Spursy. It's a tag that Tottenham Hotspur just can't seem to shake off.
Ange Postecoglou tried, and in a way, succeeded, ending 17 years of desperate lunges for silverware by winning the Europa League title last season, defeating Manchester United in the final. But what's come since has typified the Spursy tag.
Last week, the much-maligned Thomas Frank was given a merciful end to his time in the dugout. Any longer would have been a slight against a talented coach whose attempt at the job had not worked out. It had been untenable for a while already, long before that dismal home defeat to Newcastle United.
Frank's time at the helm spilt to the floor all the goodwill that had been poured into a cup. A European cup. But that cup proved a poisoned chalice for a club who have since spiralled out of control.
At the epicentre of the problems has been Cristian Romero, an immensely talented centre-back who just so happens to be Spurs' mutinous captain.
The latest on Cristian Romero's future
In 2023, Lionel Messi declared that his countryman Romero was "the best defender in the world". International allegiance suggests bias, but there's no question that Messi knows a thing or two about a good defender, having bested so many over the years.
The Argentina international is indeed one of the best in the business, but he's also volatile and hot-headed, as his red card against Manchester United illustrated earlier this month.
Romero will be absent when Spurs host Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, and given that he is showing all the signs of mutiny ahead of the summer transfer window, it's likely that ENIC Group will look to cash in and reshape their club's backline going forward.
A tough ask, even with Micky van de Ven already at the heart of Spurs' defensive system. But it's a fact Spurs must face, with the 27-year-old tipped to move away this summer, suitors from Spain preparing offers.
While Romero's departure would call for the addition of a high-profile replacement, Tottenham may want to look closer to home as they seek a route forward, with an incredible young talent in line to make his debut next season.
Spurs already have the perfect Romero replacement
Tottenham's problems cannot be pinned down to any one area of the pitch, and though they were toothless in attack under Frank's wing, there have also been fragilities at the back for too long.
Considering this, Romero's departure could prove a detrimental blow, but with Luka Vuskovic set to make his competitive bow in a Spurs shirt next season, there's cause for confidence yet.
Vuskovic is only 18, and yet he's emerging as one of the most talented centre-halves in Europe, currently out on loan with Hamburg in the German Bundesliga.
A modern-day defender, he is technically gifted and aggressive, developing out on loan in a manner similar to that of Arsenal's William Saliba, who joined that club from St. Etienne in France as an 18-year-old in 2019. Saliba spent three years out on loan in Ligue 1 before arriving in the Premier League as a polished, world-class star.
Now, Vuskovic could repeat that trick down N17. A threat in the attacking box, he's "turning into a goal machine", according to U23 scout Antonio Mango, and he is also one of the most robust and energetic defenders in Europe, averaging 8.3 clearances per game and winning 77% of his aerial duels.
This is absurd, especially for someone so young, but his sustained level over the year suggests he has what it takes to replace Romero at Tottenham next season, especially when you consider how he will be partnered with a bona fide superstar in Van de Ven.
The Croatian prospect is not the finished product, but that's only fuel for the argument that he could become one of the best in the world, something Spurs scouts recognised when they signed him from Hajduk Split, aged 16, in 2023.
Could Vuskovic be expected to perform with the same gusto and authority as Romero from the get-go? No. But he could certainly play an important part next season and beyond, growing into his skin as one of the most exciting young defenders in the world, someone who can lead Spurs back into the ascendancy.
You never know in football, but it does appear as if Romero will leave Tottenham this summer. At least the club will bank a pretty penny.
A new defender will be needed, for sure, but with Vuskovic flying back to England at the end of the season, this might just be a positive turning point for the Lilywhites.