One reason that Frank de Boer failed at Crystal Palace and his reign lasted just 77 days was because he tried changing too much too soon.
In that sense, this goalless draw against Brentford was not necessarily a bad thing for new manager Patrick Vieira given the high number of player departures this summer.
On Vieira’s Selhurst Park bow, a little more possession was among the tweaks in style under the Frenchman.
But there was also still a familiar rigidity, structure and discipline to Palace — an insistence on ensuring they had bodies back, did not overcommit or play too expansively going forward.