Everything is coming up Tottenham Hotspur, which means the innate pessimist is fretting tirelessly about the upcoming home clash against Crystal Palace.
Pierre Sage is certainly on the hot seat after overseeing back-to-back Premier League defeats, including a 5-0 thrashing at A23 rivals Brighton & Hove Albion. Steve Parish is giving the Frenchman time to turn things around, having inherited a difficult situation at Selhurst Park, and they were unconvincingly victorious at Fulham in the week, meaning a Carabao Cup quarterfinal awaits in December.
This fixture represented one of the lowest moments in Spurs' 2025/26 season. It was the night when a fanbase agreed in frightening unison that relegation was a genuine possibility. But things have changed in N17 since, with successive victories ensuring the mood is much brighter after an unproductive opening.
Roberto De Zerbi's side were outstanding at Stamford Bridge, and it'd be all to Spursy if we toiled without reward against a Palace team that has been incredibly easy to play against so far.
Here's how Tottenham could line up on home soil this weekend.
Defense: GK Antonín Kinsky - RB Pedro Porro - CB Jan Paul van Hecke - CB Micky van de Ven - LB Andy Robertson
Encouragingly, De Zerbi changed tack at the Bridge after overseeing his first Premier League victory of the season against Coventry City five days earlier.
Palace are likely to go down the Coventry route of blocking space and playing on the counterattack, so De Zerbi should be aggressive with his team selection. However, with Pedro Porro back in the mix, I don't think there's a need to go for a back three, matching the visitors.
The Dutch centre-back duo, outstanding last week, will keep their spots, as will Robertson. Destiny Udogie's status remains up in the air.
Midfield: DM Sandro Tonali - DM Mateus Fernandes - AM Omar Marmoush
Tonali was left on an island against Coventry, but utilised higher up the pitch last time out. The pair have to work in tandem again, with Fernandes particularly outstanding in west London.
Palace are unlikely to press high, posing an alternate challenge to Tottenham's midfield. The onus will be on Tonali to break in behind and overload Palace's defence, while Fernandes will be tasked with orchestrating Spurs' possession play from a deeper role and creating amid periods of sustained pressure.
Assuming James Maddison won't be risked due to a groin injury, I'd like to see the versatile Omar Marmoush assume No. 10 duties. We don't need Conor Gallagher from the outset here, and can afford to experiment with the Egyptian.
The technically secure Marmoush won't replicate what Maddison offers as a build-up reliever, but he's such a threat from range.
Forwards: RW Mohammed Kudus - CF Dominic Solanke - LW Mathys Tel
Dominic Solanke will operate as a box presence up against Palace's three so-so centre-backs, and there will be opportunities for the English striker to build his Premier League goal tally on Saturday.
Solanke is set to be supplied by Mohammed Kudus, who played an unsung role in last week's win, from the right, and Mathys Tel on the opposite wing.
Tel's moment at the Bridge will reside in Tottenham folklore in perpetuity, and De Zerbi has to give the Frenchman the chance to build on his performance. Spurs expertly isolated Tel one-on-one last time out, with Robertson proving a big help from left-back.