Tottenham Hotspur were beyond embarrassed on Saturday afternoon at the Gtech Stadium against local rivals Brentford, getting torn to shreds in their 2026/27 Premier League season opener 3-0. Although there were a few players who were surprising positives, there were many, many more negative performances for Spurs.
Here are the stars and flops.
Flop: CM Lucas Bergvall
The worst player on the pitch, and that's saying something because there were five other players on Tottenham who were objectionable. Brentford sliced through Lucas Bergvall at will, and it is no coincidence that Spurs were actually a passable Premier League team after he and Conor Gallagher left the pitch. Bergvall has a lot - and I mean, a LOT - to prove this season.
Star: LW Mathys Tel
It isn't a good thing when your best non center back at defending in the first half is your left winger. Mathys Tel had to pin himself so deep in order to help keep Tottenham afloat, but he still had a few nice dribbles and did so much to press and at least give Spurs the semblance of an attack and someone who can take people on. It's a shame he is going to be replaced as a starter soon, because he's better than the rest of his teammates right now.
Flop: RW Mikey Moore
Looked lively but just doesn't have the technical quality. He flubbed three great chances and didn't do enough to actually beat his man. He needs a loan.
Flop: CB Jan Paul van Hecke
Horrible. If he keeps playing like this, Tottenham are really, really going to miss Cristian Romero. Van Hecke was a headless chicken out there. Sloppy on the ball and even worse in defense, Van Hecke was basically another Brentford player.
Star: CB Marcos Senesi
With five tackles, six clearances, two interceptions, and two blocked shots, Marcos Senesi was the only thing keeping the defense afloat, and he looked worse than he really was because he had to cover up for so many Van Hecke screw ups.
Flop: ST Richarlison
He was like paper in the wind, crumbling and swaying at every light touch while offering zero goal threat, zero creativity, and zero of anything. This performance was exactly the lifeline Dominic Solanke needed.
Flop: CM Sandro Tonali
Sandro Tonali was the best of the three starting midfielders, but he was still poor. He did nothing to progress the ball forward and looked way more limited as passer than Tottenham fans anticipated, almost too mentally slow for the Premier League (despite literally being in the league for years). He will 100 percent get better, but this was bad.
Star: LB Andy Robertson
Recovered from a slow start to record two tackles, two interceptions, two blocked shots, and five clearances in a strong defensive performance while progressing the ball competently. This was a positive start for the veteran left back.
Flop: CM Conor Gallagher
There is not a single player Tottenham fans want out more than Conor Gallagher. He is the worst No. 10 in European football when he plays like this, and, sadly, he has played like this on numerous occasions in a Spurs kit. Roberto De Zerbi's love for him may be ending soon.
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