Hotspur HQ

I'm not exactly sure who the quote can be attributed to, either Plato or a scrawny teenager speaking on a podcast the world absolutely didn't need, but it rings true for Tottenham Hotspur heading into Monday's clash against Coventry City.

"If you do Marbella right, your calm."

Roberto De Zerbi's retreat to the south of Spain will aim to establish the "click" within the Italian's new-look squad. We may be 19th (to start the weekend) and without a Premier League win, but the mood does feel somewhat buoyant after our resilient showing in Manchester last weekend.

However, the good feeling generated from Dominic Solanke's late strike at Old Trafford will mean little if we fail to celebrate three points under the lights on Monday. It's only October, but this certainly feels like a must-win for De Zerbi's side. While Coventry have won back-to-back games, there's a prevailing sense that if we can't beat a newly-promoted team on home soil, then where on earth will the wins come from?

Here's the team De Zerbi could pick for Coventry's visit.

Defense: GK Antonín Kinsky - RB Archie Gray - CB Jan Paul van Hecke - CB Micky van de Ven - LB Destiny Udogie

There was a reshuffle in defense at Old Trafford last weekend, with Marcos Senesi coming into the side and Archie Gray deputising for the injured Pedro Porro.

Porro is closing in on a comeback, suggesting he's "almost ready" over the weekend. I wouldn't be surprised if he's in the matchday squad, but a start seems unlikely. Gray should keep his spot.

Jan Paul van Hecke is a shoo-in next to him, and I suspect Micky van de Ven will come back in for Senesi, even if the Argentina adds even greater security in the build-up.

While Van de Ven is an option at left-back, Destiny Udogie simply has to be the starter.

Midfield: DM Sandro Tonali - DM Mateus Fernandes - AM James Maddison

Conor Gallagher was great last time out, and the Englishman is proving that he has an important role to play in particular fixtures this season.

However, that doesn't mean he should retain his place for Coventry's visit. This is a completely different game to last Saturday, one we don't need Gallagher for. If he's ready, I'm giving James Maddison an hour against his former club from a No. 10 position. Maddison has been limited to cameos this term.

With Maddison back in the fray, Mateus Fernandes should drop into a deeper midfield position and sit alongside Sandro Tonali. The Italian was superb at the Theatre of Dreams, and will single-handedly protect Spurs from the counter-attack on Monday. He's our fire extinguisher in midfield.

Forwards: RW Sávio - CF Dominic Solanke - LW Omar Marmoush

I'd pick Mohammed Kudus as the No. 10 if Maddison can't start, because I think we need to have a front three comprising Sávio, Dominic Solanke and Omar Marmoush.

Marmoush's ball-striking from distance offers an alternative solution against deep-lying defences, while Solanke is the box presence we sorely need. With Udogie driving forward from left-back, there should be plenty of opportunities for Marmoush to drift infield and occupy the half-space.

While Sávio established an effective relationship with Udogie last weekend, I'm utilising him on the opposite flank here, asking him to probe and attract attention—potentially opening up opportunities on the edge of the box to finish.

Tottenham Hotspur will face Coventry on Monday Night Football after their 1-1 draw with Manchester United, and many pundits see this as an early do or die game for Spurs, given Coventry are a newly promoted side and probably expected to be in the relegation fight at the end of the season. Tottenham, of course, are 19th in the Premier League table and coming off an intense relegation battle last season that went down to the wire.

Spurs have another huge game the weekend after against rivals Chelsea, who got the better of them consistently last season. Chelsea have an exciting new coach of their own in Xabi Alonso, and whlie the Blues are far from air tight, they are sixth in the table and heavy favorites to beat their London rivals.

Tottenham will be getting a big boost, though. As Pedro Porro himself has confirmed on social media he is "almost back", and whlie that indicates, as expected, he's not ready to recover yet for the Coventry game, he should be ready to face Chelsea. And maybe Spurs ease him by not starting him then since he has had so many fitness issues after an incredible, victorious World Cup for Spain, he is too important not to start against Chelsea after several weeks to rest with the hamstring injury he suffered against Aston Villa just before the three week break.

Pedro Porro should be ready for Chelsea

Porro's return is a big boost to the wingers, and it puts an intriguing scenario on the table for Tottenham Hotspur. Mohammed Kudus is currently starting on the right wing, and we know De Zerbi likes having inverted wingers since they can cut inside and shoot. And everyone, De Zerbi most of all, knows Spurs need goals. Kudus, though, isn't as good at getting into scoring situations as Savio, evne though both are primarly creators.

