Tottenham Tottenham are four Premier League games in and still without a goal. Coventry are the only other side in the division in the same position, and Spurs have done it after a £320m rebuild that was meant to change the attack, not stall it.
The build-up shape is there
The most striking part is not the lack of ideas. Tottenham's possession shape often looks like a 2-3-2-3, with Rodrigo Bentancur anchoring midfield in front of the two central defenders. That gives them structure and plenty of players close enough to progress the ball into good areas.
Roberto De Zerbi has been clear about what he wants from pressure moments. Speaking to BBC, he said: "The stronger the pressure of the opponent, the more vertical [our] action becomes. [The fewer opponents behind], the easier it becomes to go and score."
That has shown up in Tottenham's ability to reach the right zones. What has not followed yet is the final pass, or the timing of the runs around it. Their last four league matches have produced two goalless draws and two defeats, a run that leaves them on 0 Premier League goals.
The final ball is still lagging
The newer positional game also asks players to unlearn habits quickly. At the start of last season under Thomas Frank, Spurs built up primarily down the flanks rather than through the middle, and this version is asking for more central risk and more precision at the decisive moment.
James Maddison is part of that adjustment, but he is only just back into it. He returned from a shoulder injury for last Tuesday's Carabao Cup tie at Liverpool, and he has only 2 Premier League appearances and 35 minutes so far. Spurs still look short of a creator who can settle the attack when the ball arrives between the lines.
De Zerbi's point about verticality is the right one. Tottenham are getting into the spaces that should lead to chances, but the squad is still hesitating when the pass has to be played. Until that changes, the goalless start will keep hanging over their Premier League season.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
