West London triumphant

I do hope that Chelsea’s victory in the Champions League does not overshadow the return to the top tier by Brentford after 74 years.

Manchester United v Brentford was not a fixture that would have surprised my dad Stan in 1946.

Now it’s a reality for his son.

After 1947 Brentford were the also-rans of West London in the shadow of Chelsea, Fulham and QPR.

They produced some fine players like Allan Hawley, Stuart Houston and Peter Gelson but never looked like regaining top flight status.

Over the last few years Chairman Matthew Bentham has created a progressive club with enterprising mangers like Andy Warburton and now Thomas Frank.

It also developed a brilliant scouting network that meant they could sell £50 millions’ worth of forwards last season, sign Ivan Toney and win the play-offs in which they had hitherto a lamentable record.

I have always thought that Pep Guardiola has an overrated reputation.

When he favoured goalkeepers with good feet as last line of defence the rest followed. A cool guy in his cashmere sweaters he has helped by the biggest budget. Yet in a final he plays no out-and-out striker!

There is no point in having overlapping full backs and crossers of the ball if no one is at the end of it.

Talking of strikers, Radio 5’s coverage presented by Steve Grossman descended to new levels of dumbing-down with Andreos Townsend’s comment on Timo Wener:

“Other that he cannot score, he is the perfect striker …”

Werner lived up to this paradoxical billing by missing two easy chances in the first 20 minutes.

Gareth Southgate will be pleased.

Ben Chilwell, Kyle Walker, Phil Foden, Mason Mount, John Stones and Rahem Sterling were on view.

Declan Rice can solidify the midfield and there are Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins up front.

I worry about goalkeeper and central defence but this is the basis of a good side although can they beat Portugal who can field Patricio, Cancelo , Dias, Pepe, Selmedo, Carvalho, Neves, Fernandes, Jota, Ronaldo and Felix.