Brentford have sold a number of their top players in recent years, we take a look at what their starting XI could look like if they hadn’t.
Andre Gray celebrates scoring for Brentford
Brentford are undoubtedly a very well run club. Competing in the top half of a division containing the likes of Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Norwich City once again, this is their third season in the Championship, and they are yet to finish outside the top 10.
Despite this, and the fact that it is a very good time to be a Bees supporter, fans are inevitably frustrated as they look on powerlessly as some of their most prized assets depart Griffin Park.
Of this ‘what-if’ Brentford XI, four are now playing Premier League football, five play in the Championship and two are playing top flight football in foreign leagues.
Former Brentford full-back Moses Odubajo in action for Hull City
Goalkeeper: David Button
Former England youth international David Button joined Brentford in 2013, after being loaned out 13 times by Tottenham and having had a brief stint at Charlton. He established himself with the Bees, making 141 appearances in 3 seasons, before joining Fulham in the summer for reportedly close to £2 million.
Left-Back: Jake Bidwell
Another man who departed Griffin Park in the summer was Jake Bidwell, who joined West London rivals QPR for an undisclosed fee. The former Everton trainee also spent 3 seasons contracted to Brentford, and a further 2 seasons on-loan, making a total of 211 appearances.
Centre-Back: James Tarkowski
James Tarkowski was an excellent piece of business for Brentford. The Bees signed the defender from Oldham in 2014, and in two and a half seasons, he played 74 games, before being sold on to Burnley for £3.4 million.
Centre-Back: Michael Turner
Michael Turner celebrates promotion to the Premier League
Whilst most on this list left Brentford very recently, Michael Turner left the Bees a decade ago, joining Hull City for £350,000. Turner went on to become two-time Player of the Year winner at the KC Stadium, before joining Sunderland for £4 million. He now plays in the Championship for Norwich.
Right-Back: Moses Odubajo
Moses Odubajo spent just a single season at Griffin Park, with Brentford making a £2.5 million profit on the full-back in 12 months. Whilst impressive, he looked to justify the money Hull City spent on him with some fine performances last season as the Tigers won promotion, although he is unlikely to make a Premier League appearances this season due to a nasty injury.
Central Midfield: Harry Forrester
Once reported to be a transfer target of Ajax, Harry Forrester joined the Bees on a free transfer from Aston Villa, and played 69 games for the club in 2 years, before joining Doncaster Rovers on a free transfer. Capable of playing on either the left of the midfield or through the middle, Forrester now stars for Scottish giants Rangers, and just edged out Toumani Diag
Central Midfield: Adam Forshaw
Adam Forshaw in action for Middlesbrough
Like Jake Bidwell, Adam Forshaw joined Brentford from his boyhood club Everton following a loan spell with the Bees. Having signed on a free transfer, Brentford sold the central midfielder for more than £3 million to Wigan only 2 years later. Forshaw now plays in the Premier League for Middlesbrough.
Attacking Midfield: Alan Judge
One of two current Brentford players to make our ‘what-if’ XI, Alan Judge was absolutely phenomenal for the Bees, prior to breaking his leg in April. The Ireland international won the club’s Player of the Year award and was one of the outstanding players in the Championship up until his injury, and Blackburn Rovers will be kicking themselves for selling the player to Brentford.
Centre-Forward: Bradley Wright-Philips
New York Red Bulls star Bradley Wright-Philips
A controversial choice, perhaps, given that Bradley Wright-Philips was never a prolific scorer at Championship level, but the two-time MLS Golden Boot winner has proved his class in the MLS, even if it is a level some people turn their noses to.
The fact is, to become top scorer, the former Bees striker has had to consistently outscore the likes of David Villa, Sebastian Giovinco, Robbie Keane, Landon Donovan, Obafemi Martins, Thierry Henry and more. That shows how much he has grown as a player, and he is worthy of place in this XI.
Centre-Forward: Andre Gray
The talisman of this team, it could be argued, Andre Gray scored 20 goals in 52 games for Brentford, and was the Championship’s top scorer last season at Burnley. His club record £6 million move to the Clarets was criticised by some, but proved to be a shrewd piece of business as Sean Dyche guided Burnley to promotion to the Premier League once more.
Centre-Forward: Scott Hogan
It was actually Scott Hogan’s nasty injury shortly after joining Brentford that paved the way for Andre Gray to establish himself with the Bees, and there is a case to be made for Hogan being the superior player.
The former Rochdale man joined Brentford for £750,000 and has scored an incredible 15 goals in 20 Championship games at Griffin Park. If/when the club come to selling the prolific forward, they are likely to receive another record breaking fee.
Which departed Brentford star do you miss the most?
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