Brentford's Loan Policy: Success or Failure?
- essentialbrentford
- Jul 11, 2015
- 4 min read
At one point in the 2013/14 season Brentford could more accurately be described as "Loanford", as the likes of Trotta, Saville and the then loanee Judge tore up League 1 in red and white stripes.
The 2014/15 championship season saw many clubs take advantage of the FA’s loan system, and none more than Brentford. Standout performer, Alex Pritchard, brought a crucial incisiveness to the Bees’ attractive style of build-up play whilst both Jon Toral and Chris Long provided crucial goals and assists at various points in the season.
In this article we look to assess the success of these players last season, and thus the success of Brentford's loan policy.
Jon Toral (No. 17)
At just 19 years of age and with little first-team experience at any level the La Masia academy graduate turned Arsenal youth was certainly a gamble on the part of the management team. Indeed, his performances often reflected this, his wavering between the show of a class performer and the image of a boy out of his depth.
Key Games:
Blackpool (H)
The 4-0 drubbing of the league’s weakest ‘team’ saw Jon come into his own. A quality hat-trick alongside a performance of real flair and zest meant he received a well-deserved MOTM.
Sheffield Wednesday (A)
Despite the club’s fantastic away form all season there was the occasional slip-up and this match probably represented the pick of the lot, though Charlton (A) brought about some serious doubt. Losing 1-0 at Hillsborough to a team who couldn’t score for their lives was very disheartening given the length of the trip, the wasting of excellent opportunities and the season finale nerves felt by the strong away contingent on the day.
0-0 looked like a poor result for the Bees until Toral was substituted on around the 75 minute mark. A subsequent mis-touch under little pressure allowed Wednesday to run away with an easy goal and made the trip home even longer.
Conclusion
Jon proved a good squad player for Brentford last season, however if we are to really kick on as a club and push for that promotion dream then perhaps greater experience may need to be introduced to our midfield reserves.
Chris Long (No. 31)
The Everton loanee only arrived in January for a month but his immediate impact saw his spell increased to the end of the season. Self-made goals and acute finishing gave the team an extra dimension to Gray and Chris proved a good substitute as the first choice striker began to look fatigued after Christmas.
A strange end to the season saw Long injured before a frenzy of comings and goings between Griffin Park and the Merseyside club, his representing and scoring for the Everton U21s often whilst still, technically, a Brentford player.
Key Games:
Huddersfield (H)
On Long’s first start for the Bees a 73 minute period saw him open his Brentford account with 2 very well-finished goals and a 4-1 victory. The first, a quick turn before a powerful shot at the ‘keeper’s near-post and the second a loose ball smacked home after some pinball in the box.
Blackburn (A)
A crucial game in Brentford’s long run-in saw the Bees leave Ewood Park 3-2 winners after a fabulous turn and shot across goal for the equaliser from Long and that Jota goal soon after. In a game where the opposition were a genuine threat on the break with the aerial prowess of both Rhodes and Gestede a finish such as the one Long provided is absolute gold dust.
Conclusion
We were not able to see so much of Long as many would have liked but nonetheless his goals proved extremely useful as back up to an Andre Gray who misfired at times. I, personally, would love to see him return to Griffin Park next season and challenge both Gray and Grigg for a starting spot.
Alex Pritchard (No. 21)
By far Brentford’s deal of the summer was the loan-signing of Spurs’ Pritchard. Though less of a gamble than both Long and Toral, his having gained experience playing for both Peterborough and Swindon previously, Pritchard surprised us all with his finesse, range of passing and most importantly clinical finishing.
He totalled 12 goals in 47 appearances for Brentford with numerous assists and the odd spectacular moment, an important factor given the long lay-off of midfield operator Alan Judge, lost to injury mid-season.
Key Games:
Derby County (A)
Despite Darren Bent’s last minute tap-in following a weak Hendrick effort and the frustration for all concerned this really was a brilliant match to behold. Dominating possession, territory and efforts on goal against a strongly-fancied Rams side Brentford put on what might have been the performance of the season.
This was a game won or lost, though eventually neither, in the heart of midfield, and in this sense Alex reigned supreme. Douglas, Diagouraga, Judge and Pritchard were all great throughout but it was the last who appeared to be the real threat, a notion proven when, following Dave's strong challenge on the edge of the Brentford box, Douglas fed Judge who fed Pritchard who was able to cut inside and bend majestically beyond the helpless Derby goalkeeper.
Bournemouth (H)
Wigan (H)
In both of these matches the Bees put on really strong performances and came out winners having scored 3 goals each time. The teams were clearly different in their quality, their being separated by promotion (Cherries) and relegation (Latics) respectively, however the games can be seen as equally important, one an excellent win over higher-placed rivals and the other a solid display on the crucial final day when a Brentford slip-up wasn’t out of the question.
The most obvious point though; Pritchard and those dead balls. Scoring a free-kick from range is a spectacular sight to behold and these two were exactly that, ignoring the hints of defensive / goalkeeping error.
Conclusion
I doubt there’s a Bees fan around who wouldn’t have Pritch return to Brentford next season, his tricks, flicks, assists and goals providing the catalyst for a terrific season for the squad as an entirety. This season saw him named and played in Gareth Southgate’s U21 England squad for the first time, a well-deserved honour and a basis from which I would love to see him further develop, be it in North or West London.
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