Brentford Football Club has named Keith Andrews as their new head coach. Prior to this promotion, he served as the team’s set piece coach. The club will be entering a significant period of transition this summer. They were rocked as big guns including leading scorers Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo and their captain Christian Norgaard all left. The club’s decision to dismiss former head coach Thomas Frank was…um…complicated.
Andrews, who has experience coaching at MK Dons, Ireland, and Sheffield United, faces a challenging start in his managerial career. His first year as a head coach hasn’t been without its bumps. Already, he has endured a 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest and a last-gasp loss at Sunderland. These early hiccups have been exacerbated by the full-blown Wissa transfer saga that has added some drama and a complicated mood, at best, to this team.
Despite the challenges, Andrews managed to secure a victory in his first home game against Aston Villa, followed by progress in the Carabao Cup after a successful outing against Bournemouth. These mixed results underscore the challenges of Andrews’ new position. They equally stress the critical importance of continuity in the group.
In a recent interview, Andrews expressed confidence in Brentford’s potential and emphasized the importance of clarity of purpose within the club. He stated, “I don’t hear anything, if I’m being entirely honest. I don’t need to hear anything. I don’t need to read anything.” This claim is indicative of his desire to ignore external factors and focus on the team’s inner workings in the face of criticism.
Andrews acknowledged the narrative surrounding Brentford’s recent struggles but maintained that he understands the fans’ perspectives. “I understand the narrative and even if I were someone externally not understanding what goes on in the building, I might be of the same opinion as some of these people who have that opinion of us,” he said. Still, when pressed, he is deeply optimistic about the club’s underpinnings.
I’m just completely confident in the way this club is structured, from top to bottom,” he added. “There’s a reason this club has got to where it’s got to and that’s through good people making very, very good decisions and not just based on the short term. Andrews is sure that the club’s foundation lies in thoughtful planning, as well as an indisputable confidence in their philosophy.
For one, he told us that it would be crucial to stay emotionally grounded in his new job. “You have to allow emotions to dictate the way you’re feeling, but in a controlled way because ultimately you’re the head coach,” he explained. “It’s okay to be upset. It’s okay to be angry. It’s how you convey that.”
Recruitment and player development are major priorities for Andrews. He stated that bringing in “good people” and “hungry players” is essential to creating a supportive and demanding environment at Brentford. “The environment that’s created is very supportive, very inclusive, demanding – but it’s quite special and unique,” he noted.
Looking to their next match ups, Andrews knows it will be a test against their future foes. He praised them as a “very good side,” marked by their well-drilled tactics and financial power. Despite this, he remains optimistic about Brentford’s capabilities: “We’re very understanding of the challenges they will pose. But just as much, we’re really sure we can not only stump them but really put them to many tests.
When looking forward to the path ahead, Andrews communicated a clear sense of the distance he wants to travel in his time at Brentford. “In a lot of environments, everybody wants short-term success,” he remarked. “Our fans… they appreciate the journey this club has been on and is still on.”
Andrews finished by noting how proud he is of what the team has accomplished given the recent upheaval internally and externally with staff and player changes. “I’m very proud of what the group has achieved over the last couple of months, where there’s been a lot of change around staff, players,” he stated.
Keith Andrews begins an exciting new chapter in his coaching career as Brentford head coach. Most importantly, he needs to start building purpose and resilience in the squad while artfully addressing the added wrinkles that come when overseeing a team in transition.
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