LASTSEASON
CHAMPIONSHIP11thFACUPFifthRound
LEAGUECUPThirdRoundTOPSCORERNealMaupay(28)LASTSEASON
CHAMPIONSHIP 15th FA CUP Third Round LEAGUE CUP
Third Round TOP SCORER Bradley Dack (above, 18)FourFourTwo Season Preview 2019-20 47BLACKBURn ROVERS BREnTFORD
SEASOn PREVIEW
FFTVERDICT
13TH FFT VERDICT
8TH
Considering Venky’s remain at
the helm, Tony Mowbray’s two full
campaigns as Blackburn manager
have been miraculous - halting
the decline by winning promotion,
then finishing 15th in their first
season back in the Championship.
Expect another solid performance.Bees manager Thomas Frank (left)
quit former club Brondby after his
chairman criticised him under an
pseudonym on a fans’ forum - no
such problems at Griffin Park. He
should keep them in the top half,
having stabilised things after Dean
Smith’s departure to Aston Villa.The big talking point among the fans
is just the complete lack of anything
happening, unless you count signing
Stewart Downing on a free transfer.
I won’t be happy unless we can stop
shipping goals away from home.
Our most underrated player is
Danny Graham. Often maligned, he’s
done a thankless task marvellously.
Look out for midfielder Lewis Travis.
Great movement, classy on the ball
and ultra-aggressive in the tackle.
Our best celebrity fan is Matt Smith
of Doctor Who fame.
The best away ground is Brentford’s.
Old-school and a pub on every corner.
The best away fans are Sheffield
Wednesday’s. Having said that, I’m
told Leeds would have taken more.
The player I’d happily drive to
another club is Richie Smallwood.
Smashing lad and pivotal in the past,
but he’s served his purpose.
The opposition player I secretly
admire is Brentford’s Sergi Canos.The pantomime villain will be Neil
Warnock, a seasoned veteran at it, or
anyone involved with the champions
of nauseating entitlement, Leeds.
The one change I’d make to the club
would be dissolving our mountain of
debt. Venky’s cover the losses, but
with a change of heart we’re the next
Bolton... or Portsmouth... or Leeds.
Save the date for Wigan at Ewood
Park [December 21], which should be
fun. Especially if they can chuck a few
goals in for us again.
The best Blackburn social media
account is @rovers_chat – a group
who provide varied Rovers coverage.
The one recommendation for away
fans is visit the Jack Walker statue.
A lovely tribute and reminder to enjoy
what you have while you have it.
Our key player will be Bradley Dack
again: when he ticks, Rovers tick. But
look out for Joe Rothwell [below] too.
The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is
high. Tony Mowbray is steady and has
a distinct philosophy.
If he left, he should be replaced by
a fresh face with a point to prove –
Danny Cowley springs to mind.
We’ll finish 12th.This season won’t be any different
because as ever, we’ll balance the
books, play attractive football, finish
top-half and be happy. Four decades
of lower-league football does that.
I won’t be happy unless we smash
another former “big club”, preferably
with European Cup credentials, and
read their deluded supporters bang
on about “teams like Brentford”.
Look out for Josh Dasilva. The former
Arsenal kid made a low-key start, but
is now looking the business.
The best away ground is Fulham’s
(leafy area, allegedly ‘upmarket’ fans,
competitive game) or Millwall’s (tricky
area, vocal fans, competitive game).
The best away fans are Preston’s, if
it’s Gentry Day.
The opposition player I secretly
admire is Kemar Roofe – a player the
Bees apparently really wanted, but he
ended up at some place called Leeds.
The pantomime villain will be Yoann
Barbet, who has joined the dark side(QPR). With him and Mark Warburton,
it will make for a pretty spicy reunion.
Our best celebrity fans are the
Kurupt FM crew off People Just Do
Nothing. There’s a surreal video with
DJ Steves and Chabuddy G enjoying
a beer at the Ealing Road bar.
Save the date for May 2, Griffin Park’s
last ever fixture (barring a possible
play-off semi-final). Landlords loading
up stock as we speak...
The best Bees social media account
is @Beesotted tweets and podcasts, or
Griffin Park Grapevine for fans forum.
The one recommendation for away
fans is wander over to Lionel Road
under the M4, and figure out how
we’ve managed to fit a new ground
into the cramped triangular space.
Did you know that Brentford nearly
went out of existence in 1967 with
a threatened takeover and ground
purchase by QPR.
Our key player will be Neal Maupay,
Romaine Sawyers or Said Benrahma –
whichever of them we’re able to keep
hold of this summer.
We’ll finish having Griffin Park as our
ground, so we’re hoping to go out
with a bang. Play-offs would be nice!FAn FILE
GRAHAM BALLFAn FILE
MIKE DELAP
@MikeyDelap