Angus is an experienced football journalist at Football FanCast, specialising in Premier League reporting, opinion writing and in-depth football analysis. Since graduating from Southampton Solent University in 2022, he has developed extensive experience covering the English game, producing thousands of articles across a wide range of clubs and competitions.  

Before joining Football FanCast, Angus led VAVEL's Brighton & Hove Albion department, gaining valuable experience in club-specific reporting and editorial leadership. He subsequently joined Football FanCast through Snack Media's academy, now part of Valnet, and has progressed into the publication's Opinions and Features team.
 

As one of Football FanCast's longest-serving writers, Angus has covered numerous major developments across the Premier League, combining breaking news experience with detailed features and considered opinions. His work draws on years of reporting to provide context behind performances, transfer activity and the wider issues shaping English football.

Well, back to reality for Tottenham Hotspur - or is defeat against Leeds United at Elland Road simply a setback in a positive and progressive journey for Roberto De Zerbi and his men.

Tottenham had previously curbed their poor start to the season by winning three on the bounce in the Premier League. Spurs are, at least, away from the relegation danger zone they have inhabited for the past few years.

However, there's no question that this outfit continues to leave too much to be desired. Tottenham need to raise their level, and defeat at Leeds was a sombre example of that.

How Spurs played against Leeds

Tottenham were under the cosh from the get-go against Leeds. They survived that early charge, a white blanket which didn't stick, but Daniel Farke's substitutes proved the difference after the interval.

Tottenham were understandably furious that Jayden Bogle wasn't sent off following a high-studded challenge on Mathys Tel before half-time. Four minutes the VAR intervention lasted, only to rule that the Leeds defender's challenge did not even meet the criteria for a yellow card offence.

Ultimately, though, Spurs have once again been let down by their poor finishing and inability to fashion the kind of chances which would reflect the mega-money make-up of the outfit.

Feeding into this malaise is Mohammed Kudus, who hasn't quite clicked into gear on the wing this season following an injury-disrupted first year in north London.

Mohamed Kudus' performance vs Leeds

Kudus is one of the most dangerous dribblers in the Premier League. The Ghana international dazzled for West Ham United and earned a £55m move to Spurs in 2025, but he has yet to repay the price tag, despite flashes of brilliance.

There's no question that Kudus is an upgrade on certain wingers before him. Heung-min Son was getting old, and Brennan Johnson quite simply wasn't good enough for Spurs, scoring with comparative consistency, but offering little by way of dribbling and energy and impetus.

Rhythm has been a big problem for Tottenham this season. They struggle to maintain a collective wavelength. Kudus embodied this struggle on Saturday afternoon, huffing and puffing and darting about, failing to offer anything substantial for an attack who have now only scored ten times across ten Premier League games.

He's a talented player with much more to give, but whether Kudus is fit enough to sustain the kidn of form which would cement him as Spurs' free-flowing and finest forward is another matter.

Kudus had a bad game, but he wasn't the only one. At least it's clear that the Ghanaian has the potential to be a star for the Londoners.

The same can't be said for one of his attacking teammates.

How Tottenham's new Brennan Johnson was worse than Kudus

Johnson is one of the biggest flops in recent Tottenham history; even though he scored the winning goal against Manchester United in the Europa League final, the £47.5m signing from Nottingham Forest has never looked like a player of such financial size.

Now, it looks like Omar Marmoush is in danger of mimicking the Welsh winger. Marmoush arrived to much fanfare this summer, joining from Manchester City on loan with an obligation to make the move permanent next summer for £60m.

However, he's yet to prove that this would be a good decision. Indeed, the 27-year-old has been pretty terrible so far this season, with one goal and no assists across nine Premier League games for the Lilywhites. Against Leeds, he was non-existent in attack.

It's hardly surprising that Marmoush was hooked after 65 minutes, replaced by Dejan Kulusevski, still scratching away the patina of rust which coats him after an extraordinary absence through injury. The Swedish attacking midfielder arguably offered more, but not as much as Luca Williams-Barnett.

When Solanke replaced the injured Tel, Marmoush also shifted out wide. Even so, he completed only six passes across more than an hour of action, never once looking threatening for De Zerbi's side.

Any side can hit a wall against Leeds' physicality, arguably the most impressive in the Premier League. However, Tottenham failed to create and they failed to ruffle feathers when pressing for a goal. Marmoush was central to this problem, with Spurs writer Kish Patel admitting that the Egypt attacker is "concerning me hugely". In this, there is already a worry, spreading across north London, that Marmoush is turning into the next Johnson.

Marmoush arrived in the Premier League with a weight of expectation. He flattered to deceive at Manchester City, and he's now struggling to hit the right notes in attack for Tottenham.

As with Johnson, it looks like Spurs have overpaid for a recognised forward who is drying up in a focal attacking role down N17.