Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur: Premier League – live

Bit of Big Ange action:

“He gets it” is once of my worst footballing cliches – it’s not hard, there’s not much to get – but he gets it.

“Looking forward to new season,” chirps Yash Gupta. “Ange’s principles have been clear to see every time Spurs have played in friendly matches. Today’s match against Brentford is as tough as it gets since Brentford play their own way of football which has unsettled every team in the past. But I’m confident Spurs will win this. Thoughts on Udogie? Only played in friendly matches but looks like a real deal. A perfect combination of Ben Davies, Reguilon and Sessegnon.”

“How much was Udogie in the window” sounds like the start of a decent terrace tune, but I’m afraid I’m yet to see him play. Given Son will want to cut infield, he’ll have to be a one-man flank, but the inclusion of two defensively-minded midfielders should give him scope to do that.

They’ll find Wissa and Mbuemo a tricky proposition, but. It’s not that often centre-backs face two strikers, and handling a man each – a bristling, bustling man each – is very different to one between two. I’m certain Brentford want to get the ball forward quickly then get the centre-backs turned before they’ve settled.

Playing next to Van de Ven should help. I’ve not seen loads of him, but his, er, profile suggests the two can be a really good combination, each able to go in or sit off, build the play and dominate aerially.

I’m really interested to see what Postecoglu does with Cristian Romero, who has a lot of talent but, by 25, ought to have binned the hilarious but self-defeating wildness. If he can reduce the murderous scythes and ill-advised romps, he can be one of the best around – but that if is seriously sizeable.

This is tremendous. JAG is as woven into the fabric of football as any player.

“Thought I’d chip in as a Spurs fan,” writes my colleague Tom Meltzer. I’m pretty sure we’re playing a 4-3-3 (and will be all season) rather than a 4-2-3-1, based on what we’ve seen so far and Ange’s history. Maddison is the more attacking of two 8s, on either side of Bissouma as the 6. Make of that what you will!”

Yes, I can see that. But if Skipp’s a defensive 8 and Maddison allowed to roam, the end result will probably be fairly similar.

Talking of whom, he gives debuts to Guglielmo Vicario in net, Destiny Udogie at left-back, and Micky van de Ven at centre-back. Then, in front of them, it’s Yves Bissouma – who barely featured last term and Oliver Skipp, a muscular and aggressive, if limited pairing, while Richarlison gets a go up front with new captain, Son, operating from the left.

Ah, and here’s Frank, curtains and all, on Sky. He’s excited to get going at home – “hopefully we can make it rock and roll again” – and he’s glad to be an optimist, having lost Raya and Toney. But their replacements are very good, around them their teammates are growing, and though it’ll be hard to beat least season’s ninth position, you have to dream. As for Spurs, he notes they’ve replaced England’s no9 with Brazil’s, so they’ve made a couple of minor tweaks but not much has changed, and he’s been watching Postecoglu’s Celtic to get an idea of what he’s likely to face.

Frank gives a debut to Mark Flekken, who replaces the Arsenal-bound David Raya having arrived from Freiburg. Otherwise, Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbuemo are paired in Toney’s stead, and will look to get up against and in behind Spurs’ centre-backs.

I’ll write these down, then we’ll have a think about what they mean.

Brentford (a nails 5-3-2): Flekken; Hickey, Collins, Ajer, Pinnock, Henry; Janelt, Norgaard, Jensen; Wissa, Mbeumo. Subs: Strakosha, Schade, Dasilva, Zanka, Lewis-Potter, Damsgaard, Baptiste, Roerslev, Yarmolyuk.

Tottenham Hotspur (a flexible 4-2-3-1): Vicario; Royal, Van de Ven, Romero, Udogie; Skipp, Bissouma; Kulusevski, Maddison, Son; Richarlison. Subs: Austin, Sanchez, Davies, Perisic, Porro, Hojbjerg, Sarr, Lo Celso, Solomon.

Referee: Robert Jones (Merseyside)

If there was a dictionary of football – in fact, why isn’t there? – under “Brentford”, the given antonym would surely be “Tottenham Hotspur”.

That’s because Brentford are the very model of a modern major football club. The manager, aided by staff who share and support his vision, is secure in his job and doing it superbly, building a coherent, confident outfit whose output is far greater than the apparent sum of its parts; playing them is physical, demanding and extremely unpleasant.So, though in the absence of Ivan Toney, Thomas Frank needs to find another way, there’s no reason to think he hasn’t already boxed it.

Spurs, on the other hand; oh Spurs. Ange Postecoglu inherited a squad that is a quite stupendous mess, weak in every department and with its morale devastated by the tough hate of José Mourinho and Antonio Conte – foolishly appointed by Daniel Levy following his questionable-at-best sacking of Mauricio Pochettino. Who, of course, avenged the shame of it all by joining Chelsea and – in case you missed it – his big buddy Harry Kane has now also departed

However, there’s a however. Big Ange is precisely the personality Spurs – and, indeed, any football club – need. A inspirational, rabble-rousing dad you never had, his grasp of football’s emotional power and purpose allows him to envelop individuals and collective in a protective but challenging buzz, the way his teams play an expression of Aussie aggression and progression. If anyone can redeem the situation, he can – provided he’s given time to work – and James Maddison might just be the Dude’s rug he needs, tying the team together as things get going.

All of which is to say this has the makings of a terrific opening-weekend ruckus, so all we have to do is dive in and enjoy.

Kick-off: 2pm BST