Language Selection

Get healthy now with MedBeds!
Click here to book your session

Protect your whole family with Orgo-Life® Quantum MedBed Energy Technology® devices.

Advertising by Adpathway

De Zerbi must bench Spurs star who was worse than Tonali vs Newcastle

3 days ago 3

PROTECT YOUR DNA WITH QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY

Orgo-Life the new way to the future

Advertising by Adpathway

Published Aug 30, 2026, 6:10 AM GMT+1

Angus is an experienced football writer at Football FanCast, specialising in analytical reporting, opinion and feature writing, with particular expertise in Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.

A journalist since graduating from Southampton Solent University in 2022, Angus has built extensive experience across the football media industry. Before joining Football FanCast, he led VAVEL's Brighton & Hove Albion department, developing experience in club-specific reporting and editorial leadership.

Angus joined Football FanCast through Snack Media's (now Valnet) academy and has since become one of the site's longest-serving writers, progressing into the Opinions and Features team. During his time with Football FanCast, he has produced thousands of articles across a broad range of Premier League clubs and stories.

His work combines analytical reporting, informed opinion and detailed feature writing, with a particular focus on understanding the factors behind performances, transfers and major developments rather than simply reporting the headline. His strongest areas of expertise are Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, although his extensive Premier League coverage has given him a broad understanding of the English top flight.

Angus brings readers experienced, research-led football analysis and considered opinion, using his years of covering the Premier League to provide context, assess players and transfers, and explain what the latest developments mean for clubs and their ambitions.

Well, they do say that old habits die hard, and it's going to take more than a few flashy signings to uproot the weeds that have dug so deep into Tottenham Hotspur in recent years.

Newcastle United have been put through the wringer throughout the summer transfer window, but they looked the far more refined, polished and coherent outfit under the new management of Matthias Jaissle. For Roberto De Zerbi, there are more than a few creases to iron out.

We were always going to face teething problems at this early stage, but Spurs have got so much to sort out, with nine-figure summer signing Sandro Tonali leaving so much to be desired so far.

Sandro Tonali's difficult home debut for Spurs

Tottenham signed Tonali from Newcastle for around £100m this summer, landing one of the most physical and elegant midfielders in the Premier League. He might have been below-par on Tyneside last season, but so were the rest of them.

Well, it seems like he's got some work in front of him if he is to re-establish himself as one of the best in the business, enduring a tough evening against his former employers down N17. The Magpies were worthy winners, and Tonali showed little of the intensity and energy that charged Eddie Howe's system up north.

Journalist Sam Dean said he was "nowhere near what you would expect for £100m", and it's a fair comment, in truth. The Italian maestro has to perk up quickly, having struggled through two fixtures at the start of this fresh start in what can only be described as a continuation of last season's turmoil.

Sure, a few good runs could be seen throughout the contest, but De Zerbi should have hooked Tonali sooner. He didn't deserve to have spent 75 minutes on the field, ineffective and largely anonymous. The 26-year-old made one defensive contribution all game.

Victor Munoz in the Premier League

Match Stats

vs BFC

vc NUFC

Minutes played	75'	90'
Goals + Assists	0 + 0	0 + 0
Touches	41	76
Accurate passes	29/36 (81%)	56/63 (89%)
Chances created	2
Crosses completed	0/0	0/2
Dribbles completed	0/0	0/0
Ball recoveries	3	3
Def. contributions	1	1
Duels won	2/4	2/3

However, Tottenham must surely now accept that their midfield rebuild is complete. These are the pieces De Zerbi has to work with over the course of the campaign.

The same can't be said up top. It's clear that the Lilywhites need to add another dimension in attack after another stale performance against resilient opponents.

De Zerbi must instantly drop underperforming Spurs star

Tottenham have not scored a goal in the Premier League this season. Two games in, Spurs have fallen to two dour defeats, and the forwards are still misfiring.

Sadly, Mathys Tel was at the epicentre of this, flattering to deceive in the final third and failing to show the cutting edge that his earlier work, showing impetus and weaving into space, probably deserved.

It goes to show that Tottenham need to sign a left winger before the transfer window slams shut. The 21-year-old has never quite clicked into gear since leaving Bayern Munich and joining the Londoners, and De Zerbi's desire to sign an upgrade will only have been reinforced after this concerning start to the season.

To sum up his torrid evening, the French forward skied a free-kick in the most embarrassing fashion, illustrating the need for a more clinical and efficient goalscoring force.

But it was the nuts and bolts that Tel fumbled. He lost five of six ground duels, failing to complete either of his attempted dribbles. He failed to create a single chance and misplaced both of his crosses. Despite his failure to produce and measurable playmaking success, he lost the ball once every 4 and a half minutes.

Tottenham next play Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. They meet them at the City Ground. By then, the transfer window will have been slammed shut, and Spurs will surely have wrapped up their ambitious summer with a forward to mark an upgrade on the likes of Tel.

Cody Gakpo has emerged as a top target for the London club in recent weeks, but it looks like Manchester City are stealing ahead in the race for that one. Alas, there are alternatives on the owners' radar, with Everton's Iliman Ndiaye one of De Zerbi's top targets.

Let's hope Tottenham manage to pull of a new left-sided forward out of the bag before the transfer deadline. Clearly, big-money additions don't fix everything, but Tel's performance confirmed that this is a Spurs squad lacking in key parts, and with Heung-min Son having left the club one year ago, it's clear that he still hasn't been replaced.

Read Entire Article