Roberto De Zerbi *OFFICIAL*

[Bedfordspurs]

Positive we occupy the same areas as the top teams. Negatives are we don't have anywhere near the same quality in the blue area up top, or out wide with that said

We dont create the same opportunities because all out players are behind the ball

 

[metalgear]

We dont create the same opportunities because all out players are behind the ball

with both fernandez and tonali in midfield there is no reason for players to attempt through balls

its down to rdz - as we've seen arsenal and Emirates Marketing Project can do that so well with overloads on the flanks and variety in attack to drag defenders.
my guess is that rdz tactics isn't going down well - a through ball goal is like basic football and i am sure the players we have naturally want to do it

 

[Bedfordspurs]

with both fernandez and tonali in midfield there is no reason for players to attempt through balls

its down to rdz - as we've seen arsenal and Emirates Marketing Project can do that so well with overloads on the flanks and variety in attack to drag defenders.
my guess is that rdz tactics isn't going down well - a through ball goal is like basic football and i am sure the players we have naturally want to do it

We haven’t played with a 2 man midfield yet and IMO we’re winning in midfield so teams just bypass ours

 

[Finney Is Back]

with both fernandez and tonali in midfield there is no reason for players to attempt through balls

its down to rdz - as we've seen arsenal and Emirates Marketing Project can do that so well with overloads on the flanks and variety in attack to drag defenders.
my guess is that rdz tactics isn't going down well - a through ball goal is like basic football and i am sure the players we have naturally want to do it

I’ve seen a fair few through balls, we’ve just not made the most of them. Other times the player on the ball hasn’t spotted a good run that has been made, or instead takes a simple ‘safe’ option (hangover from Frank maybe?)

 

[Bishop]

I’ve seen a fair few through balls, we’ve just not made the most of them. Other times the player on the ball hasn’t spotted a good run that has been made, or instead takes a simple ‘safe’ option (hangover from Frank maybe?)

We didn't have through ball players under Frank. Maybe Simmons but I think of him as more of an orchestrator/pass and move player than a killer ball player.

 

[MartyFunkhouser]

I’ve seen a fair few through balls, we’ve just not made the most of them. Other times the player on the ball hasn’t spotted a good run that has been made, or instead takes a simple ‘safe’ option (hangover from Frank maybe?)

If there is a hangover from Frank with only 4 players from his time starting, then we are in dire trouble. Maybe there needs to be more ownership on the situation than excuses

 

[Lemonade Money]

If there is a hangover from Frank with only 4 players from his time starting, then we are in dire trouble. Maybe there needs to be more ownership on the situation than excuses

You can pinpoint our downturn to the point Levy stepped away from football matters:

Levy appoints Conte. Left us in 4th place.
Levy appoints Munn.
Munn appoints Postecoglou. Left us in 17th place.
Munn appoints Lange.
Lange appoints Frank. Left us in 17th place.
Committee(?) appoints Tudor. Left us in 17th place.
Committee(?) appoints RDZ. Currently bottom.

 

[Lemonade Money]

Going further back, I think we can all agree Redknapp and Postecoglou were Levy appointments (albeit probably with some advice), and they were good times, even if you believe they should have been supported better.
Looking at Levy’s 'failures':
AVB left us in 7th place.
Mourinho left us in 7th place.
Nuno left us in 8th place.

 

[Bishop]

If there is a hangover from Frank with only 4 players from his time starting, then we are in dire trouble. Maybe there needs to be more ownership on the situation than excuses

This is true. Too often we see comments about Frank or Ange but at this point yes there is a lot to recover but it's is essentially a whole new team. So, many of the problems from before have been addressed. Whether that has been done successfully is open to debate and time will tell but we can't really blame Frank or Ange at this imo.

At the same time I don't think the changes mean everything should be running perfectly already, but the problems of today are exactly that, the problems of today not of the past.

 

[MartyFunkhouser]

This is true. Too often we see comments about Frank or Ange but at this point yes there is a lot to recover but it's is essentially a whole new team. So, many of the problems from before have been addressed. Whether that has been done successfully is open to debate and time will tell but we can't really blame Frank or Ange at this imo.

At the same time I don't think the changes mean everything should be running perfectly already, but the problems of today are exactly that, the problems of today not of the past.

Ridiculous to even suggest its due to Frank

 

[K.D.D.D.D.Soc]

If you look back to the predictions on this site before a ball was kicked you can see people's expectations were far too optimistic.
We have virtually played with a new keeper, back four, midfield and forward line. Its going to take time (something in short supply in football). I hoping to see some improvement in our scoring which will certainly help with taking the pressure off the team and confidence. I've only seen games on TV but there has looked to be some progress in our play and moving the ball quicker we just need to get that 1st goal in a game and reduce the tension.

