Thomas Frank's Brentford were the great disruptors during their first two seasons in the Premier League after earning promotion in 2021.
Arsenal and Liverpool were stunned in west London, World Champions Chelsea were battered at Stamford Bridge in 2021/22, then the club reached heights not seen in almost a century, finishing in 9th-place, their highest placing since 1938, just two points off a European spot.
It was a campaign that saw Manchester United beaten 4-0, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool 3-1, Chelsea handed their annual loss in the west London derby, as well as a league double over eventual treble winners Manchester City.
2023/24, however, did not go accordingly. There was genuine fear of relegation as the Bees slipped into unsettling territory, with an extensive injury list including instrumental figures leading to extended periods in which points came in short supply.
With their fourth season in the Premier League on the horizon, kicking off at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday, Brentford will want to re-establish themselves as one of the undesirable opponents to face in the top-flight.
VAVEL issues a season preview that looks into last season's showing, the club's summer transfer activities, heading into their opening fixture and what to expect from Thomas Frank's team.
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Season Recap
There's two statistics that encapsulates last season: no top-flight club conceded more points from winning positions than Brentford (30), while no top-flight club had a bigger drop off in points from the previous campaign than Brentford.
It was supposed to be the year that the club pushed on, reaching new heights while establishing itself as the fluid, ball-dominating outfit that Frank's teams were renowned as in the Championship.
To match the on-the-pitch ambition, the club sought a marquee signing to be face of the next phase in Brentford's journey. Big money offers for Brennan Johnson, Nico Gonzalez, and Johan Bakayoko brought excitement but failure to attract saw the club hit a glass ceiling.
It was a summer that set the tone for the next nine months. The board's prioritisation of a statement signing instead of addressing more pressing issues, like replacing the suspended Ivan Toney and enhancing the squad depth, lead to a time to forget.
Being the sole team Sheffield United kept a clean sheet against, in a season the Blades conceded a record-setting 104 goals, was a tough pill to swallow, though not as much as losing 15 out of 23 games in all competitions between November and March.
At one point, Frank had to contend with 12 first-team absentees, a number of which long-term, including Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey, Kevin Schade, and Bryan Mbeumo, as he resorted to using forwards Saman Ghoddos and Keane Lewis-Potter as makeshift wing-backs during the festive period.
Toney's return from an eight-month suspension in January was met with great hype; even more as he scored four times in his first five games, including a 'controversial' free-kick against Nottingham Forest. It did die down, however, as he went the proceeding 17 appearances without scoring.
The March international break proved the turning point in Brentford's season. With key personnel returning at the same time Wissa found his form, the Bees secured valuable points as they drew with Manchester United, Brighton, and Aston Villa before a crucial win over Sheffield United.
It set up an away day that will live long in the memories of those in attendance at Kenilworth Road. In the Luton sunshine, Brentford put in a symbolic performance, one freeing themselves from the shackles, as they were at their free-flowing best in a 5-1 win that all but secured their top-flight status for another year.
Mere survival and a 16th-place finish was nowhere near the objective, but given how the season panned out and the heavy turbulence the club experienced, it is a huge testaments to Frank's managerial qualities that Brentford kept its proverbial head above water.
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The transfer window so far
Brentford's summer transfer window has failed to live up to expectations thus far.
The club was prompt in preparing for the anticipated departure of Ivan Toney, doing so in February when they announced the summer arrival of Club Brugge centre-forward Igor Thiago for a club-record £31 million fee.
The 23-year-old, who scored 29 goals in 55 appearances last season, arrived in west London to much excitement, though not as much as when supporters were fed the information that the Bees were edging ever closer to signing Leeds United's 18-year-old star Archie Gray.
A club-record £40 million offer submitted, personal terms agreed, and a medical booked, there was soon a feeling of deja vu as the transfer fell through in the latter stages due to payment structure, leading the midfielder to join Tottenham instead.
