Frank questions whether Bees need new striker
Thomas Frank admitted doubts over whether Brentford need to sign another new striker after Halil Dervisoglu’s impressive debut.
The Turkey youth international started in the 1-0 FA Cup third-round win over Stoke after just a week of training, having arrived from Sparta Rotterdam in late December.
The Bees are in the market for a new striker this month as they look to push for top-six finish, but Frank has been given food for thought by the new arrival’s impact.
“Honestly I’m in a little bit of doubt signing a new striker,” Frank said. “We know Halil is a good player and he showed today we can use him.
“Hopefully can Ollie Watkins can keep going like he has and there is no problem, and obviously we know Bryan Mbeumo can play there too.
“It will be an ongoing talk but we have followed Halil in Holland, although you want to have him in your own hands, and I’d like to see him playing with the normal starting 10 players.
“I think Halil needs to do very well to knock Ollie out of the team but I think he can be an impact player quite soon. He showed why we signed him; smooth movement, nice turns, nice touch, the way he was gliding past his opponent.
“I’m 100% sure when he is playing more minutes with his team-mates they will find him more and he will understand the game more. I think he showed he is an interesting player.”
Emiliano Marcondes’ strike put Bees in the fourth round and Frank heaped praise on the nine fringe players that came in and impressed at Griffin Park.
“All my wish list was fulfilled today,” he said. “The result, the performance, the attitude. And we showed we have a philosophy right through the club so we can make so many changes.”
