Tottenham Hotspur have begun the new Premier League campaign without a win or a goal, a situation that has left many supporters questioning the club's direction after a massive summer investment. Their most recent match, a 0-0 stalemate against Nottingham Forest, marked the first time in more than four years that Spurs failed to register a shot on target in a league fixture. The draw earned them a solitary point and underscored the difficulties the side is experiencing as they try to integrate ten new signings brought in during a £332 million spending spree. Roberto De Zerbi’s revamped squad has yet to find its rhythm.
The team’s opening three games represent their poorest start to a league season since 2008, and they head into Saturday’s home encounter with Everton hoping to claim their first victory. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, and Sky Sports News’ Tottenham correspondent Michael Bridge fielded a series of fan questions while the outlet also examined the statistics behind the early-season performance. Bridge’s summary of the fan sentiment was mixed. Some observers, such as one commentator who attended the Brentford defeat, argued that the lack of preparation was unacceptable but also acknowledged that Brentford deserved their win.
Others, like a supporter who watched the Newcastle clash, noted that Spurs simply lacked clinical finishing and that it was too early to sound the alarm. A recurring theme was the recognition that a squad with so many new arrivals and departures cannot be expected to click instantly.
One fan summed it up: “The first three games have shown me that you can’t expect everything to fall into place right away when you’ve had so many incomings and outgoings.” Injury concerns also featured prominently in the discussion. De Zerbi has publicly praised the medical department, emphasizing a collaborative approach aimed at preventing the kind of season‑long absences that plagued the club in recent years. He stressed that any decisions to substitute players early are driven by medical advice, not personal preference, and highlighted ongoing investigations into whether the pitch itself may have contributed to serious injuries.
The goal, according to De Zerbi, is to keep key talents like Mohammed Kudus and James Maddison healthy for the long haul. Strategically, several fans argued that without De Zerbi’s guidance, Tottenham could be flirting with relegation.
They pointed to his willingness to make tough roster choices—such as allowing Luka Vuskovic to leave for Brighton and signing Jan Paul van Hecke despite his contract situation—as evidence that he has earned the trust to reshape the squad. Yet, many agreed that the true identity of this Tottenham side will not emerge until at least November, given the overhaul of the captaincy, forward line, midfield, and defence.
Financial expectations add another layer of pressure. After spending over £300 million, the club is expected to compete for European qualification, ideally the Champions League, but at a minimum a Europa League spot.
Additional home fixtures in Europe bring significant revenue, so a mid‑table finish is viewed by some as the bare minimum target. On the pitch, Spurs’ inability to score is linked to a shortage of high‑quality chances. While the team sits around the middle of the league in terms of total shots, their expected goals (xG) per shot is the lowest, and their overall xG is the third‑lowest in the division, trailing only Coventry. The league average xG per game is 1.41, a benchmark Tottenham has yet to meet under De Zerbi.
Tactically, De Zerbi has experimented with three different attacking line‑ups in the opening three matches and has fielded ten different starters across his front three. In total, Tottenham have made eight changes to their starting XI in the Premier League so far, the most of any club and equal‑most after three games. This lack of consistency extends beyond the attack; the entire side has been reshuffled repeatedly as the manager searches for a formula that works.
Physical metrics are also troubling. Last season, De Zerbi’s Tottenham were outrun only once in seven games, a narrow escape from relegation on the final day.
This season, however, the team has been out‑paced in every match, ranking second‑bottom for total distance covered and 16th for sprint distance. The drop in work rate contrasts sharply with the higher outputs recorded last year and suggests a need for greater intensity, sharper attacking threat, and improved cohesion.
Fan reactions on social media reflect a spectrum of opinions. Some, like RichN, argue that it is unreasonable to expect immediate chemistry from a squad with nine or ten new first‑team players, especially when key creative figures such as Kudus, Kulusevski, Simons and Maddison are still sidelined or not fully match‑fit.
Others, like Russ K, feel the massive spending should have produced a stronger start and lament the absence of a reliable goal scorer, even suggesting Troy Parrott as a potential addition. Meanwhile, supporters such as Mitch L remain optimistic, believing the forward line will eventually click and praising the directness of new signing Savio Musa. A chorus of voices—including dbuk1, LF, and THFC‑TrustTheProcess—emphasize patience, noting that integrating a large group of newcomers takes time and that injuries have hampered the squad’s ability to perform.
Historical parallels were drawn as well. One commentator recalled the early days of Frank Lampard’s tenure at Chelsea, noting that “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” and likened the current Spurs situation to that period of rebuilding. Others highlighted De Zerbi’s reputation as a system‑focused manager, suggesting that once the players fully understand his tactical demands, the team will become more potent.
In summary, Tottenham’s opening three games have been marked by a lack of goals, a series of lineup changes, and physical underperformance. While the financial outlay and fan expectations create pressure for immediate results, many analysts and supporters agree that the true measure of De Zerbi’s project will only become clear after the squad has had sufficient time to gel, likely not before the autumn months. Until then, the club’s priority should be to stabilize defensively, create clearer chances, and allow the new players to adapt to the manager’s philosophy, with the hope that the goal drought will soon be a thing of the past.