One man who isn't sticking the boot into Tottenham Hotspur is Unai Emery.
The former Arsenal boss remains bullish about Spurs' outlook with Roberto De Zerbi at the helm, despite the Lilywhites' winless and goalless start to the Premier League season.
Emery is in the glass-half-full camp ahead of Aston Villa's trip to North London on Saturday. His team is in a similarly tough position towards the foot of the table, having lost the core that guided the Villans to Europa League glory last season.
They, too, are in the midst of a 'gelling-in' process that's facilitating short-term pain for, hopefully, long-term gain.
Neither fanbase, though, will want to spend the next three weeks ruminating after their misery was compounded on Saturday afternoon.
Emery believes De Zerbi will immediately guide Spurs back to Champions League
"Tottenham, I expect them to be in the top four," Emery said in his pre-match presser on Friday (via Jacob Tanswell).
"I respect De Zerbi, and he needs time… tomorrow is a huge challenge for us. He's a fantastic coach, and the players, they are contenders more than us to be in the top four. I expect them to be in the top four. Hopefully, we can fight with them and beat them, but in the beginning, they are contenders."
While there were expectations that De Zerbi's Spurs would enjoy a distinct upsurge this season and likely compete for Europe, few would suggest now that they're primed for a top-four finish. Emery must be attuned to the underlying metrics. Touches in the opposition box do not lie, folks.
I certainly believe there's reason to be encouraged by what we've seen from the Lilywhites over the past three games, but Emery hasn't merely said what he said to wax lyrical. The Spaniard's tempering expectations for his own side while indirectly increasing the pressure on the hosts. De Zerbi's ego will doubtless appreciate his kind words, mind.
This is no 'El Sackico', but it's a huge game for both teams, perhaps one neither will want to lose. There's been so much doom and gloom in N17 over the past few weeks, with Sky Sports intent on showcasing every sombre match-going supporter to feed the narrative of supposed discontent.
The majority are still in a resentful mood after our summer splurge, keen for the suffering to prolong. How dare we spend so much money after back-to-back 17th-place finishes!
It may just take one positive result for the mood to shift, and Villa's visit, ahead of a buffer international break, represents the perfect time to ignite our season.
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