Bees signings excite - for a change (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Bees signings excite - for a change

10:42am Friday 8th July 2011

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After last week’s ‘I’m not getting excited about Brentford’s signings’ rant I fear may have just been forced to eat my words.

Clayton Donaldson, please stand up.

I can’t remember the last time the Bees signed a striker who a) wasn’t over the hill, b) coming back from injury, or c) had scored most of his goals in youth team football.

Not to mention the fact other clubs higher up the league ladder had tried to sign him as well.

Okay, so Charlie MacDonald had banged in a few at non-League level, but he’d never really established himself anywhere until he arrived at Griffin Park.

Donaldson, under the eye of management legend Dario Gradi, arrives having notched 49 goals in 130 appearances for Crewe Alexandra – 29 of those strikes coming last season.

The 27-year-old is still the right age where his 'goal-every-other-game' career record might attract a sizeable transfer fee should that form continue in League One.

Coupled with MacDonald and Gary Alexander it seems a strike force with plenty of options, although I hasten to add 'on paper'.

This, my friends, is a watershed week in the history of Brentford and I bet Tonbridge Angels are quacking in their boots.

Owner Matthew Benham's purse strings seem to have been loosened a little, although sources inside the camp will say the Bees are by no means spending beyond their means. (Ed.- I like what you did there).

Bees boss Uwe Rosler, fresh from an early scouting trip in Yeovil this week, has said he is still to dip into the loan market for the coming campaign.

Expect a couple more arrivals in the coming weeks with Premier League reserve teams top of his hit-list.

He says he is the man to take Brentford to the next level and his moves so far suggest that is his intent sooner rather than later – only time will tell.

The euphoria over Donaldson's arrival is only tempered by the not insignificant departure – from these pages at least – of E(R)C Comedies founder Will Gore.

Rumour has it he may return for the odd guest appearance, but these are yet to be substantiated and they certainly won't happen until he has returned from his literary tour de force in Cleethorpes.

For now I leave you to reflect – in your own time - on his greatest hits.

No doubt you can't forget the poetic battering he got from one Twickenham-based reader or his many memorable solo flights in the E(R)C podcast studio.

His view from the Ealing Road maybe gone, but it will not be forgotten and if you see the self-styled Cannonball Kid on the terraces thank him for the memories.

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Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here