What's gone wrong at Spurs? The problems behind their winless start

Sky Sports News

What is wrong at Spurs? De Zerbi pressure, signings and leadership concerns

The podcast examines Tottenham's winless start to the Premier League, asking whether Roberto De Zerbi is under pressure, why the summer signings have not yet improved the side, and where Spurs still lack a striker, goalkeeper, leadership and January reinforcement. The verdict is that an immediate sacking is unlikely, but Spurs need a first win quickly and must fix their attack and mentality to keep European hopes alive.

► Subscribe to Sky Sports News: http://bit.ly/SkySportsNewsSub ► Watch Sky Sports with NOW: https://bit.ly/NOWSkySportsYT Ron Walker is joined by Sky Sports News' Tottenham Hotspur reporter Michael Bridge to discuss the problems behind Spurs' winless start to the Premier League, whether Roberto De Zerbi is under pressure and which upcoming fixtures Spurs can pick up some points to move them off the bottom of the table. We also hear from former Tottenham boss, Tim Sherwood. SkySportsNews SkySports spurs 00:45 - Why Spurs needed the international break 02:54 - Tim Sherwood on Spurs' poor start and pressure on De Zerbi 05:35 - Spurs' poor start has come as a surprise after a promising summer 06:42 - Is Roberto De Zerbi under pressure already? 08:49 - How important is the Man Utd game for Spurs? 09:46 - Tim Sherwood on new signings 12:31 - Spurs' new signings struggling 14:56 - Spurs lack a striker/ Should the club have loaned Lankshear instead of selling 15:52 - Is Kinsky good enough for Spurs? 16:49 - Why did Luka Vušković leave Spurs? 19:05 - Do Spurs have to do more business in January? 20:32 - Spurs' mentality/leadership problems 22:11 - Tim Sherwood on the lack of leaders 26:45 - Who should start against Manchester United? 28:45 - What should Spurs expect from their next fixtures? 30:21 - Tim Sherwood on relegation battle 32:00 - What should the expectations be for this season now? 33:56 - Are Spurs in a relegation battle again? ► For the latest developments on this story: https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/topstories ► For the latest transfer news: https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/TransferCentre More from Sky Sports on YouTube: ► Sky Sports: http://bit.ly/SkySportsSub ► Sky Sports Boxing: http://bit.ly/SSBoxingSub ► Sky Sports Cricket: http://bit.ly/SubscribeSkyCricket ► Sky Sports Darts: https://bit.ly/SubSkySportsDarts ► Sky Sports Football: http://bit.ly/SSFootballSub ► Sky Sports F1: http://bit.ly/SubscribeSkyF1 ► Sky Sports Golf…

Transcript

Winless and bottom of the Premier League. It's been a miserable 3-week international break for Tottenham Hotspur. Despite a big summer of spending, Spurs have made their worst start to a Premier League season after five games. Next, it's Manchester United away on Saturday live on Sky Sports. A game which already feels crucial for Tottenham boss Roberto Deserby. I'm Ron Walker. Welcome to this special Tottenham Hotspur podcast. Joining me is Sky Sports News's Tottenham reporter Michael Bridge to look ahead to Saturday's match at Old Trafford. And back on the season so far to assess where things have been going wrong for Spurs and see if we can find any reasons for optimism amid the gloom around North London, which is starting to feel a little bit too familiar. Now I just feel that it needed everyone needed a bit of a sort of a refresh a reset uh maybe a looking back and of you know the May with in terms of staying up and then obviously the euphoria of all the signings uh and then the disappointment of it not clicking straight away and maybe a realization that it's not going to click straight away. So yeah, it's not been it's not been an international break, Ron, where I've I've I've pined for the Premier League to return. Saying that, I'm ready in the sense that you got a real glamour game coming up. Man United against Tottenham. I mean, Bobby Charton always used to say it was his favorite game as a man being involved in Man United. And it it will be a special atmosphere up there on Saturday night. >> They're always some good games, aren't they? But do you going back to that about the international break, do you think, you know, on on two fronts, Roberto Deser's been able to work for three weeks with the players who haven't been on international duty and for the ones that have maybe a bit of levity for them being out of the noise and the scrutiny around what's happened in the first few games of the season? >> Yeah, spot on. I you know, let's talk in terms of the players still still there. I mean, it's you know, what have we talked about at Tottenham Hotspur over the last couple of years? It's it's long-term injuries, you know. So, you've got another two two to three weeks of James Madison on the training field. Moamed Cudas didn't go away of Ghana which I thought was a really good decision and and the big one I keep hearing about who's train training fully at the moment is Dian Kulleski you know during that era of Harry Kane and Humans they were a three Kulaseki was part of that three um so look they're going to take the time on him but getting these players back will hopefully for Spurs change it completely going forward because they've not shown anything going forward really at the moment I mean, they would have ended up going into the international break without scoring. And thankfully, Tottenham did get those two goals against Villa at the end. But it's been a it's been a forgettable start. And before we delve a little bit deeper into what's gone wrong for Spurs so far, and where