Here are our Tottenham talking points after their 0-0 draw against Everton in the Premier League on Saturday evening
Sbloccarsi is the Italian word Roberto De Zerbi believes sums up Tottenham's troubles in front of goal.
It means to be blocked, something that needs a breakthrough to be released. It can refer to a mental blockage, which the Spurs boss intended, or if you wanted to apply it with a more anatomical slant, then Tottenham Hotspur have penalty box constipation. They need to just score once in the Premier League and then the goals should flow.
Indeed De Zerbi looked like a frustrated man with a blockage as he strode out on to the pitch after the final whistle and the first ever goalless Premier League game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He took it out on Mathys Tel, remonstrating with the Frenchman in true Pep Guardiola-style. The Spurs head coach delivered a very public mini-coaching moment on the pitch, gesturing with his hands and wanting more from the 21-year-old in the final third.
There is a lot more hand waving to be done though because Tottenham's attacking problems exist far beyond just the former Bayern Munich youngster and his 30 minutes on the pitch.
It is the first time in the Lilywhites' history that they have failed to score a goal in their opening four league matches. Yet if anyone had only watched the opening 20 minutes of the match and no more, they would have been shocked to later discover that the encounter ended goalless.
As Everton boss David Moyes walked out of his press conference later in the evening, he admitted in conversation to one reporter: "First 20 minutes, it was like the Alamo."
For Tottenham flew out of the traps. They attacked the Toffees from all angles, the skill and pace of Savio whipping the crowd up and Archie Gray looking to combine with the Brazilian at every opportunity.
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Chances came and went without Spurs forcing Jordan Pickford into an actual save. Jan Paul van Hecke scooped over an Andy Robertson free-kick at the back post while Mateus Fernandes wasted two good opportunities with poor decisions in the final moment.
Sandro Tonali, who sprayed some delightful passes around, sent Gray into the box only for James Garner to get a toe to the ball at the last possible moment as he went to shoot after chesting the ball down.
The overlapping Robertson was sent down the left by Omar Marmoush, the Egyptian learning from De Zerbi's criticism of him not doing the same at Forest, only for Pickford to get a foot to the Scot's dangerous low ball across the six-yard box.
There was plenty of huff and puff but little in the way of blowing Everton's house down or getting that spherical thing between the two white posts.
When Fernandes finally hit a low shot at goal early in the second half that Pickford comfortably gathered, many in the 60,477-strong crowd cheered ironically. It was Tottenham's first shot on target in a match since August 29 and the defeat to Newcastle.
In the end, for all of Spurs' possession - 62 per cent - and 598 accurate passes to Everton's 319, the visitors were the ones who forced Antonin Kinsky into actual saves.
The Czech stopper made a decent parry from Garner's awkward, bouncing free-kick in the first half, stopped Thierno Barry's header with his face and then saved his own blushes by standing up to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's shot after passing the ball straight to the Everton man on the edge of the Lilywhites' box.
Former Spurs man Brennan Johnson blazed an effort over the crossbar in the second half from a good position. James Maddison pushed the Wales international in front of the south stand at the final whistle and they applauded the man who scored the goal that won the Europa League final. They were probably also thanking him with their applause for letting them off the hook in this game.
In contrast, a large number of Spurs fans booed at the final whistle, having watched their team go 452 minutes without scoring a Premier League goal. Lucas Bergvall, fresh from his new contract, had come closest to ending that with an 89th minute curling shot from the edge of the box that Pickford dived and pushed around the right-hand post.
This was certainly nowhere near the level of the slop Spurs have served up to their fans in the past couple of seasons inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but after a promising summer they expected more and sooner. That meant boos after a draw and clean sheet, but one with very little attacking threat.
The frustration lies within the fact that a Spurs side with big money, new attacking recruits are the only other team in the league apart from Coventry to await their first goal of the campaign. The Sky Blues host De Zerbi's old team Brighton on Sunday and will be hoping to end their drought.
