Tottenham Hotspur entered the new campaign with high hopes, a manager who had already proven himself in the Premier League, and a spending package that topped £300 million – the largest 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 so far have been a pair of late consolation strikes in a dismal defeat to Aston Villa over the weekend. On paper the situation could be less dire. Spurs created several decent chances in the first half against Villa and, had they converted any of them, the narrative heading into the three‑week international break might have been very different.
Instead, two points from five games and a worrying record in front of goal have kept the criticism focused squarely on the club. Although five games is a small sample, the lack of consistency has now stretched into a third successive season. Tottenham have accumulated just 18 points in 2026, 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 White Hart Lane (now the new stadium) has hosted more Beyoncé concerts than Tottenham victories.
Roberto De Zerbi is under increasing pressure. He arrived in the summer with a near‑free hand in the transfer market and, apart from a high‑profile left‑winger, secured most of the targets he named. Before the Villa game he admitted that, had the club been able to respect Financial Fair Play more fully, he would have pursued a different set of players.
That explanation does little to soften the scrutiny given the size of the investment. One of the departures that the board seemed comfortable with, Luka Vuskovic, is now flourishing at Brighton. By contrast, his replacement Jan Paul van Hecke was a key figure in the Villa loss, being dribbled past three times and bearing much of the blame for the second, disastrous goal.
Money alone cannot instantly reverse the decline that saw Spurs finish 17th in back‑to‑back seasons. The summer’s headline signings – 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) – illustrate the scale of the outlay. Yet supporters expected more from a coach renowned for his man‑management, especially after his successful stint at Brighton.
Even a single win would lift Tottenham out of the current quagmire, and the club will aim to bounce back against an equally pressured Manchester United when the league resumes on 10 October, live on Sky Sports. However, there are deeper issues that three points cannot solve. De Zerbi’s frustration was evident after the Villa defeat when he complained that the team’s "leaders have to be leaders" after Micky Van de Ven was forced off with injury and Andy Robertson inadvertently set up the opening goal. The question remains whether the squad possesses enough true leaders.
The five‑man leadership group named last month – Van de Ven, Pedro Porro, Ben Davies, James Maddison and Archie Gray – are capable players, but none are natural‑born captains who can rally the side in crisis moments. The so‑called "Spursy" tag has taken on a fresh meaning. Tottenham have not won a league match when conceding first for almost two years, and they have turned only nine draws from losing positions in the same period.
The departure of Cristian Romero in the summer, after his aggressive style sometimes crossed the line, left a defensive void that has yet to be filled. The loss of combative midfielder João Palhinha – a player De Zerbi openly wanted to retain – has further weakened the midfield’s steel.
De Zerbi admitted after the Villa loss that he had never seen a team as "fragile and inconsistent" in his 14‑year coaching career. The fans, accustomed to watching the same patterns repeat over the past two seasons, are unlikely to be sympathetic for long. Even with nearly £200 million earmarked for midfield reinforcements, the expected impact of Tonali – fresh from a World Cup break – has not materialised, and Matheus Fernandes has yet to justify his price tag. The uncertainty surrounding Richarlison’s future adds another layer of instability, especially given his limited contributions.
Meanwhile, last season’s top scorer remains sidelined, and Dominic Solanke, still not at full fitness, was described by De Zerbi as "much better than this" after his subdued performance against Villa. Spurs’ expected goals (xG) per shot are the lowest in the Premier League, and their overall goal tally is only better than that of Coventry City, underscoring the urgency for someone to step up – whether it be Solanke, Omar Marmoush, or another attacker. It is still early days for this re‑engineered Spurs machine. More than half of the starting XI on Saturday were not at the club last season, so some growing‑pain is inevitable.
Yet seeing a league table that records two points, two goals and Tottenham lagging behind the rest feels like a stark warning. There remains a belief that the quality within the squad can still turn the tide, and no one doubts De Zerbi’s tactical acumen.
However, his previous tenures have often ended on a sour note, and the hope is that the worst is not yet behind Tottenham. The upcoming clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford on 10 October will be a crucial test, broadcast live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event from 4.30 pm (kick‑off 5.30 pm).