they can maybe turn things around, I spoke to former Spurs player and manager Tim Sherwood to hear what he had to say about whether the pressure was already on Roberto Deserby and what he's made of Spurs' winless start. >> It's just been a surprise to be honest. I felt that um Roberto Deserby goes in there last year um rescued the club from relegation um looked like the club gave him all the tools what he wanted um very early on in the winter and that's ins and outs of the club getting rid of Jed Spence and Romero for relatively cheap money and bringing in you know the players which he looked like he wanted for very expensive fees um I'm surprised that they haven't done better >> given that start that he'd had and how it felt like a new dawn and that they'd finally settle on the right man and as you say those huge outlays spent in the summer. How much pressure is he under even at this early stage in the season do you think? >> Well, I'm not sure he's under pressure because you know they've they've given him everything he wanted. So they they must have full trust in him. He's he's proven that he's a very good Premier League manager. [snorts] Um albeit he's never been at a club the size of Tottenham Hotspur with the scrutiny which is upon the club but he looks like a character who can handle that scrutiny. Um and he just needs a win. I just believe that they need three points and it'll be more than that. It'll be confidence for the for the for the group of players and for himself and for his coaching staff and certainly for the hierarchy and the owners who are giving the money to uh to strengthen the squad. At the moment they spent a lot of money and the squad doesn't look any stronger. Yeah, with that scrutiny and that desperate need for three points, how big is this Man United game specifically for him after the international break? >> Well, it's huge because it's huge for Man United as well and for Michael Carrick, you know, I think he needs a result. >> Um, and it's it's two huge football clubs who have, you'd have to say underachieved in recent years, especially Tottenham. Um, even though they won the Europa League, which was which was very nice. Everyone enjoyed that, but they made a change. The Zer's come in. and you got Michael now as a permanent manager. Um it's going to be a difficult game to win for both sides. >> Given the investment that that Spurs have put into Zerby and as you say it is still early in the season. How long do you think he'll get to turn it around? >> I just I can't believe that he's under pressure. I just think he will get finally get a result. Um I think they've got after the Man United game which looks quite tricky. They've got decent run of games. All right. There's a Chelsea game in there. um in between a few weeks um but they've got winnable games >> and >> I would have to say they had winnable games previous to the Man United game and and they never won them. So it is all about just getting over the line in that first game. >> Right. So Michael Tim was surprised by Spurs' starts to the season. I'm sure he's not the only one. What have you made of it so far? >> Yeah, I think I think most people are because they were the probably one of the most talked about clubs in the summer. The signings were you know Tottenham signing players were so exciting. You know, I have to go back to this as well though and the relief of not getting relegated then all of a sudden sort of flipping it round and you know you know Mattis Fernandez beating Manchester United the signing of them. Sandra Tanali coming in you know who was wanted by maybe City and you know Arsenal like the look of him. Man United might have been in liked him as well at the start of the summer. So they were exciting signings. They still are exciting signings, but you know, you got Cinho and Omar Mammoosh at the moment, but no one's really stood out. No one stood out, but it is early. It is still early days. So, you know, let's, you know, in terms of hoping for Spurs supporters, let's hope over the next few games a few of them start to to stand out. And I'm thinking about Cinho and Marush in particular because Spurs need goals. >> Now, this feels like a familiar question. Is there any pressure on the Spurs boss? But is it too early five games into a new season having spent over £300 million in the summer to be talking about whether to throw the baby out with the bath water and start all over again? >> Well, look, if you if you I I completely understand uh why people are are thinking this already because Tottenham are bottom of the league, but I don't think Roberto Deserby is under much pressure at all. Um he's he was tracked by the club for some time. He's on a He's on a very good contract. He's on a long contract. And unless he's the one that initiates the departure, I don't see any change for the foreseeable, why would you want to why would you resign in football these days in the Premier League? You lose so much money. He's not going to quit. Um and yeah, I mean a lot of it a lot of has been made of the past of him with uh Marseilles and and Brighton where he sort of like, you know, he won't like me saying, but sort of throwing your toys out the P or being unhappy with certain situations and then he instigates the departure. You can't keep doing that at football clubs. You know, he's at a very big football club. He has been given every player he has wanted. Now, there are some who didn't come in. You know, Tottenham had a long-standing interest in Cody Gakpo, but it didn't happen. But they did want him. And then Ilman and Dai, they wanted him. He ended up going to Man