Tottenham Hotspur find themselves mired in a leadership crisis as they head into the international break without a single league victory. The situation feels almost inevitable after Aston Villa took a 1‑0 lead in north London, a moment that seemed to seal Tottenham's fate of entering the pause winless. In fact, it has now been almost two years since the club managed to turn a game around after conceding first in any competition.
The 3‑2 defeat to Villa last month marked the 47th match in this dismal sequence – a record of 11 draws and 36 losses. Former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood voiced his concerns on a special Sky Sports Spurs podcast, describing the current state as "a worry, certainly at home because that's where you need the minerals." He went on to explain that what the team lacks are "characters and leaders" – qualities that should emerge in the dressing room and on the pitch when the team is under pressure.
"I'm not sure there's anyone really losing their head or galvanising the players to try and arrest it," Sherwood said, noting the poor trend of failing to fight back from losing positions. While he praised the manager’s passion, he doubted that the necessary character traits were present among the squad. Sky Sports News reporter Michael Bridge echoed these worries, pointing out that Tottenham have accumulated the fewest points (18) of any side that have been in the Premier League since the start of the 2026 season.
Bridge highlighted a particular concern about the club’s captaincy choices. When Roberto De Zerbi announced his five captains – Micky van de Ven, Pedro Porro, Ben Davies, James Maddison and Archie Gray – Bridge noted that Andy Robertson, a senior figure, was omitted. "Archie Gray was named, but he’s unlikely to feature regularly, so I’m uneasy about the leadership structure," he said.
Bridge also questioned the team’s aggression, suggesting that while Cristian Romero sometimes oversteps, the side needs more consistent assertiveness from its players. The winless start has left Spurs perched at the bottom of the table, marking their worst opening to a Premier League season after five games and prompting scrutiny over the club’s lavish summer spending. Fans and pundits alike are asking whether any of the ten new signings, who together cost more than £330 million, have lived up to expectations.
Sherwood’s answer was blunt: "No, no one. I can’t say anyone’s really impressed me. They’ve underachieved. We always judge on results, and there haven’t been any standout performers." Sherwood’s criticism extends beyond the current campaign to the club’s transfer record over the past five years.
He observed that Tottenham’s signings have “not been fantastic” and that it has been a long time since the club made a truly decent acquisition. While he stopped short of labeling recent purchases as failures, he emphasized that many have yet to prove themselves. "I’ve seen more nos than yeses in the transfer market," he said, adding that the only recent signings he could point to as genuine successes were Heung‑Min Son – a player from an earlier era – and perhaps Dejan Kulusevski, whose progress has been hampered by injury. Among the new arrivals, Omar Marmoush has drawn particular attention.
The former Manchester City forward has yet to find the net in his first five appearances across all competitions, despite creating chances and registering two shots on target from ten attempts. Bridge singled him out as a potential breakthrough player, recalling glimpses of his talent during his time at City and his impressive spell with Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga. "Can he deliver consistently for Tottenham? That’s the question," Bridge mused, adding that the club’s investment in both Savio Mendoza and Marmoush will be judged by their output.
Spurs’ attacking woes are further highlighted by the struggles of Dominic Solanke and the sidelining of Richarlison, especially when contrasted with the prolific form of academy graduate Will Lankshear, who is scoring regularly for Middlesbrough in the Championship. Bridge argued that Tottenham need a genuine number nine – a traditional centre‑forward – and expressed doubt about whether current options like Antonín Kinský can become long‑term solutions. "If you’ve spent that amount of money and still need a striker and a reliable goalkeeper, there’s still a long way to go," he concluded. Looking ahead, Tottenham aim to secure their first league win against Manchester United on Saturday, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
A continued winless run would see De Zerbi become only the second Spurs manager in Premier League history to fail to win any of the opening six games, joining Juande Ramos, who was dismissed after earning just two points from eight matches. Despite the pressure, both Sherwood and Bridge remain confident that De Zerbi will not share Ramos’s fate.
Sherwood believes the club has given the Italian manager everything he asked for, indicating full trust in his abilities. He noted that De Zerbi has proven himself as a competent Premier League manager, even if he has not yet overseen a club of Tottenham’s size. "He looks like a character who can handle the scrutiny; he just needs a win," Sherwood said.
Bridge echoed this sentiment, pointing out that De Zerbi was tracked by the club for some time, is on a long‑term contract, and is unlikely to be dismissed unless he initiates his own departure. The key, according to both analysts, is for Spurs to rediscover their bounce‑back ability, showing resilience in games and turning the tide before the pressure becomes unmanageable. In summary, Tottenham Hotspur’s early season struggles stem from a glaring lack of on‑field leadership, underperforming new signings, and an inadequate attacking line‑up. The club’s management and supporters will be watching closely as the team seeks to reverse its fortunes and avoid a historic low point in the Premier League.