Time for a little perspective. Despite what you may have read in the Daily Mail, this season is not a disaster. No, we’re not playing the champagne football that we deserve, but we’re winning more than we’re losing and we’re still in all competitions.

Martin Samuel’s article in the Mail was negative and fictitious. It carried a headline in which Samuel claimed AVB had blamed his players for the defeat at Manchester City, shirking responsibility and dividing the squad. I watched AVB’s post-match interviews, all of which are still available online, and he very clearly said “we” feel ashamed. Not “they should.” I loved Harry Redknapp, but anyone could see that when we lost he used to refer to the team as “they” and when we won it was “we.” But Harry is a media darling and he would never have been subjected to the sort of articles AVB had to put up with.

In the last two years, we have sold three of our best players, three match winners, in Modric, Bale and van der Vaart. In my opinion, we were right to move van der Vaart on, but it can’t be denied that he scored a lot of important goals in big matches. Modric made us tick during his time at the club, and since we sold him we have struggled to score goals, as we have lost the play-maker who can play an incisive, defence-splitting pass. Gareth Bale helped mask that problem last season by single-handedly converting draws to wins. Again, I can’t argue with selling a player for the sort of fee he commanded, but there is defnitely a Bale-sized hole in the team at the moment.

We signed 7 new players this summer. Some have settled in better than others. Most have spent some time sidelined through injury. As a result, we have not fully clicked yet, and it’s clear to see that we struggle to score goals. In spite of this, we currently have our second highest points total after 15 games in the Premiership. We have taken one point more than we took from the corresponding matches last season. We are 3 points from 2nd place, and 5 points in front of Manchester United.

This season was always going to be a transitional one. We are coping with that transition incredibly well. Our negative goal difference is the consequence of two hidings from West Ham and Manchester City. 9 of the 16 goals we have conceded arrived in 2 matches. On the flipside, we have conceded only 7 in the remaining 13- an enviable record. While I would never excuse a thrashing at the hands of West Ham, City, or any other club, I believe those defeats came about because when we went two goals behind, we lost our shape and our heads because we knew that we didn’t have goals in the team. Players pushed forward like schoolboys in the hope of creating something leaving large gaps behind which were exploited. But a 6-0 thrashing is no worse points-wise than any defeat.

Certain sections of the press clearly have an agenda against AVB, or against Spurs, or both. I very much doubt that Martin Samuel will write a piece about David Moyes next week assassinating his character. The press are being very understanding of the amount of time Mr Moyes needs to settle in. But whenever Spurs lose, certain hacks wheel out ridiculous comments about how, after spending £100m, Spurs should be challenging for the title. I, for one, cannot remember a team that finished 5th challenging for the title the next season. It’s just Spurs-bashing hyperbole.

During December, the games come thick and fast and those teams with the best squads should capitalise. We have a real test next weekend against Liverpool, but will be in the fortunate position of being able to rest key players and give some of our youth team a run-out midweek in the Europa League. Therefore, we will benefit from the extra rest and rejuvenation that the Liverpool squad have benefited from so far this season. They were knocked out of the League Cup in the third round, and having not qualified for Europe I believe they have elevated themselves so high up the table due to the extra rest. I don’t believe they can sustain their challenge when the inevitable injuries occur. Spurs, Chelsea and Man City have the best squads in the Premiership, and I’m hoping that the squad will see us through the rigours of playing every three or four days better than some of our rivals. While Arsenal have great strength in depth in midfield, they certainly do not up front or in defence. Fingers crossed, they come unstuck.

One player who appears to be available in January is Dimitar Berbatov, who bullied Michael Dawson for 90 minutes against Fulham and provided the glorious pass that allowed Dejagah to put them in the lead. I’d love him back at Spurs to provide competition for places and a different option from the bench. However, I doubt that Daniel Levy would sanction a move for the Bulgarian, due to the bad blood at the end of his spell at the club. I fear, however, that if we don’t go in for him, Berba may end up at Arsenal. He would be the perfect fit for them on an 18 month contract. Experienced, Premier League ready cover should Giroud get injured. The sort of class act that would doubtless come off the bench and win them a game against one of their main rivals. Fingers crossed it doesn’t happen.

Let’s keep things in perspective. If we lose a match, it’s not the end of the world, and there’s no need to start the AVB Out tweets and talk. Things could be worse. Just ask Manchester United fans.