City. Last, you know, last throw the dice. Um, Mlan Modric because he wanted him. He has had everyone he wanted. You know, these are his players. He made the decision on Luca Vuskovic and making decisions on players who who left, making decisions on players who came in. He can't turn around and say he hasn't been given who he wanted, you know? So he knows that he knows he's in a very good job. If Tottenham lost away to United and at home to commentary, is he under pressure? Sure. You know, he's a he's a manager of a very big football club. But is there going to be any departures anytime soon? I don't think so. >> How big is that Man United game for him then? If he's if he's under no pressure, but is it just about momentum as much as anything else? Not getting back into that same doom and gloom that you had before the international break and just, you know, the season starts here sort of thing. >> Yeah, I even think going and getting a point up there wouldn't be a bad result. It sort of just starts it off a little bit, you know, okay, Man United are nowhere near the team they used to be under Sellex. We all know that, but it'll be a Saturday night game under the lights. Old Trafford, you know, their their local rivals are, you know, are going through a bit of a tough time at the moment. I'm sure Man United fans will be, you know, singing about that and it will maybe galvanize them a little bit. You know, I just feel maybe, you know, getting a point up there coming back down to London and then your next games at home to Coventry where that is a must win. Let's make no bones about it. That's a must win. Then they go to Chelsea. Then they've got Palace. So, it's not, you know, so I just feel avoid defeat up there for on Saturday night. Now, we've talked about signings a little bit already, and maybe that's made their start to the season even more alarming, having spent so much money and having only got two goals and two points to show for it. Here's what Tim Sherwood had to say about Tottenham's incoming so far. >> I can't stand out and say anyone's really impressed me and anyone would have done a better job um than anyone who was there last season. Um they've underachieved. They really have. So um difficult to I mean we always judge on results and and that's the way football management is. >> So I don't look at any individual player and think well you're coming out with some credit here because the team's losing and I'm not sure there's been any outstanding performers. >> Are there any in particular that you went in thinking oh they they're going to be a good sign. They're going to have a good start to the season. Kick things off well and haven't performed. No, because I know in in recent years, probably last four or five years, the track record of Tottenham signings have not been fantastic. So, um it's been a very long time since they've made a decent signing. Um now, I'm not saying they're poor signings. I'm saying that they haven't done it yet and there's still a lot of time to be able to get some confidence and and show what they can really do. We've seen him in fits and starts and little cameo for other teams, but it's it's a different kettle of fish playing for Tottenham. >> Just two league goals so far and both of those ended up being consolations against Aston Villa. How much of a concern is that after five games, especially with the money that they did spend at that end of the pitch this summer? >> Yeah, you want to you want to be firing and scoring goals and entertaining your fans and they haven't been doing that. So, they were going to come under scrutiny for that. Yeah. >> Um first and foremost, it doesn't matter how many goals you score. or if you even score one a game, if you're winning the football matches, no one's talking about the lack of goals. Um, but it hasn't been good enough. It's been very, very poor and um, it can only get better. >> Is there anyone in particular that you'd want to pin your hopes on being the player to help begin turn things around this season? >> I don't I'm not sure who to pin my hopes on because I've seen, like I say, I've seen cameos for other teams, but I've been in the game long enough to know that, you know, you can put show reels together of of different players and they can all end up at Real Madrid. But in reality is can they do it on a regular basis on a consistent basis for a team like Tottenham Hotspur and I've seen more nos than yes at the moment over the last five years I would say in the transfer market. So I mean I think the best signing they they've made in recent history would have to be S and we're going way back there [laughter] you know it's like we're talking about a real success maybe Kulleski but then he's picked up the injury but other than that I can't say there's been too many outstanding successes in the transfer market but it's up to Roberto Deserby to develop them players and and hopefully we these some of these players we've seen in recent years could be unrecognizable. So, Michael Tim, not exactly blown away by Spurs's signings so far. What have you made of them and their start? >> We haven't been blown away. We haven't been blown away by anyone. You know, they've not they, you know, you're looking at the games, you know, Brenford, some of some of the players didn't look remotely ready. Brenford do, you know, and you know, Brenford looks solid. They look like a team who have been together for quite a number of years. Then the signing they did bring in, was it Sangar, who looked out utterly out of this world? Um, you know, I look at the players, you know, if we look if we look at