From edging a close home starter against Palace to wiping the floor with the hapless Saints and from making serene progress in the League Cup to scoring after just 23 seconds to lead at the Etihad things so far this season had been going really well for Brentford, almost too well….
So when Yoane Wissa was taken off at half time at the weekend I didn’t think too much of it, just a precaution right to ensure he’s good for the Spurs game right?
I should’ve learnt better than that by now.
As loyal fans of the Bees understand far too well, injuries for us are never simple short term affairs.
Last season we were without every single member of our first choice outfield at some point or other throughout the season, with both our best full-backs still out with injuries sustained in the opening salvos of that campaign.
So whilst it was not surprising to hear Thomas Frank announce that Wissa’s injury was bad and we will be without him for “a couple of months”, it was still a freight train punching me in the gut.
Just as it felt like Jersey road would be able to return to being a training ground it’s time to erect the hospital tent on the grass once more and bring in the triage nurses.
Taking that couple of month’s at it’s minimum that’s 7 games to get through an attacker light, including our trip to the cottage round the corner (which we will win handily).
As dejavu hits us hard in the anxiety belt for 24/25 the greatest thing about it is that this time we know we can overcome it.
Even with the slew of injuries we had last season we were never in any danger of dropping down a league and with the start we have made this time round coupled with our experience of getting it done against the odds we know that, no matter what the gods of football hit us with, we will overcome it once more.
Saturday’s trip to the banter boys of North London will be the first test of how our first team adapts to it’s Wissa shaped gap.
Fabio Carvalho presented a compelling case for being the man to fill that gap. His mercurial performance against Orient topped off with a spectacular overhead kick to open his account and an assist to help Mikkel Damsgaard open his.
No matter who takes Wissa’s place those are some big boots to fill, but I have faith they will be filled brilliantly till he is fit enough to reclaim them.
Despite this little setback, Brentford’s season will go up another gear from here.
The Football tourist 