Tottenham fans are voicing their discontent as the team's early season performance fails to justify the significant investment in new signings. The club's home defeat, where fans were seen leaving before the final whistle and booing the team off, echoes the struggles of the previous season.
Despite an off-season spending spree of over £350 million on eight new players and optimistic messages from club leadership, Tottenham has secured no points and no goals in the first two games of the new Premier League season. The team's sluggish start was evident in their opening match against Brentford and continued in their recent loss, where they conceded second-half goals to Newcastle's Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa.
Manager Roberto De Zerbi acknowledged the team's slow start, with key players like captain Micky van de Ven, who is returning from injury, showing signs of rust. The team's performance also saw the debut of midfielder Sandro Tonali, whose early struggles included a misplaced pass that led to a yellow card for Van de Ven.
Newcastle, conversely, began the match sharper, dominating the initial stages. Tottenham gradually found their rhythm, with goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek making saves to deny Mathys Tel and Jan Paul van Hecke. Pedro Porro also had an advanced role on the right wing in the absence of Savio, who was ruled out with muscle fatigue.
The squad also lacked Richarlison, with speculation surrounding a potential move. Omar Marmoush, however, was introduced and grew in influence, though his finishing let him down in the first half. The team's defensive concerns were highlighted as Elanga scored on the turn after evading Van de Ven. The second goal came from Wissa, who finished an overhead kick from a headed assist by Nick Woltemade just moments after coming on.
The defeat has drawn parallels to last season's home record, where Spurs won only three of 19 games. The club's inability to banish these problems early in the new season, despite the influx of expensive talent, has left supporters questioning the impact of the summer's spending.