Tottenham Winless Start Raises Early Questions
The Tottenham winless start to the new Premier League season is certainly concerning, but it is not yet a crisis.
Spurs have collected only one point from their first three league matches and, more worryingly, have failed to score a single goal. Their goalless draw away to Nottingham Forest followed defeats against Brentford and Newcastle United.
Tottenham also failed to record a shot on target against Forest. That attacking statistic matters more than the result itself. A team can be unlucky not to score, but it is difficult to blame bad fortune when the opposition barely tests the goalkeeper.
The slow beginning has placed manager Roberto De Zerbi under early pressure, especially after Tottenham spent more than £300 million during the summer transfer window.
Supporters expected that investment to produce an immediate improvement. Instead, Spurs are still waiting for their first victory and their first league goal of the campaign.
How Bad Has Tottenham’s Start Been?
One point from three matches is Tottenham’s poorest opening to a top-flight season in 52 years. The last time the club experienced a comparable start was during the 1974-75 campaign, when it narrowly avoided relegation.
That historical comparison sounds alarming, but three games remain a minimal part of a 38-match season.
There are still 105 points available, and a short run of victories could quickly move Spurs away from the bottom of the table. It would be premature to suggest that Tottenham are already facing another relegation battle.
However, the opening results cannot be completely separated from the club’s recent struggles. Spurs finished 17th in each of the previous two Premier League seasons, meaning their poor beginning is not an isolated period of disappointing form.
The concern is not simply that Tottenham have started slowly this season. It is that some of the weaknesses from previous campaigns remain visible despite major changes to the squad.
More Than £300 Million Spent—but Where Are the Goals?
Tottenham were among the Premier League’s biggest spenders during the summer.
The club ads include Savio, Omar Marmoush, Mathys Tel, Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali. Mykhailo Mudryk also arrived on loan from Chelsea and made his debut during the draw at Nottingham Forest.
There is obvious talent in that group. The challenge is turning a collection of new players into a balanced and effective team.
Despite spending more than £300 million, Tottenham entered the season without having fully solved their centre-forward problem. The club missed out on Iliman Ndiaye, who joined Manchester City, while last season’s leading scorer Richarlison was excluded from the 25-man Premier League squad.
Dominic Solanke remains an option, while Marmoush can also play through the centre. Nevertheless, Spurs have not looked settled in attack.
Against Forest, Tottenham had possession in potentially dangerous areas but lacked movement, precision and a reliable presence inside the penalty box. Their wide players struggled to create clear chances, while the midfield did not consistently supply threatening final passes.
Big spending naturally creates big expectations. When a club invests so heavily, supporters expect more than gradual improvement—they expect a visible transformation.
Richarlison’s Situation Has Made the Problem Worse
Tottenham’s treatment of Richarlison has become a major issue.
The Brazilian scored 11 Premier League goals last season, helping Spurs retain their top-flight status. However, he was left out of De Zerbi’s league squad after a summer in which he wanted to leave the club.
Richarlison is now seeking to terminate his contract, according to The Times.
That situation has left Tottenham without a player who produced important goals during a difficult campaign. It has also created an unwanted distraction at a time when the team desperately needs attacking solutions.
There may be valid sporting or disciplinary reasons behind De Zerbi’s decision. Even so, excluding the previous season’s leading scorer looks increasingly questionable when the side has failed to score in three consecutive league games.
Tottenham must either find an effective combination using forwards available or reconsider how they manage their striking options. Continuing without goals is not sustainable.
Should Roberto De Zerbi Be Given More Time?
Yes, De Zerbi should be given time.
Tottenham made extensive changes during the transfer window, and several new players are still learning the manager’s tactical system. It is unrealistic to expect an entirely rebuilt team to develop perfect understanding after only three league matches.
De Zerbi’s football demands confidence on the ball, intelligent positioning and coordinated movement. Those elements normally require training time, especially when the players have limited experience of playing together.
The manager has acknowledged that Tottenham need to improve in the final third, but he also believes there are encouraging signs. The clean sheet against Nottingham Forest was at least a defensive improvement following defeats by Brentford and Newcastle.
Conor Gallagher also described the draw as a positive development. From Tottenham’s perspective, stopping the run of defeats was important, even if the attacking performance remained disappointing.
Patience is therefore reasonable—but patience cannot become an excuse. Tottenham should soon begin showing clearer attacking patterns, more shots on target and greater intensity around the opposition penalty area.
The Lack of Attacking Identity Is the Biggest Concern
Results can improve quickly, but Tottenham’s lack of attacking identity is harder to ignore.
Spurs do not currently appear certain about how they want to create chances. At times, the build-up is too slow. At other moments, players attempt direct passes without enough support around the striker.
The team needs greater variety.
Savio and Mudryk can provide pace from wide positions, while Marmoush offers intelligent movement across the attacking line. Solanke can give the side a more traditional centre-forward presence, while James Maddison could add creativity if De Zerbi brings him into a more influential role.
De Zerbi must find a combination that allows Tottenham to attack with speed while maintaining enough control in midfield.
Starting Maddison and Solanke could offer an immediate solution. Maddison is capable of finding passes between defensive lines, while Solanke can occupy central defenders and give Tottenham a target inside the penalty area.
The manager does not need to abandon his tactical principles, but he may need to simplify the approach until confidence returns.
Can Tottenham’s New Signings Be Judged Already?
Three league games are not enough to reach a final verdict on any new signing.
Players adapt at different speeds. Some arrive ready to influence matches immediately, while others need several weeks or months to adjust to a new club, manager and tactical system.
Tottenham’s recruitment should be judged across the entire season rather than the opening weeks.
Even so, the new arrivals must begin accepting responsibility. Spurs did not spend more than £300 million just to build for the long term. Several of these players were signed to produce immediate results.
The pressure will rise if Savio, Marmoush and the other attacking players continue struggling to create or finish chances.
Supporters will also question whether the money was invested in the right areas. Spending a large amount does not guarantee improvement if the squad remains unbalanced.
Why the Everton Match Is Important
Tottenham’s next Premier League match against Everton at home already feels significant.
It is not a must-win fixture in the traditional sense because the season is still young. However, it offers Spurs an opportunity to end their scoring drought, secure their first victory and ease the growing pressure around the club.
Home supporters will expect an aggressive performance. Tottenham must play with greater urgency and make their possession count.
An early goal could transform the mood inside the stadium and restore confidence throughout the team. Another goalless display, however, would increase questions about De Zerbi’s tactics and the club’s transfer strategy.
How Concerned Should Tottenham Be?
Tottenham should be concerned—but not panicked.
The lack of goals, limited creativity and failure to record a shot on target against Nottingham Forest are genuine warning signs. Those problems appear even more serious because the club spent heavily during the summer and finished dangerously close to relegation in the previous two seasons.
At the same time, De Zerbi is working with a heavily changed squad. New players require time to understand one another, and three matches do not define an entire campaign.
The next few weeks will provide a much clearer picture.
If Tottenham begin creating chances and collecting victories, they will remember their opening struggles and the predictable difficulties of a major rebuild. If the goals do not arrive, the Tottenham winless start could become something much more damaging.
Conclusion
Tottenham’s current position is uncomfortable, but the club still has enough talent and time to recover.
The first priority must be scoring a goal. Once that barrier is broken, confidence may improve quickly and allow the new attacking players to perform with greater freedom.
However, Spurs cannot assume that spending more than £300 million will automatically produce success. De Zerbi must find his best attacking combination, improve the service into the penalty area and develop a recognisable style of play.
Tottenham do not need to panic after just three games. They do, however, need to respond—and that response should begin against Everton.
