Tottenham go goalless in first four league games as build falters

Tottenham have failed to score in their opening four league games for the first time in two decades, and The Guardian argues the issue is more than just finding the net. The side can reach attacking areas, but struggles to create or take chances.

Too many changes

Roberto De Zerbi is trying to form a settled XI, yet Tottenham’s rotations are keeping them from gelling. Since the opening match, De Zerbi has made 12 changes to his league starting line-ups—more than any other manager in the division. On average, that’s about four alterations per game, and even in the goalless draw at Everton last Saturday, the 11 starters had spent just 1.3 years with the club on average.

Ineffective attacking returns

The Guardian backs the diagnosis with attacking metrics. Tottenham lead the Premier League in completed take-ons (46), but only five of those successful dribbles end with a chance or a shot. They are also not converting high recoveries into danger: Tottenham have recorded 34 high-turnover sequences, yet only two have ended with a shot—The Guardian compares this against the league picture, where the rate should be much higher.

Injuries and absences

Injuries have not helped, a point De Zerbi made with reference to pre-season setbacks. He said Micky van de Ven and Domi Solanke were both injured in Australia, James Maddison also suffered the same issue, and Mateus Fernandes lost 15 days after an injury there.

De Zerbi’s takeaway

After Tottenham’s Carabao Cup defeat at Anfield, De Zerbi said: “We have to shoot more, we have to shoot better and we have to finish better the clear situations.” According to The Guardian, the team is often well placed in the box, but the attacking sequence often takes too long before the final action. For now, Tottenham’s next step is straightforward: keep a more consistent lineup and improve the last pass, shot, and finish.