It’s fair to say that the patience of Brentford fans has been tested this summer in terms of signings.
Dean Smith brought in three new faces – Daniel Bentley, John Egan and Romaine Sawyers - at the start of pre-season, but it was just the loan deal of Callum Elder and the non-contract signing of Emmanuel Ledesma from then until deadline day.
But on the last day of this summer’s transfer window, what seems like a couple of masterstrokes were achieved, as Rico Henry joined on a five-year deal from Walsall and Sullay Kaikai moved across London to sign on loan from Crystal Palace; two of League One’s standout players in 2015/16.
The three pre-season signings of Bentley, Egan and Sawyers were largely regarded as a big statement of intent as Brentford looked to build on their ninth place finish last season.
Former Southend stopper Bentley was signed as a straight swap for Fulham-bound David Button and while the latter endeared himself many times during his three-year stay, the former is regarded as one of the country's best goalkeeping prospects and has immediately captured the hearts of the Griffin Park faithful, with a heroic showing against Sheffield Wednesday last weekend doing his reputation no harm at all.
Should he continue in this vein of form, Jack Bonham will count himself incredibly lucky to get a look in once again.
John Egan is forming an intuitive partnership with club captain Harlee Dean following his signing from Gillingham, keeping record signing Andreas Bjelland out of the first eleven and even helping himself to a brace on his home debut against Ipswich Town last month.
The Dean-Egan pairing has helped achieve two clean sheets already, with just four goals shipped in five league games so far, but against Sheffield Wednesday the defence looked unsettled at times and Bjelland was brought on in the second half to form a back-five – an arrangement Smith had entertained in pre-season.
Meanwhile, it has to be said that Romaine Sawyers, who worked under Smith at Walsall, is noticeably still adapting to the second tier; joining a new club with the weight of expectation that being named in the 2015/16 League One PFA Team of the Year commands.
The talent is evident and now may be complimented and developed by the signing of a winger; a position that the Bees had been so distinctly lacking in.
Directors of Football Rasmus Ankersen and Phil Giles delighted the fans who had been expecting an unfulfilled deadline day on Tuesday when the club announced the captures of young pair Henry and Kaikai.
Another former Walsall employee, 19 year-old Henry joined Sawyers in the Team of the Year as the Robins reached the League One playoffs last season.
A left-back by trade, Henry will provide competition for newly-signed Leicester loanee Elder, and Tom Field, but the England U19 international is also competent playing further forward on the left as a winger.
But there’s just one catch – he won’t be able to compete just yet due to a shoulder injury that could require surgery; he’s signed a five-year deal though, so there will be plenty to time to change that!
Palace youngster Kaikai has spent the last two seasons on loan at Cambridge United and Shrewsbury Town and starred for the latter last season, topping their goalscoring charts with 12 goals in 29 games.
He has been at Palace since the age of 15 and a successful spell in TW8 should mean a shot at the first team, having had success at both League One and Two already.
So, Smith has signed the wingers he so desperately required but there is a clear void where a new striker was supposed to be.
Phillipp Hofmann’s future clearly lies away from Griffin Park, leaving just Scott Hogan and Lasse Vibe as senior strikers.
If the pair hit the form that saw them score 21 goals last season, Brentford should have no worries, but both have scored just a goal apiece so far and missing out on Exeter starlet Ollie Watkins could come back to haunt Smith.
He never could quite make the breakthrough to the heart of Brentford’s defence last season and it seemed best for both parties that Jack O’Connell returned up North to join Sheffield United.
The loss of Jake Bidwell and David Button, to rivals QPR and Fulham respectively, came as a shock to the system – especially given their destinations.
But while Button has been very well replaced in Bentley, Elder will have to work on his positioning to emulate his predecessor, having been caught out of position multiple times this season.
And if Henry is sidelined until the New Year – as per the current estimations – Elder has a little over three months to make the position his before any real competition comes his way.
