The lack of Cristian Romero to a doubtlessly season-ending damage could have uncovered Tottenham Hotspur’s continued defensive woes, however maybe the larger concern going through new supervisor Roberto De Zerbi is the obtrusive shortcomings up entrance.
The Lilywhites have by no means scored multiple objective in a Premier League sport since their spectacular come-from-behind draw with Manchester Metropolis in early February, and have failed to attain in both of their final two video games.
No participant has reached double figures for league objectives, with solely Richarlison (9) scoring greater than 4, a big decline from the constantly prolific days of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min in north London.
The present set-up of the attacking workforce seems to be much like the pre-Kane period, particularly throughout the tumultuous 2013/14 season.
Spurs’ entrance line seems to be prefer it did in 2013/14.
Tottenham could not have confronted the specter of relegation throughout the post-Gareth Bale turmoil, however they appointed Tim Sherwood in December 2013 to regular the ship with the intention of main the membership again to the Champions League.
Regardless of a memorable 59% win charge, Sherwood was sacked on the finish of the season with the North London facet in sixth place, marking the start of a fruitful period beneath supervisor Mauricio Pochettino.
The squad the Englishman inherited is definitely much like his present squad, with a big lack of broad choices aside from Aaron Lennon and the injured Erik Lamela, and an amazing variety of strikers.
Kane, then a comparatively unknown rising expertise, solely scored three objectives within the last phases of the season, whereas marquee participant Roberto Soldado scored simply six objectives of his personal within the Premier League that 12 months.
Surprisingly, the principle objective menace after Sherwood’s arrival got here within the type of Togolese worldwide participant Emmanuel Adebayor, who returned from damage and was the brightest of his interim tenure, scoring 11 league objectives between December and Could.
Spurs – High scorer* | |
|---|---|
2013/14 | 2025/26 |
Adebayor – 11 | Richarlison – 9 |
Eriksen – 7 | Van de Ven – 4 |
Soldier – 6 | Romero – 4 |
Paulinho – 6 | Cellphone – 3 |
Sigurdsson – 5 | straw – 3 |
Kane – 3 | Grey – 2 |
Searle – 2 | |
Saint – 2 | |
Johnson – 2 | |
*Just for PL2 and above | |
Nevertheless, it could be incorrect to say that sort of kind is the norm for the polarizing ahead. The well-traveled marksman arrived with an incredible fame, however most of his time with N17 was flattering and misleading.
Sound acquainted?
De Zerbi must improve new Adebayor at Spurs
Much like the 2013-14 season, when Spurs completed sixth regardless of scoring simply 55 objectives, this season has been quick on objectives, with Micky van de Ven and Romero being the league’s second high scorers with 4 objectives every.
New Romero ought to by no means play for Spurs once more after De Zerbi arrives
Cristian Romero is not the one participant whose Spurs profession may come to an finish.
As talked about earlier, Richarlison is an Adebayor-style man who has scored 9 objectives, however maybe the previous Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis participant is best in comparison with 28-year-old Dominic Solanke. For the reason that arrival of the brand new membership report, he has not been in a position to obtain the outcomes he anticipated.
Adebayor had a fruitful mortgage spell in 2011/12, scoring 17 league objectives, however he solely scored 18 within the subsequent three seasons on the high degree, with inconsistent outcomes each by way of ending and health.
Even in that 12 months beneath Sherwood, the now retired striker missed the primary a part of the season resulting from damage and solely made his solely look by late December.
His days have been of top of the range, however they’ve hardly ever come shut sufficient by way of Solanke’s time at Tottenham up to now.
To many, together with Sherwood and fellow ex-Spurs participant Jamie O’Hara, he appeared like a ‘nice signing’ on the time, having simply scored 19 Premier League objectives for Bournemouth.
Like Adebayor, he had the benefit of getting a ‘confirmed Premier League background’, however was restricted to only 28 appearances for Liverpool and Chelsea mixed, maybe resulting from issues over failure at different top-flight golf equipment.
Within the case of Adebayor, he too had short-lived spells on the likes of Arsenal, Manchester Metropolis and Actual Madrid, attaining spectacular outcomes at every membership however failing to discover a everlasting house for one cause or one other.
The 42-year-old at the moment has simply 42 factors in 113 complete appearances for Spurs, and Solanke is on observe to realize an analogous mark given his present trajectory of simply 22 factors in 62 video games up to now.
He’s obtainable once more after being hit by damage in 2025-26, however Sunday’s journey to Sunderland was a disappointing outing for the previous Cherries star, with O’Hara cruelly suggesting he “seems to be like he is forgotten play soccer”.
Solanke, anticipated to be De Zerbi’s predominant attacking pressure, was outscored by Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani on the wing, registering simply 18 touches on the Stadium of Gentle.
As author Zac Lowy identified over the weekend, and Adebayor’s checkered saga additionally confirmed, Solanke is “the largest proof that signing a ‘confirmed Premier League participant’ isn’t any assure of success”.
Twelve league objectives in virtually two seasons isn’t sufficient for a £65m deal, and De Zerbi wants to seek out an improve shortly, whether or not inside Tottenham or in the marketplace this summer time.
De Zerbi may unleash the £73m Spurs star in a brand new position and hold Solanke on the bench
Roberto de Zerbi’s play for Spurs acquired off to a disappointing begin on Sunday, however the place has his attacking aptitude gone?
