Old habits are certainly hard to break, and Tottenham Hotspur are discovering that even a summer of expensive recruitment cannot instantly erase the problems that have been allowed to build up over several difficult seasons.
Spurs have invested heavily in their squad, with the club spending enormous sums in an attempt to give Roberto De Zerbi the tools required to take the team forward. However, early signs suggest that there is still plenty of work to be done before Tottenham can truly look like the side their supporters expect them to become.
That was particularly evident against Newcastle United, who looked considerably more organised, balanced and comfortable under new manager Matthias Jaissle. While Newcastle appeared to have a clear identity and understanding of what they wanted to do, Tottenham looked disjointed for long periods, highlighting the number of issues De Zerbi still needs to address.
Of course, it would be unfair to judge a new manager and a heavily rebuilt squad too harshly after only a couple of competitive matches. Some teething problems were always inevitable. Nevertheless, Tottenham’s opening performances have exposed several concerns, including the form of their £100 million summer signing Sandro Tonali.
Tonali struggles on difficult Spurs home debut
Tottenham made Tonali one of the biggest signings in their history when they brought the Italian midfielder in from Newcastle for a deal worth around £100 million.
The 26-year-old arrived in north London with a huge reputation and was expected to provide De Zerbi with a combination of physicality, technical quality, intelligence and experience in the middle of the pitch. His time at Newcastle last season was not always perfect, but Spurs believed they were acquiring a midfielder capable of operating at the highest level.
However, his first meeting with his former club in a Tottenham shirt was one to forget.
Newcastle ultimately deserved their victory, and Tonali struggled to impose himself on the game. The intensity and aggression that made him such an important part of Newcastle’s midfield were largely absent, while he rarely appeared capable of controlling proceedings for Tottenham.
Journalist Sam Dean described the performance as being “nowhere near what you would expect for £100m”, and it is difficult to argue with that assessment based on what was seen on the night.
There were flashes of quality and a few promising runs, but they were nowhere near enough to justify such a long stay on the pitch. De Zerbi eventually kept him on for around 75 minutes, despite the Italian struggling to influence the contest.
Tonali recorded just one defensive contribution throughout the game, while his overall performance lacked the energy and authority Tottenham desperately needed from their marquee midfield addition.
The midfielder now has plenty of work to do if he is to quickly rediscover the form that made Spurs willing to spend such an extraordinary amount of money on him. Two games into his Tottenham career, there is already pressure for him to demonstrate why the club made him such a priority.
That said, Tottenham probably cannot afford to keep changing the midfield around him. The club have invested heavily in that area, and De Zerbi must now find a way to make the players already at his disposal work together effectively.
Tottenham’s attack remains the bigger concern
If there is one area where Tottenham still appear to require another major addition, however, it is undoubtedly in attack.
The Lilywhites have failed to score in either of their opening Premier League matches, suffering two disappointing defeats and leaving supporters frustrated by another lack of cutting edge in the final third.
Against Newcastle, Tottenham once again struggled to turn possession and promising moments into genuine goalscoring opportunities. Their attacking players found it difficult to break down a well-organised opposition defence, while their decision-making around the penalty area was often poor.
Mathys Tel was one of the players who struggled most.
The young French forward showed glimpses of encouraging movement earlier in the contest, particularly when attempting to drift into space and make himself available between the lines. Unfortunately, his work in dangerous areas rarely translated into anything meaningful.
Tel’s evening was summed up by a particularly poor free-kick attempt that sailed harmlessly over the goal, but his problems went far beyond that one moment.
The numbers painted an even more concerning picture. Tel lost five of his six ground duels, failed to complete either of his attempted dribbles and did not create a single chance for his teammates. He also failed to complete either of his crosses and repeatedly surrendered possession.
At one point, he was losing the ball roughly once every four and a half minutes, illustrating just how difficult it was for him to maintain possession and make a meaningful contribution.
For a Tottenham side desperately searching for goals, that simply is not enough.
De Zerbi needs another attacking option
Tel’s performance will only strengthen the argument that Tottenham need to bring in another left-sided attacker before the transfer window closes.
The 21-year-old has struggled to consistently find his rhythm since moving from Bayern Munich to north London, and while there is undoubtedly potential in his game, Spurs cannot afford to rely solely on potential when they are desperately short of goals.
The departure of Heung-min Son has also left a significant hole in Tottenham’s attack. Son had been one of the club’s most reliable sources of goals, assists and creativity for years, and replacing that production was always going to be a difficult task.
A year on, however, Tottenham still appear to be searching for a genuine successor.
De Zerbi will therefore be hoping the club can complete one final major attacking addition before the deadline. Cody Gakpo has emerged as one of Tottenham’s leading targets in recent weeks, although Manchester City are reportedly pushing strongly to win that particular race.
If Gakpo proves unattainable, Spurs have alternatives.
Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye has been identified as another player who could provide the pace, directness and creativity required to give De Zerbi a different option in the final third.
Whatever happens, Tottenham need to act quickly.
Their next Premier League assignment comes against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, and by then the transfer window will have closed. De Zerbi will want to enter that game knowing that his squad is finally complete and that he has another attacking weapon capable of changing matches.
The early performances have demonstrated that Tottenham’s problems are not going to disappear simply because they have spent huge amounts of money.
Tonali still needs to settle and prove his worth, while the attack requires greater quality, consistency and ruthlessness. Spurs may have invested heavily this summer, but money alone does not automatically create a successful team.
The Newcastle defeat was another reminder that De Zerbi has plenty of work ahead of him.
The foundations may be there, but Tottenham still look like a squad with important pieces missing. Most urgently, they need an attacker capable of providing the goals and creativity that have been absent since Son’s departure.
If Spurs can find that player before the deadline, this ambitious rebuild could begin to take shape. If they cannot, De Zerbi may find himself trying to solve the same attacking problems that have frustrated Tottenham for far too long.
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