Brentford tackle Newcastle United within the EFL Cup quarterfinals this week (you’ll be able to catch all of the motion on Paramount+ and CBS Sports activities Community) and it presents the Bees with a uncommon shot at potential silverware if they’ll attain the ultimate 4. Few would begrudge Thomas Frank that kind of success given the spectacular job that the Danish tactician has finished general with the London-based membership since 2018.
If Brentford are to proceed to dream of a pathway to European qualification through a minimum of one home cup, although, it can require their key males to be at their finest. Two of these star names are France-born pair Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa who’re establishing themselves within the English Premier League regardless of not likely being extensively recognized of their homeland.
Mbeumo is now a Cameroon worldwide whereas Wissa represents DR Congo and the duo are the Bees’ high two objective scorers by a great distance thus far this season. With a mixed whole of 19 objectives and three assists for 22 objective involvements, that impacts all however 10 of their staff’s EPL objectives scored tally of 32 thus far this marketing campaign.
Mbeumo is arguably their primary man with 10 objectives and two assists throughout all competitions though all have come within the Premier League. The 25-year-old joined in 2019 from Troyes and was a part of the Brentford aspect that wo promotion from the EFL Championship in 2021 and has already hit the 200 appearances and 50 objectives mark.
Nevertheless, Wissa is just not far behind with 9 objectives and 1 help throughout all competitions though these have additionally all have come within the EPL like Mbeumo’s. As for the 28-year-old, he was a 2021 arrival from Lorient upon promotion to the English topflight and has already handed each 100 appearances in addition to 30 objectives.
Each Mbeumo and Wissa are key to the Bees’ attacking repertoire beneath Frank and that features the staff’s trademark extraordinarily early opening objectives which made Premier League historical past earlier this time period. The West Londoners remarkably scored contained in the opening 40 seconds in three consecutive topflight video games with Mbeumo scoring two of them and Wissa the opposite.
It was the latter who struck towards Manchester Metropolis again on Sept. 14, after simply 22 seconds, earlier than the previous netted after 23 seconds towards Tottenham Hotspur, and 37 seconds towards West Ham United. That feat made Brentford the primary staff in Premier League historical past to attain contained in the opening minute in three straight video games, with solely Everton in 1998-99 managing it throughout completely different video games.
Excessive scoring dwelling video games have additionally been a significant characteristic of this season for Frank’s troops with 40 objectives already scored throughout eight video games on the Gtech Neighborhood Stadium which is a median of round 5 objectives per recreation thus far within the Premier League. The Bees may simply higher the very best common variety of objectives per recreation in a marketing campaign which is Chelsea’s 82-goal common of 4.3 at Stamford Bridge again in 2009-10 beneath Carlo Ancelotti.
How far can Brentford go? At the moment eleventh within the EPL and simply out of attain of the European locations, the EFL Cup may be their finest route in direction of continental soccer subsequent time period. There would possibly nonetheless be hope within the FA Cup from January onwards, however that may take a collection of sturdy showings to achieve the quarterfinals which is the place Frank’s males presently are within the League Cup.
Victory over Newcastle at St James’ Park would take the Bees into the ultimate 4 and at that stage, Arsenal, Liverpool and considered one of Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester United could possibly be paired collectively and provides the West London aspect a possible path to Wembley Stadium. Contemplating Frank’s unimaginable work with the staff due to signings like Mbeumo and Wissa, the excessive level of their chapter collectively could possibly be about to be written within the EFL Cup.
