Are Spurs pushing the panic button? 

Roberto De Zerbi has already signed eight players this summer. After a second defeat, Iliman Ndiaye is on his way.

Newcastle United's Anthony Elanga celebrates the win after the Premier League match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Pic: John Walton/PA Wire. 

Premier League: Tottenham 0 Newcastle Utd 2 

DON'T PANIC, Spurs fans.

That was the message from Roberto De Zerbi and echoed by his captain Micky Van de Ven after Tottenham's worst start to a season for 52 years, in terms of two successive defeats without scoring.

So they should hope that Iliman Ndiaye – and any other new signings who may arrive before Tuesday's transfer deadline – is not a panic buy.

De Zerbi has already signed eight players this summer, the latest of whom, Omar Marmoush, made his debut on loan from Manchester City in Saturday's 2-0 defeat by Newcastle.

The Moroccan replaced Richarlison, who was not even in the matchday squad along with Kevin Danso and Pape Matar Sarr, and De Zerbi explained: “He (Richarlison) said too many times he wants to leave. If they want to leave, they have to bring an economic solution to the club and they can go, and we find other players.” 

It makes sense for Richarlison to return to Everton, where he was a hero for a glut of goals that saved them from relegation four years ago. He was Tottenham's top scorer last season, when they also avoided relegation with a final day defeat of Everton, who are now resigned to losing Ndiaye. While the Senegal international can provide a much-needed goal threat for Spurs, his arrival would also mean yet another new player to assimilate into De Zerbi's unique playing style.

Van de Ven said there were 'glimpses where we played unbelievable football' against Newcastle, but admitted it is taking time for the players to adapt, especially with so many new faces.

“A lot of things have changed, we need to get used to each other on the pitch. I won't say it's an excuse for the results in the last two games, but we need to get to know each other better and that's going to take some time. We want to do it as quickly as possible, to play as well as possible. There were a lot of positive things to take from today, but also a lot of things we can work on.” 

Finishing was the big difference between the two sides. Tottenham had 17 shots, six of them on target, but failed to beat keeper Lukas Hornicek, who made good saves from Marmoush, Mathys Tel, Pedro Porro and Jan Paul van Hecke.

Newcastle, by contrast, scored with their only two shots on target as they carried out new coach Matthias Jaissle's game plan with clinical efficiency, keeping Spurs at bay and hitting them on the break. Anthony Elanga scored after a quick counter-attack in the 62nd minute, and Yoane Wissa added a second goal ten minutes later when he flicked home following a corner.

Tottenham had been the better side for an hour, and were denied a clear penalty when Malick Thiaw caught Marmoush with a high boot as the Moroccan beat him to the ball shortly after half-time. Referee Peter Bankes failed to spot the foul and VAR did not intervene, continuing Tottenham's run of over a year without a penalty.

Heads dropped after Elanga's goal, and Van de Ven agreed with his manager's assessment that their mentality needs to improve. “Our mood maybe went a little bit down at that point and I think that's something we can work on,” said the new club captain.

“It's really frustrating because we want to win every game. At home we feel the fans behind us every time and it feels a little bit like we let them down and that's something we need to change. Teams need to hate to play here because they know it's going to be a really, really tough game away at Tottenham. That's something we need to change.” 

De Zerbi was more outspoken. “It’s the biggest problem, the biggest challenge and it’s the biggest target to find the right mentality. Unfortunately, you can’t buy that mentality in the transfer market. Football is like a magic thing, you know? You can change many players in one transfer window and find the balance immediately or you need more time. I think we will achieve this target and this goal. But we need to do it quickly.” 

Newcastle appear to have no such problem, despite losing some of their best players and manager Eddie Howe in pre-season. Jaissle was little known in England when he arrived from Al Ahli, having spent three years in Saudi Arabia following a spell with Red Bull Salzburg. He has had an immediate impact on the players, and brought a more precise style to the club. Nico Gonzalez, signed from Manchester City on Wednesday, slotted straight into midfield, eclipsing former Newcastle favourite Sandro Tonali, sold in the summer to Spurs.

Asked about Jaissle, Gonzalez said: “I like him a lot because he makes everyone know what they have to do exactly before the game. For this game he focused a lot on the plan and if the plan goes well, we are going to at least have a really good chance of winning. Today the plan went exactly of what he said and it was really good.” 

Now De Zerbi needs to get his game plan across to his players, old and new. And perhaps there is more to come.

TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1): Kinsky 7; Gray 6 (Kudus 68), Van Hecke 6, Van de Ven 6, Robertson 6 (Udogie 68); Tonali 5 (Solanke 75), Bentancur 6; Porro 5, Fernandes 6, Tel 6 (Moore 68); Marmoush 6

NEWCASTLE (4-2-3-1): Hornicek 8; Dedic 6, Thiaw 7, Botman 7, Hall 7; Miley 8, Gonzalez 7 (Steur 71); Elanga 7 (Murphy 82), Barnes 7 (Toure 90+3), Willock 6 (Woltemade 71); Wissa 7 (Ramsey 82)

Ref: Peter Bankes 6/10