Tottenham waiting on £300m investment to click as pressure increases on Roberto De Zerbi | OneFootball

Tottenham head into the international break propping up the Premier League table

Winless after five games and rock bottom of the Premier League table, Tottenham could hardly have had a worse start to the season.

Despite spending in excess of £300million this summer, Spurs have so far struggled to put the memories of last season’s relegation battle behind them.

Defeat to Aston Villa over the weekend means Tottenham head into the international break with just two points to their name.

Though there is internal backing, the pressure is starting to increase on Roberto De Zerbi, and he will have plenty to mull over before his side return to action next month.

Given Spurs’ start to the season, it is difficult to single out many players who have made a positive impression so far.

There have, however, been glimpses of quality from Mateus Fernandes, who, despite being dragged off at half-time against Aston Villa, has added quality and intensity in midfield since his £85m arrival from West Ham.

Left-back Destiny Udogie has also offered flashes of his ability, albeit in limited minutes as he works his way back to full fitness. The now-injured Pedro Porro also makes Spurs a more dynamic team when he is on the pitch.

Which players have struggled?

Tottenham’s disrupted pre-season has left De Zerbi’s squad off the pace physically and mentally, with so many players lacking match sharpness.

Dominic Solanke, who has been eased back after a string of injury issues last season, has been far from his best and has come in for criticism from De Zerbi.

The England striker is not alone in this department, though, with summer signings Andy Robertson and Sandro Tonali also struggling for form.

Dominic Solanke has been criticised by Roberto De Zerbi

AFP/Getty

Across the board, Spurs have not been good enough, but Mathys Tel in particular has failed to get going this term despite a strong pre-season.

In and out of the team, Tel was given a stern talking to after an ineffective substitute appearance as a makeshift striker against Everton.

How are the summer signings faring?

As previously mentioned, Tonali and Robertson have looked nowhere near the required level this season.

Fernandes, too, has had his struggles despite arguably being the most consistent of the 10 new arrivals this summer.

De Zerbi is still waiting for things to click, and he will have been frustrated with Jan Paul van Hecke’s performance against Aston Villa.

Slow start: Sandro Tonali

Getty

The Dutch centre-half had looked to be building a good understanding with fellow countryman and captain Micky van de Ven, but the pair had no answers to Villa’s attacking threat last weekend.

There is also a lot more to come from Savio and Omar Marmoush. The former Manchester City duo have provided energy but no end product to Spurs’ flailing attack.

Marcos Senesi, Tosin Adarabioyo and Martin Dubravka have had limited involvement so far, while Mykhailo Mudryk is out injured.

What has the manager got right and wrong?

Spurs have been better than their results suggest, but they have failed to maintain their performance levels over the course of 90 minutes.

They often start games well, fail to score and then let the opposition come on to them.

This pattern has repeated itself throughout the first few weeks of the season and owes a lot to Spurs’ poor physical conditioning.

Roberto De Zerbi has a tough job on his hands

AFP/Getty

De Zerbi must also address his side’s attacking issues, having started the season without a goal in their first four league games for the first time in history.

Spurs build play fairly effectively through the lines, but their decision-making in the final third routinely lets them down.

De Zerbi has to help his team make more effective and decisive choices around the 18-yard box.

Revised end-of-season finish prediction

Talk of European qualification feels far-fetched now, but Spurs have the quality to start looking up the table again if De Zerbi can make his team more mentally resilient.