them, um, Tanali, you know, why does he need to be up to scratch in terms of fitness wise? You know, we can ask questions about that. They're fair questions, but, you know, he will be coming back from it international duty. Should be, you know, touch doesn't get injured in his final game for Italy that he'll be back. Matias Fernandez, you know that you can tell there's a clearly a good player there, but he's been playing in a 10 for Spurs. He's not a 10, he's an eight or a six. Savio, you know, he's he comes on for his debut against Charlton, scores, and then then he's he's injured and he can't play against Newcastle. You know, it's a scratchy head situation. Yan Paul Van Hecker, who who is loved by Deserby. I I think he's suffering a little bit from shouldn't he shouldn't have gone away on the international sorry, he shouldn't have gone to the tour of Australia and New Zealand with Spurs. He should have had a longer extended break in my opinion. and he he has since said that. Um Tosin, no issues really with him. He comes in to replace Kevin Dano. Thought he was really good against Liverpool actually in the cup. Sessi slow start but again haven't seen enough of him. Andrew Robertson wasn't his best game against Villa but again I don't I don't envisage any problems with him. I think the one for me is Omar Moosh. How good is this guy? you know, um I really like glimpses of him for City, but there were only glimpses. Clearly a very talented player. He really showed it in the Bundesliga. Can he do it on a consistent basis for Tottenham Hotspur when he's been given he's going to be given a clear run of games? That's the one for me. How good is this guy? Uh well, Tottenham right to spend like they did with Savio Mammoo. So, look, the jury's going to be out with these players. That's what they that's what they're going to have to expect. You know, they they've spent big. Have they spent them in the right areas? We'll have to wait and see. >> Well, that was going to be my next question. We've seen the early signs of these players and as you say, still going to take time for some of them to bed in, but are there signs of where Spurs are still short as well? >> Yeah, I I think yeah, I think they need a striker and an actual number nine. But how many are there out there? You know, this football club was blessed with the greatest striker in the world at the moment in Harry Kane. you know, and there were so many games where there would nothing would be happening and out of the blue Kane would score a 25 yard 25 yard thunderbolt. You know, he's the most underappreciated footballer I think in the world. He's going to be missed massively for England. Um, you know, it doesn't help Will Lancer scoring every week for Middlesbrough because he looks like a proper old school faction center forward, you know, with his broad shoulders and, you know, his young English. That's that's my worry. I'm worried about that one. Um, >> with the greatest respect to the Championship though as well, it is a very different level. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. You're absolutely right. And you're and it's very fair to say that, but then Spurs fans watching this or listening will argue, well, why couldn't we have loaned him out? So, >> I'm also not 100% sure if Anthony Kinsky is a Tottenham number one for years to come. He did an incredible job keeping the club in the Premier League with his saves. However, I'm still not sure if he's still a number one. You know, I look at Suzuki at Villa the other week when they beat Spurs. What a keeper. >> Yeah, >> what a keeper. Now I know why they were desperate to get Emmy Martinez out when they got Suzuki. They're the differences. So if you've spent that amount of money and you you still need a for me a goalkeeper and a number nine, then well, let me put it in a more positive spin. There's still a way to go. Not just Lancere because there's also a lot of comments that have come in not just now but in the summer and we spoke about it then about the loss of Luca Viskovic to Brighton which was very much a deal that Spurs chose to do now might not look quite so bad after the England Croatia game the other day but more generally he's been having a pretty good time for Brighton. How do those deals look now? And is there any regret within the club? Um I I think the club the club's stance is basically they had no choice that they were a little bit taken back by him and his representatives in the summer saying we we want to move now. If you can't if you can't guarantee first team football we want to go now and the club the club's response was hey we you know we had agreed for you to have another loan. >> Well that's changed. Oh right okay. Uh we want a permanent deal. Okay. Well then Tottenham tried to do their best to get the best deal for him. Um, you've got Tottenham fans worried that they've seen him putting a man in the match performance against Arsenal, but then they've enjoyed watching Croatia lose 7-0il to England. I think for me is that he's clearly got a massive future ahead of him. My theory on him is he's so him and his representatives, they think they've got his whole career mapped out. They're convinced from my understanding they're they're convinced that he's going to go and play for a top Spanish side in two to three years and Brighton is a stepping stone. Yeah. And Brighton are aware of that and maybe it would have been easier to sort this stepping stone at Brighton then it would be Tottenham. I don't know but he wanted to play in Premier League football in the first team this season which Tottenham Hotspur could not guarantee. And wit