begrudge him a move.

Jim: He didn’t seem part of the team anymore, so the best outcome was for him to move on. Surprised more clubs didn’t try to sign him.

Will: I am happy for us, but wish Toney was transferring to a relevant side. Feel like he’s riding into the harsh, desert sunset too soon. The first Bee to play for England, wjpmade an indelible contribution to get us to the Prem and stay up that first season. He is a real talent and yet… Brentford legend? Thanks and good luck in Saudi.

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Brentford and Southampton.

Here are some of your comments:

Brentford fans

Graham: Brentford pressed very well, putting pressure on a poor Southampton defence. Mikkel Damsgaard was quality throughout the game and showed so many quality touches and passes. Good result but in perspective, Southampton were very poor and look like they will go straight back to the Championship.

Dylan: Brilliant performance today from the Bees. We managed to capitalise on certain mistakes from them. Bryan Mbuemo and Yoane Wissa looked very solid. On to the next!

Will: Job done. At times we looked sharp. We had many half chances we created that we could have done better with, but we were clinical when they made errors and did score from a corner. Those things are positive. Happy to have six points now with a tough run coming up! Come on you Bees!

Erik: Great for Brentford that other guys can grow and show what they are made of. I will not miss Ivan Toney - he is/was overrated.

Southampton fans

Steve: Yet again we give away goals. We are NOT Manchester City. We cannot continue to try and play every ball out from the back. We are not good enough. We have to clear it sometimes and go long. Continue like this and we will lose every game. Change the system and get rid of the weak links.

Andrew: Once again the Saints dominate possession but make mistakes at the back and don’t take their chances up front. The manager needs to realise soon that the tactics need to be adapted to suit the Premier League. Mistakes will be punished and this adversely affects the confidence of the team.

Oliver: This result has been a long time coming. We’ve lost three times in largely similar games with unforced errors being the decider. We only made one change (Aaron Ramsdale obviously). The manner of this defeat is a positive in that it gives Russell an early explicit warning to adapt his tactics and line-up over the international break.

John: It would help if the manager would pick his in-form and best players. If he continues to pick players that clearly struggle at this level, then we will continue to collect nil points. A change in approach is required or the points gap will become a chasm.

Watch all the highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures with Gary and the team.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Leicester 1-2 Aston Villa

• West Ham 1-3 Man City

Charlotte Coates
BBC Sport journalist

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No Ivan Toney, no problem for Brentford.

The striker secured a move to Al-Ahli on the deadline day for a fee in the region of £40 million but that did not distract Brentford on their way to their second win of the season.

Bryan Mbeumo has started the campaign in brilliant form as he secured the points for the Bees with a brilliant brace.

The Cameroon international displayed his alertness and finishing abilities with his two well-taken goals either side of half-time.

Mbeumo scored nine goals last term but he only managed 25 games after his season was ended due to a serious ankle injury.

Picking up where he left off, the 25-year-old has scored three in as many games and looks a huge threat to any top flight defence.

Almost in the style of Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, Mbeumo prefers to find himself on the right of the attack so he is able to cut inside on his wonderful left foot.

That left foot was on display at the Gtech Community Stadium with both goals coming off that boot.

His partnership with Yoane Wissa is flourishing and it remains interesting what the two can achieve with Brentford this year.

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Yoane Wissa has been involved in 10 goals in his last 10 Premier League games for Brentford, scoring seven and assisting three.

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Brentford boss Thomas Frank to BBC Match of the Day: "They made errors because we pressed them unbelievably well. I think we are one of the best teams to do the high pressure in the Premier League, in my opinion. the players are so committed and that is the reason why we capitalised on errors from Southampton. It's up to us to take the chances. I still think we missed some big chances.

"Overall, I'm satisfied, always want more but we are on track with how we want to play and how we want to do.

"Ivan is a fantastic player, I'd love to have him in the team but he has his own journey and going elsewhere. Our style of play hasn't changed. Wissa and Ivan are different players but the style doesn't change.

"It seems like I don't want to talk about Ivan [Toney]. I love to talk about Ivan but it seems like it's about when he's going to leave or a ban. He's a wonderful player and person."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Brentford fans, have your say on the performance, external

What did you make of the Saints' display, Southampton fans?, external

Come back to this page on Sunday evening to find a selection of your replies

Follow reaction and read the match report

There are seven Premier League games this Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you all the action and reaction throughout the day.

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Follow all the action and reaction here

BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries:

• Leicester v Aston Villa

• West Ham v Man City

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week three, he takes on MOBO Award-winning drum & bass legend and producer Adam F.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Southampton aren't creating enough chances.

Brentford have won one and lost one. The Toney situation will have to get resolved soon.

But Brentford at home, you can't really back against them. They're playing a promoted side who are struggling to create.

Adam F's prediction: 1-1

It's so early on in the season to know what to expect from some of these teams. I am going for a draw.

Read the full predictions and have your say

Thomas Frank says Ivan Toney leaves west London as "a Brentford legend" after the 28-year-old striker completed his permanent move to Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahli on deadline day.

But what do you make of it?

Is this a good deal for the Bees? And how will it impact Toney's career?

Give us your views over here, external - and we'll publish a selection on Monday