De Zerbi had no issue with the boos and pointed to how good the crowd had been during the actual game.
It's worth remembering that Tottenham have finished 17th in the past two seasons - where they currently sit in the fledgling table - and it's going to take some time to create something different to something so poor.
When football.london asked De Zerbi why that exciting first 20 minutes did not translate into goals, the Italian launched into a four-minute monologue into why his team is still not ready yet.
In essence, De Zerbi maintains that he only started working with his full group of players two weeks ago on a Thursday.
He pointed to the late arrival of Rodrigo Bentancur and the summer injuries to Fernandes, Micky van de Ven and Dominic Solanke, although it's worth noting that Fernandes' injury was no such thing and only 'fatigue' when it suited De Zerbi out in Sydney.
He reminded everyone of his late arriving World Cup stars and the attacking signings of his 10 new arrivals turning up later than the rest.
The problem with that is that most clubs have gone through exactly the same, yet they appear to have got their act together quicker.
De Zerbi does need time but it is something that football does not provide, even if he is right in some of the things he came out with in his opening monologue.
"If we extend that [intense] part of the game from 30 minutes to 60, 70, 80 and 90, in my opinion, we are going to win many games," he told football.london. "We have to improve in the last third of the pitch, for sure. The last decision, the last pass and we have to shoot more, especially when we have space and time to.
"We have to do it with the right spirit, but I can't say nothing bad. I know how the players are working, I think we are in the right way but it's tough to explain because four games without goals is tough to accept. We are sorry for the fans, but the fans they were behind the players.
"When the players in the first 30 minutes, they played very well, it was a hot, hot stadium and then everyone like me, like every fan inside of Tottenham or the club, we were sad because 75 times in the goal area and not shooting enough to explain the quality of the play we did."
He added: "I watch many, many games where the winning team created less than us in the second half. What is the problem? The problem is the goal and the most important problem, the real problem is the players have to be focused on the first 30 minutes and the improvements we can do and we have to do.
"It's not about social media, not about the journalists because today if we had won, now we stay in a different way. With a smile, great first half, great spirit in the second half and great, great, great but the result changes the opinion. In my opinion, no? Because I am a coach and not a journalist or a fan."
Much of Tottenham's team put in decent performances until you get to the attacking quartet.
Savio had a licence to thrill but no real idea how to use it. He would beat his man at will but then ran into a second, evoking memories of his compatriot Lucas Moura.
The 22-year-old will get sharper though and De Zerbi will work on his final product, as he will with Omar Marmoush. The Egyptian is constantly threatening to ignite but the spark is yet to catch light. One wild crossfield pass out of play summed up the up and down nature of his performance.
Ahead of them both was Dominic Solanke, who looked every inch a player who has not started a Premier League game in five months. That's been the England international's problem for more than a year now. He's either been out injured or trying to regain his fitness and sharpness. Peak condition Solanke is not in the house right now and it shows in his inability to press and run like he was during his first season and his heavy touches when in position.
Behind that trio was Fernandes, who had plenty of willing but not enough confidence as an attacking player. He is better as an eight or six, and like Conor Gallagher against Forest, the Portuguese spent half of his time slotting in at right-back to allow Gray to burst forward.
What De Zerbi would do for a fully fit James Maddison or Xavi Simons pulling the strings at the tip of his midfield?
Instead all of the play goes out to the wings and at the moment it's dying there with precious little service for Solanke, Marmoush or Tel as they took their turns up front as the game wore on. Porro and Robertson will provide that but it shouldn't be mainly on full-backs to be the playmakers.
De Zerbi told football.london what had irked him enough about Tel's spell as the frontman late on in the game to bring the coaching moment on the pitch.
"The body shape. He is a striker and the striker can play with the shoulder on the goal. If we are playing with Maddison, Kudus and Savio, he has to play as a striker and the striker has to look at the goal or the cross from Robertson," the Italian explained.