 

[Baleforce]

If you look back to the predictions on this site before a ball was kicked you can see people's expectations were far too optimistic.
We have virtually played with a new keeper, back four, midfield and forward line. Its going to take time (something in short supply in football). I hoping to see some improvement in our scoring which will certainly help with taking the pressure off the team and confidence. I've only seen games on TV but there has looked to be some progress in our play and moving the ball quicker we just need to get that 1st goal in a game and reduce the tension.

I stand by my vote, I might be the only one who was right

Thread '26/27 Season Predictions'

21 Aug 2026

Less than 24 hours from kickoff...

• Ace Face
• Replies: 40
• Forum: Spurs News & Views

• 

 

[Lemonade Money]

If you look back to the predictions on this site before a ball was kicked you can see people's expectations were far too optimistic.
We have virtually played with a new keeper, back four, midfield and forward line. Its going to take time (something in short supply in football). I hoping to see some improvement in our scoring which will certainly help with taking the pressure off the team and confidence. I've only seen games on TV but there has looked to be some progress in our play and moving the ball quicker we just need to get that 1st goal in a game and reduce the tension.

This post is far too optimistic.

 

[Raziel]

If you look back to the predictions on this site before a ball was kicked you can see people's expectations were far too optimistic.
We have virtually played with a new keeper, back four, midfield and forward line. Its going to take time (something in short supply in football). I hoping to see some improvement in our scoring which will certainly help with taking the pressure off the team and confidence. I've only seen games on TV but there has looked to be some progress in our play and moving the ball quicker we just need to get that 1st goal in a game and reduce the tension.

Don't agree, and the comment is beyond the scope of RDZ.

Over the last 3 seasons (including this one), the team has (not hyperbole) lost the ability to win almost any games, and while our fans and critics are happy to jump on board and brick on the team/squad/gaps, just compare our results to fudging Leeds or Everton or Sunderland or Ipswich, and I'd bet their managers would all take our squad in a full swap without a 2nd thought.

I don't have the answer, but somehow we are in a spiral, doesn't matter player/manager, we haven't reset out of that 2nd Ange season and we better fudging figure it out soon.

There is a big difference between being mid table underperforming than being 17th-20th performance

 

[Mikey10]

Don't agree, and the comment is beyond the scope of RDZ.

Over the last 3 seasons (including this one), the team has (not hyperbole) lost the ability to win almost any games, and while our fans and critics are happy to jump on board and brick on the team/squad/gaps, just compare our results to fudging Leeds or Everton or Sunderland or Ipswich, and I'd bet their managers would all take our squad in a full swap without a 2nd thought.

I don't have the answer, but somehow we are in a spiral, doesn't matter player/manager, we haven't reset out of that 2nd Ange season and we better fudging figure it out soon.

There is a big difference between being mid table underperforming than being 17th-20th performance

I just can’t see us winning at Old Trafford unfortunately. I don’t think the players currently have the mental strength to do it.

 

[mudshark]

The only way is up. I bet that's what Wolves said.

 

[Muttley]

Don't agree, and the comment is beyond the scope of RDZ.

Over the last 3 seasons (including this one), the team has (not hyperbole) lost the ability to win almost any games, and while our fans and critics are happy to jump on board and brick on the team/squad/gaps, just compare our results to fudging Leeds or Everton or Sunderland or Ipswich, and I'd bet their managers would all take our squad in a full swap without a 2nd thought.

I don't have the answer, but somehow we are in a spiral, doesn't matter player/manager, we haven't reset out of that 2nd Ange season and we better fudging figure it out soon.

There is a big difference between being mid table underperforming than being 17th-20th performance

I think RDZ's biggest challenge is to change the culture at the football club and instil some proper standards amongst the playing group. He also needs players that are fully committed to him and will leave it all out there when they cross the white line. Ange had that part but he never instilled a culture that losing must hurt like crazy. Quite the opposite actually. Both him and Frank created a culture where it is OK to lose as long as you're following my instructions as a coach. If you do that then I will take the bullets for you. That simply doesn't work in sport. Frank didn't even have the commitment piece. What a mess.

It could go either way with RDZ. We've seen the reaction to Richi. The moment the club enforces standards, they get lambasted by their own fans because of the culture problem. However, that doesn't mean that the players didn't embrace a strong message about that scenario and aren't feeling the pain of losing more with this manager. I don't think he's scared to make them feel that, but he's also pretty complimentary when he knows they've just had the bad rub.