Can Brentford survive relegation?
Brentford made their long awaited return to the English Premier League when they defeated Swansea 2-0 in the Championship playoff final. They have not featured in England’s top division since 1947 and had since lost nine playoff finals.
Over the years promoted clubs have tried various avenues to stay in the Premier League – some successfully while others have failed miserably.
Some promoted clubs go the extravagant route in terms of signings while others are more prudent, more selective of whom they bring in. Both have worked on occasion but money certainly doesn’t always bring success – ask Fulham after they splashed the cash in the 2018/19 season but still found themselves in the bottom three.
It is seldom that all three promoted teams remain in the Premier League after their first season, just as it is not often that all three are relegated.
Some, like Sheffield United (2019/20) and Leeds United (2020/21) shoot the lights out by finishing top half. Wolves achieved something similar in their first season by finishing seventh. Others fight off relegation while others go down without much of a fight.
How will things unfold for the Bees? We take a look at the prospects for Brentford.
Not To Be Relegated
The bookmakers agree that Brentford have a good chance of survival. According to football betting site Footballaccumulators, they are priced at 1.66 to survive their first season in the top flight.
That is mainly down to the squad already built by Thomas Frank. They have the quality and while signings may be required, the Bees do not need to break the bank.
To Be Relegated
Brentford are priced at 2.10 to make an immediate return to the Championship. That makes them equal second favourites to face the drop along with fellow promoted side Watford.
Norwich, the title winners of the Championship, are 1.83 favourites to continue their status as a yo-yo club between the top two divisions.
To Finish Top Half
Every season there seems to be a promoted side that shoots the lights out. It was Leeds United last season and before them Sheffield United and Wolves. All of them finished in the top half of the table.
Norwich and Watford have both been promoted alongside Brentford. The difference is that the former two have recently been in the Premier League and neither created much of a stir.
There are goals in this Brentford side, something most promoted teams struggle to find. More crucial to their cause will be keeping hold of key players such as forward, Ivan Toney. Toney hit the back of the net on 33 occasions in Championship last season as he topped the scoring charts.
They could well be the best option to make a run from the top half and at odds of 9.00 are certainly worth a punt.
Brentford experienced many disappointments in their quest to reach the Premier League and those disappointments may just spur them on to remain at the top. They are certainly a good bet to be the highest placed of the teams promoted to the Premier League.
