Spurs legend Hughton 'very confident things will improve'published at 15:41 BST 22 September
15:41 BST 22 September
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Former Tottenham defender Chris Hughton says he is "very confident things will improve" under Roberto de Zerbi despite a poor start to the 2026-27 season.
Spurs have two points from five matches, their lowest tally since the start of the 2008-09 campaign.
Speaking after being inducted into the Tottenham Hall of Fame, Hughton said: "We're five games into the season and I think for some it's disappointing, which is normal.
"We have to take stock. I think what the club have at this particular moment is, in De Zerbi, a very good coach that's thought very well of.
"And I genuinely feel that the players that have been brought in are good players. I think it's a good level of player and of course only time will tell on each of these individuals, but I think the club have bought well.
"What the club have done is bought over a shorter period of time.
"I think particularly because of last season and the desperation of going to the last game of the season, it was a conscious effort to bring these players in quickly. Sometimes it clicks straight away, sometimes it takes time.
"I'm very confident that there will be a turnaround, but I understand supporters want to see things now. But I'm very confident things will improve."
De Zerbi 'made a rod for his own back' with signingspublished at 12:06 BST 22 September
12:06 BST 22 September
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The Observer's Rory Smith says Roberto de Zerbi has "almost made a rod for his own back" this season by signing so many players in the transfer window.
Following a relegation battle last season, there was a vast summer of recruitment in north London, with 13 players joining.
However results haven't improved - with Tottenham bottom of the Premier League table after five games, with just two points gained from a possible 15.
"I don't think Tottenham should be bottom [of the table], but I don't think it's a shock that a team with eight or nine new signings on the pitch doesn't know what it's doing," said Smith on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.
"But De Zerbi wanted the changes, so he's almost made a rod for his own back."
BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton added: "You would expect De Zerbi to be getting more out of a group of players that he has brought in.
"Every week he consistently criticises the performance of the players and it's reasonable to think they should be doing better than they have done."
Former Premier League defender Nedum Onuoha also believes Spurs can't use new signings needing time to gel as an excuse for their poor start.
"I think it's fair for them to get grief," said Onuoha. "I'm on board with it.
"They should have won more games by now and they should have scored more goals based on the profile of players they have.
"Most of them have had a pre-season for De Zerbi to get his ideas across. When a player isn't performing, it's the manager's job to make a session on who to keep in the team.
"I don't think just because they've signed loads of new players that they can't be successful because they absolutely can when the quality is there."
'A recipe for disaster' - but Tottenham 'will turn it around'published at 11:37 BST 21 September
11:37 BST 21 September
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Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison has backed Tottenham to "still have a good season", despite their poor start in Roberto de Zerbi's first full campaign in charge.
Saturday's 3-2 defeat by Aston Villa has left Spurs rooted to the bottom of the Premier League going into the international break, but they did score league goals for the first time in 2026-27.
"Spurs were the better team in that first half and [Zion] Suzuki made three or four outstanding saves," Morrison told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.
"I feel like we've been saying this a lot with Tottenham so far this season - dominating matches, not being clinical enough, and then getting punished.
"The defending is nowhere near good enough and they are conceding too many easy goals at the moment. It is a recipe for disaster.
"But, I do think they will turn it around and I do think they will have a good season.
"When it clicks for them, they are going to give some team a hiding very soon.
"I think they have good attacking players, they will score goals and win games at some point.
"The only thing they have missed is when signing all these midfielders and attacking players, they have missed a centre forward.
"De Zerbi will not put his arm around you - it's his way or the highway and you have to produce for him. The hierarchy has backed him and given him the money, now he has to get results.
"But, their upcoming fixtures don't look too bad. I do think scoring their first two Premier league goals, even in defeat, does help moving forward."
Anthony: Great players and no glue. You have to look at the spending and the homework done on the new squad. It's missing so much and yet it's not as far off as people are saying. The problem is time and it will run out by Christmas for the manager if the weak mentality is not addressed. We need lions, we've got lambs.
