Brentford boss Thomas Frank admitted he was left ‘a bit emotional’ after Ivan Toney’s farewell address to his former team-mates.
The England forward’s move to Saudi side Al-Ahli was confirmed in the early hours of Saturday morning but he was in the stands at GTech stadium to watch the Bees secure a 3-1 Premier League victory over Southampton later in the afternoon.
Frank did not recall Toney shedding any tears but revealed the same was not true for himself.
3 goals, 3 points 💪
Happy days 😁 pic.twitter.com/BsY9weg4zl
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) August 31, 2024
“Even I was a little bit emotional,” said Frank. “I said a few things and then he said something to the players.
“He has been a great player for Brentford, a Brentford legend, and I mean that. When you are in a club like ours and you score 72 goals in 141 games that’s incredible, incredible numbers.
“He’s been on a fantastic journey with us over the last four years. I enjoyed working together with him on and off the pitch.
“I think it says a lot about Ivan that he wanted to come here and say goodbye to his friends and team-mates, staff members and everyone around the team and the club.
“Ivan has been a key player for us, especially the first three years, and then of course there was disruption with the ban and everything.
“I think he’s been one of our best players, if not our best player in that period, consistently with the amount of goals for us and I think we played some fantastic football with him.”
Bryan Mbeumo netted his second and third of Brentford’s league campaign on Saturday afternoon, breaking the scoreless deadlock two minutes before the interval.
Southampton debutant Aaron Ramsdale, immediately slotted into Russell Martin’s line-up the day after his own deadline-day transfer, conceded another to the Cameroon international in the 65th minute.
Four minutes later, Wissa bundled home from a throw-in to add to his own opening-day strike against Crystal Palace.
Saints nevertheless managed to avoid slumping to three successive losses without scoring when Yukinari Sugawara clawed back a consolation deep in second-half stoppage time.
Mathias Jensen and substitute Adam Lallana both added assists, while Frank singled out Mikkel Damsgaard for what he felt was a best-ever effort in a Brentford shirt from his fellow Dane.
Frank felt the team effort was perhaps a hallmark of Brentford’s post-Toney era. Responding to the suggestion that his team may have even performed better, he added: “I think it is credit to the players that they are stepping up.
“What I would give is that when a player goes that is so dominant in many aspects, others will grow.
“No one is the same (as Toney). It’s a little bit of a different dynamic and constellations and relationships, and that will create something for the team.”
Frank also briefly spoke with Ramsdale, a man he characterised as a “great keeper” and told the former Gunner he felt it was a “good move” for him to sign with Southampton.
Ramsdale’s new boss, who remained largely upbeat despite the loss, agreed with his touchline counterpart.
“I thought he was great,” said Martin. “Even in the second half, the ball was getting put back to him too much.
“3-0 definitely the lads lost a little bit of belief, and it’s really difficult with the crowds, when Brentford are in a good place, but he stuck to it.
“He’s going to be amazing. People will fall in love with him very quickly because of who he is, the person he is, how brave he is.
“He’s got a big character, so I think he is going to be a brilliant signing for us.”
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Nuno and his 2nd manager of the month award milk Mbappe We're so back Bookies headquarters after the AC Milan red card Man City fans at HT vs Man City fans at FT "What a week, huh?""Gaffer, it's Wednesday." Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, FootballLaughss)...
Neymar has confirmed he will return to his boyhood club, Santos, as he looks to recover from an ACL injury that has heavily disrupted his career in recent seasons.In an emotive post on Instagram, Neymar said that re-joining the Sao Paulo-based side that he left for Barcelona in 2013 was "like going back in time," describing it as the perfect place to regain his form and fitness."Only a club like S...
Aston Villa's Jhon Duran is expected to fly to the Gulf state on Friday to complete a £64m move to join Cristiano Ronaldo in Riyadh.Al-Nassr are interested in signing Mateo KovacicJhon Duran is expected to complete a £64m move to the clubBrighton's Kaoru Mitoma is also a target of the Saudi sideThe Saudi Pro League side also lodged a £54m bid for Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma.Brighton rej...
Tottenham Hotspur have had a €60 million ($62.5m) offer accepted by Bayern Munich on Thursday for their French forward Mathys Tel, sources have told ESPN.Tel, 19, has decided to leave the German side and is attracting a lot of interest from English clubs.Bayern wanted €60m for the France under-21 international and Spurs have become the first team to agree a deal with the Bavarian giant...
Ramos in advanced talks over free transfer to Mexican clubFormer Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos is reportedly in discussions with Mexican club Monterrey regarding a possible transfer.Dorgu to complete €35m Man Utd move as medical scheduledLecce star Patrick Dorgu is reportedly set to fly to England ahead of a medical and a €35 million move to Manchester United.Neymar sends emotional ...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Amara Nallo Debut Bournemouth this season (LIV next) true 18 matches at once, it's just too much. Speed describing how Ronaldo smells like in his stream:"You could smell his aura. He smells like a GOAT." lol Juventus Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Just toon it, trollfootball, The Football Arena, AZR Organization)...
Manchester United have plenty of business to tie up before Monday’s transfer deadline, with Patrick Dorgu closing in on a move to Old Trafford. Marcus Rashford appears to be heading for the exit after facing the wrath of Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim, while Alejandro Garnacho could also be set to depart.Chelsea are in the mix for new signings and could rival Napoli for Garnacho. The Blues are...
Marcus Rashford could be at the center of a deadline-day transfer as Manchester United have made him available. Man Utd star Rashford could be set for a deadline day move as the window comes to a closeUnited are asking for £40M for Rashford but are also open to a loan deal, per The Sun. European clubs, including Barcelona, have shown interest, but his £325,000-a-week wages have been a si...
Chelsea’s pursuit of Alejandro Garnacho could be a last-minute scramble late into the winter window – but the club have a contingency plan in place should the Blues fail to secure a Manchester United winger before the transfer deadline, according to reports.The Argentine forward could still leave Old Trafford before February 3, when the window closes, with the club willing to sell him ...
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery said he does not want Ollie Watkins to leave the club amid interest from Arsenal, but said if Jhon Durán completes his move to Al Nassr then it is "good news" for the club as it shows they are doing the right things in terms of developing players.Emery was speaking after Aston Villa secured their spot in the knockout stages of the Champions League following a 4-...
- 1 Kerkez and £83m ace join as Salah signs
- 2 Enzo 'trying to fix romance with childhood sweetheart'
- 3 'exciting' Betis on signing Man Utd flop
- 4 Napoli confirm Garnacho interest
- 5 LaLiga ace Alex Berenguer & model wife ‘have gun pointed at them’
- 6 Kyle Walker’s wife in talks with ITV for HUGE reality show
- 7 Fresh Lauryn Goodman claims rock Kyle Walker’s marriage
- 8 Ashley Cole, wife Sharon, Peter Crouch and Abbey Clancy on luxury skiing holiday
- 9 Meet Jude Bellingham's new model WAG
- 10 Atletico Madrid in talks for Arsenal Zinchenko