TF Preview – Brentford (a), 9 November 2025

For the last couple of seasons, the same discourse makes the rounds whenever Newcastle United hit a bump in the road. The fanbase splits right down the middle to form two camps: ‘the team aren’t performing how they should be if we want to reach the highest heights’ crowd vs. ‘the team have achieved so much already and there’s still plenty of time left’ lot. Or, they can be simplified to #HoweOut vs. #HoweIn.

Over last month, these arguments have reared their ugly heads again, souring even the most triumphant moments of the last few games. Of course, what social media discourse will always neglect is that two statements can be true at the same time.

My tuppence is that Eddie Howe is not above criticism, especially when it comes to rotating players, but I think you’re certifiable if you want him gone. I’m somebody who grew up on the #WengerOut movement, yet I’d completely forgotten how trigger-happy football fans can be with turning on their manager. It just goes to show the stability that Howe has introduced!

In a week when we played a Champions League game against a very respectable Athletic Bilbao side, most of us would probably say that the bigger test is Brentford on Sunday! That’s because we’ve proved we can stick it to European sides, home and away, but cannot seem to conquer English soil that doesn’t grow on Barrack Road.

Normally, I would comment on how Brentford are mid-table mainstays and how we should obviously give them the run around, but I won’t be writing any such thing after that woeful performance against West Ham, who are arguably the most pathetic side in the league behind Wolves. Just because you should, doesn’t mean that you will!

So, let’s look at the facts and stats that lie before us, because like it or not, the numbers do not lie. Brentford sit one point ahead of us in 12th place, with a mixed bag of results. In their last five league games, they lost to Crystal Palace and Man City, but defeated West Ham, Man United and most shockingly of all, Liverpool.

This is a team not to be written off, especially at home where their form is much more positive than away (sound familiar?). Despite losing Thomas Frank, their set-piece coach Keith Andrews has managed to keep some of Brentford’s momentum alive, keeping them in contention for the lower European spots.

It’s a steady start considering the departure of their two best players saw people putting the Bees down towards the danger zone in their season predictions. Who’s laughing now? One of the players is recreating Simpson gifs in the North West and the other’s giggling away on Will Osula’s Snapchat story in the North East. But, I digress.

Two key aspects of Brentford’s game plan, which were made abundantly clear in the Liverpool match, is their ability to score from set pieces and long-throws. The former is unsurprising, as Andrews was originally brought in as the set piece coach. The latter became a talking point of the game, as the ball spent a large amount of time out of play. Remember when we used to do that?

Looking towards our merry band of players, I sympathise with them slightly as I have spent most of this week bedbound with whatever strain of flu is going round. If it’s the lergy that hit them at West Ham, then fair enough. But still, I’m a student skimping on the own-brand Ibuprofen. They are professionals with an entire medical staff paid to look after their wellbeing for them. Flu or no flu, West Ham was inexcusable.

Obviously, Bilbao was a much better showing, but you could still see that the team weren’t 100%. I think that was the worst 40 minutes of Anthony Gordon’s career. When he dropped to floor, I thought he’d died of the shame. Obviously, now we know it was a hip injury.

Also, our Big German has looked leggy. He keeps finding it increasingly difficult to balance linking up play vs. being in the right space to play in front. As much as he has a brilliant touch, I think someone needs to tell him that his first and foremost job is to hit the target.

It will be a harder game than Bilbao, but I don’t think it will be a full strength side.

1’s each. I prefer to be optimistic but we also got beat 4-2 there last year.

HWTL!

Grace Laidler

@gracewillhuntin