adminPremier League legend Alan Shearer has admitted that he is no longer confident in his pre-season prediction that Tottenham Hotspur would finish inside the top six after witnessing their disastrous opening to the 2026-27 campaign.
Tottenham entered the new season with plenty of optimism after making significant moves in the summer transfer window. Several football pundits expected the Lilywhites to challenge for European football, with the club showing serious ambition in the transfer market.
Spurs reportedly invested close to £400 million in their squad, strengthening virtually every area of the team. The club brought in reinforcements across defence, midfield and attack as Roberto De Zerbi looked to build a squad capable of competing at the higher end of the Premier League table.
However, Tottenham’s early-season performances have fallen dramatically short of expectations.
After five league matches, Spurs are sitting at the bottom of the Premier League table without a single victory. They have managed only two draws and suffered three defeats, leaving them with just two points from a possible 15.
Their defensive record has also raised concerns, with Tottenham conceding eight goals during those opening five matches. The disappointing start has resulted in growing criticism of both the players and De Zerbi.
Former Premier League striker Troy Deeney has accused the Tottenham boss of making excuses, while Steven Gerrard has questioned the quality of the squad and suggested that Spurs lack genuine superstars who can make the difference in difficult matches.
The situation means Tottenham will spend the September international break at the bottom of the Premier League, with supporters now facing an anxious wait for domestic football to return.
Shearer admits his top-six prediction may no longer happen
Shearer was among those who expected Tottenham to finish in the top six before the campaign began. However, the former Newcastle United striker has now admitted that Spurs’ start has forced him to reconsider that prediction.
Speaking to Betfair, Shearer explained that Tottenham’s position after five matches was almost impossible to predict given the money invested in the squad.
“We should be surprised by Spurs’ start to the season, because I do not think anyone in football would have said after five games, Spurs are going to be winless and bottom of the league,” Shearer said.
“With the money they have spent, no one could foresee what is happening to them.”
Shearer also pointed towards the enormous investment Tottenham made during the summer, highlighting several of their expensive arrivals.
“De Zerbi brought them back from the brink last season and kept them up, but now the pressure is massively on,” he added.
“I have said many times, they brought players in this summer, but they spent an absolute fortune. Van Hecke was a lot of money, Tonali was incredible money, Savio and Marmoush are others as well.”
Despite his concerns, Shearer believes Tottenham should still have enough quality to avoid another relegation fight.
He pointed to Aston Villa’s difficult beginning last season as evidence that a poor opening does not necessarily determine how an entire campaign will unfold.
“It is a long three weeks for Tottenham and they simply have to start winning football games when they are back from the international break,” Shearer said.
“All the bigger questions will start to be asked, if not already, if they do not start winning very soon.”
“I still think they will have enough to stay up. They will look at Aston Villa’s situation last season when they did not win their first five games but then climbed the league and qualified for Europe.”
Shearer acknowledged that Tottenham still have plenty of time to turn things around but admitted that his original prediction now looks increasingly uncertain.
“Spurs will think there is still loads of football to be played, which there is, but there is a massive amount of work to be done. I had them to finish in the top six this season and I am not sure that will happen now.”
Tottenham face crucial fixtures after international break
The pressure on Tottenham is unlikely to disappear when the international break ends. With a demanding run of fixtures approaching, De Zerbi’s side will need to find victories quickly if they are to move away from the bottom of the table.
Manchester United are Tottenham’s next opponents, giving Spurs an immediate opportunity to respond to their poor opening.
United have also experienced difficulties of their own, with Michael Carrick collecting only five points from his first five matches. Because of the pressure surrounding both teams, the fixture has already been labelled “El Sackico” by some observers.
For Tottenham, a victory could provide a much-needed boost and potentially lift them from the foot of the Premier League table, depending on other results.
However, the matches that follow are expected to provide an even greater test. Tottenham have a difficult sequence of fixtures ahead, meaning the next few weeks could prove extremely important in determining whether they can move away from the relegation battle.
With expectations having been so high before the season began, De Zerbi and his players now face increasing pressure to deliver results and demonstrate that Tottenham’s expensive summer rebuild can eventually produce the progress many expected.
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