With Savio outplaying Kudus, De Zerbi could move Savio to the right, make Kudus a super sub, and then start Omar Marmoush on the left to get Dominic Solanke back in at striker. Now, Mathys Tel on the left wing and the Frenchman's return to the starting lineup is a possibility, since Tel has played very well for the youth national team and even for Spurs in the preseason befoer a poor start to the season.

But Solanke and Marmoush are more proven players in the Premier League and better goal scorers than Tel, even if they have struggled to find the back of the net this season. De Zerbi's choices with Pedro Porro out against Coventry and how they do on Matchday 6 will surely impact the Italian manager's decisions vs. Chelsea, but it looks like a front three of Marmoush, Solanke, and Savio may be the best lineup possible.

And having Porro back gives Spurs more attacking verve and quality on the right flank than Archie Gray, who did well in his stead but is clearly not a real right back. Porro can allow the right winger to get inside more and be more of a scoring threat, and that builds a stronger case for Savio to start there, which raises the possibility of Marmoush shifting over to the left to take his place and for both Solanke and Marmoush to work together, which we have not seen enough of.

Tottenham Hotspur are finally expected to have a real No. 10 back in their starting 11 next week when they take on Coventry on Monday Night Football, as James Maddison got in another 20 minutes or so off the bench in the 1-1 draw over Manchester United. While Conor Gallagher has worked hard for the team, his inability to create chances or show adequate technical quality in the final third, which was the key reason Chelsea got rid of him in the first place, has continued to rear its ugly head this season for Spurs.

While Tottenham work hard in possession, press well, and can now suffocate and dominate teams, they are still in the relegation zone through six Matchdays in the 2026/27 Premier League season because they cannot create high quality chances, let alone score them when they do get them. Maddison finally starting his first game since his torn ACL in the 2024/25 season will be massive, as will the impending return of Dejan Kulusevski from his own serious knee injury in 2025 in November (and then the main man, Xavi Simons, should be back in January or February of next year after tearing his ACL at the end of the last season).

But in the meantime, Tottenham did actually have another option at the 10 besides Gallagher or even shoehorning young defensive midfielder Mateus Fernandes into an unnatural position. Young prospect Luca Williams-Barnett was one of the team's best overall players in the preseason and a huge story for Spurs as a potential early breakout prospect, showing quality on the ball and a fearlessness in using his skill that made Spurs fans intrigued as to the role he could play this season as a homegrown player in the squad.

Tottenham Hotspur could have definitely used him instead of Gallagher or Fernandes and at least seen what this special talent could offer, but Roberto De Zerbi has only given him a few minutes in the League Cup this season and nothing else - not even when Spurs could have used a spark, even if only off the bench, in the Premier League.

But De Zerbi has praised LWB frequently, and he did so again recently in the build up to the Coventry game, via Alasdair Gold of Football.London, "Special talent. Special personality also, because he's arrogant, but arrogant good for football because you have to believe in yourself. Not forgetting to be humble. Humility but believe in yourself, and the right example is Luca."

Tottenham fans are seeing Roberto De Zerbi tease using Luca Williams-Barnett time and time again, but they frustratingly are not seeing the potential spark actually get minutes. Spurs will be boosted by James Maddison in the 11, but he is not ready for a full 90 minutes yet. Williams-Barnett, even if he doesn't start, can help this team by beating defenders, destabilizing the defense from the middle, and create more than what Conor Gallagher can. It's time to give him a shot.

Tottenham return to Premier League action on Monday night when they face Coventry City at home. Spurs are still searching for their first win after six games, and there will be an expectation for them to get it here, playing at home against a newly-promoted team.

Coventry have won two of their first six games, and that includes a big home win over Newcastle United last time out. Here we round up the injury news surrounding Spurs and Coventry.

Aurele Amenda - Out

Lampard confirmed last week: "Aurele is working away. It's a sort of up to a three-month injury, so we're working through that."

Haji Wright - Out

Lampard said of Wright at the same time: "A little bit longer as well, but working hard and getting there... Hadji won't be back till into November, at best. I don't want to put pressure on because it's an awkward injury."

Josh Eccles - Out

Lampard said on Thursday ahead of this one: "Josh, not yet - he had a baby girl last week. He's got a little bit of an issue with his ankle - the calf is fine - so he's not on the training just yet. We hope so in the next 2-3 weeks to progress."

Luke Woolfenden - Out

Lampard added in his Thursday address: "And Woolfenden is a little bit longer than that (2-3 weeks)."

Xavi Simons - Out

Simons remains out until the new year due to a serious knee injury suffered last season.

Wilson Odobert - Out

Odobert is also working his way back from an ACL tear, and he is hoping to be back by December.

