Roberto De Zerbi needs to sort out Tottenham’s attacking troubles in the upcoming matches this season.
Tottenham managed to outdo themselves by spending lavishly on ten new players during the recently concluded summer transfer window. The Lilywhites made wholesale changes to their squad and gave Roberto De Zerbi the opportunity to bring in players who would suit his playing style this season. However, a problematic start to the new campaign means that the North Londoners are already in all sorts of trouble under the Italian tactician’s guidance.
It is clear to see that Spurs are struggling to create chances in the final third of the pitch. The new signings are taking their time to hit the ground running at N17, while the lack of cohesion and understanding among the players is hurting the club’s chances of securing important points during the early stages of the new Premier League season. Despite their mammoth spending, the Lilywhites are still struggling to find the back of the net with ease at the start of the current campaign.
We are already three games into the new Premier League season, and it seems like the players have left their shooting boots at the training ground for all three matches. Spurs are one of only three teams in the league yet to score a goal this season, with Aston Villa and Coventry City being the other two. The 0-0 stalemate against Nottingham Forest, in which the Lilywhites failed to register a single shot on target, was enough proof that the club was right to look for a well-established attacker this summer.
Tottenham’s inability to land Cody Gakpo could backfire this season
It is understandable why Roberto De Zerbi was pushing Tottenham to sign Liverpool star Cody Gakpo this summer. The Dutchman had agreed personal terms with the Lilywhites and was keen on exploring a new opportunity this season after giving the North Londoners verbal assurances that he would move to N17 if both clubs reached an agreement over the transfer fee. However, the Reds eventually ruled out a potential transfer after they failed to bring in a suitable replacement for the prolific attacker.
Alasdair Gold has now revealed why Spurs were right to go all-in for Cody Gakpo this summer, with the club’s attacking struggles showcasing a lack of depth in the final third for De Zerbi. Writing for Football London, Gold said,
“The problem for Spurs lay in what came at the other end of the pitch. For De Zerbi’s attackers still look like an awkward group of teens at the school disco standing on opposite sides of the room to each other, not knowing how to communicate. The reason the Italian wanted Cody Gakpo is because the Liverpool man falls into the ready-made attacker category. Unfortunately, that’s also the reason why Andoni Iraola wanted to keep the 27-year-old.”
The Spurs correspondent added,
“Savio and Mathys Tel have ability aplenty but both will blow hot and cold, because at 22 and 21-years-old, they will make decisions that show their age. Savio at times looks like nobody can stop him and then in the next touch he’ll give the ball away with a pass or a knock that was never on. Likewise, Tel can produce moments of real quality followed up by moments that belong levels below.”
Do Tottenham lack experienced faces up front?
As Alasdair Gold rightly points out, Spurs’ new-look attack has some big names, but these players have not gained the much-needed experience to perform consistently in big matches. Both Savio and Mathys Tel have enough minutes under their belts, but they still tend to make avoidable errors in the final third, showcasing their young age on the biggest stage. There is a lack of harmony and cohesion in the wide areas, forcing Roberto de Zerbi to make do with what he has for the upcoming matches.
So, it makes complete sense why Roberto de Zerbi was keen on landing Cody Gakpo this summer, as the prolific attacker would have brought some much-needed assurance in the final third of the pitch. And as Gold mentioned, that is exactly why the Lilywhites missed out on the Dutchman in the end, as Andoni Iraola also needed Gakpo’s experience and ability at Anfield this season.
