'Not Football Manager' - De Zerbi says misfiring Spurs need time

WHAT HAPPENED
Tottenham were held to a goalless draw at Nottingham Forest, earning their first point of the Premier League season after opening defeats to Brentford and Newcastle. The match saw a second-half effort from Neco Williams ruled out for handball by the video assistant referee, denying Forest what would have been a goal and ensuring Spurs avoided a third straight league loss.

Manager Roberto de Zerbi described the performance as encouraging but stressed that the team must sharpen its play in the final third. He pointed to decision-making errors — notably an opportunity involving Omar Marmoush, Andy Robertson and Mohammed Kudus — and urged patience as the squad adapts.

KEY CONTEXT
- Tottenham have not started a top-flight campaign without a league goal for more than 50 years; they have now failed to score in their opening three league games for the first time since 1974–75 and in three successive Premier League matches for the first time since November 2021.
- Spurs failed to register a shot on target in a top-flight match for the first time since April 2022 (against Brentford).
- The club has spent in excess of £300m on new signings this summer, part of a record Premier League spending season worth £3.49bn; ten senior players arrived and Sandro Tonali, Jon Paul van Hecke, Savio and Omar Marmoush started on Saturday.
- De Zerbi noted the squad only began working together this past week, framing the current period as one of adjustment.

WHY IT MATTERS
The combination of heavy recruitment and an early goal drought raises immediate expectations-versus-performance questions. Despite signs of organisation and defensive solidity that De Zerbi highlighted, Tottenham’s inability to convert chances or find composure in the final third is already affecting results. With significant investment and many new faces to integrate, how quickly the team develops attacking cohesion will be decisive for their league prospects.