Rodrigo Bentancur - Out (Suspended)

Bentancur is out as he serves a red card suspension.

Pedro Porro - Doubt

De Zerbi says Porro's issue isn't serious. He will be a doubt here.

Mykhailo Mudryk - Out

Mudryk will be out until at least after the next international break. De Zerbi has said the winger is still 'many games' away.

Dejan Kulusevski - Doubt

It's hard to say when Kulusevski will return, but he is getting close, so we will keep him down as a doubt. De Zerbi said last week: "He is working well - tomorrow he comes with us, also Porro. I want all players tomorrow, tonight and tomorrow, but he is working very well. I think he is an example for everyone... how he reacted to the injury, the reaction to being unlucky, the character he showed this time, a reference for everyone."

Tottenham remain winless in the Premier League after six games and 19th in the table, yet the resolve shown at Old Trafford has offered great encouragement.

Spurs have ultimately performed better than their points tally suggests. We sit 12th in FotMob's 'expected points' table, with eight to our name rather than three. The frustrating theme of underperformance in front of goal continued last weekend, and our misfortune looked set to continue when Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off after Bryan Mbeumo's opener.

But a wretched Man Utd team failed to capitalise on their distinct advantages and Roberto De Zerbi's side never went away. We'd been dominant for an hour, and Dominic Solanke's stoppage-time header was just reward for our efforts.

While the majority have seized upon the club's slow start after a big splurge in the summer, there's a prevailing sense that everything will be okay in north London. However, the apparent progress made at the Theatre of Dreams will count for little if the Lilywhites don't secure their first win of the season at home to Coventry City on Monday night.

Alan Shearer backs Spurs for relegation battle if winless start continues vs. Coventry

Frank Lampard's Coventry have found life on either side of the break after a woeful start upon their long-awaited Premier League comeback. Back-to-back wins over Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United has seen the newly-promoted side leapfrog Spurs in the table.

A few weeks back, we all pinpointed this as the fixture where De Zerbi's new-look outfit would put things right. This was the occasion where we'd cash in on our early-season misfortune, and ignite our campaign with an emphatic victory.

Now, though, Coventry's visit suddenly looks a little tougher, with confidence exuding from Lampard's side. They'd looked out of their depth during the first month of the season, but must feel like they belong at the highest level. Former Chelsea star Lampard will be desperate to stick it to us again, too.

There's no denying that this is a huge game for Spurs. If you can't beat a newly promoted side at home under the lights, many will wonder where the heck the wins are going to come from.

Thus, an ominous prediction has arrived from mainstream media pundit Alan Shearer, who believes the Lilywhites will be in for another relegation slog if they fail to win on Monday night.

"I've always said the time to worry is when you're not creating the chances, and that wasn't the case at Old Trafford. They created plenty. So, if that were to keep on going, they could have a little bit of hope, but they desperately need that win," he said (via Hotspur Lane on X).

“If they don't beat Coventry on Monday, then I think they'll be in a massive relegation battle, and I think that's how big a game it is.”

I don't disagree; this is a big game, especially with a trip to Stamford Bridge on the horizon. However, I also don't think we need to build up this fixture as if it's life or death.

Tottenham Hotspur are still struggling to score goals. They barely found the back of the net very late against Manchester United on Matchday 6 of the 2026/27 Premier League season, drawing 1-1 with the Red Devils despite creating several clear chances in the first half of the match. Dominic Solanke, who scored the tying goal in the end, flubbed several great chances and continued to play a poor all around game in terms of helping the wingers get in on goal, too.

Spurs are creating chances and dominating possession, but they are not scoring many goals - only three in six games with zero wins in the Premier League - for two distinct reasons. In addition to struggling with finishing their chances, Spurs are also not creating enough clear cut scoring chances, with only the new winger Savio consistently producing from that stand point.

Now, fortunes will be changing for Spurs soon. James Maddison is going to return to the starting lineup, presumably on Matchday 7 against childhood club Coventry. And now, Spurs are awaiting the even more anticipated return of Dejan Kulusevski, who was out for 18 months with an even more serious, career threatening injury than Maddison's own ACL tear in the 2024/25 season.

Dejan Kulusevski can step in where Dominic Solanke and Omar Marmoush are failing

Kulusevski is a right winger and a playmaker at heart, and Roberto De Zerbi has already told reporters that he mostly sees the Swedish national team star as an attacking midfielder in his system. He will likely rotate for minutes with Maddison, and he surely won't be starting full games for a while, even if he does return, as is tentatively expected based on his recovery course, in November.

