Thread by @BeesTactical

19/20 shot map for Josh Dasilva (21) in #EFLChampionship

With high impact goals from distance against Bristol & Millwall, we’re starting to see wonderkid Josh Dasilva make waves in men’s football.

His left foot is becoming an added dimension to Bees attack with almost 40% SoT

At home, #BrentfordFC tend to be patient in attack and try to dominate the ball on the edge of the opposition box waiting for openings. To counter this, defences narrow up and combine with a compact midfield immediately in front preventing all central direct routes to goal.

Feeding through balls to Watkins or an inverted winger in such a congested area is a difficult task so the play is then forced wide to an overlapping fullback to cross low towards the six yard box or cut back towards the penalty spot.

With defences already low and positionally set, sheer weight of numbers ask constant attacking questions.

Moving a defence enough to create space for premium efforts on goal has been an area of difficulty for Brentford at Griffin Park this year.

Other than Cocu’s Derby County, who looked tactically naive with continuous turnovers of possession in their own third, offered Brentford the chance to attack 2v2 or 3v2 and allow the transitional overloads they crave.

Wise teams have for years have come to Griffin Park to sit low and play for a draw or 1 nil victory. It hasn’t always worked but is part of the blue print for earning points in TW8.

Josh Dasilva may have created an issue with this tactic.

Daniel Bentley’s reaction to Dasilva's rocket from the inside right midfield position was telling.

The former Bee, now of Bristol City would have been aware of the lethal nature of his left foot when given the time and space to line up and focus on his strike.

It appeared that the plan was if Josh were seen to be in space, he needed to be closed down immediately by Bristol midfielders.

It didn’t happen.

Dasilva’s ability could force change in how teams primarily aim to defend against Brentford.

If a team wishes to opt for the low defensive structure, preventing the central through balls, they now have to decide whether to put more focus on engaging earlier, preventing spaces in the middle third. This could free up further space for central or wide attackings runs,

removing the predictable nature of the ball funnelled wide for the low cross into bodies.

Shooting from outside of the box and especially the wide angles are known to be low probability areas, but the outcome of Dasilva’s and one or two of his teammates prior distance efforts forces the opposition defensive tactic of the low block to be revisited.

While this wouldn't ever want to be Brentford's main attacking route, combining this new threat from range with what has been developed before combines to producing a more rounded attacking line.

Teams over the years have focussed on one way to stop Bees at Griffin Park, Josh Dasilva looks to finally be giving these teams something else to think about.