The data scientists of modern football
Brentford are the forward thinking team in the EPL. They have set themselves up to be football’s answer to Moneyball, and so far it seems to be progressing.
This is the next instalment of the ‘Day One‘ series. We take each team in the premier league on FM24 and we suggest how to set up and start and the reasons why. So teams are a lot easier than other teams, and their strategy is clearer. What we look at is the objectives or the fans and club, the key players and what formation and tactics work for them.
Brentford were promoted to the EPL a couple of years ago now and the progress has been great. They were lower mid table in the first year and then 9th last year, just by converting some of their losses into draws. It has been an incredible time at the club, especially with the talent they have bought.
Want to know what we did with Brentford? Read on for more information.
Brentford Objectives
The supporter objectives seem to be in line with most other EPL teams. To establish the club as a Premier League team is pretty normal, as they have a plan and have only been in the league for two years. Play attacking and entertaining football is easy too, play with a positive mentality, short possession based football and high pressing. QPR are not threat, where as Fulham are a yo-yo team, so we just need to be above them.
The club objectives are interesting. Attacking and possession football ties into what I have suggested above, so that is easy. The limitations on recruitment in not signing players over 29 and signing players from lower levels of the game, highlight Brentford is a selling club. Especially with the follow up objective of managing within the wage budget.
With this type of club, we need to be looking at scouting the lower leagues with maximum effect. These club objectives are geared towards buying bargains and creating value from each signing. Additionally there needs to be an angle with every player bought, how that benefits the team and then selling to make a profit. This is a workhorse team.
Brentford First 11
Using the current ability stars we can separate the key players from the main squad. On first observations, what I like about these key players is that they play all over the park. As well as this they are only slight improvements on the rest of the squad. This shows that there was a balanced approach to upgrading the squad.
So straight away, no Raya this season so Flekken is the number one. Toney is suspended until the January time, this means that we can’t base our plan around him. Looking at the strong positions we are looking at 4 at the back and strong centre midfield with MC and DM. This means the we can look at 4141 and 433 with a DM as a formation, this fits in with possession football.
With Mbeumo the designated striker, that means we need to keep the ball down and into space. As a pressing forward he fits into our style from the objectives too. The biggest problem I can see, is that we have an abundance of left backs. Additionally to this we have a lot of creative roles in midfield.
This is the formation and team that I have gone with. The back four is easily explained with the DM, solid back line. Normally I play one of each mentality in the midfield three, so an attacking, a supporting and a defensive role and I think that is where we will evolve too. The double advanced playmaker is to balance the three man attack. The forward role is going to change as the season plays out, the advanced forward role was the other alternative.
Brentford tactics
So the basic premise of the team is that the goals will come from the three forwards. The inside forwards are there to move into the centre and attack the ball while the full backs push up. The advanced playmakers in the centre and are the ones which will be pulling the strings and sliding through balls. The dm is there to tackle, intercept and recycle the ball to the playmakers.
The top forward need to be experimented with. He is a complete forward at the moment to see how he receives the football and how he scores. I will then use that data dictate which role is strongest in that position. The advanced forward is what I want, but a pressing forward fits in with the tactic. Another option is the false nine to pull the defenders out of position and let the inside forwards roam into the space.
Because of the objectives above, we will be playing attacking football, with short passing and high pressing. Pretty straight forward tactic to start with.
Conclusion
I have been an admirer of what they are trying to achieve at Brentford for a while. They are trying to establish themselves in the EPL. The story is very similar to Moneyball where they cannot keep up with the investment levels of Man City, Chelsea, Man Utd etc. They are looking to take advantage of the inefficiencies of the market and you can see this replicated on FM24.
There is a huge amount of potential at this club and the board seem to be supporters of it. Additionally, you have the basic fundamentals of a team to launch from. This will be a really good save game for anyone that wants to upset the top four.
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