Jezza: It is a measure of how poor we have become that the only positive after five games is the fact that we have at last scored a goal! A shocking start to the season and an absolute indictment of our totally incompetent transfer strategy (if indeed there is a strategy) over several seasons. We have let talented young players leave, massively overpaid for new players, who are either average or permanently injured, and decided we don't need to invest in a striker who can actually score goals but instead will persist with those who have manifestly failed in that role. What an utter shambles!
Simon: Not a team and maybe never will be. So disappointing to see individuals on the pitch for Spurs, but no team. They look like they've never met before, despite the team meals and bonding.
Neil: Why did we spend £85m on Fernandes? A player we didn't need. Surely signing a dominant central striker was paramount. Solanke has been a poor signing and Marmoush isn't the answer. It's quite incredible that the lavish spending didn't address to the glaring 'goalscorer' chasm (even a forward that actually troubles opposition defenders)
Villa fans
Johnson: That was a great away performance from us, if we hadn't lost concentration and concede two cheap goals in the last 10 minutes. Suzuki deserved a clean sheet. Manzambi had a great game, so did Jackson. One to build on, especially with the international break coming handy to us. With Madjo, Goretzka and Torres back after that we should be in an even better position than recently.
Mike: Despite the nervy ending, we scored three goals, took three points and are going into the international break with our heads held high. I'll stick my neck out and say that in almost every position our new recruits were an improvement on their counterparts last season. This team is still some way from reaching its peak but the signs are that we can be a threat in all competitions. Ollie who?
Ian: Positive. There's the beginnings of a team here. Long term, Lindelof and Mings cannot be expected to play 90 minutes, and when Kamara and McGinn were substituted, we looked weak down the right flank. Suzuki was full throttle in the first half and would have been disappointed with conceding two, neither of which were particularly his fault. Jackson and Manzambi looked to be developing a good understanding of each other. Onwards and upwards!
Luyimbaazi: At last we have our first win of the Premier League campaign! The forward line did very well but Unai Emery has to address the shaky defence that almost allowed Spurs a comeback. I am going to stay largely positive. Three wonderful points in the bag. Hopefully we'll keep going after the international break.
Gossip: Spurs could make £125m Gibbs-White movepublished at 07:16 BST 21 September
07:16 BST 21 September
Tottenham have set their sights on a possible £125m January move for Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, 26, after nearly signing the England international during the 2025 summer transfer window. (Football Insider), external
Spurs have overpaid for every player - Colepublished at 11:37 BST 20 September
11:37 BST 20 September
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
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Former Chelsea and England midfielder Joe Cole questioned Tottenham's transfer business after their spend of about £302m.
After Sandro Tonali, £85m went on bringing in Mateus Fernandes from West Ham. The Portuguese midfielder was subbed at half-time and Roberto de Zerbi said he "didn't like" Fernandes' performance, while £75m was spent on Savio from Manchester City.
Omar Marmoush will cost £60m once his loan becomes permanent, but Spurs need their big-money buys to prove their worth and perform sooner rather than later.
"Spurs are dominant, chances, and you felt the tension growing - all of a sudden Spurs were just wanting to get to half-time. Once you defend with anxiety, things happen," Cole told TNT.
"When these things go against you, they go against you. Van de Ven going off was a factor, they didn't deal with it well. When you are anxious you make rash decisions.
"Villa defended well but didn't deserve to go in a goal up, and then this place deflated.
"They are not picking up points, a club flirting with relegation two years in a row, I feel they have overpaid for every player they bought this summer - you can't rule them out from being in and around the relegation battle."
De Zerbi, though, defended Tottenham's summer window spending despite their current malaise.
"I am happy with the squad, but the market was long, the situation changed many times," he said.
"There was also financial fair play and we have to respect that. We didn't sell the players we thought there was a possibility to sell.
"The club and the coach, we are not sleeping, we know the characteristics of the players. If we didn't make any different decisions it was because we couldn't."
