Tottenham Hotspur aren't in a fantastic spot at the start of the Christmas period. Thomas Frank's side have been inconsistent in the Premier League, only winning six of 17 matches, and thus, languish in 13th place.
This is actually an improvement on last year under Ange Postecoglou's wing, with the Europa League-winning manager's single-track-minded attack on the continental front coming at the expense of any kind of fluency in England.
Frank has been under-fire for much of his tenure this season, but Spurs have been through many head coaches in recent years, and the reins must not be taken from him until he has had long enough to build a lasting project.
Where, then, are the Lilywhites meant to go? Well, there's no question that Frank needs more leadership from his key personnel, and the recent loss to Liverpool raises the question as to whether Cristian Romero is the best fit to wear the armband.
Why Romero may not be the best fit as captain
Romero was aggrieved when Hugo Ekitike's goal was allowed to stand. The Argentina centre-back felt he had been shoved by the 23-year-old striker, and his every movement was trailed by a haze of red mist thereafter.
He was a ticking time bomb, and journalist Alex Crook even went down the incendiary route of labelling the 27-year-old as representing "all that's wrong with Tottenham".
That's somewhat harsh, as was the follow-up that the skipper is an "absolute liability". However, there is a truth in there, with Romero lacking the composure and subsequent calming effect on his teammates.
Heung-min Son led Spurs to a trophy, ending the club's interminable drought. Romero, perhaps, was the wrong man to don the armband after him, but Spurs do actually have a Romero upgrade cutting his teeth who may replace him in more ways than one down the line.
Spurs already have a Romero upgrade
The likes of Kevin Danso and Ben Davies make up numbers in the Tottenham senior squad, but neither of them is good enough to cement regular starting berths under Frank's wing.
However, with time and care and determination, Luka Vuskovic has what it takes to become a superstar down N17, a defender with the potential to leap past Romero and Micky van de Ven.
Aside from the fact that he's an elite prospect, Vuskovic has also been hailed as a "monster defender" and a "natural leader" by analyst Daniel Scouting, and his performances on loan in the Bundesliga with Hamburger SV have showcased his capacity to succeed in the Premier League.
His metrics already show him to have similarities and perhaps even gains on someone like Romero, winning an obscene amount of duels despite his youth.
He has the trappings of a colossal, world-class centre-back. Vuskovic is only 18. He truly has everything he needs to become a Premier League sensation, perhaps emulating Son before him in becoming a stalwart captain for Spurs. A "freak talent", as he has been called by analyst Ben Mattinson, the sky is the limit for this talented teenager.
Son left the club during the summer, and it's probably fair to say that Romero has not quite matched his influence in terms of influence as a captain, with his recent red card evidence of that.
Vuskovic is only young, but he could go from strength to strength not as a formidable defender but an all-inspiring leader besides. A future captain. After all, content creator Fiago has even claimed he's "the best 18-year-old center back I've ever seen in my life."
Vuskovic certainly has the skills, aggression and confidence to rival the likes of Romero in the future, and his natural-born leadership could see him prove an upgrade on a ferocious Argentine who is thwarted by his own recklessness and hot-headedness.