YOU can see why Harry Kane was having second thoughts about leaving for Bayern.
Because playing Ange-ball just looks so much fun.
ReutersCristian Romero headed Tottenham into the lead[/caption]
ReutersBryan Mbeumo equalised from the penalty spot[/caption]
In the end, the few enjoyable weeks he spent working with Ange Postecoglou were not enough to dissuade Kane from calling time on his trophyless time at Spurs.
But he would have had a wry smile watching this, if he did indeed tune in from Bavaria.
Only time will tell if Postecoglou’s hell-for-leather approach will be successful in the Premier League, let alone end their 15-year hunt for silverware.
But it is going to be a thrilling ride whatever happens and surely Kane would have scored a hatful playing in it were he still here.
In the England captain’s absence, Postecoglou wanted his side to share the goals around.
And their two here came via defenders, first from Cristian Romero’s header and then Emerson Royal’s rocket, either side of a Bryan Mbeumo penalty and a Yoane Wissa strike.
All four goals came in a frantic first half that could not have delivered more in terms of entertainment value.
The game had been delayed six minutes due to a lack of WATER at the Gtech Community Stadium.
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST NO DEPOSIT CASINO OFFERS
But Spurs fans, bored by the defensive tactics of Antonio Conte, Nuno Espirito Santo and Jose Mourinho, will have felt refreshed by Postecoglou’s attacking style.
No wonder the travelling supporters were singing his name before half-time even arrived.
Postecoglou threw in four debutants, including three in his backline in the form of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie and the newly-arrived Micky van de Ven.
It was James Maddison, though, who stole the show and became an instant hit with the supporters.
It was he who both won and fired in a devastating free-kick which Romero thumped home with a header inside 11 minutes.
Romero had earlier suffered a clash of heads with Mbeumo and was subbed off straight after the goal.
The Argentine did not want to come off, and for a second it looked as if we would have a repeat of the Kepa Arrizabalaga-Maurizio Sarri situation at Chelsea a few years ago.
But eventually World Cup winner Romero trudged off and was given a bear hug by his boss, who had made the sensible choice.
ReutersRomero was substituted immediately after his goal[/caption]
GettyMbeumo celebrates his Brentford leveller[/caption]
Son Heung-min was named captain after Kane left but it was the South Korean who gave away a penalty on 23 minutes when tripping Mathias Jensen.
Referee Robert Jones did not initially give it but was consulted by VAR to check his pitchside monitor and pointed to the spot.
Mbeumo, on spot-kick duties in Ivan Toney’s absence, dispatched it past Vicario, who had been booked for dissent just before.
Tensions threatened to boil over in the dugout too as Spurs assistant Ryan Mason and Brentford coach Claus Norgaard were also cautioned for clashing.
With ten minutes to go to the break, Brentford went ahead as the rapid Rico Henry exposed Spurs’ high line and cut the ball back to Wissa.
The striker’s shot was on-target but weak, yet Van de Ven somehow managed to divert the ball past Vicario.
There was 11 minutes of injury time and within that Spurs levelled as Maddison nudged the ball to Royal, who smacked it home from the edge of the area.
Brentford should have retaken the lead just before half-time when Henry fed Mbeumo but somehow the Frenchman blazed over from six yards.
The helter-skelter pace inevitably calmed after the break with far fewer opportunities.
Yet with two minutes to go, Maddison squared for Richarlison, the man who will now get his chance with Kane gone.
But Brazil’s No9 saw his shot blocked and the chance was gone.
It left fans wondering what Postecoglou’s side might have been capable of had Kane stuck around.
Yet even now he is gone, there was enough here to suggest it will not be all doom and gloom without him.
On the contrary, Spurs under Postecoglou look the most fun in years.
ReutersYoane Wissa put Brentford 2-1 up on 36 minutes[/caption]
GettyEmerson Royal equalised during first half stoppage time[/caption]