Spurs' second-half collapse shows size of De Zerbi's task

Tottenham Hotspur's initially promising display against Newcastle United proved short-lived in their 2-0 defeat on Saturday, revealing the significant challenges facing coach Roberto De Zerbi. The club's summer spending of over £300 million aimed to transform a squad that had been plagued by inconsistency, but the current performance indicated that the issues run deeper than financial investment.

De Zerbi acknowledged that "you can't buy mentality in the transfer market," emphasizing that the team's mindset remains a crucial hurdle. Despite a strong first-half showing that hinted at the tactical improvements De Zerbi sought, the team succumbed to the same vulnerabilities that led to their recent setbacks. The coach's attempt to create a fortress-like atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium fell short, as evidenced by the significant impact of their poor second-half display.

Newcastle, in contrast, has shown resilience with an unbeaten start, relying on new signings to bolster their weakened squad following the departures of key players and their own coach.