Two games into the new season, and Tottenham already sit bottom of the Premier League. How does a squad rebuilt with more than £300 million end up last place after just two matches? That question is echoing around White Hart Lane, and Roberto de Zerbi needs an answer fast.
Spurs fans expected a fresh start this season. Instead, they got no goals, no points, and no sign of the European push that was meant to follow last year’s Europa League win. A 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle has left Tottenham bottom of the Premier League, and the mood inside the stadium says everything about where this club stands right now.
This article breaks down what happened against Newcastle, why Tottenham are bottom of the Premier League despite record summer spending, and what needs to change before the transfer window closes.
Tottenham Bottom of the Premier League: What Went Wrong Against Newcastle
The numbers tell the story. Two games played, two defeats, zero goals scored. Tottenham sit 20th out of 20 clubs. Spurs lost 3-0 away at Brentford last week, then fell 2-0 to Newcastle at home. Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa scored both goals inside a ten-minute spell in the second half.
The result stings because Tottenham did not play badly. They had 17 attempts on goal, and six of those hit the target. Yet they failed to score once. Newcastle, meanwhile, scored with both of their shots on target. Sometimes football comes down to ruthless finishing, and Spurs simply lacked it on the day.
Fans have every right to feel frustrated. The club spent heavily to avoid exactly this kind of start. Thousands of supporters headed for the exits before the final whistle, and that alone signals how thin their patience has grown.
Spurs’ Home Form Keeps Dragging Them Down
This defeat was not a one-off. Tottenham have won only three of their last 23 home league matches at their own stadium. That single statistic explains why fans are losing faith, no matter who picks the team. A stadium that should intimidate visiting sides has instead become a source of anxiety for Tottenham’s own supporters.
As a result, deeper questions are surfacing, not just about this season’s start, but about an ongoing problem that has followed the club across multiple campaigns.
Why Tottenham’s £300m Summer Spend Hasn’t Paid Off
Tottenham finished 17th in the Premier League in both 2024-25 and 2025-26, narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day last time out. To prevent a third straight relegation battle, the club backed De Zerbi with heavy investment in the transfer market.
The summer rebuild brought in several notable signings:
- Mateus Fernandes, who joined from West Ham for £85m
- Sandro Tonali, who arrived from Newcastle for £100m
- Jan Paul van Hecke, a £52m defender from Brighton
- Savio, formerly known as Savinho, a £75m winger from Manchester City
- Omar Marmoush, on loan from Manchester City, with a permanent £60m move planned for next summer
Tottenham also added defenders Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson, plus goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, on free transfers. Marmoush made his debut against Newcastle, though muscle fatigue kept Savio out of the squad.
On paper, this squad looks capable of chasing a European finish again. However, results so far suggest the new arrivals need more time to gel, and that process is testing a fanbase that wants improvement now.
Will Tottenham Make One More Signing Before the Deadline?
The transfer window closes on Tuesday, and De Zerbi has already confirmed he still wants “one player more in one specific position.” Meanwhile, rumours continue to link Kevin Danso, Pape Matar Sarr, and Richarlison with exits before deadline day.
De Zerbi addressed those rumours directly. He said any player who wants to leave must bring the club an acceptable financial solution first. In short, Tottenham are not pushing players out the door, but they won’t block a fair offer either.
De Zerbi Responds to Spurs Sitting Bottom of the Table
Despite the alarming table position, Roberto de Zerbi struck a calm tone after the Newcastle defeat. He insisted his side actually outplayed Newcastle for long spells, at least until conceding the opening goal.
“We can improve in the defensive phases but today was an unfair result,” De Zerbi said. He admitted disappointment for the fans, yet he also expressed confidence in the club’s long-term direction.
“I am not angry, we are working well and were unlucky today with the result. There is no panic. I know where we are going and what the plan is. I’m sorry for the fans for the result. We have to improve. We have to work hard on the pitch and find the connection between the players.”
That last line matters. De Zerbi seems to view this as a squad still building its identity, not one that is fundamentally broken. He also pointed back to last season’s late rescue act, when Tottenham faced genuine relegation danger before a final-day win over Everton secured survival.
“We have to work hard on the pitch and find the connection with the players because last season before the end of the season we were in the Championship and we stayed up together,” he said. “Now we have to keep calm and focus on improvement. We have a great squad and great players.”
