Brentford vs Tottenham | Mr.Chips Picks

Match Time: August 13th, 13:00 UTC+0 (Sunday)

This year marks Brentford's third year since their promotion to a higher division. They've made significant progress, going from 13th place in their first year in the Premier League to 9th place last season. During the summer transfer window, the team retained their core lineup from last season. Unfortunately, their main striker Ivan Toney is suspended and will only be able to return in late January next year. In terms of acquisitions, the team didn't strengthen their forward line much; they mainly brought in Wolves' key defender, Ethan Collins. Compared to the arms race of the top Premier League teams, Brentford's performance during the summer has been relatively average, feeling a bit like sailing against the current. It's important to note that Ivan Toney contributed 40% of the team's goals last season. Thankfully, Brentford performs well on their home turf, with only 2 losses at home last season. However, based on their pre-season friendly matches, they haven't managed to secure a win even against England's fifth-tier teams, indicating an overall mediocre form.

Tottenham

Towards the end of last season, Tottenham had various issues that led to conceding points, ultimately missing out on European competition qualification. This season's journey seems relatively smoother. During the summer transfer window, the team has spent a total of 194 million euros on acquisitions, bolstering their front, middle, and back lines. As for departures, their core player Harry Kane left. In the previous season, Tottenham struggled with their flanks, and the signings of Kulusevski and James Maddison could be seen as a remedy for their wing play. However, this season, with the departure of Kane, they'll have to rely on the underperforming Richardson for the striker position.

Key Points to Note:

1. Style of Play: Tottenham has played high-scoring matches recently, with 3 out of their last 4 matches having large goal differences.
2. Head-to-Head: In the last 5 meetings, Tottenham has won 2, drawn 2, and lost 1 against Brentford, holding a slight psychological advantage.
3. Legacy: Tottenham Hotspur was founded in 1882 and has won the English top-tier league championship twice, the FA Cup 8 times, and the League Cup 4 times.
4. Attack: Tottenham has scored 14 goals in their last 4 matches, displaying strong offensive firepower.
5. Data: In the last 4 matches, Tottenham has only won the handicap data once.
6. Form: Tottenham's previous match saw them lose 2-4 to Barcelona, ending their 2-match winning streak.

Brenford

In the absence of Ivan Toney, Brentford surprisingly achieved a three-game winning streak towards the end of last season, including a victory against their upcoming opponent, Tottenham. This might create an illusion of Brentford being very strong. However, back then, Tottenham was in a passive mode of play. At the start of the season, they had just appointed a new manager, spent nearly 200 million euros on summer transfers, and certainly aimed to perform well in their first league match.

Key Points to Note:

1. Legacy: Brentford was founded in 1889 and won the English second-tier league championship in the 1930s. They reached the semi-finals of the League Cup in the 2020-21 season.
2. Coach: Head coach Frank, aged 49, has nearly 20 years of coaching experience. He took over Brentford in 2018 and has managed the team for 231 matches, with a record of 105 wins, 53 draws, and 73 losses.
3. Attack: Brentford has scored 6 goals in their last 5 matches, averaging more than 1 goal per game.
4. Form: Brentford has struggled in their recent 5 warm-up matches, with 1 win, 3 draws, and 2 losses.
5. Style of Play: Brentford has tended to play low-scoring matches recently, with 3 out of their last 5 matches having small goal differences.
6. Data: In the last 5 matches, Brentford has lost in 4 of them when considering handicap data.

All things considered, Mr.Chips support Tottenham to secure 3 points in their away match.