FULL TIME: Brentford 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur

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Righto, that is us. Thanks all for your company and comments, sorry I couldn’t use them all. Enjoy the rest of the weekend, check bak either here or on -site for our match report, and peace out.

Updated at 11.26 EDT

“Spurs were fun to watch today, first time since Poch was in charge, reckons Ron Stack. “Much better than 90% boring, 10% Kane. Need a better striker, though. And tighter defence. Not sure about the keeper, either. But fun!”

I’d agree with that. I worry that, Maddison aside, there’s not much magic in the squad, but the proactive, aggressive style will make them interesting, at least.

“Spurs need a new striker,” reckons Yash Gupta. “While his off-field views have a place in my heart, Richarlison looks a headless chicken to me on it.”

I’m not sure. I’d give him a little while, but I worry he won’t score enough and no one out wide or in midfield will compensate even if he plays an important roll holding the ball up and occupying the opposing centre-backs.

And, of course, you should be joining the great Rob Smyth for the champagne game of this opening weekend.

Also going on this afternoon:

‘I need to play at the highest level’: Harry Kane explains move to Bayern Munich – video

“On the subject of football rule changes,” tweets @foolhandy, “how about leaving well alone for a while rather than constantly looking to make changes? It’s a game and will never be ‘perfect’ anyway…”

No one needs it to be perfect, but the penalty law is, in my opinion, egregiously out of whack with how the game works, to its detriment. I’d never want to limit myself and adjust or not adjust as a matter of principle; either something needs changing or it doesn’t.

A fair result, and reasons to be cheerful for both sides.

90+3 min Yup, Bissouma is given player of the match. Fair enough.

90+3 min Neither manager will mind I draw, I don’t imagine. Brentford are still good, while Spurs have done alright having been dealt a tricky start. We can see the beginnings of a style settling, but Postecoglu will have to buy superbly to make his side competitive.

90+2 min Spurs have Brentford boxed, moving the ball from side to side as they seek a space. Brentford, though, defend well, Pinnock up to head away a hopeful cross.

90 min We’ll have four added minutes; I’m not expecting a winning goal.

89 min Nice from Spurs, Perisic curving a fine ball down the left for Maddison, who does similarly, another outside-of-the-footer – yes, that is a noun – squaring for Richarlison, who should really feint to work a shooting lane but instead lashes one directly into the nearest pair of shins. He’s not had a good afternoon, unable to force his way into the game.

86 min Jorgensen appears down the right and slings over a cross that bounces up; then, when Mbuemo leaps into a ball back in, does it hit Royal’s hand? I don’t think it does, then a ball in behind releases Schade, who tries a shot lofted over Vicario as he comes out; the ball goes over, the men collide, and again, no penalty is the correct call.

85 min Bissouma has had more touches than any other player and it feels like Alan Smith is preparing to name him man of the match. I don’t suppose I can argue with that, especially when a foul that gives Mbuemo a chance to stick a free-kick into the box is wasted.

Yves Bissouma holds off Christian Noergaard in a decent all-round display from the Spurs midfielder. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Updated at 11.03 EDT

84 min Final change for Brentford, Jorgensen replacing Ajer.

82 min Nice feet from Mbuemo, stepping over the ball and sliding Roerslev away down the right. But his cross is poor, which reminds me of how little we’ve seen Henry this half. I’ve not noticed anything Spurs have changed, they’ve just had more of the ball – I think – though I’m surprised Brentford haven’t found a way to find him at least a couple of times.

80 min “On the subject of penalising fouls in the box,: says Simon McMahon, “might a sin-bin be the answer? I’ve never understood why football doesn’t use one anyway, but maybe penalty-box fouls could result in a direct free-kick and 10 minutes on the sideline? And while we’re at it, red cards for serious foul play only, and not after a second booking for taking your shirt off/kicking the ball away.”

I like the second half of that, but I think we might see the first part abused in the closing stages of games, when the attacking side would prefer a shot not playing against a man fewer.

78 min Now then! A poor touch from Van de Ven sees Schade appear to nip in front as they pursue a looping bouncing ball … but the defender does really well to recover, getting body in road before a tangle sees both players fall. Schade wants a penalty, but that’s a good challenge.

76 min Damsgaard finds a bit of space down the right and Maddison, who’s been booked and now wears the armband, shoves him over. He needs to be careful, because that challenge was on a par with some we’ve seen garner bookings.

76 min “Have to disagree on Bissouma’s ceiling based on various games against the biggest teams in the league where he’s been the best player on the pitch, says Titan. “For me the only question is whether he can reach that ceiling on a consistent basis.”

That’s what I mean by ceiling; every player in the league is capable of being brilliant occasionally; I don’t think he’s got it in him to be brilliant regularly.

75 min Now two changes for Spurs: Son and Skipp off, Sarr and Perisic on.

74 min All those changes look like-for-like, which makes sense: Brentford have a system, and they’re sticking to it.

73 min A triple-change from Frank with Wissa, Hickey and Norgaard coming off; Roerslev, Baptiste and Schade replace them.

71 min Nice from Udogie who, isolated by Mbuemo, does everything he can to infringe the laws without inciting the ref, grabbing him by the waist on the blind side before coming away with the sphere.

70 min This has not been as fun a half as the first, or anything like it. Spurs are controlling the play fairly well without creating much, while Brentford are struggling to get the ball forward as quickly as before.

69 min “The Band,” says Mary Waltz. “Canadians and an American interpret classic Blues and Americana into an absolute beauty of a string of albums. In football terms they were a group of incredibly talented group of musicians that sacrificed their individual talents to the service of the song and the band. In the age of guitar heroes who sometimes wallowed in self indulgence Robertson was a brilliant writer and player who knew the song was the star. RIP.”

Agree.

67 min Meanwhile, join Rob Smyth for the buildup to our second game…

65 min Bissouma is also playing fairly well today, showing for the ball and using it sensibly. I don’t think his ceiling is as high as Spurs need it to be, but he’s certainly better than the few seconds allotted him by Conte.

63 min Maddison, who’s playing well, finds another pocket and slides in Richarlison at inside-right; Flekken parries the eventuating shot to safety.