De Zerbi’s Managerial Record at Tottenham So Far
Since taking charge at the end of March, De Zerbi has won four, drawn two, and lost four of his ten matches across all competitions. That run included 11 points from seven matches that kept Tottenham in the Premier League last season.
Therefore, his overall record is far from disastrous. Still, expectations have climbed sharply given the scale of summer investment, and two winless, goalless games to open this campaign have reignited old doubts among fans.
Pundits React to Tottenham’s Poor Start
Former Tottenham and England goalkeeper Joe Hart did not hold back when he assessed the situation. He compared Spurs to Newcastle, noting how quickly Matthias Jaissle’s side has adapted despite going through significant squad changes of their own.
“When you see a Newcastle side who have been through massive change over the summer, and a more difficult change than Spurs have, it’s hard as in two games you can clearly see what Jaissle is trying to do,” Hart explained. “The players are on board with it and they are flying.”
By contrast, Hart suggested Tottenham’s identity under De Zerbi still looks unclear. He acknowledged that integrating so many new signings under pressure takes time, but he also noted that the club’s struggles are nothing new.
“They’ve not just suddenly fallen off a cliff, they’ve been struggling in the league for a while,” Hart said. He added that the Premier League moves fast, and Spurs currently look like a team “second-guessing everything.”
Former England goalkeeper Rob Green offered a similar view on BBC Radio 5 Live. He praised goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek for a string of first-half saves, but he felt Tottenham lacked creativity in attack.
“For Tottenham, the same questions last season are still here this season,” Green said. “Performances like this will indicate that they need a vast improvement from this set of players that have come into this club. They will need the characters as much as anything to turn this around. It doesn’t take much for these Spurs fans to turn and the belief starts to drain from the players.”
What Tottenham Need to Fix to Climb Off the Bottom
A few clear priorities stand out for De Zerbi and his squad heading into the coming weeks.
Finishing must improve immediately. Firing 17 shots without scoring once is not sustainable. Tottenham need their attacking players, including new arrival Marmoush, to start converting chances into goals.
New signings need time, but not too much of it. Five major first-team additions this summer always meant some adjustment period. However, the Premier League offers little patience, and results need to arrive soon to ease pressure on the squad.
Home form has to turn around. Three wins in 23 home league games falls well short of Tottenham’s resources and ambitions. Fixing performances at their own stadium should sit at the top of the priority list.
Deadline-day decisions still loom. Whether or not Danso, Sarr, or Richarlison leave, De Zerbi’s stated need for one more signing shows the club still sees a gap to fill before the window shuts.
Final Thoughts on Tottenham’s Rocky Start
Tottenham’s spot at the bottom of the Premier League does not reflect a broken project, at least according to De Zerbi. He instead frames it as a team still searching for cohesion after a busy transfer window. The manager stays publicly calm, pointing to last season’s great escape as proof that things can turn around quickly once his squad finds its rhythm.
Even so, patience is wearing thin among fans who watched thousands leave early against Newcastle. Tottenham spent more than £300 million and built a squad packed with talent, so expectations have shifted. Ultimately, results, not reassurances, will decide whether this season becomes another struggle or the start of real progress under De Zerbi.
As the transfer window closes and the season unfolds, all eyes will stay on whether Tottenham can finally build the connection De Zerbi keeps mentioning, both between his players and with a fanbase growing more restless by the week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Tottenham bottom of the Premier League this season?
Tottenham sit bottom of the Premier League after losing both opening matches without scoring a single goal, including a 3-0 defeat at Brentford and a 2-0 home loss to Newcastle.
Who scored for Newcastle against Tottenham?
Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa scored Newcastle’s goals, both within a ten-minute spell in the second half.
How much did Tottenham spend in the summer transfer window?
Tottenham spent more than £300 million in the summer, bringing in players such as Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Savio, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Omar Marmoush.
Is Roberto de Zerbi under pressure at Tottenham?
Results have been poor, but De Zerbi says he is “not angry” and insists there is “no panic,” pointing to his record of keeping the club up last season as evidence of progress.
When does the Premier League transfer window close?
The transfer window closes on Tuesday, and De Zerbi has confirmed Tottenham are still looking to sign one more player in a specific position before the deadline.
