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SportsQuiet 4d · day 4

Tottenham hit bottom of Premier League table under De Zerbi

Despite a £175m net summer spend, Spurs sit last after a shambolic 3-2 home defeat to Aston Villa.

newest coverage 3d agosummary written 3d ago4 pieces NewswiresMastodon

What to know

  • Spurs sit bottom of the Premier League after a 3-2 home defeat to Aston Villa, despite a £175m net summer spend meant to signal new ambition under Roberto De Zerbi.
  • The team's early-season struggles have moved beyond lack of scoring confidence into what Guardian columnist Jonathan Wilson calls a broader "mental degeneration," evident in three soft goals conceded against Villa.
  • Spurs rank ninth for shots but second-bottom for goals scored, suggesting the underlying process is not disastrous even as results are.
  • De Zerbi cites physical and mental "fragility," pointing to injury returns and curtailed preseasons as contributing factors.

Roberto De ZerbiRoberto De Zerbi Tottenham head coachDaniel Levy Former Tottenham chairman figure referenced for prior fiscal cautionMicky van de VenMicky van de Ven Tottenham defenderAndy RobertsonAndy Robertson Tottenham defenderJames MaddisonJames Maddison Tottenham midfielder

Tottenham hit bottom of Premier League table under De Zerbi
The Guardian Football

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

Peak 3 pieces in one hour at Sep 21, 11 AM; 4 pieces over 4 days (3 articles · 1 post) Sep 21, 11 AM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Newswires 3Sep 21, 12 PM — quietSep 21, 1 PM — quietSep 21, 2 PM — quietSep 21, 3 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 5 PM — quietSep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 9 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietSep 22, 12 AM — quietSep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 3 AM — quietSep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 5 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 9 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietSep 23, 12 AM — quietSep 23, 1 AM — quietSep 23, 2 AM — quietSep 23, 3 AM — quietSep 23, 4 AM — quietSep 23, 5 AM — quietSep 23, 6 AM — quietSep 23, 7 AM — quietSep 23, 8 AM — quietSep 23, 9 AM — quietSep 23, 10 AM — quietSep 23, 11 AM — quietSep 23, 12 PM — quietSep 23, 1 PM — quietSep 23, 2 PM — quietSep 23, 3 PM — quietSep 23, 4 PM — quietSep 23, 5 PM — quietSep 23, 6 PM — quietSep 23, 7 PM — quietSep 23, 8 PM — quietSep 23, 9 PM — quietSep 23, 10 PM — quietSep 23, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quietToday, 7 AM — quietToday, 8 AM — quietToday, 9 AM — quietToday, 10 AM — quietToday, 11 AM — quiet 1
Sep 22Sep 23yesterdaynow · 12:00 PM ET
  1. 1

    Wilson says Spurs' collapse in mentality is now as bad as it's been

    Guardian columnist Jonathan Wilson argues the lack of confidence in front of goal has "curdled into something worse, a more general mental degeneration," with each conceded goal following individual and structural errors.

    “too fragile…”
    — Roberto De Zerbi
  2. background

    Spurs concede three soft goals in 3-2 loss to Aston Villa — Tottenham started well but conceded a shambolic goal from a defensive mix-up, a second off a poor punt dealt with badly, and a well-taken third from Emi Buendía, dropping them to bottom of the table.

  3. background

    Goalless draws with Forest and Everton steady the ship — Spurs drew 0-0 with Nottingham Forest and Everton; the main issue appeared to be a lack of confidence, with the team tentative in possession and indecisive in front of goal.

  4. background

    Spurs lose 2-0 at home to Newcastle — Spurs started well before fading in a home defeat to Newcastle the following week, deepening early-season concern.

  5. background

    Spurs open season with 3-0 loss at Brentford — A weird, undercooked Tottenham side was hammered by a much better-prepared Brentford on the opening weekend.

  6. background

    Tottenham appoint De Zerbi amid relegation fears — Fearing possible relegation, Spurs brought in Roberto De Zerbi in March; the team showed obvious improvement and stayed up on the final day of the season.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 3 outlets The last two seasons were grim for Spurs. This is as bad as it’s ever been | Jonathan Wilson

    first by The Guardian Football, 4d ago · also Yahoo Sports, Guardian Sport

    1 more headline