"He has to stay inside because he started as a striker eh? Now he is playing as a winger but he started his career as a striker, but I love Mathys as a player, as a guy and there is not a problem."
It was a very public moment for Tel and whether it was beneficial or not for such a young player, who has taken the brunt of the fans' criticism for Spurs' attacking problems, remains to be seen.
For De Zerbi, he believes just one goal needs to come and the rest will follow.
"There is a word in Italian (sbloccarsi) that literally translates as if we unblock ourselves. I think the team is extremely strong and we can score goals, and we can win games. And then we have to respect the history of the players in their careers.
"Forget Solanke or Marmoush. The other players, they didn't score many, many goals in their career and we have to find these goals," he said.
"I think we can find the goals with the quality of the play, with the full-backs, because we have great full-backs. Robertson today played very well. I don't know if we believe in the cross and we prepared the game exactly in that way."
On sbloccarsi, he explained more that it's "a mental block, because of four games, no wins or goals scored. It is tough also for the players because they are human and very good guys, and I asked them to follow me because if last season I was positive, I can't understand why I can not be the same this season."
Amid the goal shy nature of Tottenham, it's worth pointing out that they are improving in other aspects on the pitch.
Rodrigo Bentancur and Sandro Tonali are growing as a partnership and their fitness is improving with every passing week. Bentancur prowls around the pitch snuffing out danger while Tonali is an all-rounder, able to spray the ball around while also leading Spurs' defensive stats with Archie Gray.
Gray has an unenviable task, playing in a position he is not that keen on, acting as a back-up to a man who rarely needs back-up. However, on this occasion Pedro Porro - and Destiny Udogie - were not risked, with De Zerbi, after claiming he is 99 per cent honest in press conferences, showing that one per cent, leaving the two full-backs out of his injury list to reporters.
In Porro's place, Gray set much of the tempo for Tottenham's high energy first half exploits. He started to tire in the second half and Tyrique George got the better of him on a couple of occasions but the 20-year-old did top the stats for the Spurs defenders. He managed five ball recoveries, two tackles, two interceptions and two clearances, both with his head.
Robertson also played well on the other side and the Scot has a similar delivery with his early, curling crosses to Porro, and it's something that Solanke should be capitalising on by anticipating their arrival.
Van Hecke recorded a remarkable 108 passes, only four going astray, and that's more passes than any other Spurs player has attempted this season. His probing balls between the lines open pathways. Fernandes should have turned and shot from one early ball from the Dutchman.
The two Vans at the back are rekindling their partnership for the Dutch U21s and the defence, with Tosin Adarabioyo, should get their credit for back-to-back clean sheets. Only Hull and that team on the other side of north London have recorded more shutouts this season.
"In Italy, for example, now I should be the best coach, no? Two games, two clean sheets," De Zerbi said to an Italian reporter. "Two clean sheets? Tomorrow, what will you write? Clean sheets or no goals? I'm right, I guess."
Spurs are conceding fewer chances - still some big ones but fewer in total - and if they can build on more solid foundations with better attacking play then the performances will become more complete.
De Zerbi had options from the bench in Mohammed Kudus, Maddison and Tel but it was noticeable that he did not have a big focal point to replace Solanke up front. Last season's top scorer, who would have filled that role - Richarlison - was sat beside the dugout alongside the injured Porro, Udogie and Wilson Odobert.
It has been a mess of a time for the Brazilian. His only remaining exit route out of the club was a move on Friday to the team he supported as a child - Vasco da Gama.
However, the 29-year-old only wanted a loan move until January and that is not possible with Spurs having reached their six international loan limit out of the club. He would also have been unable to play for a third club this season if he wanted to move on again in January.
Tottenham did agree a permanent deal with Vasco but Richarlison could not agree on personal terms.
The situation has become all about different versions. De Zerbi has made it clear that he believes it's all Richarlison's fault and that he would have been happy to keep him.
The Brazilian's camp maintain the striker never demanded a transfer in the first place, just an interest in exploring his options this summer if he was going to fall down the pecking order.
