Roberto De Zerbi isn't about to make an obvious Mikey Moore error
Tottenham Hotspur prospect Mikey Moore had a frustrating start to the preseason, unable to make an impact either in terms of scoring or dribbling, but he suddenly turned home two goals from Mathys Tel crosses to help Spurs dominate Hoffenheim in the first of two friendly matches.
Moore then missed two golden opportunities in a big start on the right wing on Matchday 1 of the 2026/27 Premier League season with Mohammed Kudus out, Savio not registered, and Omar Marmoush not even signed.
But once again, Moore bounced back in the League Cup match against Charlton Athletic, and as he prepares for a potential loan deal to FC Koln this season, Moore did get some Spurs fans thinking about keeping him around for the season by registering a goal and an assist in a much livelier and more clinical performance.
Mikey Moore is still not read for the limelight
Roberto De Zerbi admitted after the game that he does want Moore to stay and implied that he is thinking about keeping him, but he was really saying that Moore needs to continue his development elsewhere.
The Italian manager told reporters, via Hotspur Lane, "It is important for us because he is our player from the academy and in this day we have to understand what the best solution is for him, for us because I would like to keep him because he is young but a good player. But we can’t make the wrong decision because anyway he needs to play and put games inside of him. With Johan Lange and Vinai we have to find the best solution.”
While Mikey Moore did great against Charlton, he also did it against an EFL Championship team, and he has far graduated playing against Championship sides or even Scottish Premier League powerhouse Rangers, with Tottenham Hotspur hoping to send him to the Bundesliga so he can play in a top five European league.
There is another implication that is important here, and that is the fact that Moore needs playing time outside of Tottenham Hotspur because he is not good enough to get regular playing time for the team, especially with Savio, Omar Marmoush, and, Roberto De Zerbi will hope, Cody Gakpo potentially joining the attack. Moore has clear potential and has definitely been showing it in games like this one against Charlton and the preseason one vs. Hoffenheim, but he can't fulfill it this season on the bench. De Zerbi and Spurs will not fall for the trap of one great game against Charlton.
