LONDON — Parading down the street in expensive new “clothes” prepared by a pair of weavers who claimed the fabric was only invisible to those incompetent or stupid, the Emperor of this timeless parable is met by an awkward public too insecure to point out that he is naked. It took the outburst of an otherwise oblivious child to expose the ugly reality in front of everyone.
Brentford delivered that eye-opening blurt, breaking the illusion of Xabi Alonso’s early spell in west London with a brilliant 3–0 win on Friday night. Suddenly, this side which had been hailed as ruthless going forward (if chaotic defensively) looked toothless and timid—and still wide open at the back.
