Well, it would be safe to say that this was not the start to the season that everyone associated with Tottenham Hotspur was hoping for.
The Lilywhites spent £302m in the summer to ensure they would not face another relegation scrap any time soon. They have finished the last two campaigns in 17th place.
Rather ironically, after three games of 2026/27, Roberto De Zerbi’s men sit 17th in the Premier League table. It would appear that simply throwing money at a problem does not always fix it.
In time, this Spurs team will certainly improve but they need to start seeing more from £100m man Sandro Tonali for that to happen.
Why Sandro Tonali is an early season problem for Spurs
A club-record man. That’s what Tonali is. He is the first player Tottenham have ever signed for £100m.
At that price, there are no excuses, particularly when you are Premier League proven. The Italian should be able to hit the ground running immediately, he should not need any time to adapt.
Well, so far, supporters are yet to see the best of the former Newcastle United man. On the opening day against Brentford, he was particularly poor.
Brentford’s own record man, Mamadou Sangare, completely outclassed him in the middle of the park as the hosts ran away 3-0 victors.
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Tonali vs Sangare: Brentford 3-0 Spurs |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats |
Tonali |
Sangare |
|
Mins played |
90 |
76 |
|
Touches |
76 |
51 |
|
Dribbles |
0 |
1 |
|
Shots |
2 |
1 |
|
Key passes |
0 |
2 |
|
Assists |
0 |
1 |
|
Carries |
16 |
13 |
|
Fouled |
1x |
3x |
|
Duels won |
2/4 |
6/10 |
Tonali may well have completed 89% of his passes in that game but he struggled to establish any kind of control, notably nearly volleying a shot out of the ground.
He was not much better against his former employers a week ago. An early poor pass to Micky van de Ven set the tone for what was a bad day from the midfielder who also played Yoane Wissa onside for the second goal.
Was third time a charm? The summer arrival did improve against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, winning seven duels and making four recoveries in an attritional display but more should be expected from somebody who cost as much as he.
He should be looking to emulate his midfield colleague.
Spurs star is outshining Sandro Tonali
Despite the departure of Pape Matar Sarr this summer, Spurs’ midfield is arguably the most packed area of the team. The depth in that position is a big positive for De Zerbi.
The depth is so good, in fact, that £85m man Mateus Fernandes has only started one of the opening three Premier League games.
Why is that, however? Wel it’s due to the form Rodrigo Bentancur. Often the scapegoat, often much-maligned, 2026 has been his year.
Truth be told, it’s not been hard to stick out in this Tottenham team, such has been their rotten time of it, but if anyone deserves praise for their performances it is the Uruguayan.
In 2026/27, he has been Mr Consistent, even during Spurs’ tricky start to the new campaign. He was the best of the three midfielders against Newcastle a week ago, outshining both Tonali and Fernandes, and he outshone the former again on Saturday.
Hailed as “Spurs’ player of the match by a distance” by Football.London’s Alasdair Gold, Bentancur put in a phenomenal performance, mopping up pieces of play left, right and centre.
During the course of the game, the 29-year-old made 17 defensive contributions, more than any other player on the pitch. Only two players covered more distance than his 10.8km; James McAtee (11.3km) and Tonali (11km).
He may not be as silky and smooth on the ball as a certain Belgian, Mousa Dembele, but this was a display that harked back to those days.
Dembele was a monster in midfield. He never shied away from a battle and was willing to run like mad for the team. Well, Bentancur’s performance this weekend was remarkably similar. It was hard-working, it was dogged, it was determined and it was fierce.
No player on the pitch made more than his nine clearances. No player on the pitch won more aerial duels either. He acted as the perfect screen in front of the backline. He must be a dream for Van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke.
In all honesty, it was the reported £120k-per-week earner who looked like the £100m signing on Saturday afternoon, not Tonali. He has well and truly outperformed him in the opening weeks of the new season.
