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Tottenham will be hoping to get things back on track before it is too late this season. From an outside perspective, there were a lot of positive signs from Tottenham during pre-season as they aimed to kickstart a new era at N17 under Roberto de Zerbi. However, those who follow the club closely will tell you that there were still some glaring issues in the squad that the Lilywhites failed to rectify before the start of the new season. Those glaring issues ultimately proved to be the cause of the North London club’s humbling defeat to Brentford on the opening day of the Premier League campaign on Saturday. The North Londoners lacked intent and were not up to the mark at the Gtech Stadium. Playing against a Brentford side that likes to be physical and direct, Roberto de Zerbi’s men had no answers to most of the questions posed by the Bees during the opening stages of the match. Before long, Spurs found themselves two goals down, thanks to well-taken strikes from Keane Lewis-Potter and Vitaly Janelt. Things went from bad to worse when Michael Kayode made it 3-0 just after half-time, ensuring that there was no way back for the Lilywhites. Spurs fans saw four new signings take the field against the Bees from the start, with Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson, and Marcos Senesi forming a new-look defence, while Sandro Tonali operated in the middle of the park. However, it is fair to suggest that none of these players stepped up and made their presence felt on Saturday. Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham side lacked in everything that Brentford excelled in Tottenham made the right call by appointing Roberto De Zerbi as their long-term manager at the back end of last season. The Italian tactician worked his magic to help the Lilywhites escape relegation. In return, the 47-year-old convinced the club to back him in the transfer window by signing players who would suit his playing style. And credit to the North Londoners, they kept their promise and did exactly that by splashing a staggering £237m on new signings. However, the dismal start to the new season has raised a worrying question, as Spurs were completely dismantled by a well-coached Brentford side. Were the Lilywhites right to back Roberto de Zerbi in the transfer market? Tim Sherwood has now shared his thoughts on the North London side’s horrid performance against the Bees on Saturday. Speaking on Sky Sports (via Chris Cowlin), Sherwood said, “I saw nothing. And to come out after the game and say: ‘We were outfought’. Wow, outfought? At any level, you cannot be outfought. I thought that is what he was all about. I like him as a manager, he did wonderfully for Tottenham at the back end of last season and he has absolutely bullied the club to make these signings, and pay over the top for a load of them.” The former Spurs boss added, “The non-negotiables are running hard, fighting, winning second balls, winning your headers, and they didn’t do any of that (against Brentford). Forget about the structure, forget about the pretty patterns which De Zerbi is meant to bring to this club. He is known for passion, his desire, and his team should mirror that and they showed nothing of the sort, it was really poor.” As Sherwood rightly points out, Roberto de Zerbi failed to get his team to do the basics right against Brentford on Saturday. Despite being backed in the summer, the Italian tactician made some questionable decisions that contributed to the club’s horrid start to the new season. The players did not appear to understand what was being asked of them, while there was a lack of structure to their game. There was also a lack of intent and willingness to fight, making it clear that De Zerbi still has a long way to go before getting things back on track at N17.