Hopefully the players play with a bit more composure now, they were all a bit loose with their touch play and passing.

Great half. Tough tough game. Relieved.

1 minute ago, El regreso said:

Best LB in world football on present form.

We need another 3 to be comfortable.

Three LBs seems a bit much.

That last minute booted clearance was the 2nd best thing Noni did all half

Very good set up from Maresca. 

We had a 5-minute blip but thankfully regained control.

Come on!

Amazing that Cucurella turned out to be one of our best signings in recent years. 😄

Edited December 15, 20241 yr by Zero

1 minute ago, Scott Harris said:

Hopefully the players play with a bit more composure now, they were all a bit loose with their touch play and passing.

Stoke.. I mean Brentford are going to have to come out more attacking in the 2nd half.  So should hopefully open more gaps for us to attack.

Whatever happens in 2nd half, I’m giving huge credit to Enzo Maresca for that first 45 minutes.

I don’t really remember us crossing so many balls into the box this season and clearly that was a tactic instructed by Enzo and it paid off. Fantastic.

There was a FIFA video from last season where Cucurella said he doesn't have a celebration because he doesn't score enough and he didn't celebrate again. 😭

Could have done with a second while they were on the ropes there.

Was never going to be that easy though.

We have a foundation to build up now and is up to Maresca to set the tone at the break so we can see this through.

We also need the front 4 to step up more.

2 minutes ago, Zero said:

Amazing that Cucurella turned out to be one of our best signings in recent years. 😄

Rudiger arc. 

Hahaha allowing Cucurella to score a header against you should result in immediate relegation.

Hang in there boys

Just now, Ledgerson said:

There was a FIFA video from last season where Cucurella said he doesn't have a celebration because he doesn't score enough and he didn't celebrate again. 😭

After last week he should have done some sort of slip.

I am old enough to remember when he was booed by his own fans when he had issues going on in his personal life.

Just now, axman2526 said:

After last week he should have done some sort of slip.

Maybe he slipped when heading. He did fall. 

Wow 15 shots to Brentfords 1?

Yikes, they cannot be that poor going forward second half, not with players like Wissa and Mbeumo.

Interesting game. Sanchez 4/10, Cucurella 10/10, everone else 7/10.

Clearly the plan was to whip in crosses. There was little evidence it would work - until it did. 

We are factually a young team, anecdotally an inexperienced flaky team,  but evidentially a group of players who have been goiven a plan, believe in the plan, and capable of executing it. These are exciting times. 

I am 100% sure Brentford will come out differently next half. They almost succeeded on what they tried there in keeping the clean sheet. They would have come out playing different football anyway after HT but now they find themselves behind. This game is far from being settled. I fully expect them to score so we need to be ready for what they bring.

I like how composed we are all over the pitch and determined. We can still be quicker, more decisive and make better decisions.

9 minutes ago, bluedave said:

His first goal, really?!

Second goal. First in the league though.

2 minutes ago, dansubrosa said:

Whatever happens in 2nd half, I’m giving huge credit to Enzo Maresca for that first 45 minutes.

I don’t really remember us crossing so many balls into the box this season and clearly that was a tactic instructed by Enzo and it paid off. Fantastic.

I’m loving all the small tactical tweaks Enzo does depending on the opponent.  Gets much more right than wrong.

If we win tonight and then vs Everton, we’ll top - until Liverpool play Spurs at 4.30pm

1 minute ago, evissy said:

I am 100% sure Brentford will come out differently next half. They almost succeeded on what they tried there in keeping the clean sheet. They would have come out playing different football anyway after HT but now they find themselves behind. This game is far from being settled. I fully expect them to score so we need to be ready for what they bring.

I like how composed we are all over the pitch and determined. We can still be quicker, more decisive and make better decisions.

They will push for a goal but it’ll suit our game so much, we are absolutely devastating on the counter.

Needed that goal from the Mighty Cucu. Too many chances not put away, no surprise really considering there's a couple buses in the way, but we need some silky skills from somewhere to unlock the defence 

2 minutes ago, evissy said:

I am 100% sure Brentford will come out differently next half. They almost succeeded on what they tried there in keeping the clean sheet. They would have come out playing different football anyway after HT but now they find themselves behind. This game is far from being settled. I fully expect them to score so we need to be ready for what they bring.

I like how composed we are all over the pitch and determined. We can still be quicker, more decisive and make better decisions.

Bang on.

1 minute ago, evissy said:

I am 100% sure Brentford will come out differently next half. They almost succeeded on what they tried there in keeping the clean sheet. They would have come out playing different football anyway after HT but now they find themselves behind. This game is far from being settled. I fully expect them to score so we need to be ready for what they bring.

I like how composed we are all over the pitch and determined. We can still be quicker, more decisive and make better decisions.

I think that's it really. A bit of composure, quicker and better decision making on the ball is what we need more of going into the second half. The first half had the right attitude, it's just that most of it was a bit scrappy.