Alan Pardew brought Braga to Tyneside for their only pre-season fixture at St James' Park to conclude a summer of games that have never really taxed his Newcastle side.
I'm sure the trip to Portugal was a decent idea, but the rest of the fixtures against poor Scottish opposition were planned to be a confidence booster that were never going to see his side put under much pressure.
The sad reality is United open their Premiership campaign at Man City next week ... and although it's nice to hear Steven Taylor insisting we are going for the win ... there are fans who are concerned the build up has been far too much of a trip down Easy Street.
The new season is looming large for Newcastle United, but the same old anxieties follow them into the new season.
The lack of attacking impetus is there for all to see, a big improvement in service from wide players is still needed and United need to find a way of taking control of home games.
Of course, the 1-1 draw with SC Braga was far from disastrous, but United will have to raise their game massively to cope with moneybags Manchester City next Monday.
The positives against Braga were the fact that stars like key men Hatem Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabaye are still here – for now – and will start the season fit and healthy, while the emergence of Paul Dummett is an unexpected bonus.
Oh, and Newcastle managed to score a goal from a corner!
But that lack of attacking threat and failure to create a good quota of clear-cut chances appears to be being carried over from last term.
If only Alan Pardew’s frontline had have been as dazzling Loic Remy’s flashy leather trousers. The on loan Queens Park Rangers striker was unveiled before kick-off on Saturday.
And the sooner he shakes off his calf injury the better as far as United fans are concerned.
Afterall, having been handed just one new signing he is all Pardew has to add to his team and freshen things up.
The man responsible for making United the JOKE OF THE SUMMER, director of football Joe Kinnear, watched on from the Milburn Stand on Saturday.
Certainly there was a never a stage against Braga when United could say they were in full control.
Pardew was as good as his word when it came to naming an offensive formation as he abandoned a 4-2-3-1 formation in favour of playing with two strikers in a 4-4-2 system.
A pity then that Shola Ameobi and Papiss Cisse were mostly starved of good service.
Hatem Ben Arfa and Jonas Gutierrez were the men entrusted to serve up the ammo, but after a bright start from the French playmaker had fizzled out, Braga were allowed to feel their way into the game.
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