The Tottenham rollercoaster has worked to Thomas Frank’s benefit over the past fortnight.
In ordinary circumstances, the Spurs boss would have sat down for his press conference on Friday afternoon and been asked about an incredibly poor performance from his side against Bournemouth before the international break.
There would have been talk about bouncing back, learning lessons, and needing a firm response this evening for the trip to West Ham. How a London derby was the perfect opportunity to get things back on track.
At Spurs, though, the news cycle moves quickly and that Bournemouth defeat feels a distant memory. Since then, the club have signed Randal Kolo Muani on Deadline Day, left Mathys Tel out of their Champions League squad, and most notably of all, embarked on a self-declared new era by removing Daniel Levy.
With Xavi Simons in line for his debut at the London Stadium and Kolo Muani also set to be in the squad, Spurs have the chance to make a fresh start on the pitch too.
A complete reset is, of course, not needed, Frank’s side having enjoyed an impressive opening to the season before that stumble against Bournemouth.
However, that match did throw up questions over team selection and, in particular, the midfield balance, answers to which could be held by Simons.
Spurs have lacked creativity in the middle of the park in the opening weeks of the campaign, creating chances more through pressing and turnovers than opening teams up.
James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski remain long-term absentees and so the burden to prove the final-third spark falls on the shoulders of Simons even before he has kicked a ball in a Spurs shirt.
An insight into that responsibility came with the release of a Spurs training video this week, in which coach Matt Wells made it clear he wanted the Dutchman to relish the freedom given to him.
He shouted: “Find Xavi. Good, good. Go on Xavi, you create, you create. Whatever you want.”
Mikkel Damsgaard shone for Brentford in the No10 role last season under Frank, but the Dane has not had anyone to hand the creative keys to at Spurs.
Pape Matar Sarr has done an impressive job in a more advanced role and brings relentless running power, but it is unfair to expect him to provide an incisive pass to break down a packed defence.
Simons can do that and should bring out the best in others as well. Brennan Johnson’s pace in behind becomes a far more potent weapon with Simons on the bench, while the Dutchman’s presence alone will stop Mohammed Kudus being double or triple marked.
A reminder of a dramatic ten days will come in the stands at the London Stadium, when members of the Lewis family watch on and Levy is no longer present as the public face of the club’s hierarchy.
More important to Frank, and indeed Spurs fans, will be whether change on the pitch is as noticeable. Simons will not need to do much to endear himself to supporters, but a statement display against West Ham would give his Spurs career immediate lift-off.