Gray became the latest member of the 'so near, yet so far' collective since Brentford's promotion via the play-offs, of which comprises Mykhailo Mudryk, Johnson, Bakayoko, Gonzalez, and Norwegian sensation Antonio Nusa.
The club's pursuit of a statement signing did conclude, however, upon the arrival of Liverpool midfielder Fabio Carvalho. The 21-year-old, Fulham academy graduate, penned a five-year contract in a deal that could reach £27 million in add-ons and includes a 17.5% sell-on clause.
Carvalho rejuvenates Frank's tried and tested midfield trident and adds a fresh attacking dimension. Now the focus must be on defensive reinforcement as the Bees look set to use a makeshift left-back in Sunday's curtain raiser.
A lack of interest in Ivan Toney also leaves Brentford in another awkward position.
The 28-year-old has been insistent on his aspirations to compete for trophies at the top level, but his talk on the pitch did not match his talk off the pitch as his performances last season left a lot to be desired and likely deterred potential suitors.
Frank will be happy the centre-forward remains, even more so given Thiago's long-term injury, yet the club will be looking enviously over at Bournemouth as the window to get a fee similar to the £65 million received for Dominic Solanke seems to have passed.
With one year left on his contract, a decision on his future needs to be made soon or the Bees risk the embarrassment of losing him in a cut-price deal or receiving nothing next summer.
In other news, Thomas Strakosha joined AEK Athens on a free transfer; David Raya signed permanently for Arsenal as the Premier League runners-up activated his £27 million purchase option; while Mathias Jorgensen and Fin Stevens made respective moves to Anderlecht and St. Pauli.
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Strongest XI
Flekken; Hickey, Collins, Pinnock, Henry; Norgaard, Janelt; Mbeumo, Carvalho, Schade; Toney.
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Thomas Frank
The architect of Brentford's rise from a mid-table Championship side to one capable of going toe-to-toe with Europe's elite.
An adaptable and well-rounded coach, Frank's vision is built upon strong defensive foundations and is one of being proactive, playing on the front foot with aggression, while maximising the smallest of margins on a football pitch - notably set-pieces and throw-ins.
His preference is a 4-3-3 - a formation that sees the holding midfielder have an instrumental role in the press as well as building out of defence, with composed play and quick combinations used to bait opponents in order to progress up the pitch.
A 'keeper with technical qualities is a must, and in Mark Flekken Frank has one that boasts a great variation and accuracy in his distribution, allowing the Bees to be more direct and attack a wider range of avenues.
One of the main combinations in the team is between Flekken and the centre-forward. The figurehead of the front three, they must possess exemplary hold-up play and be capable of drawing in fouls, as well as link-up play to maximise the attacking threat of Brentford's wingers.
There could be a slight alteration to the setup in time with the arrival of Carvalho. The 21-year-old could be utilised in a more advanced midfield role to support the centre-forward, acting as an additional link to the front three as well as a goal threat from deep - an aspect currently missing.
On either side will be adventurous full-backs, irrespective of personnel. However, when Henry and Hickey return from their long-term injuries, Thomas Frank's side will boast an attacking threat from all angles and could be an exciting proposition to watch.
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Expected Finish: 13th
It's difficult to forecast where Brentford will finish.
Last season was an evident bump in the road and not a true reflection of the club's Premier League credentials, but there's a now a well-rounded quality within the division.
With an exciting attacking quartet at their disposal, goals will be aplenty but success will depend on whether the club can avoid a repeat of last season's injury crisis; the defensive structure remaining intact; and Flekken performs consistently.
Question marks remain heading into the new season, with Toney's future still in the balance and defensive reinforcements needed. Though time remains in the transfer market and it's unlike the club to panic.
A relegation battle won't be in question, nor will a pursuit of European football, but with Thomas Frank seeking to implement Brentford 2.0, there could well be a lot of ups and downs over the next nine months.
