Jon De Souza said he had mixed emotions at the end of Brentford’s 2012/13 Development Squad season.
The Bees finished fourth in the Under-21 Professional Development League Two South table, four points behind the top two, Charlton Athletic and Cardiff City, and two behind Brighton and Hove Albion.
Brentford’s Development Squad also reached the Middlesex County Senior Charity Cup Final, where they lost to Uxbridge.
The Bees pushed all the way to reach the top two in the league which would have given them a place in the end-of-season play-offs against teams from the northern section but defeats against Colchester United and Queens Park Rangers late in the campaign left them short.
Charlton eventually won the competition, beating Cardiff in the final.
Development Squad Manager Jon said he was pleased with a fourth placed finish but felt The Bees could have won it.
He was also pleased to see some Development Squad players making First Team appearances.
“If, at the start of the season, from a team perspective, you would have given me fourth in the table I would have taken it,” said Jon, speaking to Bees Player last week.
“We got so close and did so well but results against Colchester, in the last game of the season, and QPR disappointed me.
“We could have finished in the top two and won the league.
“The final of the league was between Cardiff and Charlton and we were very much in the title race with those teams.
“I feel if we had gone in to the Play-Offs we would have had a real chance.
“Overall, I am disappointed because we could have won the competition.
“But, compared to where we were at the start of the season and last year, I am happy.
“We had two First Team debuts from those in our group this year – Aaron Pierre and Charlie Adams, Antonio German played a few games and we had some successful loan periods.”
Jon said he did not watch the final, which Charlton won 3-1 after extra time, but felt the best team won the competition.
Charlton beat Huddersfield Town to reach the final while Cardiff beat Leicester City in the last four.
He said it was a credit to everyone at the Club that Brentford beat Charlton in March challenged the three Championship sides all season.
“I didn’t watch the final but I saw it went to extra time and Charlton won it,” said Jon.
“I know Charlton beat Huddersfield 6-1 in the Semi-Finals and Cardiff beat Leicester, who are very good.
“Charlton won the competition and I think they were the best team.
“We beat them here but they were very good in the first half and were very good against us at their place.
“The best team won it.
“We competed all season.
“We finished four points off the top and until the last game were really involved.
“For a club like ours, that hasn’t been running an Academy for years like Charlton and Cardiff and who can’t call upon Championship players, it’s a credit to everyone.”
Jon made the move to full time Development Squad Manager last summer after the 2011/12 season where he had taken charge of both the Under-21 group and Under-18 Youth Team.
He said that helped him and the players to develop
“It helped the players.
“It was great for the younger ones last year to have one training group.
“The first and second year scholars were tested regularly but I don’t think it tested the older players, Under-19s like Aaron Pierre.
“The Development Squad players have been able to kick each other on this year.
“I was happy with the Youth Team last year but less so with the Development Squad – I have to take some responsibility for that.
“Having one group was always going to make it hard.
“It has improved this year and the players have improved but there is more to come.
“It was a series of things that helped.
“Last year I was working with 25 players, this year it is 11.
“The quality of what I was able to do this year was better.
“The quality of what they could do was better as a result.
“We had more games this year, which helped.
“You can give more time to individuals when there is a smaller group.
“It enables us to focus on strengths and weaknesses.”
Jon said the Under-21 league had really helped the players prepare for First Team football.
Games were played in all sorts of conditions, which tested the players and helped them learn.
“We had three games in a row, we were right in the title mix,” said Jon.
“We played at Ipswich in a blizzard; the pitch was covered in snow.
“We played Charlton, it poured with rain and anything other than a league game would have been off.
“We then played QPR and it was minus conditions.
“That is what football is about.
“It’s lovely to play in the sun in August but First Team football is about getting results in those wintry conditions.”
An end-of-season interview with Jon De Souza was broadcast in three parts – Bees Player subscribers can see it here, here and here.