It really hasn't gone to plan for Tottenham has it.
Their summer spending spree under Roberto De Zerbi was supposed to usher in a bright new era, consigning successive 17th-placed Premier League finishes to the history books. One month in to the season they have two points, haven't scored a top-flight goal and are out of the Carabao Cup.
Ahead of a Saturday lunchtime visit of ASTON VILLA, the final game before a three-week international break, pressure is mounting.
Villa are rebuilding themselves, though with a greater sense of calm and realism earned through years of stability under their current owners and manager. They have a point fewer than Spurs and have only scored one league goal, but bad starts are nothing new to them.
A year ago Villa were L2 D3 and had scored two after five matches. In 2023 they lost 5-1 at Newcastle on opening day. A season earlier two wins from their open 11 fixtures triggered the sacking of Steven Gerrard and arrival of Unai Emery.
There are already positive signs. Wins at Club Brugge (3-2) and Coventry (3-1) in the Champions League and Carabao Cup, and players continuing to return to fitness to strengthen Emery's options, with marquee summer signing Johan Manzambi making his second successive substitute appearance in midweek.
In its current guise this team looks better suited to playing away, adopting similar tactics to those effectively used by Everton in last weekend's goalless draw at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a result that extended Spurs' horrendous record to just five wins in their last 36 home league games.
It's flabbergasting that the hosts are even money, with VILLA TO WIN at 27/10 and NO GOALSCORER at 12/1 advised.
The latter looks huge considering these teams have scored once between them in the league this season and had three goalless draws across their opening eight league games.
But with so much against Spurs, and Emery the master when it comes to tactically outwitting the opposition, it's not hard to envisage an away win and the deepening of Tottenham's crisis.