But with Tottenham Hotspur struggling to get any production out of the No. 9 position, their biggest problem in the starting 11 could be a solution filled by Dejan Kulusevski. Because if Dominic Solanke continues to struggle badly with scoring and remains a non factor in terms of his dribbling and chance creation and if Roberto De Zerbi still does not see Omar Marmoush as the ideal center forward solution, then Kulusevski as a false nine becomes an alternative worth thinking about.

Kulu has had four seasons in his career between Serie A and the Premier League with double digit goal contributions, and while he hasn't hit double digit goals since early in his career in 2019/20 when he was on loan at Parma - and the Italian top flight's Young Player of the Season - the quality has always been there. And he could be more decisive in that false nine role, especially since he can bring others into play and excels at that. It's far from the ideal solution, but if Marmoush and Solanke can't step up by the time Kulu is ready to play meaningful minutes in the winter, he could be a bridge to a real striker in the January market.

Tottenham may have splashed £185m on two midfielders in the summer, but that hasn't deterred supporters' desire to acquire a Spurs-supporting star this winter for a mammoth fee.

Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali were signed to overhaul Roberto De Zerbi's engine room. Both were signed for club-record fees, and Tonali could cost as much as £100m if add-ons are met.

These are players we're committing to for the long haul, expecting them to be at the forefront of De Zerbi's project—one yet to get off the ground after survival was just about secured last season.

While two came in, Spurs allowed Pape Matar Sarr to leave for Juventus on loan, and the club was undoubtedly tempted by offers for Lucas Bergvall before the young Swede signed a contract extension.

Bergvall has featured sporadically at the start of the new season, with Rodrigo Bentancur enjoying a strong opening before his dismissal at Old Trafford. Even Conor Gallagher has impressed in spurts. The newbies are finding their feet, but Tonali's display at the weekend was hugely encouraging.

The midfield is still figuring itself out, with the absence of a fully fit playmaker inhibiting the balance. Teething issues are lingering, but that doesn't mean we need to splash another £100m to fix it.

Tottenham have missed the boat with Alex Scott pursuit

Look, I get it. Alex Scott is a wonderful footballer who's fully COYS. The appeal is obvious.

We've been tenuously linked in previous windows, and undoubtedly would've been recommended to the club while he was purring with Bristol City had David Pleat still been around. Instead, Scott joined Bournemouth in August 2023 for £25m and are now set to sell him for roughly quadruple that in 2027.

Fabrizio Romano reports that the Cherries are open to proposals for the dynamic midfielder in January, but they're likely to only entertain bids in the region of £100m. Right now, Chelsea and Liverpool are the two clubs leading the race.

And we're going to have to let them slug it out, folks. Spurs won't be getting involved after their summer splurge.

Scott would be the perfect addition, primarily because of his adoration for the club. He's a thrilling midfielder to watch, too, but this is a player we no longer desperately need. Once Fernandes is up to speed and playing in a deeper role every week, our longing for Bournemouth's No. 8 will soon fade.

We'd be foolish to even consider the possibilty, given our needs in other areas of the pitch. Scott is many things, but he's no goalscorer.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Dominic Solanke scored this past weekend in a 1-1 draw with Manchester United, rescuing a point with a header in the second half of stoppage time. But he did not earn many plaudits from the Spurs faithful despite the backing of the manager Roberto De Zerbi, as Solanke messed up two golden opportunities to score in the first half. And had he been more sharper in the final third, Spurs would have beaten a listless Man United at Old Trafford.

Everything but the goals has been there for Tottenham, who are one of the worst teams in the Premier League table yet again after six Matchdays but are regularly outplaying their opponents since two rough Matchdays to start the season against Brentford and Newcastle United.

Solanke has not been the only failure in the Spurs attack, as new signing Omar Marmoush has also been sub standard in the starting 11. But Solanke has had lower lows than Marmoush without the same creative spark, struggling with his all around play.

Tottenham can only wonder if they'd be better with Will Lankshear

Tottenham Hotspur fans can't help but wonder if Will Lankshear would be doing a lot better even with a jump up in competition in the Premier League. Spurs sold him for a hefty fee to Middlesborough this summer transfer window, and while they were not initially thinking about a permanent sale, they realized that 10 million pounds with a potential 10 million pounds in add ons was too much to pass up on.

Now, though, Tottenham are regretting the sale, and Lankshear scored again, putting another crucial goal past an EFL Championship keeper in a 3-2 win for Middlesborough over Stoke. Lankshear has been showing up Solanke all season long in terms of his clinical nature, and even though the EFL Championship is obviously not the Premier League, the traits he is showing with his finishing and instincts are that of a true No. 9 - something that Spurs very obviously lack.

