The fact everyone agrees the subs were poor and there’s not really any debate says it all. It goes back to last season when we kept throwing away leads. Thinking of Arsenal in particular where Tomkins came on at a time we were dominating and just invited pressure. It was the same thing last night- we were in control, Brentford were stretched which suited our counter attacking ability and he then takes off all flair and skill and brings on defensive players. It was a clear signal to Brentford to go for it and go for it they did and in the end we were lucky to get a point. Luka obviously was terrible- just fouled and gave the ball away. Not his fault but he’s just not a premier league player anymore so why he’s being brought on I don’t know. Hughes a far better option.

What I also noticed was that when Mitchell came on, Ward shrugged his shoulders and looked really confused. He didn’t have a clue what system we were going to. That back 5 really doesn’t work imo. We can say it worked against Liverpool but really on another night if Nunez brought his shooting boots we’d have been 3 or 4 down at half time.

Just because you can now make more subs doesn’t mean you have to.
As someone else alluded to, it smacks of Sunday football by giving players a game for no reason as we had been comfortable and the changes definitely unsettled us.
This is the 3rd goal we have conceded in 5 games this season from an unchallenged header around the six yard box and clearly this has to stop.
Anderson and Guehi have been great for us but can switch off from crosses and Vieira suggested post match that we needed to stop the crosses coming in as well.
He said the changes were made because he had noticed that Brentford had come back in other games this season through use of subs and he wanted to respond.
Although the reasons may have been sound it has to be acknowledged that they did not work as it had the effect of inviting pressure .
As Wilf said in this situation surely it’s preferable to go for a second goal to kill the game off. There would have been more space as Brentford pushed for an equaliser.
It was not by any means a terrible performance, but I hope that we have learnt lessons from last season about throwing away points.

The strangest thing about the subs was that prior to them defensively we were denying Brentford any chances and looked solid, so why change formation? Playing a right-back at left-back can actually work with the way every winger wants to cut inside these days (as it puts the defender on their stronger foot) and Ward stopped Mbuemo a couple of times, while I don't remember Clyne being worked too hard. Toney was getting frustrated as Andersen wasn't giving him a sniff and we dealt with their Tony Pulis style set-pieces and throw-ins fairly comfortably. Then Vieira makes the changes, the shape goes and no-one seems to know their role, meaning Wissa is unmarked to score.

In games where we're not going to go direct I almost wonder if we might as well just stick Ayew up top as at least the ball sticks to him and he has the energy to keep closing defenders down. Edouard and Mateta especially often seem unable to hold the ball and neither puts much pressure on the defence in terms of closing down. Mateta has shown he's great if you get the ball to him in the box, but outside of it he offers little more than being a nuisance.

Like Brentford, Newcastle are a very well organised, physical and well drilled team, but with more quality. If we play like last night we'll lose. On the plus side Olise played really well given he didn't have a preseason and if he stays fit should start sharpening up his end product, which was not far off. Also Doucoure was a beast. What happens between now and 11PM tomorrow could well define the rest of our season.

Yep spot on for me, G#1 too.

We played in second gear for the most part, they ran well but declined as match wore on. Was a game where neither side really earned a win.

Now Zaha's got a bit of green grass ahead of him here... and finds Ambrose... not a bad effort!!!!

There is nothing wrong in just saying Brantford deserved their point, they caused us problems from the very start and can understand our subs based on our slender lead.

That's what happens when you willingly cede possession through applying a defensive mindset and not competing in other areas of the park, most notably the midfield. One would have thought that being a midfielder in his day Vieira might know this, yet he keeps making the same error. Perhaps, as I suggest, we are just too thin in the midfield to play a sustained competitive game in that area.

Edited by southnorwoodhill (31 Aug 2022 8.39am)