Brentford’s midfield is a tactical illusion propped up by red cards and luck

Brentford are not a good team playing badly; they are a bad team playing luckily. Their midfield, praised for its energy, is a structural disaster waiting to be exposed.

The myth of the high-press machine

Thomas Frank’s Brentford have been lauded for their aggressive, high-pressing style. But the numbers tell a different story. Against Liverpool, they were torn apart by a simple overload in the half-spaces, and only the dismissals of Yarmoliuk and Janelt spared them a heavier defeat.

This is not an isolated incident. Brentford’s midfield ranks in the bottom third for progressive passes allowed and second balls won. Their press is not coordinated; it is a series of individual sprints that leave vast chasms behind.

Compare them to Atalanta under Gian Piero Gasperini, a side that press with surgical precision. Atalanta’s midfielders move as a unit, cutting off passing lanes. Brentford’s midfielders chase shadows, leaving their defence exposed.

The argument: a midfield built on sand

The core problem is that Brentford’s midfield lacks a defensive anchor. Christian Nørgaard is a fine player, but he is not a destroyer. He is often dragged out of position, leaving the back three vulnerable to runners from deep.

When Brentford lose the ball, their first instinct is to counter-press. But the distances between the midfield and defence are too large, and opponents slice through them with alarming ease. The red cards against Liverpool were not just reckless; they were symptomatic of a midfield that is always a step behind.

  • No defensive screen: Nørgaard averages just 1.8 tackles per game, well below the league average for defensive midfielders.
  • Disjointed pressing: Brentford allow 12.3 passes per defensive action (PPDA), ranking 15th in the league.
  • Vulnerability to transitions: They concede 4.2 shots per game from fast breaks, the third-worst in the division.

But they beat Liverpool, didn’t they?

Yes, Brentford took three points from Liverpool, but that result was an outlier. The Reds had 68% possession and 21 shots. The red cards changed the game, not Brentford’s tactical acumen.

Some will point to their win over Fulham as evidence of progress. But Fulham are hardly a benchmark; they are a mid-table side with their own issues. Against better opposition, Brentford’s midfield has been consistently overrun.

Consider the defeat to Aston Villa, where Youri Tielemans and Boubacar Kamara dictated play at will. Brentford’s midfield was chasing shadows all afternoon. That is the true level of this team.

Verdict: a relegation battle awaits

Brentford will be relegated by the end of the season. Their midfield will be their undoing, and no amount of tactical tinkering will fix it. Mark my words: they will finish in the bottom three, and Thomas Frank will be sacked by February.

Filed under: Tactical Analysis | LA Premier League Home