When Aston Villa took the lead 1‑0 in a north‑London clash, many observers felt Tottenham’s fate was sealed: another winless spell heading into the international break. The feeling wasn’t just a fleeting sentiment; it was backed by a stark statistic. For almost two full seasons, Spurs have failed to win any match in any competition after conceding the first goal.
The most recent example, a 3‑2 defeat at home to Villa last month, marked the 47th game in this dismal sequence – a run that currently reads D11 L36. Former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood aired his concerns on a special Sky Sports Spurs podcast, describing the situation as a “worry, certainly at home because that’s where you need the minerals.” By “minerals” he meant the grit and resolve that should emerge when the team is under pressure.
Sherwood argued that the team is currently lacking both “leaders and characters” – the sort of players who can rally their teammates when the odds turn against them. He continued, “I’m not sure there’s anyone really losing their head or galvanising the players to try and arrest it, which is a poor trend, in not fighting back from losing positions.” While he praised the manager’s passion, Sherwood stressed that passion alone isn’t enough.
“You need that within the pitch and within the dressing room and within the training pitch every single day, and I’m not sure the characters are there.” Sky Sports News reporter Michael Bridge echoed these leadership doubts, noting that Tottenham have accumulated the fewest points (18) among the clubs that have been in the Premier League since the start of the 2026 season. Bridge pointed out a specific oddity from a recent press conference: when Roberto De Zerbi announced his five captains – Micky van de Ven, Pedro Porro, Ben Davies, James Maddison and Archie Gray – the omission of Andy Robertson raised eyebrows.
“Archie Gray was named, but he’s unlikely to feature regularly, so I’m a little bit worried about leadership in that camp,” Bridge said. He added, “How many of the players are really going to grab each other by the scruff of the neck? Cristian Romero maybe went too far in terms of aggression, but there were times when you did want him on your side, so I need to see a bit more aggression from some of these players as well.” Tottenham’s winless start has left them perched at the bottom of the table, marking the club’s worst opening to a Premier League campaign after five games. The poor start has intensified scrutiny over the club’s extravagant summer spending.
In total, Spurs have invested more than £330 million in ten new arrivals. Sherwood was blunt when asked whether any of those signings have impressed him: “No, no one.
I can’t say anyone’s really impressed me, and anyone would have done a better job than anyone who was there last season.” He emphasized that the team has underachieved and that there are no standout performers to highlight. Sherwood’s criticism extends beyond the current squad to the club’s recent transfer record. “Probably the last four or five years, the track record of Tottenham signings has not been fantastic,” he said.
“It’s been a very long time since they’ve made a decent signing. I’m not saying they’re poor signings; I’m saying they haven’t delivered yet, and there’s still a lot of time to build confidence and show what they can really do.” He noted that many of the new players have only managed “fits and starts and little cameos” for other clubs, and that performing for Tottenham carries a different level of pressure. When pressed to name the most successful recent acquisition, Sherwood pointed to Heung‑Min Son, acknowledging that the star’s arrival predates the current era but remains a rare example of a genuine success.
He also mentioned Dejan Kulusevski, though he noted the Swedish winger’s recent injury problems. “I’ve seen more nos than yeses over the last five years in the transfer market,” Sherwood concluded, adding that it is now up to De Zerbi to develop the squad and perhaps transform some of the under‑utilised talents into recognizable contributors. The goal‑scoring drought has been another glaring issue.
Spurs have found the net only twice in the league, prompting Bridge to focus on summer signing Omar Marmoush. The former Manchester City forward has yet to score in his first five appearances across all competitions, despite creating chances – he missed a clear opportunity and has registered two shots on target from ten attempts.
Bridge praised Marmoush’s talent, recalling brief flashes of brilliance during his time at City and his impressive spell in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt. The key question, however, remains whether he can translate that potential into consistent performances for Tottenham.
The striking department, too, looks thin. Dominic Solanke has struggled for form, while Richarlison finds himself out of the matchday picture. Meanwhile, academy graduate Will Lankshear is thriving in the Championship, scoring regularly for Middlesbrough and reminding observers of the classic English centre‑forward profile.
Bridge warned that Spurs still lack a true number nine and even a reliable number one in goal. “If you’ve spent that amount of money and you still need a goalkeeper and a number nine, then there’s still a way to go,” he said.
Looking ahead, Tottenham will travel to Old Trafford on Saturday in search of their first league victory, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Should the winless streak persist, De Zerbi would join Juande Ramos as the only Spurs managers in Premier League history to fail to win any of the opening six games of a campaign. Ramos was dismissed after two points from eight matches, but both Sherwood and Bridge believe De Zerbi will not meet the same fate. Sherwood argued that the club appears to have full faith in De Zerbi, noting that “they’ve given him everything he wanted, so they must have full trust in him.” He praised De Zerbi’s credentials, saying the Italian has proven himself as a capable Premier League manager, even if he has never overseen a club with Tottenham’s global profile and media scrutiny.
“He looks like a character who can handle that scrutiny, and he just needs a win.” Bridge echoed this sentiment, pointing out that De Zerbi is on a long‑term contract and was tracked by the club for some time. “Unless he initiates the departure, I don’t see any change for the foreseeable future.” What remains clear is that Tottenham’s ability to bounce back will be the decisive factor in whether the pressure on De Zerbi mounts or eases.
The team must find a way to turn narrow defeats into points, to develop the raw talent in its squad, and to re‑establish a sense of leadership on and off the pitch. Only then can the club hope to halt the current slide and begin a season that lives up to the substantial investment made over the summer.