Tottenham Hotspur entered the new campaign with high hopes, a manager who had already proved himself in the Premier League and a spending spree that topped £300 million – the biggest cash injection in the club's history. Yet, after five matches they find themselves anchored at the foot of the table, a position they have not occupied for 18 years.
Their only goals have been two consolation strikes in a bleak weekend defeat to Aston Villa. The raw numbers on the league table paint a grim picture, but the performance was not as hopeless as it might seem. Tottenham created several decent first‑half chances against Villa; had they converted any of those, the narrative heading into the three‑week international break would have been very different, and the criticism would have been muted. Instead, two points from five games and a miserable conversion record have kept the spotlight firmly on the club.
While five games is a small sample, the lack of consistency has now stretched across three consecutive seasons. In 2026 Tottenham have amassed just 18 points, and since the start of the 2024/25 campaign they sit one point behind a West Ham side that was relegated at the end of the previous season. Roberto De Zerbi, who was given a near‑free hand in the transfer market over the summer, cannot escape scrutiny for long. Apart from securing a top‑class left‑winger, he obtained most of the targets he listed.
Before the Villa match De Zerbi admitted he would have preferred a different approach to the summer window, but the club had to respect Financial Fair Play rules, meaning a few players earmarked for sale remained on the books. That offers little sympathy when the club has spent so heavily. One of the departures, Luka Vuskovic, is now thriving at Brighton, while his replacement, Jan Paul van Hecke, was a clear liability in the Villa loss – he was dribbled past three times and was largely responsible for the second, disastrous goal.
Money alone cannot transform a side that finished 17th in back‑to‑back seasons. The summer signings list reads like a shopping spree: Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for £100 million, Savio Miller‑Perkins from Manchester City for £85 million, Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for £85 million, Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton for £52 million, Tosin Adarabioyo from Chelsea for £10 million, Mykhaylo Mudryk on loan from Chelsea, Martin Dubravka on a free from Burnley, Andy Robertson on a free from Liverpool, Marcos Senesi on a free from Bournemouth and Omar Marmoush on loan from Manchester City. Fans expected more from a coach celebrated for his man‑management and his ability to get the best out of his squad during his successful stint at Brighton.
Even a single victory would lift Tottenham out of the quagmire, and they will face a similarly pressured Manchester United side when the league resumes on 10 October, live on Sky Sports. Yet several deeper issues need addressing beyond three points. De Zerbi’s frustration was evident after the Villa defeat when he criticised the lack of leadership on the pitch, noting that Micky Van de Ven was forced off injured and Andy Robertson unintentionally set up the opposition’s chance. "Our leaders must lead when it matters," he said, adding that losing games in such a manner is unacceptable.
Does the current squad possess enough natural leaders? The five‑man leadership group named last month – Van de Ven, Pedro Porro, Ben Davies, James Maddison and Archie Gray – are competent, but none are the sort of charismatic figure who can rally teammates by sheer presence. This has long been a criticism of the so‑called “Spursy” mentality, now compounded by the fact that Tottenham have not won a league match when conceding first for almost two years and have managed only nine draws from losing positions.
The departure of Cristian Romero in the summer removed a player whose aggression sometimes crossed the line but also left a defensive void that has yet to be filled. The loss of combative midfielder João Palhinha, who De Zerbi openly wanted to retain, further weakened the midfield. De Zerbi admitted after the Villa loss that he had never seen a team as fragile and inconsistent as his in his 14‑year coaching career. The fanbase, accustomed to seeing the team wobble, may be the only source of steadying influence for now.
Even without Palhinha, it is hard to complain about the midfield when nearly £200 million was allocated to sign Tonali and Fernandes. Tonali, fresh from a World Cup‑free summer, has yet to reach the heights that made him a fan favourite at Newcastle and justified Tottenham’s record fee. Meanwhile, the saga surrounding Richarlison’s future adds another layer of uncertainty, especially as the club’s goal‑scoring woes persist while last season’s top scorer remains on a self‑imposed exile. Striker Dominic Solanke is still working back to full fitness, and De Zerbi seemed almost apologetic after Solanke’s muted performance against Villa, stating “he’s much better than this, Dominic Solanke.” Yet Tottenham’s expected goals (xG) per shot are the lowest in the league, and their total shot quality is only marginally better than Championship side Coventry.
Someone needs to step up – whether it is Solanke finding his scoring boots again, Omar Marmoush rediscovering his touch, or another player seizing the moment. It is still early days for this new iteration of the Spurs machine.
Over half of the starting XI against Villa were not at the club last season, so some growing pains were inevitable. The league table currently shows two points, two goals and a massive gap to the rest of the division, but the underlying talent remains evident.
There is a genuine belief that things can turn around – the squad possesses quality, and De Zerbi’s tactical acumen is well‑known. However, his previous appointments have sometimes ended on sour notes, and the hope is that his tenure at Tottenham does not follow that pattern.
Supporters will be watching closely as Tottenham travel to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United when the Premier League resumes, live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event at 4.30 pm (kick‑off 5.30 pm) on Saturday 10 October. The upcoming fixtures will be a true test of whether the massive investment can finally translate into results, or if the club will continue to linger at the bottom despite the spending spree.