"When the news cycle spins so fast, it's worth remembering where Brentford were in the summer. They had lost their popular manager of seven years, Thomas Frank. They had lost their two best forwards, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa. They had lost their goalkeeper Mark Flekken. And they had lost two stalwarts in Christian Nrgaard and Ben Mee (even if the latter's involvement the previous season had been limited as he turned 35)."
"There's always a degree of scepticism when a member of the backroom staff steps up, but it's magnified when everyone recognises him as the Championship punditry bloke off Sky Sports. A manager is supposed to have an aura, a mystique, to come from an elevated land with great wisdom to impart. He's not meant to be readily pictured leaning forward on the Friday-night sofa to speak with eloquence and earnestness about West Brom's pressing triggers or the deficiencies of Middlesbrough's offside trap."
Brentford experienced major summer turnover, losing manager Thomas Frank, forwards Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, goalkeeper Mark Flekken, and stalwarts Christian Nrgaard and Ben Mee. Summer signings included Caoimhin Kelleher for just under £13m and Dango Ouattara, plus less proven additions Antoni Milambo, Michael Kayode and Kaye Furo. Keith Andrews became manager, prompting skepticism because of his public profile as a television pundit. Andrews' credibility faced scrutiny given familiarity from TV work. Brentford operate with the lowest Premier League wage bill and rely on overperformance; the departures magnified concerns about sustaining previous mid‑table stability.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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