Tottenham’s goalless start exposes a problem bigger than finishing

Spurs began the campaign with a 3-0 loss at Brentford before Newcastle United beat them 2-0 in their first home fixture. They finally picked up a point at the City Ground, although goalkeeper Matz Sels completed the afternoon without making a save.

It is the club’s first goalless start across three league games since 1974. That statistic is particularly uncomfortable given the number of attacking players now available to De Zerbi.

Tottenham’s difficult opening has quickly become one of the season’s most discussed stories, including among supporters following Premier League developments through BetAhoy. The concern is not simply that chances have been missed. Too many promising attacks are ending before a clear opportunity is created.

Tottenham’s attack stalled again at Nottingham Forest

There were positive moments against Forest, especially during the opening stages. Pedro Porro released Omar Marmoush with an excellent forward pass in the 17th minute, only for the summer signing to send his shot narrowly past the far post.

Rodrigo Bentancur headed over, while Micky van de Ven went close after the interval. Marmoush later had another attempt after Antonin Kinsky started a counterattack with an accurate diagonal pass.

Those opportunities never developed into sustained pressure. Tottenham recorded 12 attempts but failed to direct one on target. Forest also had 12 shots, although their goalkeeper was rarely placed under serious pressure.

Dominic Solanke, introduced during the closing stages, sent a looping header onto the roof of the net. Mykhailo Mudryk made his debut as a substitute, but he had limited time to influence a match in which both teams struggled to produce quality in the final third.

Spurs also required a favourable VAR decision to leave Nottingham with a point. Neco Williams forced the ball over the line during the second half, but the goal was disallowed after a review detected handball.

The defensive resilience gave De Zerbi something useful to take away. Tottenham made 24 clearances and restricted Forest to two efforts on target. The attacking display, however, repeated several problems seen during the opening defeats.

Are Tottenham creating enough good chances?

The number of attempts does not tell the complete story. Tottenham had 17 shots during the 2-0 defeat against Newcastle and another 12 at Forest. A team can generate respectable totals while producing very few opportunities that a striker would expect to convert.

Several efforts have come under pressure, at difficult angles or outside the penalty area. Other attacks have broken down because a player shot when a pass would have created a better opening.

De Zerbi identified decision-making as the main problem after the Forest draw. He pointed to a late moment when Marmoush attempted a shot despite Andy Robertson making an overlapping run. Had Robertson received the ball, Mohammed Kudus was arriving unmarked at the far post.

That example explains why Tottenham’s problem cannot be placed entirely on their forwards. Marmoush, Solanke and Mathys Tel need to finish their chances, but the players around them must also recognise passing lanes and make better decisions near the penalty area.

The timing of those decisions matters. De Zerbi’s teams try to progress the ball through organised combinations, drawing opponents into one area before attacking the space that opens elsewhere. If a pass arrives late or the receiver takes an extra touch, the defence has time to recover.

Tottenham are reaching useful positions without exploiting them quickly enough.

Omar Marmoush needs support around the penalty area

Marmoush has come closest to ending the drought. He was involved in several of Tottenham’s better moments against Newcastle and produced their clearest chance at Forest.

The Egyptian forward is comfortable moving across the attack, collecting the ball in deeper positions and running at defenders. Those qualities give De Zerbi flexibility, but they can also leave Spurs without a fixed presence inside the penalty area.

If Marmoush moves wide to receive possession, another player must attack the space he has left. Tel, Savio and the advancing midfielders have not done that consistently during the opening matches.

Solanke offers a more conventional option through the middle. His physical presence can occupy central defenders and create room for wide players, although he has started the season without an extended run in the side.

De Zerbi believes Marmoush is capable of scoring 15 goals. Reaching that figure will depend partly on the quality of service around him. Tottenham need to give their forwards more opportunities facing the goal rather than asking them to create shots after receiving the ball with defenders close behind.

New signings are still learning how to play together

Tottenham’s squad changed considerably during the summer. Marmoush, Savio, Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke are among the players adapting to a different team and tactical system.

Against Forest, Savio made his first start and Mudryk appeared for the first time. De Zerbi also introduced Kudus, Solanke and Fernandes during the second half. The substitutions added fresh qualities, but Tottenham still lacked a settled attacking pattern.

Individual talent does not guarantee immediate understanding. Players need to learn where teammates prefer to receive the ball, which runs they make and how quickly they release possession under pressure.

That process is particularly important in De Zerbi’s system. His approach relies on players recognising the same spaces and reacting together when an opponent moves out of position. One mistimed run can close the passing route for everyone else.

The quality in the squad means Tottenham should improve. The immediate task is turning an expensive collection of players into a functioning attack.

Confidence has become part of the problem

Tottenham played well for much of the first half against Newcastle. Mathys Tel, Robertson and Van de Ven all tested goalkeeper Lukáš Horníček, while Marmoush caused problems on his home debut.

Anthony Elanga’s opening goal changed the match. Tottenham’s passing became less assured, the movement slowed and Newcastle scored again ten minutes later through Yoane Wissa.

De Zerbi later admitted that some players appeared to stop believing they could recover. That reaction was concerning because Spurs still had nearly half an hour available.

The performance at Forest contained more resilience, but confidence remained fragile in attacking areas. Players who have gone several matches without scoring can begin forcing shots or delaying decisions as they search for the safest option.

An early goal against Everton in their next league fixture could release much of that pressure. Another blank would make the subject harder to treat as a temporary problem.

What needs to change against Everton?

Tottenham host Everton on 12 September with an opportunity to correct their poor start in front of their own supporters.

De Zerbi must first decide who leads the attack. Marmoush has offered movement and direct running, while Solanke gives Spurs a stronger central reference point. Starting both could be an option, although that would require changes elsewhere in the formation.

The wide positions also need greater clarity. Savio and Mudryk can attack defenders directly, but their runs must connect with the striker and the midfielders arriving behind him. Crossing without enough players in the box will make Everton’s defensive task easier.

Spurs could also benefit from moving the ball forward earlier. Their best chance at Forest came through Porro’s pass behind the defence, not a long spell of possession around the penalty area. Quicker deliveries could give Marmoush and Tel opportunities before the opposition settles into shape.

Three matches remain a small sample, but Tottenham have already placed themselves under pressure. The defensive effort at Forest prevented another defeat. Fixing the attack will require calmer decisions, stronger movement around the box and a clearer understanding between players who are still becoming accustomed to one another.