Tottenham Hotspur have kicked off the new Premier League campaign with a barren spell that has left them without a win or a single goal. Their opening match against Nottingham Forest ended in a goalless stalemate, and the draw was notable for the fact that Spurs did not register a shot on target – a rarity that has not occurred in a league fixture for more than four years. This lack of cutting edge has raised eyebrows, especially given the club’s massive £332 million investment over the summer, which saw ten new faces added to the roster.
The side, now under the stewardship of Roberto De Zerbi, has yet to find its rhythm. After a disastrous start that marks their poorest league opening since the 2008 season, the North London club will travel to Goodison Park on Saturday to face Everton, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The outcome could provide the first real sign of progress, or deepen concerns about the squad’s ability to deliver on the hefty financial outlay. In a recent interview, Sky Sports News’ Tottenham correspondent Michael Bridge fielded questions from fans and offered his perspective on the early results. Bridge emphasized that three games is a very small sample size and cautioned against over‑reacting. He noted that the draw at Forest, while disappointing, was not a disaster in the context of a demanding schedule and a new manager still learning the nuances of his squad.
Bridge also reflected on the heavy defeat to Brentford, suggesting that the result highlighted Spurs’ lack of preparation and underscored the need for time to integrate the influx of new players. Bridge pointed out that the narrow loss to Newcastle could have gone either way, but Spurs simply lacked the clinical edge required to turn chances into goals. He argued that the early stage of the season should be viewed as a transitional period, where the sheer volume of arrivals and departures means that cohesion cannot be expected overnight. In his words, "the last three games have shown me a little bit of a realisation that you can't expect it all to click so quickly when there have been so many incomings and departures." De Zerbi’s relationship with the medical department has also been a talking point.
The manager has publicly praised the club’s medical staff, stating that he works closely with them and has no complaints. He has highlighted the injury crises of previous seasons, when key players missed entire campaigns, and explained that the club has undertaken investigations into pitch conditions and other factors that might contribute to serious injuries.
De Zerbi made it clear that while he does not dictate exact substitution minutes, he follows the guidance of his medical team to protect players’ long‑term health, aiming to avoid repeat scenarios like those involving Mohammed Kudus and James Maddison. Some pundits argue that without De Zerbi’s steady hand, Tottenham could have found themselves battling relegation.
They credit the manager with being given the freedom to reshape the squad according to his vision, a freedom he has already exercised by allowing Luka Vuskovic to move to Brighton and by splashing a significant fee on Jan Paul van Hecke despite the defender’s contract situation. Bridge believes that the true "Spurs" identity may not emerge until November, when the new captain, forward line, midfield, and defensive unit have had sufficient time to gel.
Financial expectations add another layer of pressure. The £332 million spent on transfers comes with an implicit demand for European qualification. While the club has not publicly set a specific target, the general consensus among insiders is that a return to the Champions League or at least the Europa League is the minimum ambition.
Mid‑table security is seen as the absolute floor, with many fans hoping for a top‑six finish that would secure continental football and the associated revenue streams. Statistically, Tottenham’s offensive output is alarming. Despite ranking around the middle of the league for total shots, their expected goals (xG) per shot sits at the bottom of the table.
Overall xG is the third lowest in the division, surpassed only by Coventry City. Since the start of last season, the average xG per Premier League match has been 1.41, yet Spurs have failed to reach that benchmark in any of De Zerbi’s three games.
This shortfall is partly due to a lack of consistency in attacking selections; the manager has fielded three different front‑three combinations and used ten different starters across those positions in his ten league games in charge. The turnover extends beyond the attack. Tottenham have made eight changes to their starting XI in the league this season, the most of any club and tied for the most in the opening three‑game stretch of a Premier League campaign. This revolving door has hampered any sense of stability or rhythm.
Physical metrics also paint a worrying picture: Spurs have been outrun in every match this season, a stark contrast to the previous campaign where they were only overtaken once as they narrowly avoided relegation on the final day. They now rank second‑bottom for total distance covered and 16th for sprint distance, a drop from a top‑five ranking in those categories last year. Fans and commentators have voiced a range of opinions.
Some, like RichN, argue that it is unreasonable to expect instant chemistry from a squad that has introduced nine or ten first‑team regulars. Others, such as Russ K, express frustration that the massive spending has not translated into goals, suggesting that a proven scorer like Troy Parrott could have bolstered the attack. Meanwhile, supporters like Mitch L see signs of gradual improvement and praise the directness of new signing Savio Musa, believing that a couple of goals will restore confidence. A common thread in many of these reactions is patience.
Several voices point out that the club is still dealing with injuries to key creative players—Kudus, Kulusevski, Simons, and Maddison—all of whom have missed significant time. The consensus is that once these individuals return to full fitness, the team’s attacking potential will increase dramatically. Comparisons to Arsenal’s long‑term project under Mikel Arteta also surface, with some urging Tottenham supporters to give De Zerbi the same time frame to build his version of “Rome.” In summary, while Tottenham’s start to the season is undeniably poor, the underlying factors—massive squad turnover, lingering injuries, tactical adjustments, and the need for physical conditioning—suggest that a few early setbacks should not be taken as a definitive verdict on the club’s prospects. The upcoming match against Everton offers a chance to break the goal drought and secure the first win of the campaign.
If Spurs can find the back of the net and hold a clean sheet, they will avoid the ignominy of failing to score in their first four league games, a record no club would relish. Until then, the prevailing narrative among many analysts is one of cautious optimism, tempered by the reality that the true measure of this massive investment will only become clear as the season progresses and the new players settle into De Zerbi’s system.