The blockbuster defensive and mdfield summer signings for Tottenham Hotspur have already proven to be smashing successes, with Jan Paul van Hecke, Sandro Tonali, and Mateus Fernandes arguably being the three very best players on the team during this three game winning streak. And before his injury, Savio was cooking defenses with his speed and skill, taking on all comers as one of the leading dribblers in the Premier League while creating enough chances to almost rival Lamine Yamal on the wings.
However, Tottenham have not gotten any better at scoring goals despite improvements literally everywhere else, and the best way to integrate the other big attacking signing from Manchester City, Omar Marmoush, is still a puzzle that befuddles the Spurs faithful and their manager Roberto De Zerbi.
After starting Marmoush as the 9 against Chelsea with Dominic Solanke out of the starting 11 all together, Spurs had to start Marmoush at the 10 with James Maddison out and went back to Big Dom up top. Lo and behold, Solanke was horrible despite the rest of the team dominating, and while Marmoush did decently well all around with three key passes and three dribbles completed, the Egyptian international did not come close to threatening the Crystal Palace goal despite only facing 10 men with a stalwart midfield and defense behind him in support.
Figuring out Marmoush's best position in the Premier League after a dominant Bundesliga career has been a challenge for both Pep Guardiola and now Roberto De Zerbi, as two great managers at two massive clubs are struggling to get the skilled forward to produce.
This Saturday, Tottenham Hotspur will face a tougher defensive side in Leeds United, and it is unclear how De Zerbi will line his attack up. Marmoush figures to be a better option than Solanke after what was seen against Crystal Palace, but there's no guarantee the former Man City man starts either. And if he does start, the No. 9 seems like the default position with James Maddison presumably ready to start, as both Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus are outplaying Marmoush and essentially undroppable.
How Roberto De Zerbi lines his attack up, where he starts Marmoush, if Marmoush starts at all, and how the future 60 million pound signing does on Saturday against a great defensive team will reveal a lot about where De Zerbi sees Marmoush, how he views him tactically, and what the future holds after the November international break for a talented player mired in quite a bit of uncertainty.
This article was originally published on www.hotspurhq.com as Roberto De Zerbi will reveal more of his plan with Omar Marmoush during Tottenham vs. Leeds .
