The Douglas Saga: All You Need to Know
- essentialbrentford
- Jul 21, 2015
- 3 min read
The news broke this week that Jonathon Douglas has been told that he may leave Brentford Football Club. Our sources have confirmed this and have told us that all indications show that he will no longer be a Brentford player by the close of the transfer window.
Following the recent influx of midfield players this transfer market, Douglas is now deemed surplus to requirements at Griffin Park. Having joined from Swindon Town over four years ago, he has become somewhat of a club legend. His consistent performances from midfield have earned him more man-of-the-match awards than any over Brentford player in the last 5 years.
Many have voiced their anger at Douglas' ousting from the club as we seek to achieve promotion to the Premier League. Claims have been made that it is 'unlike Brentford' to treat a player in this manner. Douglas has been a terrific servant to the club and is the current captain following former club captain Tony Craig's departure for Millwall. Therefore, it is wrong that he should be treated in this manner.
Furthermore, with seven goals last season it is clear that he still has a role to play in this team. His scoring record is outstanding for his position, and when compared with Diagouraga's zero goals from a similar position one can see how crucial Douglas is to the team.
However, Douglas did begin to fade out of games last season, and looked fatigued towards the end of matches. Charlton (A) was the clearest instance of this, when he had absolutely no impact on the game whatsoever and was caught out of position several times.
Additionally, with the aforementioned Diagouraga's resurgance Douglas has dropped down the pecking order at Griffin Park. Whilst Toumani carries out a very specific role which was crucial in preventing counter attacks and maintaining position, Douglas' role is less specific and will probably be taken over by one of the several midfield players we now have.
Rumours also have it that Douglas fell out with Benham over the departure of Mark Warburton. It was obvious that the players were greatly saddened by his departure, and none more so than Dougie. After weeks of negotiating last season Douglas eventually agreed to sign a new contract (just before he scored against Leeds), but his dissatisfaction for his position at the club was still present and he may now feel it time to move on.
Douglas' seemingly inevitable departure raises other issues. Firstly, it is obvious that when a bunch of players come in that some must go out. The signings of midfielders Kermbauscher, McEachran, Williams and Gogia, with MacLeod still to return from injury and all our loan signings still to be made, hinted the inevitability of some of the "old guard" leaving Griffin Park.
Douglas appears to be the first of these, but now surely players such as Saunders and Tebar must be fearing the worst. These players both made very few appearances last season and it is probable that they will also find themselves surplus to requirements in West London.
Secondly, who should succeed Douglas as captain? Whilst less important it is still a question worth thinking about. Would Dijkhuizen go with Bjelland, who seems the right model but is new to the club and still settling in? Perhaps Dean or Tarkowski, although the competition for places makes these candidates unlikely to be regulars in the starting XI. Maybe Toumani or Judge could take on the role, having both been at the club for a considerable amount of time.
Whatever happens in the future, Douglas has been a fantastic servant to the club and everyone at Brentford will wish him well wherever he ends up (although hopefully not at Fulham or QPR). In his 169 appearances he has scored 17 goals for us, but his influence on games has been far more considerabale than this. Despite his lack of a left foot, his presence and passion will be missed by all at Griffin Park should he move on.
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