Lee Carsley said one of his main aims for Brentford’s Development Squad in 2015/16 will be to tighten up defensively.
The Bees ended the Under-21 Professional Development League Two season eighth in the southern section table but were only four points behind Ipswich Town, who finished fifth.
Brentford were second top scorers in the league, behind Crystal Palace, but only Bristol City, who ended up bottom, conceded more goals.
Lee, who manages the Development Squad, told Bees Player at the end of the season he wanted to improve the defensive record.
“We have some good players going forward,” he said.
“We focussed on attacking play, scoring goals, shots, crosses and creating chances.
“We had the worst defensive record and that was something I will be making a conscious effort to improve.
“We have to have more pride about defending as a team in general, one mistake shouldn’t lead to another, another, another and a goal.
“We have some good players and the defensive side is not about four defenders and a goalkeeper, it is about mentality.
“We conceded goals from free kicks and corners, you need awareness of the threat.”
But Lee said his primary aim is to get players in to Brentford’s First Team squad.
The Bees released six players at the end of the season while Joe Maloney made the transition from playing to coaching.
Towards the end of the campaign Brentford used Under-18 players in Under-21 matches to test how they would do when they join the group this summer.
“The question we ask is at what point will a player no longer progress,” said Lee.
“The players we have taken on for next season still have a lot to come.
“You have to find the balance between not giving a player false hope and understanding there is a lot of development left in them.
“The older they get the time line gets shorter.
“A one-year contract is probably only three or four months.
“If they have not broken through to a loan team or the First Team by Christmas, it probably won’t work for them.”
Development Squad attacking midfield player Jermaine Udumaga got his chance with the First Team group this season.
Jermaine scored 12 goals in 24 games for the Under-21s in 2014/15 and contributed many assists.
He was called in to the First Team squad towards the end of the Sky Bet Championship season and was an unused substitute on four occasions.
Other Development Squad players have made an impact elsewhere, particularly Alfie Mawson who has spent the season on loan at Wycombe Wanderers.
Alfie won a host of Player of the Year awards at Wycombe and was also named in the top three of the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Year list by the division’s managers.
“Jermaine gave them group inspiration,” said Lee.
“Jermaine was as far away from the First Team as you can get at the start of the season.
“It is only through his hard work, goal scoring and the way he conducts himself off the pitch, that he got his chance.
“It no mean feat to get in to this squad.
“It is always a bonus to have a player in and around the First Team.
“I have seen Alfie three times this year for Wycombe.
“It is not easy to go out on loan at get a league club.
“That he has done so well tells us about his character and his ability.
“It is a great thing for him that he has made such an impact.”