Tottenham players are still looking for their first win of the 2026/27 Premier League season.
Tottenham Hotspur’s start to the season has been abysmal, with Roberto De Zerbi’s side sitting bottom of the Premier League table after five games.
A winless run and just two points from a possible 15 leaves Spurs as one of three teams yet to secure a victory this season. The N17 chiefs splashed close to £400 million on new recruits after consecutive 17th place finishes.
Sandro Tonali moved to Spurs from Newcastle United in the summer for an eye-watering fee of £100million, signing a bumper long-term contract. He was joined by Mateus Fernandes, as both looked set to offer Roberto De Zerbi top-class quality in the middle of the park. However, that hasn’t been the case as the duo have struggled, while fellow summer signing Jan Paul van Hecke came under intense scrutiny after his performance in the 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa.
Chris Waddle thinks Tottenham players have not downed tools
It is quite clear that the new signings haven’t settled in well at Tottenham, including Savio and Omar Marmoush. The double acquisitions from Manchester City, Savio and Marmoush, have shown promise but have yet to deliver a goal contribution in the league.
The early signs suggest that Spurs still have plenty of work to do to compete for Champions League spots this season. If things don’t drastically improve, a third successive campaign in the bottom half of the table could once again be on the cards.
Club legend Chris Waddle remarked that the Lilywhites are lacking a creative presence in the side, someone Paul Gascoigne-esque who can split open defences with flair and incisive passes in the final third. He also insists the Tottenham players are trying their best to get the team out of the mess and have not downed tools.
“It’s hard when new players haven’t hit the ground running; a lot of players haven’t. Getting the balance right is key, because they’ve signed loads of players, but you’ve got to get the balance right,” Chris Waddle was quoted by Football London.
“The players are listening; the players understand how big Tottenham are and what’s required. It’s not a lack of effort; it’s probably a lack of confidence rather than effort, because they’re working hard.
“You can’t say they’ve downed tools; they actually are working very hard. But it’s putting that ball in the net, and eventually you can see the frustration in them because they think, ‘Yeah, we might have a lot of possession, we create some good chances, but we don’t take them.”
Roberto De Zerbi already under pressure
This is Spurs’ worst start to a Premier League season after five games. De Zerbi has cut a frustrated figure on the touchline for much of the start of the campaign and been critical of his players off the field.
Despite growing pressure for results to improve, the club’s hierarchy are understood to remain committed to a longer-term project. The sheer number of new signings also means the squad needs time to develop an understanding and cohesion of De Zerbi’s playing style and methods, with injuries further complicating his task.
That does not mean the Italian tactician should be immune from scrutiny, and results will need to improve after the international break. The benefits of a mental reset, some time away from the pressure may work out, which is why the international break arrived at an ideal time for De Zerbi and the Tottenham players.
