Tottenham Hotspur have begun the new Premier League campaign without a win or a goal, a scenario that has left many supporters uneasy after a massive summer spending spree. Their most recent fixture, a goalless stalemate against Nottingham Forest, marked the first time in more than four years that the club failed to register a shot on target in a league match.
The result left Spurs clutching a solitary point and highlighted the growing pains of Roberto De Zerbi’s freshly assembled squad, which arrived on the back of a £332 million investment and ten new signings. The lack of points puts Tottenham on track for their poorest league start since the 2007‑08 season, and they now travel to Everton on Saturday with a chance to claim their first victory, a game that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. In the lead‑up, Sky Sports News’ Tottenham correspondent Michael Bridge fielded a series of fan questions and examined the statistics that underpin the early-season performance, while also gathering opinions from the club’s online community. Bridge’s interview revealed a surprisingly calm outlook from some pundits.
One fan argued, “I’m not worried – it’s only three games. We drew at Forest and the next match is against a solid Everton side. De Zerbi is a good manager, and we’ll find our rhythm soon.” Another supporter, who had watched the Brentford defeat, admitted that Spurs were under‑prepared but suggested the loss was a necessary wake‑up call, saying, “Brentford gave us a good hiding, and we deserved the result.” A third voice pointed out that the lack of clinical finishing against Newcastle could be blamed on the sheer number of new arrivals, noting that “you can’t expect everything to click instantly when you have so many incomings and departures.” Injury concerns also featured prominently in the discussion.
De Zerbi has repeatedly emphasized his close cooperation with the medical team, stressing that any decisions to rest players are driven by medical advice rather than personal preference. He reminded fans that Spurs have endured severe injury crises in recent seasons, with key figures missing entire campaigns. The club has since launched an investigation into whether the pitch contributed to those problems and has taken steps to safeguard the long‑term health of players such as Mohammed Kudus and James Maddison. Some observers credit De Zerbi with preventing a catastrophic season.
One commentator claimed, “If it weren’t for De Zerbi, Tottenham could be fighting relegation right now.” The manager has been given carte blanche to reshape the squad, making tough choices like allowing Luka Vuskovic to depart for Brighton and splashing a sizable fee on Jan Paul van Hecke despite his contract situation. Yet, many agree 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 loom large over the project.
After spending heavily, the club’s hierarchy is unlikely to be satisfied with a mid‑table finish; the target is a return to European competition, ideally the Champions League, but at the very least a Europa League berth. Additional home fixtures in Europe translate into significant revenue, so the pressure to deliver is palpable. One fan summed it up succinctly: “Mid‑table is the absolute minimum we should aim for.” On the pitch, Spurs’ inability to score is linked to a dearth of quality chances.
Although they sit around the middle of the league in total shots taken, their expected goals (xG) per shot is the lowest, and their overall xG ranks third‑worst in the division, trailing only Coventry. The league average xG per game stands at 1.41, a benchmark Tottenham has yet to meet under De Zerbi. Tactical instability compounds the problem.
De Zerbi has deployed three distinct attacking formations across the first three league fixtures and has started ten different players in the front three during his ten league games in charge. The broader squad has also seen eight changes to the starting eleven, the highest number of any team after three matches. Physical metrics paint a worrying picture as well. Last season, Tottenham were outrun only once in De Zerbi’s seven games, narrowly escaping relegation on the final day.
This season, however, they have been out‑paced in every league encounter, ranking second‑bottom for total distance covered and 16th for sprint distance – a sharp decline from the top‑five finishes in those categories last term. Fan commentary on social media reflects a mixture of patience and frustration.
Some argue that integrating nine or ten new first‑team players cannot happen overnight, especially when key creative assets such as Kudus, Kulusevski, Simons and Maddison are still sidelined or not fully match‑fit. Others feel the spending should have yielded a stronger start, lamenting the absence of a reliable goal scorer and suggesting that a player like Troy Parrott could have filled that void.
A handful of voices remain optimistic, pointing to glimpses of improvement and the potential impact of newcomers like Savio Musa, whose direct style could unlock goals once the forward line gels. Overall, the consensus is that Tottenham’s early-season struggles are understandable given the scale of transition, but the club’s financial outlay raises the stakes. If the team does not show marked progress by the ten‑game mark, concerns are likely to intensify. For now, the focus remains on securing that first win against Everton, avoiding the ignominy of failing to score in the opening four league matches, and allowing De Zerbi the time needed to mould his ‘Dream Team’ into a cohesive, goal‑producing unit.