Tottenham allowed 1.5 goals per match last season, good for seventeenth in the Premier League, and that is exactly where they finished in the league table. It couldn’t go on like that, but after the first game of the 2026-27 season Spurs’ overhauled defense offered a clear answer: It could.
In the opener against Brentford, Tottenham conceded three goals from a stupefying 4.03 expected goals allowed. That’s with a missed penalty from Brentford striker Igor Thiago. Spurs are now on pace to concede 114 goals on 153.14 xG. For context, relegated Burnley finished last season conceding 75 goals on 75.4 xG. Tottenham’s defense was supposed to be a strength, and it showed on Saturday that it could be one of the worst ever.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this, of course, not after bringing in centre back Jan Paul van Hecke for ÂŁ52 million. For Brighton, he was a steadily improving talent, and last season he was one of the best all-around defenders in the Premier League. For the Netherlands, he was a nailed-on starter at this summer’s World Cup.Â
Jan Paul van Hecke had a career day for all the wrong reasons
Van Hecke was to be paired with his compatriot Micky van de Ven, from whom Spurs had been swatting away interested and bigger clubs. The club secured van de Ven's services and protected his value by signing a new, long-term deal. Tottenham also moved quickly after last season to bring in experienced, dependable free agents in Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson. Fullbacks Destiny Udogie and World Cup winner Pedro Porro would be returning to their usual posts.Â
Spurs were so confident in this defensive lineup that they sold team captain Cristian Romero, breakout star Djed Spence, and phenom Luka Vuskovic to Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, and Brighton, respectively. Even Sandro Tonali, Spurs’ new £100 million man, was expected to bring defensive solidity in the midfield. Let us quickly summarize the performance of each defensive stalwart against Brentford:
- Porro - did not play. His fitness timeline is delayed due to Spain’s World Cup run.
- Van de Ven - did not play. He’s nursing a knock that, reportedly, is “not a big problem.”
- Udogie - came on with four minutes left in the game.
- Archie Gray - most notable achievement was becoming Spurs’ youngest-ever captain.
- Van Hecke - one of the worst performances of his career.
- Robertson and Senesi - the pair put in competent shifts.
Much has been made of Tottenham’s revamped lineup and the new spendthrift philosophy underpinning the changes. But in net transfer spending, Spurs started the season with a less valuable, if not less talented back line. Vuskovic, Spence, and Romero were sold for a combined £110 million, swamping what van Hecke had cost. The club also turned to Antonin Kinsky in net, whose Premier League mettle I recently explored.
Perhaps this season's personnel fits manager Roberto De Zerbi’s system better. After the disorganized and punchless effort against Brentford I ask: What system?Â
It is a long season, and citing Spurs’ xGA after one game is both overreactive and unfair. But after two consecutive seasons finishing just above the drop, Spurs’ brass carried out many changes, indicating that things must change. They were right. Things are getting worse.
Add us as a preferred source on Google