THE LOWDOWN — THE FULL HISTORY
THE LOSSES
Before 2025-26 Brentford lost their manager to Tottenham, their strikers to United and Newcastle and their captain to Arsenal. Everyone predicted relegation, so they promoted the set-piece coach, Keith Andrews.
THE MACHINE
The owner, an Oxford physics graduate who got rich beating bookmakers with maths, scrapped the academy for a B-team and built a model: buy what the data loves, sell for fortunes, repeat. Toney scored 20 and was sold; Mbeumo and Wissa combined for nearly 40 and were sold; Igor Thiago scored 22, second only to Haaland.
THE HISTORY
Brentford spent 74 years outside the top flight before a 2-0 Wembley win in 2021 brought them back.
THE SEASON
Andrews beat Liverpool 3-2 and was given a contract to 2032. On the final day Schade earned Brentford's first Premier League point at Anfield, but Europe went to Brighton on goal difference after identical records of 14 wins, 11 draws and 13 defeats. Brentford finished ninth, their joint-best season. Number 9 in THE COUNTDOWN.
MORE FROM THE COUNTDOWN
THE TERRACES — DISCUSSION
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