Tottenham Hotspur entered the new campaign with high hopes, a manager who had already proven himself in the Premier League and a war‑chest exceeding £300 million – the biggest the club has ever assembled. Yet, after five fixtures they find themselves languishing at the foot of the table, a position they have not occupied for 18 years. Their sole goals have come from two late consolation strikes in a dismal weekend defeat to Aston Villa. The numbers on the board do not tell the whole story.
In the Villa match, Spurs created a handful of decent first‑half opportunities that, if taken, could have quieted the growing criticism during the three‑week international break. Instead, they have managed just two points from five games and a woeful conversion rate that has kept the media spotlight firmly trained on their struggles. Although five matches is a small sample, the lack of consistency has now stretched across three successive seasons.
Tottenham have accumulated only 18 points so far in 2026, 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. Since November 2024 the club’s home ground has hosted more Beyoncé concerts than league victories. Roberto De Zerbi cannot hide behind the numbers forever, especially after a summer in which he was given almost unrestricted authority in the transfer market. Apart from a high‑profile left‑winger, he secured most of the players he targeted.
Before the Villa game he admitted that, had the club’s finances not been constrained by Financial Fair Play, he would have acted differently in the window. That explanation carries little weight when the club has spent more than any other in its history.
One of the departures that Tottenham seemed happy to allow was Luka Vuskovic, who has flourished at Brighton. By contrast, his replacement Jan Paul van Hecke struggled against Villa, being dribbled past three times and bearing much of the blame for the second, disastrous goal. Money alone cannot transform a team that finished 17th in back‑to‑back seasons. The summer signings list reads like a shopping list: Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for around £100 million, Savio Mendes 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.
Supporters expected more, particularly from a coach renowned for his man‑management and ability to maximise the talents of his squad during his near‑two‑year spell at Brighton. Even a single win would lift Tottenham out of the current quagmire, and they will be keen to test a similarly pressured Manchester United side when the league resumes on 10 October at Old Trafford, live on Sky Sports.
The manner in which Spurs fell behind to Villa was almost textbook: centre‑back Micky Van de Ven was forced off with an injury, and Andy Robertson unintentionally set up the opening goal. De Zerbi lamented that “leaders have to be leaders” in such moments, adding, “We can’t keep losing games like this.” The question remains whether the squad possesses enough true leaders.
Van de Ven, Pedro Porro, Ben Davies, James Maddison and Archie Gray were named as a five‑man leadership group last month, yet none are universally recognised as the type who can rally teammates by sheer authority. This is not a new narrative. The long‑standing accusation of being “Spursy” has taken on fresh relevance: Tottenham have not won a league match after conceding first in almost two years, and they have managed only nine draws from losing positions in that span.
Cristian Romero’s departure in the summer was understandable – his aggressive style sometimes crossed the line – but his exit left a void that has yet to be filled. The loss of combative midfielder João Palhinha, who De Zerbi openly wanted to retain, has compounded the problem. The coach admitted after the Villa defeat, “In my 14 years as a coach I have never seen a team as fragile and inconsistent as us.” The fanbase, accustomed to seeing the team falter, could provide the missing spark if the players can tap into that energy. Even without Palhinha, De Zerbi cannot blame the midfield entirely, especially after spending close to £200 million on Sandro Tonali and Matheus Fernandes.
Tonali, fresh from a summer off due to the World Cup, has yet to reach the form that made him a favourite at Newcastle and justified Spurs’ record fee. The uncertainty surrounding Richarlison’s future has added another layer of distraction, and his limited impact does little to alleviate Tottenham’s goal‑scoring woes.
Last season’s top scorer remains on a self‑imposed exile, while Dominic Solanke is still working back to full fitness. De Zerbi seemed almost apologetic after Solanke’s muted performance against Villa, stating, “He’s much better than this, Dominic Solanke.” Statistically, Spurs have the lowest expected goals (xG) per shot in the Premier League, and their total xG is only better than that of Coventry City. Someone needs to step up – whether it’s Solanke finding form, Omar Marmoush rediscovering his scoring boots, or another player taking the initiative.
It is still early days in this new iteration of the Tottenham machine. Over half of the starting XI from Saturday’s match were not at the club last season, so a period of adjustment was inevitable. The current league table – two points, two goals – may look bleak, but it does not capture the quality that still exists within the squad or the potential for a turnaround.
There is a lingering optimism that things will improve. The talent pool is undeniable, and De Zerbi’s coaching credentials are well‑established. However, his previous tenures have sometimes ended on sour notes, and the hope is that this pattern does not repeat at Tottenham. Fans can watch the upcoming clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford when the Premier League returns, live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event from 4.30 pm (kick‑off 5.30 pm) on Saturday 10 October.
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