Dominic Solanke is on his last legs as a starter for Tottenham. Roberto De Zerbi banished Richarilson out of the squad after a late transfer window squabble, and he has even foregone blockbuster signing Omar Marmoush for the 2024 transfer flop. But unless Solanke scores and scores soon, he is going to have to sit on the bench, no matter what De Zerbi wants to think.

And Will Lankshear now sitting on 8 goals in 10 Championship games does not reflect well on Big Dom either. Lankshear's latest goal is another shot across the bow for Solanke, and he has no excuses if he starts next week vs. Coventry.

Tottenham Hotspur have not won a single game this season despite outplaying all of their opponents since Matchdays 1 and 2, as they drew this past weekend against Manchester United 1-1. But they are no longer 20th out of 20 Premier League teams after Matchday 6, as local rivals Fulham lost 2-1 to newly promoted Ipswich Town to stay on two points and move behind Spurs after previously being just barely ahead on goal difference.

Spurs are recovering from the disastrous reign of Thomas Frank, who took over a team that was already in 17th in the Premier League from the 2024/25 season but had won the Europa League. And he made Spurs demonstrably worse. He was definitely hurt by terrible recruitment, but Frank had even Spurs best players doubting themselves and hating football, with stars like Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro looking like shells of themselves.

Roberto De Zerbi came in and saved the day, sparing Spurs relegation blushes after Frank did his best to bury them into the sand. And the difference between how Tottenham Hotspur play under De Zerbi and the awful, negative football they played under Frank is so apparent that any self respecting Spurs fan has to remember to give De Zerbi that credit for the turn around. Because it was not easy.

Fulham are looking at Thomas Frank

But the media and other clubs do not pay attention to the plight of Tottenham and seem to think that everything is Spurs fault. So Thomas Frank continues to have backers and admirers, even as another old club of his, Brentford, are also clearly better off without him.

According to a new report from Alex Crook of talkSPORT, talented young manager Alvaro Arbeloa of Real Madrid fame is already facing pressure of his own at Fulham after six matches, which is to be expected since the Cottagers are dead last in the Premier League after previously being European sleepers under Marco Silva. And the leading candidate to replace Arbeloa is Thomas Frank.

But any Tottenham fan can tell you that just looking at the results after a few weeks is misleading. For example, Frank had a great start to his career at Spurs and turned out to be a total dud. De Zerbi and Arbeloa are struggling, but anyone can see that they have great ideas tactically compared to Frank.

Fulham hiring Frank would be a gift to Spurs, because he was beyond awful last season at N17. If Fulham hire him, that could be another rival joining West Ham United in being gone from the Premier League and vindication for Spurs fans as to how terrible Frank is if that happens. They will be rooting, out of pure schadenfreude, for Fulham to make this misstep.

Tottenham Hotspur star attacking midfielder Xavi Simons is unmistakably the team's most talented player and was legitiamtely a Bundesliga Player of the Season caliber midfielder for RB Leipzig before his move to Spurs, and in the brief period of time he and Roberto De Zerbi worked together at the end of the disastrous 2025/26 Premier League season, he looked like he was well on his way to becoming one of the best attacking midfielders in the league before an untimely ACL tear during the relegation fight.

Simons is expected to be out until the winter as he rehabs from the injury. After the terrible Dejan Kulusevski knee injury, Tottenham fans are especially wary about all updates regarding their latest star playmaker's knee issue, so they were on the alert when a report from the Netherlands began to circulate with some pessimism regarding his injury status and a potentially delayed recovery course.

Xavi Simons is not having issues thus far

That rumor, however, does not appear to be substantiated. Because a far more reliable source of Tottenham Hotspur news is saying something different. Alasdair Gold of Football.London is reporting that while Xavi Simons will not be traveling with the rest of his Tottenham teammates for the bonding trip to Marbella, Spain, he is recovering well. He has been working "at speed" on the grass with his boots on over the past two weeks. Gold says that he is still on track for the usual return timeline from an ACL tear in late January.

So as per usual, an outsider's information on a Tottenham player appears to be uninformed and much ado about nothing. There is no need to be playing the sirens or fretting about Simons, though Spurs fans have built up enough cynicism over the years regarding injuries that there will still always be worry about a star player until they are back on the pitch.

Simons and Dejan Kulusevski, who is inching closer and closer to his return after 18 months out with an even more serious knee injury than an ACL tear, are two players Tottenham fans are begging to see in the attack to add creativity, quality, and even goal scoring to a Spurs side desperate for end product. And soon, James Maddison will also be able to start for the first time since his own torn ACL at the end of the 2024/25 season. Tottenham's playmakers are healing, and that includes their young Dutch international.