A superstitious reason to remain positive after Tottenham's 3-0 loss
As Chas and Dave's 1991 hit song goes, "It's lucky for Spurs when the year ends in one." In that same superstitious vein, it may not be all that bad for Spurs when the year begins with a 3-0 loss.
Tottenham Hotspur got their 2026/27 Premier League campaign underway on Saturday on the wrong side of a 3-0 loss to Brentford at the Gtech Stadium.
Roberto De Zerbi's new-look side struggled to cope with the energy of Keith Andrews' impressive Brentford, with new signing Mamadou Sangare producing a man-of-the-match performance.
First-half goals from Keane Lewis-Potter and Vitaly Janelt, and Michael Kayode's close-range finish shortly after the break summoned Spurs to an opening-day drubbing.
The Tottenham hierarchy has gone all in for the coming season, with more incomings seemingly imminent. On top of that, a host of starters are set to return in the coming weeks and months.
Another aspect that might give some hope to Spurs fans is that the last time they began their Premier League campaign with a 3-0 loss, they went on to have a season that few fans would refuse right now.
Turning 3-0 into Top 4; Tottenham's 2011/12 season
The only other time in the Premier League era that Tottenham's league campaign began with a 3-0 loss was away to Manchester United to begin the 2011/12 season.
Second-half goals from Danny Welbeck, Anderson, and Wayne Rooney ensured that Alex Ferguson's side took the three points over Harry Redknapp's Tottenham, who were unsettled by rumours of Luka Modric's departure from North London.
Modric did stay for one more season, and Spurs did recover from their opening-day hammering at Old Trafford. Eventually.
A 5-1 loss to Manchester City followed the Manchester United loss before Redknapp's charges found their rhythm. Premier League cult hero Brad Friedel was a mainstay in the Tottenham goal while Modric pulled the strings with Van der Vaart in the engine room.
Gareth Bale continued his upward trajectory after reviving his Tottenham career under Redknapp, while Manchester City loanee Emmanuel Adebayor scored 17 Premier League goals on the way to a fourth-place finish for the Lilywhites.
Admittedly, the year did end with some disappointment owing to another London club's European fortunes. However, who says no to a fourth place spot right now?
What can De Zerbi take from this?
Honestly? Absolutely nothing. 2011/12 has long since passed, and most of the current Spurs side may not even be able to name a large number of their 2011/12 predecessors if they were shown a squad photo.
The loss to Brentford, however, will allow the Italian to take stock and highlight the areas that still need improving. One such area that sticks out from today is sure to be the attack. However, with new signings imminent and some old faces on the mend, perhaps it's not long before we see such an improvement.
Fans have a right to feel downbeat after such a loss in the first game of a season that has promised so much after a summer of spending. For now, however, let your superstition, your nostalgia, your God-given delusion win out. It's a long season yet.
