Roberto De Zerbi, this maverick, attack-minded coach, was meant to bring the fun back to Tottenham Hotspur, wasn’t he?
It said it all that ironic cheers met Mateus Fernandes’ tame effort on goal against Everton, the hosts notching a first shot on target in what felt like an age just after the break.
For the fourth time this season, a Premier League game came and went without Spurs scoring a goal, last term’s top scorer Richarlison left watching on as the Lilywhites played out a drab goalless draw with his former club.
Perhaps De Zerbi merely needs time to bed in his string of new arrivals, but the early woes of this expensively assembled side, including Sandro Tonali, don’t exactly make for pretty reading.
Why Tonali’s form remains a huge concern for Spurs
There was euphoria on the final day back in May as Joao Palhinha powered Tottenham to safety against the Toffees, the north London side scraping survival by the skin of their teeth.
It’s still so early into his Spurs career, but can Tonali even be considered an upgrade on the Portuguese warrior on current evidence, having been so ineffective again in central midfield?
The £100m man had been sharp in pre-season, following his arrival from Newcastle United, although he appears to have picked up where he left off amid a difficult final year at St James’ Park.
On Saturday night, for instance, the Italian struggled to really put his stamp on proceedings, with Spurs’ midfield core arguably losing the battle up against James Garner and co.
Tonali, to his credit, did show one notable moment of quality with a delightful lofted pass to pick out Archie Gray in behind, yet it was largely all too safe, all too neat and tidy, as he attempted just two long balls all game.
The one-time AC Milan star did boast a 94% pass accuracy rate, yet he only registered a single progressive carry and won just one ground duel, hardly making an impact out of possession either.
The new men won’t want to be judged on their price tag alone, but considering the level of investment, it’s only natural to be demanding more right now, in every facet of the game.
Tonali vs Everton | |
|---|---|
Stat | Record |
Minutes | 90 |
Touches | 103 |
Pass rate | 94% |
Key passes | 1 |
Long balls | 2/2 |
Shots | 2 |
Dribbles | 1/1 |
Ball lost | 9 |
Tackles | 0 |
Total duels won | 2/4 |
In Tonali’s defence, his Spurs journey is only four Premier League games old – there are others who have underwhelmed for far longer.
Spurs star looks to be on borrowed time under De Zerbi
It feels like a chicken-and-egg situation, with the forward line starved of service, yet also while seemingly lacking the quality to really capitalise on any potential openings when they do fall their way.
From the days of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son, this is a stark regression, with De Zerbi testing out so many different attacking combinations, all to little effect.
On paper, the deployment of Omar Marmoush and Savio on the flanks, with Dominic Solanke in the centre, looked like a wise choice, with Savio having been particularly lively in the opening exchanges.
And yet, once more, it all felt a little flat, with that man Solanke again at the scene of the crime, the Englishman proving rather anonymous in that number nine berth.
Richarlison has his issues, undoubtedly, but the Brazilian had been the man with momentum last term, all while Solanke endured another injury-disrupted campaign in the capital.
Since signing in 2024, the former Bournemouth talisman has scored just 12 league goals in all, having looked no closer to adding to his tally against David Moyes’ men.
As noted, the service up to the big man hasn’t been perfect, with Andy Robertson notably overhitting a cross to the striker late on, yet even so, that doesn’t totally explain why Solanke was so ineffectual.
When he did get the ball too, the 28-year-old just couldn’t keep hold of it, losing possession seven times from his measly total of 19 touches, ensuring he squandered possession once every 2.7 touches on average.
Solanke also failed to attempt a single shot and won just one of his eight total duels, kept remarkably quiet by the dominant duo of James Tarkowski and Jarrard Branthwaite.
You have to go back to early March for the last time Spurs’ number 19 scored a Premier League goal, with his only goal under De Zerbi to date coming against Charlton Athletic in the Carabao Cup.
There’s a player in there, undoubtedly, as his 19-goal haul showcased on the south coast in 2023/24, but it’s been too long now since Spurs really saw a fit and firing version of the England international. If they ever have.
Of course, those most recently in the door, like Tonali, will draw the greater attention, but it can’t be ignored just what a problem it is that De Zerbi doesn’t have a reliable number nine to call upon.
Something has to give.
