# Omar Marmoush Struggles to Find Tactical Fit at Tottenham Hotspur Roberto De Zerbi faces selection dilemmas as Egyptian forward fails to impress at Spurs. - **Source:** [The National](https://www.thenationalnews.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-08 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/5b55a4c0-f5ad-4052-83b7-318dc1a503cb ## Tactical Uncertainty at Spurs Omar Marmoush, signed in a £60 million deal from Manchester City, faces scrutiny regarding his role at Tottenham Hotspur. Fans and analysts remain divided on whether the 27-year-old Egyptian international functions best as a winger, a number ten, or a central striker within Roberto De Zerbi’s current tactical setup. ## Positional Challenges Identified Observers note that Marmoush lacks the traditional attributes of a number nine, such as holding the ball up or playing with his back to the goal. Instead, he thrives when running forward with the ball or cutting in from the left flank, creating a mismatch with the team's current offensive requirements. ## Performance Against Leeds United During the match against Leeds, Marmoush started as the main striker but struggled to influence the game. He recorded the fewest touches of any Tottenham player before being substituted in the 64th minute. His inability to register shots on target contributed to Tottenham's failure to break down the opposition's defense. ## Comparison With Dominic Solanke Dominic Solanke, who typically occupies the central striker position, is viewed by many supporters as a more natural fit for the team's needs. When Solanke was benched against Leeds, the team's attacking fluidity appeared to suffer, highlighting the ongoing debate regarding the optimal starting lineup for De Zerbi's squad. ## Struggling Offensive Output Tottenham has scored only two of their ten league goals in the first half this season, reflecting a broader issue with early-game intensity. Marmoush’s solitary goal, a clinical strike against Coventry, remains his only significant contribution, as he has yet to provide an assist or establish consistent goal-scoring form. ## Managerial Perspective and Rotation Roberto De Zerbi maintains a positive outlook, praising Marmoush’s pace, intelligence, and versatility. The manager expects Marmoush and Savio to share greater responsibilities through squad rotation. Despite the current difficulties, the coaching staff remains committed to integrating the Egyptian forward into various attacking roles as the season progresses further. ## International Duty Context Marmoush will now join the Egyptian national team for Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Malawi. Under new coach Ali Maher, Marmoush aims to replicate his successful partnership with Mohamed Salah. These matches provide a temporary shift in environment for the forward, who has 58 caps and 13 international goals. ## Future Outlook for Marmoush Currently sitting tenth in the Premier League, Tottenham requires more consistency to improve their standing. Marmoush will receive further opportunities to prove his value upon returning from international duty. His ability to adapt to De Zerbi’s specific tactical demands will be critical for his long-term success at the London club. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/football/2026/11/08/omar-marmoush-misfires-at-tottenham-as-roberto-de-zerbi-struggles-to-find-best-role-for-egypt-star/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._