Brentford 2021/22: How The Bees resurrected their season – tactical analysis

This scout report will feature a tactical analysis of how Thomas Frank set Brentford up during the final 11 games of the season. It will also feature an analysis of how these tactics helped make them very tough to break down. There will be a deep dive into their security on the ball, and how they handle both phases of transition.

Following a very strong start to life in the Premier League, Brentfords season began to fall apart. After the first seven matches of the season, the Bees were up to 7th in the league, only having lost one game in that time. They also had the 4th best defensive record in the league and looked like they belonged in the league. What followed seemed to be Brentford crashing back down to reality. Exits out of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, along with only 3 wins in the next 20 league games, meant that Brentford were well and truly in a relegation battle. The return of key players from injuries in Ivan Toney, David Raya and Kristoffer Ajer, along with the acquisition of Christian Eriksen, helped bring Brentford back to their top form and end the season with 7 wins in the final 11 games of the season.

In possession

During the first 27 games, Frank mostly used the 3-5-2 formation. However, in the final 11 games of the season, he switched to a 4-5-1, increasing the number of outlets that started further up the pitch when Brentford had control of the ball. During these 11 games, Brentford only managed over 50% possession on one instance, against 9-man Everton. This shows that their style of football is more direct and fast-paced compared to other teams.

Build up

In the build-up phase, Brentford like to play the ball out from the back, to attract opposition pressure and create space in behind. Their primary method of scoring, other than through set pieces, is to play the ball in the channels for one of two wide players to run onto the ball. This scout report will explain in further detail how they get into those situations.

They use a 4-1 build-up shape and heavily involve the goalkeeper. Brentford are patient in this part of the pitch and aim to keep hold of the ball long enough for opposition players to jump out of position and leave spaces behind. The Bees then look to bypass the middle part of the pitch by playing a long ball over the top to Ivan Toney. Toney is an elite player who excels in many areas of his game. One of these areas is his ability to win aerial duels, hold the ball up and link play.

When the ball is played into Toney, the two #8s will come close to pick up the second ball and play a ball in behind to one of the two wingers who have made runs behind the opposition backline. At times, Brentford will use player rotations to increase the number of outlets further up the pitch and improve the technical quality in the build-up phase.

Nevertheless, this is the biggest change in Franks tactics from the first half of the season. His goal is always to have players close to Toney to win second balls. What has changed is that he has increased the number of outlets from 1 to 2 by starting more players further up the pitch. Two wide forwards, one on either side of Toney, attack the space in behind. This causes more chaos for the opposition defence, more options for Brentfords players and has helped increase the efficiency of Brentfords attack.

Chance creation

When up against a low block, Brentford use the incredible playmaking qualities of both Eriksen and Toney to create goalscoring chances. They create a 3v2 in wide areas and try to use that numerical overload to gain control of the ball in the opposition third. One of Brentfords #8s makes an underlapping run into the box to receive a through ball with the option of either a shot on goal or a cutback to a teammate.