Tottenham Hotspur's winless start to the Premier League season continued with a 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday. The loss leaves Spurs rooted to the bottom of the table with zero points and a -5 goal difference after two games.
According to a match report from Cartilage Free Captain, Newcastle spoiled Tottenham's first home game of the season with second-half goals from Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa. Manager Roberto De Zerbi started new signing Omar Marmoush up front, but the team's performance, while improved from the opening day loss at Brentford, still ended in defeat. The Athletic noted that Newcastle under new coach Matthias Jaissle displayed a clearer tactical identity, with Elanga's opening goal coming from a rehearsed pattern of play involving full-back Amar Dedic.
Reuters highlighted that familiar failings resurfaced for Spurs after a brighter first hour. De Zerbi's attempt to connect with the fanbase is under strain after a second consecutive loss. The Italian manager had written in his programme notes about wanting to make the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium a fortress, but thousands of empty seats were visible by the final whistle.
The New Haven Register focused on Tottenham's significant summer investment failing to yield immediate results. The club has spent heavily, including a reported £100 million on Sandro Tonali from Newcastle, but has zero points and zero goals from its opening two fixtures. De Zerbi acknowledged the challenge, telling reporters after the game that "you can't buy the mentality in the transfer market." He also apologized to fans, insisting the current story is not the same as the previous two difficult seasons.
Spurs' current league standing is 20th in the Premier League, with 0 points from 0 wins, 0 draws, and 2 losses. They have conceded five goals without scoring and already sit six points behind early leaders Manchester City. The club's injury list, which includes Richarlison, Wilson Odobert, Xavi Simons, and James Maddison, complicates the manager's options.
With the transfer deadline approaching, TeamTalk reports that Tottenham are reassessing their attacking targets. A move for Liverpool's Cody Gakpo appears to have stalled, with the player reportedly preferring a switch to Manchester City. This has led Spurs to consider a move for former Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic, according to the outlet. The 27-year-old American, now at AC Milan, offers experience and has contributed 55 combined goals and assists in 100 Serie A appearances.
Attention now turns to the next fixture, an away trip to face Nottingham Forest on September 5th. Forest are currently 15th in the table. Securing a positive result there is important for a squad needing to build cohesion. Fans can track the team's upcoming schedule on our fixtures page and check the latest availability updates on our injuries list.
