Tottenham Hotspur finished 17th in the Premier League last season, and with the final stretch of the current campaign ahead of us, find themselves stuck in that same spot under interim manager Igor Tudor.
This time, though, the stakes are a lot higher, and the Londoners are not competing for European silverware - or any silverware, for that matter.
And this time, Tottenham are embroiled in a bona fide relegation battle, with Sunday's loss against Nottingham Forest heightening the fear that they will fall into the second tier.
This cannot happen. There is enough quality to fight off the rot. However, whether ENIC Group stick or twist with Tudor remains to be seen.
The latest on Spurs' search for a manager
If Tottenham do decide to back their interim manager until the end of the season, it's almost a certainty that he will be thanked and waved off ahead of the summer transfer window.
There's a sense that the onus is now on the players to rise to the occasion, and it's crucial that they do, not just to preserve Tottenham's Premier League status but also to ensure that cogs fall into place for a successful new chapter at the club.
After all, there appears to be an elite manager who's interested in taking on the job.
According to The Telegraph's Matt Law, talks have been held with Roberto De Zerbi, who has confirmed that he would be interested in taking the Spurs job this summer.
That's conditional on Tottenham staying in the top flight, though, and while he's unemployed, the Italian doesn't appear keen on moving to N17 ahead of the final phase of this fraught campaign.
Manchester United are also firmly in the mix, so this is going to be a difficult one to navigate.
Why De Zerbi could be perfect for Spurs
In the 46-year-old De Zerbi, Tottenham would be getting a somewhat controversial manager, but maybe a big personality such as his could be what the side need to put things to rights.
It didn't go to plan for Mourinho at Tottenham, but the legendary manager is among a number of top coaches who have fallen by the wayside in the Tottenham dugout.
Bringing in De Zerbi would mark a shift to a young and enterprising new gaffer, but it would also see a larger-than-life personality step in to whip these beleaguered players into shape.
He has a wealth of Premier League experience with Brighton & Hove Albion and a front-footed, unique style of football to help rekindle the culture and ethos in north London
De Zerbi knows the Premier League, of course, and he has established himself as "one of the best managers in the world" over the past few years, as was noted by his players at Marseille.
At Brighton, Adam Lallana said he was "blown away" by De Zerbi's tactical brain, and while he's something of a contentious character at times, De Zerbi is a coach who players want to follow into the trenches.
In that, his likeness with Mourinho only deepens, though perhaps he would enjoy a different effect at Tottenham than the Portuguese, who was sacked unceremoniously by Daniel Levy.
There's no question that Tottenham have been derailed by injuries over the past few years, but even the most compelling argument would do little to earn the forgiveness of the fanbase, should they be relegated this season.
Perhaps the fact that De Zerbi is interested in taking on the job even against the backdrop of such internal strife makes it all the more frustrating.
A top manager such as the Italian recognises the potential of this outfit, though he understandably would have reservations about taking the reins if they did tumble into the second tier.
It is crucial that relegation from the Premier League is avoided.