Things might feel very different had Ange Postecoglou completed his first Tottenham season in reverse.
Had his team careered through springtime on a run of 10 games without defeat, collecting 26 points in fearless fashion to finish fifth to return to European competition, it would have been called good, solid progress after those problems at the start to life after Harry Kane.
As it is, Postecoglou’s debut season is unravelling to its frayed and unsatisfactory end, with a lingering fear in the background, what if he’s been found out and you simply can’t play this way in the Premier League?