De Zerbi's public finger pointing towards Richarlison is said to have come a surprise to the player, who felt it was a matter that could have been dealt with privately.
From the Brazilian's side, there's a feeling that once Spurs secured Marmoush, there was a concerted effort to push him out the door.
De Zerbi maintains rather that Richarlison asked to leave repeatedly and hinted at his 'behaviour' over the past 45 days without actually stating what it was.
From Spurs' perspective, they have held talks with clubs close to Richarlison's heart in Everton and Vasco and the player has spurned moves to both.
Now Richarlison is out of De Zerbi's Premier League squad and will sit on the sidelines for the next four months. The player's representatives and lawyers would like to get him out of his contract at Tottenham after recent events, but Fifa's rules do not appear to lend themselves towards helping him with his case.
The Brazilian has nine months or so left on his current contract and football.london reported earlier this summer that Spurs hold an option to extend it by another year, which they have not decided yet on taking up or not.
There is little incentive for them to rip up a contract for a player who they could yet get a good fee for him in January.
Richarlison has been photographed and shown in videos training with the first team in the past week, with De Zerbi saying he has only not been involved in tactical pre-match work, However, those around the player claim he has only involved for the warm-ups and then goes to work with the under-21s. Spurs claim otherwise and that difference in viewpoint could be key to any contract debate.
With his record at Anfield, some have wondered whether Richarlison could play in the Carabao Cup game at Liverpool on Tuesday night. The answer is yes. The EFL have confirmed that the Brazilian would be eligible. That's not to say De Zerbi will definitely select the forward but it will be interesting to see whether, amid both side's conduct being overanalysed, the opportunity to use him is taken to show he is not being ostracised.
The Richarlison situation will not go away any time soon. The longer Spurs struggle to put the ball in the net, the more their most recent top scorer remains relevant.
De Zerbi did say he will change up his team to face Liverpool, who are likely to do the same in between games against Fulham and a trip to Andoni Iraola's old side Bournemouth.
"Now we play Tuesday in Liverpool and we play with all other players but it will be a very important match for us," said the Tottenham boss. "We can improve playing in the games, we can improve during the week.
"Rodrigo Bentancur, he came late after the World Cup and he's crucial for us. And I didn't want to change him today, but I thought maybe he finished his energy in that moment of the game. Sandro Tonali, for example, played better in the second half.
"Robertson, JP van Hecke, they stayed directly for the first period of the pre-season. Micky van De Ven suffered an injury in Australia. Domi Solanke, the same. Maddison, the same. Savio and Marmoush, they came 10 days ago. Mateus Fernandes suffered an injury in Australia. He lost 15 days and it's not so quick."
Going back to that word sbloccarsi and unfortunate blockages, De Zerbi tried to give some context to what Spurs are going through right now and why patience is required.
"I came last season when the s*** was like this (puts his hand up to his forehead to indicate how high it was), you know? S***, I repeat. And I've always been, not positive, but realistic," he said.
"I'm sorry for the results, but it's not immediate, no? Not the improvement, not immediate to make a team.
"Today we played as a team. We didn't score, we didn't win, but today and Nottingham I think we played as a team. And I can't say nothing as an attitude, as a behaviour of the players, no, no.
"I said to stay calm, maybe to not lose the confidence because we are not scoring, we are not winning. Stay calm, improve, work hard and individually try to understand where is the improvement."
Spurs will give De Zerbi the time to implement his plans after he saved them from a costly drop, but with one of the club's owners Vivienne Lewis watching on as usual, alongside former Spurs and Everton striker Gary Lineker and CEO Vinai Venkatesham, and non-executive chairman Peter Charrington also in attendance on Saturday, there will be focus on what the money spent is bringing.
There have been strands of improvement in the Italian's team in recent weeks but ultimately goals win games. The narrative has already been set around Tottenham after their spending this summer and the investment must start paying off otherwise the noise will only get louder.