Tottenham Hotspur entered the new season with high hopes, a manager who had already proved himself in the Premier League and a massive financial boost of more than £300 million – the biggest ever outlay in the club's history. Yet, after five matches they find themselves rooted to the bottom of the table, a position they have not occupied for 18 years. Their only goals so far have been two late consolation strikes in a dismal defeat to Aston Villa last weekend. The league table does not tell the whole story.
Tottenham created a handful of decent first‑half chances against Villa; had they turned any of those into goals, the narrative surrounding the club might have shifted before the three‑week international break. Instead, they have collected just two points from five games, and their poor record in front of goal has kept the criticism focused squarely on them. While five games is a small sample size, the lack of consistency has now stretched across three successive seasons. In 2026 the side has managed only 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.
Since November 2024 the Tottenham stadium has hosted more Beyoncé concerts than home victories. Roberto De Zerbi cannot escape scrutiny for long, especially after a summer in which he was given near‑complete freedom in the transfer market.
Apart from a top‑class left‑winger, he secured most of the players he targeted. Before the Villa match he admitted that, in hindsight, he would have liked to handle the summer window differently, but the club needed to respect Financial Fair Play rules and some players earmarked for sale remained. That explanation does little to soften the criticism when the club has spent so heavily.
One of the departures, Luka Vuskovic, is thriving at Brighton, while his replacement, Jan Paul van Hecke, was exposed in the Villa defeat, being dribbled past three times and bearing much of the blame for the second, disastrous goal. Money alone was never going to be a quick fix for a side that finished 17th in back‑to‑back seasons. The summer sign‑ins included Sandro Tonali (£100 m from Newcastle), Savio (£85 m from Manchester City), Mateus Fernandes (£85 m from West Ham), Jan Paul van Hecke (£52 m from Brighton), Tosin Adarabioyo (£10 m from Chelsea), Mykhaylo Mudryk (loan from Chelsea), Martin Dubravka (free from Burnley), Andy Robertson (free from Liverpool), Marcos Senesi (free from Bournemouth) and Omar Marmoush (loan from Manchester City). Despite this influx, supporters expected more, particularly from a coach celebrated for his man‑management and ability to get the best out of his players during his successful spell at Brighton.
Even a single win would lift Tottenham out of the current quagmire, and the next test against a pressure‑laden Manchester United on 10 October will be viewed as a litmus test. However, several deeper issues need addressing beyond three points. De Zerbi’s frustration was evident after the Villa loss, where an injury to Micky Van de Ven and an accidental assist from Andy Robertson led to the opening goal. He warned that the club’s "leaders have to be leaders" in crucial moments, adding, "We can't lose games in this way." The question remains whether the squad possesses enough natural leaders.
The five‑man leadership group named last month – Van de Ven, Pedro Porro, Ben Davies, James Maddison and Archie Gray – are solid professionals but none are the type to rally teammates by sheer personality. The so‑called "Spursy" tag has taken on a new meaning. Tottenham have not won a league match when conceding first for almost two years, and they have managed only nine draws from losing positions in that span.
The departure of Cristian Romero in the summer, after his aggressive style sometimes crossed the line, left a void in the defensive midfield that has yet to be filled. That gap was widened further by the loss of combative midfielder João Palhinha, a player De Zerbi publicly wanted to retain. De Zerbi admitted after the Villa defeat that he had never seen a team as fragile and inconsistent as his Tottenham side in his 14‑year coaching career.
The fanbase, accustomed to seeing the same frailties over the past two years, will be watching closely for any sign of improvement. Midfield depth should not be a concern given the nearly £200 million allocated for signings such as Tonali and Fernandes. Tonali, fresh from a World Cup break, has yet to reach the form that made him a fan favourite at Newcastle and justified Tottenham’s record fee. The uncertainty surrounding Richarlison’s future and his limited impact have added to the offensive woes.
Meanwhile, last season’s top scorer remains on a self‑imposed exile, leaving the goal‑scoring burden on others. Striker Dominic Solanke is still not at full fitness, and De Zerbi was almost apologetic after Solanke’s muted performance against Villa, stating, "He’s much better than this, Dominic Solanke." With Tottenham’s average expected goals (xG) per shot the lowest in the Premier League and only better than Coventry, the onus is on Solanke – or a revived Omar Marmoush – to start delivering goals soon. Other players must also step up to fill the scoring void.
It is still early days for this new iteration of the Spurs machine. More than half of the starting XI on Saturday had not been at the club the previous season, so some teething problems are inevitable. Yet a league table showing two points, two goals and Tottenham lagging behind the rest of the division feels far more alarming than a temporary slump. There remains a belief that things can turn around – the squad possesses undeniable quality and De Zerbi’s credentials are well‑known.
However, his previous tenures have often ended on a sour note, and the hope is that this time the decline has not already set in. Fans can watch Tottenham’s clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford when the Premier League resumes on 10 October, live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event from 4.30 pm (kick‑off 5.30 pm).