sports
February 14, 2026
Keith Andrews’s gravity-defying miracle has Brentford dreaming of Europe
Their best players and managers may move on, but this thoroughly modern club keep punching above their weight
TL;DR
- Brentford lost several key players and their manager in the summer, raising doubts about their season.
- New signings like goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher and forward Dango Ouattara were brought in, alongside unknown quantities.
- Manager Keith Andrews, familiar from television punditry, faced skepticism due to his lack of frontline management experience.
- Despite these challenges, Brentford are seventh in the Premier League, significantly clear of the relegation zone, and have achieved notable results against top teams.
- Igor Thiago has been a standout performer with 17 goals, filling the void left by departed forwards.
- The team is praised for its quick, direct style, effectiveness on the counterattack, ability to press, and threat from set plays.
- The article suggests a shift in football management, moving away from the 'brusque football man' towards a more modern, potentially more eloquent approach, exemplified by Andrews.
- While Brentford's current success is remarkable, the article cautions that modern football's stratification creates ceilings, and continued defiance of gravity is unlikely forever.
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