Tottenham Hotspur have failed to score in their opening four matches of a league season for the first time in their entire history after the 0-0 draw with Everton on Saturday evening.
Roberto De Zerbi was heavily backed during the summer transfer window, with Sandro Tonali signed for £100m and Savio brought in for £75m, but his players are yet to deliver on the pitch.
The fact that Micky van de Ven, a centre-back, has the most xG (0.57) in the squad after four games in the Premier League this season says it all. They have not been good enough offensively.
Thankfully, for the Lilywhites, one of their former attackers failed to punish them for their defensive lapses, as Brennan Johnson was unable to put them to the sword.
How Brennan Johnson performed on his return to Spurs
The Wales international had some great moments for the club during his time in North London, scoring the winner in the Europa League finish, but he was eventually sold to Crystal Palace in January due to his inconsistent performances.
An issue that Johnson had was that he offered very little to the side when he was not scoring goals, due to his lack of quality as a dribbler and as a creator, and that was on show for the Toffees on Saturday.
The 25-year-old attacker had the biggest opportunity to win the match for the away side when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall cut the ball back to him inside the box, but he fired his uncontested shot from the middle of the goal high and wide of the frame.
He let Spurs off the hook with that miss, as it could and should have won the match for Everton, and the rest of his performance did not make up for that miss.
|
Vs Spurs |
Brennan Johnson |
|---|---|
|
Minutes |
75 |
|
Shots on target |
0 |
|
Big chances missed |
1 |
|
Big chances created |
0 |
|
Crosses completed |
2/5 |
|
Dribbles |
0 |
|
Duels won |
2/4 |
Johnson did not create any ‘big chances’ for his teammates or attempt a single dribble on the right wing for the Toffees, which speaks to his lack of impact in general play.
Spurs player is quickly becoming the new Brennan Johnson
Whilst the Welshman did not enjoy a successful return to his former club, the forward was not the worst attacker on the pitch in the 0-0 draw in North London.
Instead, it is one of Tottenham’s summer signings who is quickly on his way to becoming De Zerbi’s own version of Johnson at the top end of the pitch.
Spurs swooped to sign Omar Marmoush on an initial season-long loan with an option to make it permanent at the end of the season, and he has endured a torrid start to life at the club.
The Egypt international started his first two matches for the Lilywhites in the number nine role, but the manager opted to deploy him on the left side of the attack to accommodate Dominic Solanke up front.
Marmoush put in a Johnson-esque performance down the left with a complete lack of impact at the top end of the pitch and with his general play on and off the ball.
The forward came off the pitch after 77 minutes with no shots on target, no ‘big chances’ created, and only two out of five attempted dribbles completed for Spurs.
|
Rating Spurs starters vs Everton |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
Rating |
|
Antonin Kinsky |
7 |
|
Archie Gray |
5 |
|
Jan Paul van Hecke |
7 |
|
Micky van de Ven |
7 |
|
Andy Robertson |
6 |
|
Rodrigo Bentancur |
5 |
|
Sandro Tonali |
6 |
|
Mateus Fernandes |
6 |
|
Savio |
6 |
|
Dominic Solanke |
5 |
|
Omar Marmoush |
4 |
On top of his dismal play in possession for the Lilywhites, the Manchester City loanee lost eight of his 11 ground duels and both of his aerial duels, losing ten out of his 13 battles in total.
He earned a 4/10 player rating because of his struggles on and off the ball throughout the 0-0 draw with Everton, as he contributed to the team’s continued draught in front of goal.
Marmoush has now started three Premier League matches for the Lilywhites and he has yet to score a goal, create a ‘big chance’, or provide an assist for any of his teammates.
The 27-year-old attacker has also lost 57% of his ground duels and 100% of his aerial battles in the division, struggling badly with the physical side of the game.
Like Johnson, Marmoush is not offering enough with his all-round play on or off the ball for Spurs, which makes him a liability when he is not on fire in front of goal.
De Zerbi, though, will be hoping that he can find his shooting boots in front of goal to make up for the weak parts of his all-round game as an attacker.