Tottenham 2-3 Aston Villa: How the Spurs players ratedpublished at 20:21 BST 19 September
20:21 BST 19 September
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Tottenham starting XI:
Antonin Kinsky: Made a comfortable save from Manzambi's strike before a better one thwarted Buendia. There was little he could do to stop the goals. 6
Pedro Porro: Back after missing the draws against Nottingham Forest and Everton but his return lasted 18 minutes as he limped off injured. Had made a positive start. 6
Jan Paul van Hecke: It looked a robust performance as he handled the nuisance of Jackson when Villa did venture forward but he was beaten by Manzambi to the ball for the opener. Scored late consolation. 6
Micky van de Ven: Took a blow to the face just before the break and was off the pitch for treatment when Villa scored, which summed up Spurs' afternoon. 5
Andrew Robertson: Made a mistake in trying to keep the ball in, which eventually led to Villa's first. Thought he had atoned, only to be ruled offside in the build-up to Kudus' disallowed goal. 5
Sandro Tonali: One first-half strike whistled wide but it was another underwhelming outing for the £100m midfielder. 5
Rodrigo Bentancur: Enjoyed the battle in an occasionally congested midfield but his influence waned as the game wore on. 5
Savio: The forward should have put Spurs ahead early and an excellent volley was kept out by Suzuki, but after a strong opening 25 minutes he failed to build. 5
Mateus Fernandes: Replaced at half-time as Tottenham chased the game, the former West Ham midfielder the victim of the circumstances. 6
Omar Marmoush: The Manchester City loanee was brought in to get the goals but it was a listless display once the game started to go away from Tottenham. 5
Dominic Solanke: The striker has not scored in the Premier League since March and could not find a telling touch again. There was little to suggest his drought would end. 5
Tottenham substitutes:
Archie Gray (on 18, Porro): Could have scored with his first touch but was denied by Suzuki. That was as good as it got. 6
Mohammed Kudus (on 46, Fernandes): Came on with Tottenham needing more attacking impetus and had a goal disallowed but was not able to spark. 5
James Maddison (on 66, Solanke): The substitute was unable to make an impact from the bench. 5
Tottenham 2-3 Aston Villa: What De Zerbi saidpublished at 16:08 BST 19 September
16:08 BST 19 September
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Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "The game was finished before [we scored the goals]. We played very well in the first half and we created chances to score. We conceded the first two goals in ways that were not acceptable.
"For the first we have to communicate better, we have to stay like a family and we didn't and we conceded a stupid goal. Second goal, we have the offside decision [disallowing Spurs' goal] but the focus had to be better.
"We have to be stronger. We have to put on the pitch something more than we are putting. Football is tactical but it is blood, it is fighting, it is first one on the ball. Without that it is tough to win the game.
"As a coach I take responsibility. I can work better, harder and more. I can explain my opinion about the performance and about what we can do more. But in the end I can't change something more in the behaviour.
"I think we are not lucky in this period but you have to deserve luck and the positive things and we are not good enough to deserve luck in this moment.
"You have to ask the players [if it is good timing for the international break]. We will suffer until the next game and we will try to do better in the future."
Did you know?
Tottenham have now lost 22 home league games since the start of 2024-25, just one fewer than in their previous four seasons combined (23).
Tottenham have failed to win any of their previous 48 games in all competitions in which they've conceded the opening goal (D11 L37), with 37 of those games coming in the Premier League (D8 L29).
This is Spurs' worst start to a Premier League season after five games, with two points and a goal difference of -6, eclipsing their 2008-09 start (2 points, -3 goal difference).
Analysis: Hosts fail to press home early advantagepublished at 15:35 BST 19 September
15:35 BST 19 September
Steve Sutcliffe BBC Sport Journalist
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Roberto de Zerbi's team actually held sway for much of the first period, and with Savio tormenting Aston Villa left-back Matteo Ruggeri, it seemed only a matter of time before they went in front.
