Tottenham Hotspur have made a poor start to the season. A 3-2 loss against Aston Villa on Saturday means they are still searching for their first Premier League win. They have lost three and drawn two of their five matches. After Fulham drew with Manchester United, Spurs sit at the bottom of the table going into the international break.
The two late goals against Villa, scored by Conor Gallagher and Jan Paul van Hecke, were the team's first of the Premier League season. That could offer some light at the end of the tunnel.
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Tottenham were one of the big spenders in the transfer window, spending around £344million in an attempt to avoid a repeat of last season's relegation battle. Given their position, should pressure be piling on manager Roberto De Zerbi? Our writers have had their say.
It is hard to argue against the pressure mounting on De Zerbi, given the performances and results so far. After leading Spurs to safety on the final day of last season, the Italian was heavily backed in the transfer window. That has not yielded results, with the club in a similar position to last year, which ultimately led to the sacking of Thomas Frank. There is a case for giving managers time, especially when the transfer window has brought many changes. The three-week break gives De Zerbi a chance to work on the training pitch with players not on international duty. It could be the ideal time to make a change, but Spurs should hold out a bit longer and hope the season turns around under him.
Five matches into last season, Spurs were third after beating Manchester City and had conceded just one goal. They then conceded 56 more over the next 33 games and dropped 14 places in the table. That shows it is too small a sample size to make a change, despite how tempting it is during a three-week international break. The club took too long to sack Thomas Frank, and they would be going too early if they dismissed De Zerbi now. After a far-from-ideal pre-season for all clubs because of this summer's World Cup, the head coach deserves more time to work with those not representing their national teams. If results have not improved by the next break in mid-November, then there is a discussion to be had.
There can be no denying that pressure will soon be mounting on De Zerbi's job, especially if results do not improve. But patience is needed given the amount of change at the club. De Zerbi was there towards the end of last season, but that was survival mode. This year he has been given the chance to implement his own style and philosophy. Tottenham have also signed several players who all need time to adjust to new surroundings and teammates. Given the relegation battles over the last two seasons, it was never going to be the complete opposite this time. Time is needed for De Zerbi to work with the players he has and get them all on the same page. If Spurs do not get a win in the first couple of games after the international break, questions will certainly be asked about whether he is the right person.
Only five matches are gone, and one writer recalls a saying that there should not even be a league table until after 10 games. It is premature to talk about sacking De Zerbi, though that gives him no extra security after a dreadful start. The vast sums spent over the summer will focus the minds of decision-makers, with Spurs scarcely able to score a goal. But it is probably not the Italian's fault that he does not have much firepower. His credentials were always questionable, but he needs longer to be fairly judged at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Lilywhites have finished 17th in consecutive seasons, so any expectations need to bear that in mind.
Source: www.football.london — Read the original article
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