Tottenham Hotspur entered the new campaign with the promise of a fresh start. After a series of false hopes in recent years, the club finally appointed a manager with solid Premier League credentials and handed him a war chest that topped £300 million – the largest sum ever allocated in the club's history. The expectation was that experience, money and a clear vision would combine to lift the North London side out of the doldrums. Instead, after five matches the Spurs find themselves rooted to the bottom of the table, a position they have not occupied for 18 years.
Their only goals have come as late consolation strikes in a drab defeat to Aston Villa over the weekend. While the scoreline suggests a dire situation, the underlying performance was not entirely hopeless. A couple of decent first‑half chances against Villa could have turned the tide, and a better finish might have quieted the growing chorus of criticism during the three‑week international break.
Nevertheless, two points from five games and a woeful record in front of goal have kept the spotlight firmly on Tottenham. Although five games is a small sample, the club’s inability to find consistency stretches back into a third consecutive season of under‑achievement.
So far in 2026 the team has amassed just 18 points, and since the start of the 2024/25 season they sit one point behind a West Ham side that was relegated at the end of the previous campaign. The stadium has witnessed more Beyoncé concerts than home victories since November 2024, a stark illustration of the club’s current fortunes.
Roberto De Zerbi, who arrived with a reputation for strong man‑management and a track record of extracting the best from his players at Brighton, is now under intense scrutiny. He entered the summer with a relatively free hand in the transfer market and, aside from a marquee left‑winger, secured most of the targets he named.
In the build‑up to the Villa game he admitted he would have preferred a different approach to the window, but financial fair play constraints forced the club to retain several players earmarked for sale. That explanation does little to soften criticism when the club has splashed out more than £300 million. One of the departures, Luka Vuskovic, has flourished at Brighton, while his replacement, Jan Paul van Hecke, struggled in the Villa loss, being dribbled past three times and bearing responsibility for a disastrous second goal.
The reality is that money alone cannot instantly reverse the decline that saw Tottenham finish 17th in back‑to‑back seasons. The summer signings list reads like a shopping spree: Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for around £100 million, Savio 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 a more immediate impact, especially from a coach praised for getting the most out of his squad.
Even a single win could lift the team out of the current quagmire, and the next test against an under‑pressure Manchester United side on October 10 will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Yet several deeper issues need addressing beyond three points. De Zerbi’s frustration was evident after the Villa defeat, where an injury to Micky Van de Ven and an accidental assist from Andy Robertson led to a goal that he described as a failure of leadership. He warned that “leaders have to be leaders” in crucial moments and that “we can’t lose games in this way.” The question remains whether the squad possesses enough natural leaders.
De Zerbi’s five‑man leadership group – Van de Ven, Pedro Porro, Ben Davies, James Maddison and Archie Gray – are competent players, but none are the sort of commanding figures who can rally teammates by sheer presence. This lack of on‑field authority is not a new complaint; the “Spursy” tag has evolved to reflect a chronic inability to win after conceding first – a pattern that has persisted for nearly two years, with only nine draws salvaged from losing positions. The departure of Cristian Romero in the summer removed a player whose aggression often bordered on excess but also left a defensive void that has yet to be filled.
The loss of combative midfielder João Palhinha compounded the problem. De Zerbi was open about his desire to keep Palhinha, but the transfer went ahead, and the midfield now looks thin despite a near‑£200 million allocation for new signings.
Tonali, fresh from a World Cup‑free summer, has yet to reach the form that made him a fan favourite at Newcastle and justified Tottenham’s record fee. Similarly, the saga surrounding Richarlison’s future has added to the instability, while the club’s goal‑scoring woes persist. Last season’s top scorer remains on a self‑imposed exile, and Dominic Solanke has still not returned to full fitness. De Zerbi seemed almost apologetic after Solanke’s muted performance against Villa, remarking that “he’s much better than this Dominic Solanke.” With Tottenham’s average expected goals (xG) per shot the lowest in the Premier League and their total only surpassing that of Coventry, the onus is on Solanke – or alternatively Omar Marmoush – to rediscover their scoring touch.
Other players must also step up to share the burden. 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‑pain is inevitable.
The current league table, showing two points, two goals and a gap to the rest of the division, feels far more ominous than the numbers suggest. Nevertheless, there is a lingering belief that things can improve. The squad possesses undeniable quality, and De Zerbi’s tactical acumen is well‑known.
Yet his previous tenures have often ended on sour notes, and the hope is that this time the downturn does not become permanent. Fans will be watching closely when Tottenham travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on October 10, a match that could serve as a turning point. Until then, the club must address leadership gaps, integrate new signings, and find a reliable goal‑scoring outlet if they are to justify the massive financial outlay and escape the bottom of the table.