Tottenham have failed to become killers, and there is no sign of them becoming what they most need to be. It may be early to judge the current Spurs group, which has been revamped by a spending bill of more than £300million this summer, but while Roberto De Zerbi can put performances down to players finding their feet, there is a mentality issue that cannot be excused.
Tottenham's latest outing saw them play out a goalless draw with Nottingham Forest away from home on Saturday, and they were fortunate to see Neco Williams have a potential second-half winner ruled out. Forest are well organised, but Spurs barely threatened other than a very late push for a winner.
With the number of signings made this summer, this Spurs team was always likely to take time to come together. There is no guarantee that they will, even with the obvious quality that has been brought in, but there is a chance that the poor form to start the season is a consequence of the squad overhaul.
But where is the mentality change everyone expected to see this summer? Roberto De Zerbi was supposed to bring an intensity and seriousness that would have this Spurs side looking fearless. The Italian has had all summer to implement that, and even in the absence of good results, Spurs fans should be seeing the ultra competitiveness they signed up for in this De Zerbi project.
Selling the likes of Cristian Romero and not re-signing Joao Palhinha, who are both of that mould, will not have helped, and perhaps there is an element of the new players not yet feeling truly comfortable in taking the lead.
But Spurs don't look close to delivering in that department. They don't look like a team that has a killer attitude, one that can be ruthless in games. It appears to be a more competitive side than the last two seasons, at least in terms of actual quality on the ball, but they are not going to qualify for Europe without that intensity they are lacking.
Tottenham's results so far
Brentford 3-0 Spurs
Spurs 5-1 Charlton (Carabao Cup)
Spurs 0-2 Newcastle
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Spurs
Most managers would be given time to deliver that, but it's one of the central reasons that De Zerbi is in charge, and he has now had the end of last season, the whole summer and the first few games of this season. This isn't a call for him to be sacked, that would be silly at this early stage, and the results may yet turn as players get their feet under the table, but De Zerbi must answer for how pliable and lax this Spurs side still feels. This currently feels like a team that can be bent to the will of opponents, and not one that can do the same to their rivals. That has to change.