Football Season's False Dawns: United, Spurs, West Ham, Rangers
Football’s new season is supposed to feel like Christmas morning. Fresh kit, fresh signings, fresh belief.
Then the wrapping comes off.
For fans of Manchester United, Tottenham, West Ham and Rangers, that giddy summer optimism has already been replaced by something far more familiar: the sinking feeling that nothing has really changed at all.
United’s revival talk stalls at the first step
Manchester United arrived at Hull City with a story they were desperate to believe in.
Third place under Michael Carrick last season. A squad that finally looked deeper, stronger, more balanced. New midfielders Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos in the door. Two promoted sides to open the campaign. On paper, it was the softest of runways for a club still chasing the shadow of Sir Alex Ferguson and that 2012-13 title.
The mood among supporters reflected it. "For the first time in years, I'm actually impressed not only by United's line-up, but the substitutes bench as well," texted Danny to BBC Sport’s live page before kick-off.
Ninety minutes later, reality had bitten hard.
Hull, promoted through the play-offs, played with the confidence and cohesion of the established Premier League outfit. United, 13-time champions, looked anything but. A 2-0 defeat to open the season was more than a bad day; it felt like another crack in the illusion of a club on the mend.
"As a Man United fan for 38 years if the last 15 years have taught me anything it is not to be optimistic," said Alec. "I laughed when I read how strong people thought our squad depth was. It's as deep as a toddler's swimming pool. Another long season ahead."
Even the journey home turned into a punchline. While United laboured on the pitch, news filtered through at the MKM Stadium that two trains back to Manchester had been cancelled. Hull fans seized on it, taunting the 2,400 travelling supporters with chants of: "You should have come in a taxi."
One game in, and the promised revival already feels like another false dawn.
Spurs spend big, stumble early
If United’s defeat jarred, Tottenham’s collapse felt grimly predictable to many.
After back-to-back 17th-placed finishes, Spurs tried to buy their way out of trouble. Jan Paul van Hecke arrived to shore up the defence. Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes were brought in to control midfield. The spending surged to £237m and counting. This was supposed to be the summer that changed everything.
Instead, the opening weekend brought a brutal reminder of old habits.
Brentford tore through them 3-0, exposing familiar frailties despite a line-up packed with new faces: Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Van Hecke and £100m man Tonali all started. The price tag did not bring resilience.
"Let's face it: Spurs have been through so many false dawns in the Premier League era that the only difference this time was the ludicrous amounts of money they've spent in the summer transfer window," said Spurs fan Mark.
Richard was even less surprised. "United losing at Hull was a surprise, but Spurs? Not at all. Two 17th place finishes on the spin! Lots of money spent on bang average players, £85m on a player relegated twice the last two seasons! Not surprised at all."
The money has changed. The league position, so far, has not.
West Ham’s promotion push wobbles on take-off
Relegation last season ended West Ham’s 14-year stay in the Premier League and left deep scars. The Championship was meant to be a reset, not a residence.
The club certainly acted like a side planning a short visit. Nuno Espirito Santo stayed on. The board backed him. Arne Engels arrived for a Championship record fee. Manor Solomon, Joel Piroe and Divine Mukasa followed. On paper, it looked like a squad built to bully the division.
Two games in, the script is already under attack.
West Ham threw away a two-goal lead at Burnley and had to settle for a point. Then came a 2-1 home defeat to Charlton. One point from six, and the promotion chatter has turned into something far sharper.
"Will someone put Nuno out of his misery," said fan Les. "He got the tactics wrong last season and is doing the same thing again. He should have gone at end of last season playing like this. We deserve nothing."
Mike, watching from abroad, sounded just as weary. "Sat in Corfu, and like a lot of West Ham fans, unsurprised by our start to the season. No no Nuno. You've had 33 games. If you were the guy for Forest and Wolves, fine. But you ain't for us. But enough is enough."
The Championship is unforgiving. West Ham are learning that quickly.
Rangers’ big reset already under scrutiny
North of the border, Rangers entered the season with bold plans of their own.
The club spent heavily again, bringing in 11 new signings. Derek McInnes arrived from Hearts after a memorable campaign there, and with him came captain Lawrence Shankland, the marquee figure in an aggressive rebuild aimed at reclaiming domestic dominance and making a mark in Europe.
The early evidence has been bleak.
Rangers crashed out of the Europa League qualifiers to Jagiellonia Bialystok. The team were booed by their own supporters. Questions over McInnes’ future have started before the season has even had time to breathe.
In the league, they sit on just one point from matches against Dundee United and Hibernian. The mood at Ibrox has darkened fast.
"Rangers are going nowhere! What has McInnes been training these guys," asked Bill. Graeme, a veteran of six decades watching the club, did not hold back: "I have been watching Rangers for over 60 years and this is the worst team I have ever seen."
Last season, Russell Martin never recovered from a stumbling start and was gone by early October. The memory of that short leash hangs over McInnes as the pressure tightens again.
The season is only days old. The transfer window is still open. Points, trophies, redemption – all of it remains technically possible.
But for four restless fanbases who spent the summer daring to dream, the familiar dread has already crept back in. How many more false dawns can they talk themselves into before something truly changes?
