Stephen Bradley has confidently expressed that critics should judge his team in November, with Shamrock Rovers sitting bottom of the table going into a big game with St Patrick's Athletic on Friday night.
Two defeats and a draw in three matches sees the Hoops struggling, albeit with a game in hand at home to Cork City to come.
Traditionally slow starters, they came close to winning a fifth league title in succession last week and narrowly missed out on the final day of the league.
The growing strength of the Premier Division may make a mid-season charge up the table more difficult this campaign.
Recruitment has also been an issue for Bradley, missing out on some targets and signing three players in the aftermath of doing so.
Rory Gaffney and Sean Kavanagh have re-signed for the club, while free agent Sean Robertson has also joined having spent last year with Derry City.
The Hoops have had to cope with the knockout matches in the UEFA Conference League at the start of this year as well as last season being extended into December because of league phase matches.
Despite having much to deal with in an unusual schedule, Bradley feels it will be a successful season in Tallaght.
"We just need to tidy up on some small bits and we'll be fine.
"[Bottom of the table] is not a position you're used to, certainly. We're fine.
"Look, it's three games. I think I've always said you judge us and this team and this club in November, and that remains the case."
The latest defeat to Sligo, on a tricky pitch, was a setback given the Bit O' Red had lost their three matches so far this season.
Bradley points to the shots on goal ratio as to why he feels they should not have fallen to defeat, ruing the concession of two setpiece goals.
"We lost a game last Monday playing against a team that didn't have a shot on target. I would have taken those odds before the game, but you have to defend set plays better and that's what's cost us.
"We'll trust what we do, trust the process, and we know throughout the years what we do works. So it's nice and calm, tidy up on what need to and come November, that's when you judge us."
Injury problems remain ahead of the match with Pat's on Friday, a game which will attract over 7,000 spectators to south Dublin.
Danny Mandriou, Lee Grace, Darragh Nugent, Trevor Clarke and Adam Matthews and the re-signed Kavanagh remain out.
However Gaffney and Jack Byrne could be set for more prominent roles in this encounter.
Michael Noonan has been a regular starter at the age of 16, which is not an ideal scenario, with the hope Gaffney could be able to handle more minutes than his two substitute appearances so far.
"I thought Rory did really well on Monday, but again, we have to remember that both have been out for the best part of a year, so it's going to take a little bit of time to get both up to speed," Bradley said.
"But we know the quality that both bring to the group when they are ready."
