On a more serious note (and thank you for the opportunity to once again post my favourite emoji and Twitter link

) there was absolutely an "uptick" from the crumbling ashes of the Conte/Stellini/Mason implosion - and wasn't finishing "5th" (although that is by definition an "uptick")
It was the fact that we played
football again. Lovely football. Breathtaking at times. The fact it didn't last does not change the fact that we did it - however brief it was.
The end of 22/23 season was diabolical. I didn't think I'd ever see Spurs play "football" again. Didn't think the squad were capable of it after the 5 years of having it trained out of them. Instead, from the very first pre-season game Postecoglou just changed EVERYTHING about our style.
It was surprising, astonishing and glorious.
And then it all fell apart. Fine. Icarus dies - that's how these things play out.
But don't tell me there was no "uptick". That 10 weeks was the only time (apart from the Scum game in 21/22) where the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium felt like White Hart Lane.
Anyway... as Palace twist the knife of our impending relegation I say all of this to just remind myself that great change can happen if someone wills it. There is always some hope...