There is an old cliche that you cannot win the title in August but you can lose it. The same idea perhaps applies to Tottenham's top-four hopes and their next three Premier League fixtures against Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.
Even if they win all three matches, the battle for Champions League places would probably remain close and the north Londoners would still have plenty to do in the final months. On the other hand, three defeats could leave Mauricio Pochettino's side adrift.
Maintaining their current position -- two points outside the top four -- would be a decent outcome.
But Spurs will need to improve to achieve that, following successive 1-1 draws at Southampton and Newport County.
The good news is they were missing seven key players on Saturday due to various injuries and ailments. Six of them would have a strong claim for starting in Pochettino's best lineup, and the hope is they will all be available for some, if not all, of this testing spell.
It would be a particularly big boost if Toby Alderweireld can start against United at Wembley this Wednesday, having missed the last 18 games with a hamstring injury.
It would also give Pochettino a tactical dilemma -- how to fit the Belgian back into his side.
Spurs' manager has generally favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation in the last couple of months, and his team won eight out of 10 matches before falling flat in Southampton and Newport.
He then switched to 5-3-2 for Saturday's FA Cup tie in Wales, but had to abandon that plan at half-time with his side trailing. A return to 4-2-3-1 -- along with the introductions of Son Heung-Min and Dele Alli -- helped the visitors get on top and equalise.
There is something to be said for sticking with 4-2-3-1, especially given Son's form on the left flank at Wembley. The South Korean has scored in his last five home league games and terrorised Everton when Tottenham last played under the arch, winning 4-0.
Yet Pochettino would only be able to pick two centre-backs, and would have to omit Alderweireld or Davinson Sanchez. Meanwhile, Spurs can look vulnerable in the full-back spots.
Kieran Trippier was carved to pieces by Manchester City's Leroy Sane in December and was at fault for Newport's opener.
Serge Aurier is therefore the first-choice right-back but, in his last outing, he was caught upfield a few times and Southampton got some joy from attacking the space behind him.
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At left-back, Ben Davies' lack of pace can be problematic against the top sides. He was memorably exposed by Sadio Mane at Anfield last season, with the Liverpool man scoring twice in the opening 18 minutes.
Danny Rose is certainly quicker, but he is just recovering from his latest injury layoff and has not played since Boxing Day.
None of this is ideal as Spurs prepare to face sides who boast pace and trickery in abundance out wide. Alexis Sanchez could make his Premier League debut for United on Wednesday, and Sunday's hosts Liverpool have frightening speed in their forwards.
The solution may be to use three centre-backs again, especially if Alderweireld can be one of them, as the two men on the outside can help to cover the spaces behind the full-backs.
The question then is whether to opt for the 3-4-2-1 system that was so successful last season, or the 5-3-2 shape that has been more prevalent for Spurs this term.
The issue with 3-4-2-1 is that it generally forces Pochettino to pick two players from Christian Eriksen, Alli and Son to play as dual No. 10s behind Harry Kane, whereas ideally all three would start.
The answer then is probably 5-3-2, with Eriksen and Alli playing in the wider central midfield positions and Son joining Kane up front, or playing slightly behind him at the tip of a midfield diamond.
Granted, that would mean Son would not be deployed out wide, where he is arguably most effective. However, this was the very system Pochettino used for the 4-1 home win over Liverpool in October, when Kane, Son and Alli all scored.
Ten days later the same setup produced Spurs' 3-1 victory over Real Madrid, even if Son watched that one from the bench as Alli scored twice from the advanced role with Kane.
That was Alderweireld's last appearance and it would make sense for Pochettino to return to that setup if his influential centre-back is fit.
Perhaps that is why Tottenham started with that system at Newport -- because they have been training in that formation.
It may not have worked against the League Two side, but it could still be the best approach for the heavyweight clashes ahead, giving Spurs the optimum balance between attack and defence as they bid to ensure they are still in the thick of the top-four fight in a fortnight's time.
Source: espn.co.uk