What can Brentford achieve in the debut Premier League season?
1791
Brentford are back in England’s top division for the first time since 1947, but what can we expect from the Premier League newcomers?
Following seven consecutive seasons in the Championship, the Bees finally booked their spot in the Premier League with a play-off victory over Swansea City back in May.
Having lost to Fulham in the play-off final the season before, Thomas Frank’s men bounced back admirably to seal promotion to the promise land.
Let’s take a look at a few key facets of Brentford’s make-up and discuss how they will fare upon their return to top-flight action.
• Brentford are strong at both ends of the pitch
Not only were Brentford the highest scorers in the Championship last season, but they also finished the campaign with the fourth-best defensive record in the division.
If the Bees want to cement their place in the Premier League, they will need to pick up where they left off last term and remain solid at both ends of the field.
• Ivan Toney is a goal machine
With Ivan Toney leading the line, Brentford stand a genuine chance of outscoring a lot of teams in the top-flight in 2021/22.
The prolific marksman broke the record for most goals in a single Championship season last term, netting 31 goals in 45 appearances.
Having also notched ten assists in the process, Toney chalked up a whopping 41 goal involvements during the previous campaign. The ex-Newcastle man looks set to thrive in the Premier League.
• Thomas Frank is a forward-thinking manager
In Thomas Frank, Brentford possess a smart head coach with an excellent tactical understanding of the game.
Following spells with Denmark U16, U17 and U19, as well as a three-year stint an Brondby, the 47-year-old certainly won’t be out of his depth when the new season gets underway.
• Brentford's recruitment policy is first-class
Brentford are renowned for their shrewd transfer business, with countless top-quality players coming to the club for small fees and leaving for sizeable sums over the years.
Now that Brentford are in the Premier League, they will be able attract a higher caliber of player and should be able to keep of them thanks to their top-flight status.
If the Bees can make a few astute signings and keep Toney scoring at a rapid rate, they could ruffle some feathers in their debut Premier League campaign.