The Premier League returns this weekend, and Brentford host London-rivals Crystal Palace in their first game of the season at 14:00 BST on Sunday.
It is a tricky first game for the Bees, with the five draws and a loss registered from the past six games, although fans will remember last season's goal of the season contender from Kevin Schade after he cut inside from the left wing and hit a rocket across goal into the top corner.
Brentford news
The late signing of Fabio Carvalho has excited fans, but the game might come too soon for him to start. Many will expect the star summer signing to make his debut off the bench.
The long-term injuries to both first choice full-backs, Rico Henry and Aaron Hickey, force Thomas Frank into some improvisation, particularly at left-back where Kris Ajer is expected to start.
Despite the expectation Ivan Toney would have found a new club this summer, he remains at the club and is contention to lead the line for Brentford.
There have been reports Wolves have bid £25m for Yoane Wissa after they sold Pedro Neto to Chelsea earlier this week. It remains to be seen if Wissa will be benched amid transfer negotiations, paving the way for a Kevin Schade start.
Crystal Palace news
Oliver Glasner replaced Roy Hodgson towards the end of last season and took what was beginning to look like a stale squad on a tremendous run of form, winning 7 of the 13 matches he was in charge for, losing only 3.
The Austrian manager led the team to score 29 goals and concede only 14 in his time in charge, showing a quality Hodgson had been unable to draw out from the players.
The transformation came from a switch to a 3-4-2-1 formation and a style which involved much greater intensity in the press, the deployment of two central attacking midfielders behind a striker, and more width.
The new style of play has not just brought results, it has been very popular with the Palace fanbase and many leading pundits are tipping Crystal Palace to continue their form from the end of last season and break into the top 10.
While Michael Olise has left to join Bayern Munich, the team retain Eberechi Eze, Daniel Munoz, Adam Wharton, and Tyrick Mitchell. All these players are expected to start on Sunday and have been credited as key men in the much-improved Palace side.
Jean-Phillipe Mateta has been a revelation upfront since Glasner joined, scoring 13 goals in 13 games. Before that, he had scored only 4 goals in 25 appearances last season. His season preparations have been disrupted by his appearances at the Olympics for France, though.
28-year-old Japanese attacking midfielder, Daichi Kamada, has been brought in as a replacement for Michael Olise, and he is expected to start the match. Kamada joins from Lazio, where he was a regular starter for the club and made several appearances in their run to the last 16 of the Champions League.
What have the managers said
Thomas Frank has revealed updates on the status of many players in the squad ahead of the game on Sunday. Most worryingly, Frank says Rico Henry and Aaron Hickey will most likely not feature in a squad before the September international break.
Rico Henry is reportedly playing training matches, while Hickey is on the grass but beginning with individual training and passing the ball around.
Regarding Ivan Toney, Frank said:
"The fresh news is that [Ivan Toney] trained out there with a big smile on his face - he looks sharp, with a good attitude, and is available for Sunday."
Thomas Frank on Ivan Toney
Unsurprisingly, Frank suggested Carvalho will be involved in the squad, and said of the player:
"[Carvalho] has looked good in training; he is a very exciting player - I like the way he is on the half-turn, the way he drives with the ball, the way he sets up other players, the way he can also score goals. I think he has a lot of quality."
Thomas Frank on Fabio Carvalho
Oliver Glasner made positive comments about his team, happy to have an almost entirely fit squad to choose from. He said:
“I’m very happy with the squad. Yes, it was a tricky pre-season because we had many players with their national teams: at the Euros in the Final, at the Copa America in the Final, at the Olympics in the Final. This week was the first week the squad was complete when JP Mateta arrived after the Olympic Final, so we have the players on different fitness levels, but we have a great mood on the pitch, we have a great mood in the dressing room and I'm very confident that we are ready for the start at Brentford."
Oliver Glasner is pleased with his squad, but recognises a disrupted pre-season with many internationals playing through the latter stages of tournaments.
“The fitness level, it's impossible after, like the English and the Colombian internationals, after ten days of training with one 60 minutes in a pre-season game, that you are on your highest standard or on your highest level."
Oliver Glasner observes some of his players will not be at their highest level.
Brentford star man
For the game to tip in Brentford's favour on Sunday, it is imperative to find Ivan Toney at his most confident. His return from his suspension began incredibly well, with goals earning crucial wins against the likes of Nottingham Forest, but his goal scoring form alarmingly fell off toward the end of the season and put his England squad place in serious doubt.
In previous meetings, Anderson has caught the eye with his ability to man-mark Toney and dampen his impact on the game. Toney will need to improve against his rival to link others into attacking phases and provide a goal threat for the Bees.
If Toney is nullified in the game tomorrow, Brentford will struggle to build any momentum and it is critical to chances of success he is in form.
Crystal Palace star man
With the loss of Michael Olise to Bayern Munich, even more responsibility for attacking flair will fall on the shoulders of Eberechi Eze. The attacking midfidler is the heartbeat of the side, a fan favourite, and a player who can make things happen.
Mateta may be a little out of sorts having only just returned with his Silver Medal from the Olympics, and Adam Wharton is a key man also operating in the centre of the park, but for the team to unlock a stubborn Brentford defence, Eze will need to pull the strings.
Predicted line-ups
Brentford: Flekken, Roerslev, Pinnock, Collins, Ajer, Norgaard, Janelt, Jensen, Schade, Toney, Mbeumo.
Palace: Henderson, Richards, Anderson, Guehi, Mitchell, Hughes, Wharton, Munoz, Eze, Kamada, Mateta.
Result prediction
2-1 home win. The previous meetings between these sides has consistently provided a draw, and while there is major hype surrounding the success of Glasner last season, a lot of their players will have some fatigue from the various international tournaments they participated in.
The loss of Olise is undeniably huge, and it will remain to be seen if Daichi Kamada has the pedigree to replace him and have an instant impact.
We wager not, and a firing Ivan Toney may be the difference on the day.
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