Anyone who follows the English Premier League knows that it is a competition that delivers so much. Of course, at the top of the table, you have sides such as Manchester City banging in the goals every week. The best teams and the most famous players are not the only reason people love the EPL, though. It is also fun to see other teams emerge each year, to surprise people with their outstanding form and underdog victories.
In years gone by, you could point to clubs such as Burnley, Sheffield United and Leicester with this in mind. But what of the current campaign in 2021/22? Although it is still early days, the form Brentford have shown so far has left many fans impressed. It has also gone down well with people who like to bet on soccer!
As a newly promoted side, the odds given for the Bees against most EPL teams will be good value. This in turn will see you win more cash if Brentford continue to do well. If you also put individual Brentford bets into a parlay with other bets, the profit you could make gets even better. If you have never tried parlay betting before, it is pretty simple to grasp – the most important thing really is finding the best bettings apps to use.
There is no doubt that Brentford’s current form has seen them rise to prominence as a club that could be THE dark horse side in 2021/22. But why is this the case?
Good start to season
Although the impact of Arsenal’s loss to Brentford was harsh for the Gunners, the buzz it gave the Bees in their first EPL game was immense. Starting well is always key in a new campaign – not only for the confidence it gives moving ahead but also for the points it puts on the board. This is especially true for newly promoted teams like Brentford, which need a decent start to show they are not easy opponents for every other club.
An opening-day win not only meant they could start looking up the table rather than worrying about relegation but also gave the side real belief in their ability for future games. This has helped them pick up impressive results, such as their 3-3 draw away against Liverpool.
Top-class coach in charge
This is another reason to believe that Brentford can be the dark horse side in 2021/22. In simple terms, Thomas Frank is an elite-level coach. He already looks at home in the top tier of English soccer and can obviously handle the pressure. Crucially, he is also tactically astute and able to react to in-game situations.
Frank also seems to understand that you need to be tough at the back and compete physically to be at home in the EPL. On top of that, he has the team playing with real pace, passion and vibrancy. This type of play has seemed to surprise a few other EPL sides and proved hard to deal with for them. With great charisma, too, he seems to have total support from the players.
Great bunch of players
While tactics and coaches do make a difference, any EPL side stands and falls on the quality of its players. This is key to think about when considering whether the three newly promoted sides will stay up in 2021/22. Brentford, therefore, look like being the dark horse side in 2021/22 because they have some very good players. Striker Ivan Toney, for example, has stepped up well from the championship and looks to be a real handful for defenders.
As noted above, it is the players who make Brentford solid in defense and midfield who will be key to their season. Kristoffer Ajer will be pivotal in stopping opposition strikers and looks a fine purchase. Goalkeeper David Raya has pulled off some amazing stops in previous games, while Christian Norgaard, with his tough-tackling, makes sure the side is not overrun in midfield. With such top-class players to call on, it is easy to see why Brentford could become the dark horse side of 2021/22.
Brentford looking forward to an exciting year
The above shows just why Brentford have started so strongly and why many people are already picking them to do well in 2021/22. Of course, it must be said that it is early days yet and a lot can happen over the coming months. If the team can keep the key players fit and firing, and keep the confidence their early season form has delivered, anything is possible.
Founder and editor of Footiecentral. A voracious reader who loves reading anything and everything related to the history of football. He’s an ardent supporter of Manchester United and rarely misses a match.