A lot of comparisons have been made last night and this morning between the attitudes of James Tarkowski and Alan Judge.

Both the subject of laughably low bids from Burnley in the week Brentford are due to play them – one plays his heart out for his current employers and endears himself further to their fans, the other decided he doesn't want to play.

However, the comparison I'm going for is between Tarkowski and Jota, the Spanish wizard who has is set to return to his former club on loan while he sorts out some personal issues in Spain.

Now, without going into any detail, what I have heard of Jota's 'personal issues' would make an Eastenders scriptwriter blush, and if true, I cannot really blame him for wanting to return home.

Shining example: Alan Judge

Okay, if, as expected, Jota is lining up for Eibar again before long, it will mean Brentford won't have a thoroughly distracted and demoralised player on their hands, but the bottom line is, they didn't have to do it.

They could have made him stay, see out his contract, rot in the reserves – all the things Tarkowksi may have to look forward to – but I believe Brentford did the decent thing by the player in the circumstances (while also trying to protect their investment, no doubt).

How are they rewarded for their generosity? With a slap in the face from a player whose own personal circumstances relate more to throwing a wobbly at not getting his desired move back to the north-west, and an advanced pay packet, quick enough.

At first, after the initial 'let him rot in the reserves' etc, I thought why not bring him back into the team at Preston next week? He would then have the choice of either eating humble pie and playing well, thus earning his move when the price is right, or deliberately playing badly and seeing his star tumble.

Personal issues: Jota

But that was far too hopeful and simplistic. If Tarkowski were to pull on the red and white stripes again, it would be such an unpopular move that he would become a distracting sideshow. He has surely played for the club for the last time.

So was Tarkowski acting on the advice of his agent? If so, the agent probably thinks he's played a blinder, forcing Brentford's hand, while letting the world at large know that his client doesn't want to play for his club again.

I've got no problem with players furthering their careers, but the way in which Tarkowski has tried to engineer a move stinks. Thankfully, Brentford are no longer a club who will take the first bid for a player and run all the way to the bank, as Burnley found back in August, and will hopefully find again over the next couple of weeks.

I hope they, or someone else, come back with a sensible bid, as having a player as good as Tarkowski sitting sulking on the sidelines will do nobody any good. But I would rather that than see him leave for below market value, and Brentford must stand firm here. For the first time since the débâcle over Mark Warburton's departure, the watching media on their side, and who knows – even our beleaguered owner may get a sympathetic line or two?

As for Tarkowski, he was probably hoping he would get the same sympathetic line Andre Gray did when he asked not be in the starting line up against Ipswich back in August. The difference? Gray was happy to be named as a sub, came on, played his heart and scored the goal to spark a thrilling comeback. He then bagged another against Bristol City the following week and went off to Burnley for the right price and with the best wishes of most Bees fans.

Tarkowski has denied himself the chance for any kind of redemption like that. Gray claimed his head wasn't in the right place after what seemed like weeks of intense transfer speculation, and while I recall feeling slightly peeved, I was satisfied enough that he was on the bench and would keep trying his best until a deal was done.

Tarkowski cannot claim the same. Could his mental state have changed that much in the two days between playing against Middlesbrough on Tuesday night, and telling Dean Smith he didn't want to play against Burnley on Thursday?

So long, James. I liked you as a player, but you have now become a pariah, and I hope for everyone's sake that Burnley, or whoever else, come in with the right bid – because I also really hope Brentford are willing to play hardball on this one. Their statement yesterday tells me they are.

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