Frank s era ends, multiple core players are lost! Brentford enters unknown waters

Premier League powerhouse Brentford is facing unprecedented changes. Thomas Frank will not appear on the home coach's bench at the Gtech Community Stadium for the first time in the new season. Core players Brian Mbemo and Christian Nolgao left the team one after another, and the future of main attacker Jon Visa is unresolved, casting a shadow on the team's prospects.

After coaching the team for 7 years, Frank won the favor of a "big family" club and will take charge of Tottenham Hotspur coaching staff and lead the team to embark on a new journey of UEFA Cup championship in the post-Postkoglu era. The core of Frank's success at Brentford is that he has led the team to "make big with small profits" with a long-term minimum salary. Last season, the team's annual salary budget was only 44.343 million pounds, only higher than the new team Ipswich (40.768 million pounds). However, unlike the lift team, Brentford has firmly taken root in the top league, 13 points higher than the relegated Luton Town even in the worst-performing 2023-24 season (16th, 39 points).

Frank's coaching style is known for his flexibility and pragmatism, and he does not stick to a single tactic. He will adjust his strategy according to the needs of the game, whether it is long passes or position attacks. Last season, the team played 4-3-3 or 3-5-2 formations, but the core concepts were consistent: maintain a high-level defense line when attacking, pay attention to ball control, implement high-level pressure, create high-quality scoring opportunities and complete the end. The data confirms its effectiveness: Brentford created 109 excellent opportunities last season and ranked seventh in the Premier League, with 66 actual goals, far exceeding the expected goal value of 60.2 (xG), reflecting Frank's ability to stimulate players' potential. After Frank left office, former set pieces coach Keith Andrews was appointed as the new coach. Last season, Brentford's set-piece offense and defense efficiency was extremely high, scoring 13 goals (fifth in the league) and conceded only 3 goals (the least in the league), and Andrews made an indelible contribution. Similar to when Frank first took charge of the Seal, Andrews, who served as head coach for the first time, was also full of unknowns, but the club's management made this choice based on data analysis.

However, the team's worries are far more than changing coach positions. Brian Mbemo, the absolute core who contributed more than 30% of the team's Premier League goals last season, has transferred to Manchester United. Although the club has earned a considerable profit of £66.7 million from him (original from Troyes during the Championship), the losses are incalculable. Not only did Mbemo significantly exceed his personal expected goal value (12.26 xG), but his unball run, pressing and confrontation (31 steals, 179 successful confrontations, 156 regaining the ball, and 32 regaining the ball in the frontcourt) were also extremely destructive. As of now, the club has not signed its direct replacement, and new aid Antoni Milanbo is more inclined to the midfield attributes.

Another key player leaving the team is captain Christian Nolgou, who unexpectedly switched to Arsenal. Noelgao contributed his career-best 6 goals and 4 assists last season, and his defensive performance was even more pillar level: his steal success rate was 62% in 34 Premier League games, his aerial confrontation success rate was 61.9%, and he contributed 49 interceptions. Its leadership role is also irreplaceable. The club has introduced former Liverpool and Ajax captain Jordan Henderson to fill the gap. Henderson's off-court leadership is undoubtedly, but whether he can adapt to the rhythm of the Premier League's high-intensity game is questionable.

The only good news is that the main striker Jon Visa is still in the team. The training photos released by the club seem to clarify the rumors that he left the team after the training. Visa scored 19 goals in the Premier League last season and formed an efficient attacking combination with Mbemo. But Newcastle is very interested in it, the transfer window has not been closed yet, and its future remains variable.

The new season is approaching, and Brentford's direction is unpredictable. This once most stable team in the Premier League is undergoing major changes in its core structure. Although it is not yet possible to assert that the crisis is coming, the team's future undoubtedly needs to be closely watched.