‘That’s a good question,” Thomas Frank acknowledged, and it was far from the only one that the Brentford manager faced as he sat down to preview his team’s home game against Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening. Or, to bill it another way, and how everybody is doing: Ivan Toney’s comeback from an eight-month ban for betting offences. Is the Brentford striker fuelled by a sense of injustice?
Unexpectedly, the response was not up to par, despite Frank typically being the go-to for a stellar answer. He is always willing to participate, contemplate deeply, and provide insightful responses. During the conversation, when he was questioned about the possibility of Toney receiving criticism from rival fans, he referenced David Beckham after the 1998 World Cup. “I hope that won’t occur, but I anticipate there will be some playful teasing and perhaps even more severe criticism,” Frank expressed.
Regarding the issue of unfair treatment, Frank acknowledged that it could give Toney an advantage and it seems like a reasonable place to begin exploring the intense emotions that have consumed the player since November 2022, and possibly even earlier. This is largely due to Toney’s own determination and drive.
The 27-year-old has recently done multiple interviews following his suspension in May. He admitted to 232 violations of the Football Association’s betting regulations over a span of nearly four years, starting in February 2017.
Toney expressed his distress in multiple instances about the FA’s decision to publicize the news in November 2022, right before Gareth Southgate announced the England squad for the Qatar World Cup. The initial report of Toney’s potential betting violations was released by a newspaper, not the FA, and he had not yet been formally charged at that time.
Toney believed that the information exposed made it unlikely for Southgate to choose him for the team. He also felt that not being selected for the World Cup was a greater consequence than the eventual suspension he faced. However, he questioned why the decision to suspend him was not made until May. Toney shared on The Diary of a CEO podcast, hosted by Steven Bartlett, that it felt like someone was deliberately trying to prevent him from playing for England.
Toney informed Bartlett that the authorities had used him as a demonstration due to his reputation. He also mentioned that players in lower leagues who had violated the betting regulations were not punished as harshly.
The text discusses Toney’s apparent hesitation to apologize for his actions. When asked if he was sorry, Frank responded that he believes Toney is, but also acknowledges that Toney recognizes his mistakes and takes responsibility for them. “Sorry” is a significant word, and while Toney may have done things differently if given the chance, he chooses to move forward instead.
Frank aimed to emphasize Toney’s natural talent for staying present during a game, quickly putting aside any distractions. From an outside perspective, it may seem like Toney is seeking revenge on the Forest defense, but according to Frank, he is simply driven by his natural instincts.
Frank said that the way he approaches football is reflective of how he lives his life. He always looks to move forward, even when faced with obstacles or unfairness. He does not let anger dictate his playing, but instead uses smiles, energy, and positive thinking to guide him.
“Ivan excels at maintaining his focus, constantly moving on to the next action, shot, pressing situation, set, or link-up. He knows to let go of any mistakes or successes and continue building on the next opportunity. This is a highly valuable skill and one that is evident in top-performing players.”
Frank’s press conference had a higher turnout than usual and the Brentford press officer, Chris Wickham, received a chuckle during his opening remarks. “I want to make it clear that we will not be answering any questions about Ivan Toney,” he stated. Towards the end, Frank inquired about the number of attendees. “Twenty-six? Is that right?” he exclaimed. “Let’s aim for 30! Come on, we can make it happen!”
Toney made a significant return to the Premier League, comparable to Eric Cantona’s comeback after his infamous kung-fu kick. Additionally, Frank wished to highlight another impressive return by Christian Eriksen for his team Brentford in February 2022. This was Eriksen’s first game since his cardiac arrest during Denmark’s first match in the European Championship in June 2021.
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Frank stated that although there are differences, he sees similarities between Ivan and Christian, who was also not technically injured. Despite the unexpected events that occurred, Christian was able to bounce back quickly and Frank anticipates the same from Ivan.
Frank noticed a similarity between Toney and Cantona in their strong self-assurance. Frank shared a story about a conversation between defender Charlie Goode, who is close with Ivan, when Ivan joined the club from Peterborough in 2020. Despite not scoring in the first four games, Ivan confidently stated that he would break the scoring record in the Championship by scoring over 30 goals. And he did. Ivan exudes confidence and believes he can score in every opportunity.
There are still many unresolved issues with the Toney controversy. During his initial interview with the FA in May 2022, he denied placing bets on matches. However, he later confessed to doing so, with a caveat during his interview with Bartlett. Toney stated, “There were some bets in the 232 that I do not remember making, but I was willing to take accountability in order to resolve the situation.”
Toney explained to Bartlett that he did not intentionally deceive, he simply had trouble recalling the information being asked until certain items were presented to him. He also remarked that if he simply denied any wrongdoing, there would be no consequences as nothing would be found against him.
Toney’s recent statement to Sky about his uncertainty regarding a potential transfer to a top club this month was not well thought out, but it likely reflects his intense ambition. During the initial four months of his suspension, he faced challenges in maintaining his mental well-being, especially since he was not permitted to train with Brentford. Additionally, he has had to confront the consequences of his gambling habits.
Toney is eager to progress to the next step. According to Frank, he has the same enthusiasm for playing football as an eight-year-old boy. It was also confirmed that Toney will play against Forest and serve as captain in place of the injured Christian Nørgaard.
Despite Toney’s absence, the match would still have garnered a lot of attention: a depleted Brentford team determined to break their five-game losing streak against Forest, who sit one spot above them in 15th place and are facing potential point deductions for violating financial regulations. However, with Toney in the mix, it becomes even more of a must-watch event.
Frank stated that the current situation is ideal for Ivan, as it aligns with his typical preferences. While the game could have been scheduled for an inconvenient time and location, it will instead take place at home, in the evening with the added atmosphere of floodlights. This will definitely enhance Ivan’s performance.
Source: theguardian.com