Zion Suzuki made three important stops to deny the Brazil winger from close range and enjoyed some good fortune when Archie Gray's effort clipped wide off his heel.
Sandro Tonali also went close during a spell in which the visitors struggled to get out of their own half, and many supporters will be able to draw parallels to their home loss against Newcastle, when they were again the dominant force until conceding.
This time they were initially undone by a panicky attempted clearance from Andy Robertson, with Micky van de Ven off the field.
And once they were behind a Villa win felt like the inevitable conclusion, with Spurs now having failed to win any of their previous 48 games in all competitions in which they've conceded the opening goal.
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Brighton v Arsenal" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Newcastle match", for example.
New this season: Live match updates
Fans of Premier League clubs can now get real-time scores live on their phone lock screen for every game.
Simply follow your favourite football teams on the BBC Sport app for updates throughout the 2026-27 season.
Tottenham v Aston Villa: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 20:10 BST 18 September
20:10 BST 18 September
Paul Birch BBC Sport journalist
Tottenham and Aston Villa have scored just one league goal between them so far, with both clubs making poor starts to the season. BBC Sport takes a look at the key themes before the game on Saturday (12:30 BST).
Spurs search for spark
In the wake of their Carabao Cup exit to Liverpool, Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi said his side have to find "La Scintilla" (the spark) to kick-start their season and finally score some goals.
This is the first time in the club's 144-year history that they have failed to score in their opening four league matches of a season.
The only time they've ever failed to score in five or more league games at any stage of a campaign was a six-game run between December 1985 to February 1986.
While the sole Premier League side to have ever gone longer than four matches without a goal is Crystal Palace, who took seven matches in 2017-18 before finally breaking their duck.
But that Palace team did go on to finish 11th and none of the other four Premier League teams who also failed to score in their opening four matches ended up finishing lower than that.
Coincidentally, one of those sides was actually Unai Emery's Aston Villa just 12 months ago as they roared into form to eventually finish fourth and lift the Europa League.
De Zerbi's side were much improved in their loss to Liverpool in midweek - actually scoring a goal, registering 17 shots and posting an expected goals tally of 2.34, which is remarkably their highest figure against an English opponent since December 2024.
This slow start was somewhat inevitable after such a huge influx of new players over the summer. Analysis by Opta has uncovered that Tottenham are the 12th team in Premier League history to give 20 or more starts in their first four games of a season to players who didn't play a game for them the season before (excluding promoted teams).
Worryingly for Spurs, only five of the previous 11 teams to do so saw their league position actually improve from one campaign to the next.
A stat doing the rounds in recent weeks has highlighted Tottenham's inability to win a game after conceding the first goal. It now stands at an incredible 47 games in all competitions (D11, L36) dating back to a 4-1 comeback win over Aston Villa in November 2024.
Villa also looking for first win
It is surely no coincidence that the sides to have gone through two of the biggest squad upheavals over the summer have both made such sluggish starts to the campaign.
Aston Villa rank 20th in the Premier League for expected goals this season with their tally of 3.39 marginally worse than opponents Tottenham, while only Hull have had fewer touches in the opposition's box than the Villans' 62. However, unlike Spurs, at least Villa did open their top-flight goalscoring account in their defeat with Nottingham Forest last Saturday.
Next on their list will be avoiding equalling an unwanted club record of failing to win any of their first five matches to a top-flight season for the second season running, and for only the fourth time in their history (also 1919-20 and 1964-65).
But Unai Emery is finally getting the chance to call upon most of his new signings having been without the majority of them for a variety of reasons. So far, only four of their 11 summer recruits have started a league match for the club - Zion Suzuki (three starts), Nicolas Jackson (three), Joao Gomes (one) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (one) - and no more than three have done so in the same league match.
Villa have enjoyed the upper-hand in this fixture in recent years, winning seven of the past 10 in all competitions, and have been victorious on five of their past seven visits to N17.
However, Spurs' win at Villa Park in May was one of the highlights of an otherwise wretched campaign for the Lilywhites.
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