Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham side are still searching for consistency, with the Italian experiencing his first full season in charge after taking over during a campaign dominated by the fight for Premier League survival.
Last season, De Zerbi’s main objective was simply to keep Spurs in the top flight, and he achieved that goal. This term, however, expectations have changed. The Tottenham boss is now expected to establish his footballing philosophy and improve the team’s performances.
So far, that has not happened. Tottenham remain without a Premier League win after five matches and sit at the bottom of the table, having scored just twice. Only Coventry, with one goal, have scored fewer.
The poor start is particularly concerning considering Tottenham’s huge spending during the summer. Spurs brought in ten new players for close to £400 million, yet the investment has not translated into improved results.
While some may argue that the new signings need time to adapt and develop an understanding, Troy Deeney believes that explanation should not be used as an excuse.
One of Tottenham’s biggest problems has been their lack of goals. The team have created opportunities, and in recent matches against Aston Villa and Liverpool, Spurs produced more chances than their opponents but still failed to secure victories.
That naturally puts attention on the forwards, with Dominic Solanke and Omar Marmoush struggling to make an impact.
The pair have yet to score a Premier League goal this season, adding to Tottenham’s attacking concerns. Their struggles become even more noticeable when compared with two former Spurs youngsters who have started the campaign strongly.
Marmoush has made four Premier League appearances, playing 341 minutes and registering five shots, just one of which was on target. He has no goals or assists and currently holds an average rating of 6.65.
Solanke has featured five times but has managed only 178 minutes. He has taken four shots, with one on target, while also failing to score or assist.
By comparison, former Tottenham striker Will Lankshear has enjoyed an impressive start since joining Middlesbrough this summer. He has scored six goals in eight Championship appearances, while also registering 18 shots and 11 shots on target.
Troy Parrott has also made a positive start at Real Betis. The forward has scored twice and provided one assist in seven appearances for the Spanish club.
Parrott has also scored three times for Northern Ireland during the international break, including a memorable effort against Austria. Lankshear found the net for England Under-21s against Kazakhstan Under-21s, while Marmoush scored twice for Egypt against Sudan.
Solanke, meanwhile, was not included in England’s latest squad.
Lankshear’s numbers should be viewed in context, however, as he is currently playing in the Championship. Parrott and Marmoush face different challenges in La Liga and the Premier League respectively.
There is also no guarantee that either Lankshear or Parrott would immediately reproduce their current form in the Premier League. The top flight presents a significantly tougher test, and Solanke himself previously enjoyed an impressive campaign at Bournemouth before his move to Tottenham.
For Spurs, the immediate priority is finding a way to get their forwards scoring. De Zerbi needs his attacking players to rediscover their confidence if Tottenham are to climb away from the bottom of the Premier League table.
