The Beesotted Brentford Pride of West London Podcast

Brentford’s European hopes are still alive — just — after a dramatic draw against Crystal Palace at the Gtech.The Bees twice came from behind with Dango Ouattara grabbing both goals, including a late leveller that sent Lionel Road into full voice. Palace had looked sharp for long spells though, with Sarr’s early penalty and Wharton’s second-half strike putting the Eagles in control at different stages.Billy Grant spoke to Bees and Palace fans straight after the final whistle about the fightback, the nervy defending, the substitutions that changed the game, and whether it was a point gained or two dropped with Liverpool up next.European permutations. Frustration. Relief. Hope. It’s all still on the table.  

Brentford go into their final home game of the season with European dreams very much alive… but to achieve those this game is a must win in all honesty. Having gone down 3-0 at Manchester City last time out, three points will be in the players’ cross-hairs and if those are achieved, and one or two other results go our way, The Bees could know their fate even before the match at Liverpool in the final match.Billy ’The Bee’ Grant and Dave ‘Laney’ Lane hook up to talk about last week and this week, announce their end of season exclusive interview with Keith AndrewsThere are also contributions from Jacob Gowler with his stats and tactical analysis, Jonathan Burchill with some wicked Facts-n-Funk and Dee Kurnaz from Palace podcast ‘The Back of the Nest’ who gives is a great lowdown on events at Selhurst Park as The Eagles look ahead to a European Cup final. https://shows.acast.com/holmesdaleradioAnd dont forget the pre match quiz at The Steam Packet pub on Strand on the Green - 2.45pm this weekLots of good pre season vibes as we go into this match

Billy TheBee Grant speaks to Brentford and Manchester City fans in the stands and streets after the Bees’ tough afternoon at the Etihad.City showed their quality and punished Brentford clinically, but there’s still plenty to chew over - from the Bees’ approach and key moments in the match to the travelling fans who kept singing throughout.We look back at where the game was won and lost, whether the scoreline told the full story, and what Brentford take into the next fixture as the season heads towards its conclusion.

Billy TheBee Grant, Dave Laney Lane and Martin The Dutchman we’re joined by special guest Richard Archer from Hard-Fi at The Steam Packet pub in Strand on the Green as they look back on the West Ham win and turn attention to Brentford’s trip to Manchester CityRichard drops in to talk about his Brentford journey - from Griffin Park to Lionel Road - plus life on the road, following the Bees while touring, and a few properly chaotic travel stories. Billy also shares his own recent misadventure after missing a flight to Bordeaux last weekendThen it’s onto the football. A quick look back at West Ham before diving into the City preview - how Brentford might approach it, where the key battles lie, and where Pep’s side could be testedThe Gowler and Matt The Allard from Bees Breakdown go deeper on the numbers and tactics for the Manchester City game, while Jonathan JB Burchill brings the facts and a little bit of funkLoads to get into – football meets rock and roll, and now it’s City away. Brentford looking to ruffle a few feathers and give City a proper Gallagher-style evening… c’mon you BeesHard-Fi’s album Sweating Someone Else’s Fever is out 19th JuneThe band play:Brixton Academy – Thu 3rd DecemberO2 Institute Birmingham – Fri 4th DecemberO2 Ritz Manchester – Sat 5th DecemberMore information at http://hardfiofficial.com

Brentford 3 West Ham 0 - Post-Match Podcast From The StandsBilly “The Bee” Grant is in the stands and pub at the Brentford talking to Bees and West Ham fans after Brentford’s 3-0 win.A controlled performance from Brentford - solid at the back, sharp going forward and clinical in the key moments. But West Ham will feel hard done by - especially in the first half where they created some big chances that could have brought them right back into the game.We get into the goals, the key moments and the players who made the difference, as well as those missed opportunities that shifted the balance.Bees fans react to a strong display and what it means going forward, while West Ham fans reflect on a game that could have looked very different.Fan reaction - straight from the stands.

Dave ‘Laney’ Lane and Lewis ‘Sherlock’ Holmes gather down the boozer to discuss a busy week’s Brentford action following Monday night’s trip to Old Trafford and looking ahead to the bank holiday weekend home clash with relegation haunted West Ham United.The duo are joined by JB with his Facts-n-Funk, Matt Allard and Jacob Gowler with their Bees Breakdown stats and tactical analysis, as well as West Ham fan Andy Payne who gives us the inside track in his team’s desperate plight this season.Sherlock also spills the beans on buying a spell in Etsy!

Billy “The Bee” Grant is outside Old Trafford speaking to Bees fans straight after the final whistle, as Brentford paid the price for missed chances in a game that could easily have swung the other way.The Bees had their moments but couldn’t take them, and were punished as Manchester United struck twice in the first half - one of them very much against the run of play. There’s plenty of chat on those big missed opportunities, how the game got away from Brentford, and whether the scoreline really tells the full story.Frustration, what-ifs, and honest fan reaction - straight from the stands.

After ten another draw - this time against Fulham - Billy “The Bee” Grant and Dave “Laney” Lane are back to break down all the latest Brentford news and look ahead to Monday night’s trip to Old Trafford, where the Bees face third-placed Manchester United. They’re joined by Andrew from the Cream of Manchester podcast, who offers a Red Devils perspective, while JB returns with his usual mix of Facts and Funk. Jacob Gowler and Matt Allard from Bees Breakdown also weigh in, sharing their statistical insights and tactical analysis on both the Fulham result and the upcoming United clashUSA Bees and Fabio Carvalho give their verdict on Brentford's potential European tour possibilities from the Tampa Premier League Fan FestAnd there’s even a nod of approval from Spandau Ballet’s Tony Hadley, who’s given the thumbs up to our Thiago-inspired remix of “Gold” after learning the words and singing a duet with one of the Beesotted crew

Beyond the Breakdown is back with Jacob ‘The Gowler’ Gowler and Matt ‘The Allard’ Allard getting properly stuck into the detail after a busy run of games.First up, a forensic look back at the Everton and Fulham matches – from Everton’s super narrow shape trying to shut the Bees down, to Fulham’s in-game tweaks that shifted the momentum. The lads dig into the numbers behind Brentford’s finishing too – what’s going right, what’s not, and whether the data backs up what we’re seeing with our eyesThere’s also a proper stat attack on those late goals – just how often are the Bees conceding after 90 minutes, and is it a trend or just bad luck?Kevin Schade goes under the microscope as well. The Gowler pulls out the key metrics, while the pair chat tactics, roles, and what tweaks could get him more involved and more effective in this Brentford setupThen it’s onto the bigger picture – European football. What actually happens to Premier League teams when they qualify? The research, the impact on league form, and how UEFA’s stricter profitability and sustainability rules could shape decision-makingAnd the big question – is a season WITHOUT Europe actually better for the Bees?Finally, a look ahead to the next three fixtures. Manchester United and a focus on Bryan Mbeumo’s season so far, West Ham and how Nuno’s tactical approach might be exposed, and Manchester City – where, if anywhere, are the chinks in the armour?Stats, tactics, and proper football chat – this is Beyond the BreakdownThe research the chaps referred to on the podcast with regards Europe can be found here - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329901699_Playing_in_the_UEFA_Europa_League_Does_Not_Adversely_Affect_English_Premier_League_or_La_Liga_Performancehttps://thedirectorsinbox.substack.com/p/why-premier-league-teams-will-beThe tweet Kieran Maguire referred to from the Swiss Ramble can be found herehttps://x.com/SwissRamble/status/2044685949074841742?s=20