NORMAN GILLER’S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 417
Submitted by Norman Giller

I will be representing The One and Only Jimmy Greaves on the official Tottenham website as Harry Kane closes in on his club record, with just eight goals now separating the two goal masters.

Arguing the case for Harry will be the distinguished Henry Winter, chief football writer of The Times and the print prince of the press box that I used to occupy in a previous life.

We will be recording our debate before Saturday's home match with Newcastle, when I am hoping to see Spurs continue their impressive Premier League march under the baton of field marshal Conte.

That's now eight successive home wins at the soon to be named fortress Google, where Spurs are in search of a return to the Glory Glory days.

More by accident than design, I think Antonio discovered against Everton on Saturday that Tottenham operate best with an extra man in midfield, leaving Harry and Sonny to do the business up front. Our Spurs Odyssey guru Paul H. Smith gives all the match facts HERE.

It was only after Richarlison had limped out and Yves Bissouma took over in a new, more solid formation between Bentancur and Hojbjerg that Tottenham grabbed control. This was against a cautious Everton team that managed to cause problems with occasional; swift counters that, with steadier finishing, should have produced goals.

It will be a surprise if Conte does not start with this line-up against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday, when Our Harry will be making his 401st appearance and hunting his 259th goal.

That would give fuel to the Greaves v Kane debate … and allow me the perfect opening to recall Jimmy's goal in a million against Man United at the Lane 58 years ago yesterday. Happy days. That's well worth a Google search.

COYS!

Week eleven (somebody please hold back the clock) of our ninth year of Spurs Odyssey Quiz League challenges:

Which Spurs player has won 75 international caps, and for which London club did he score seven goals in 22 appearances?

Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com with Quiz Week 11 as the subject heading. Deadline midnight this Friday. I will respond to all who take part.

The rules are the same as in previous seasons. I ask a two-pronged question with three points at stake – two for identifying the player and one for the supplementary question. In the closing weeks of the competition I break the logjam of all-knowing Spurs-history experts with a tie-breaking poser that is based on opinion rather than fact. That’s when I lose the few friends that I have. But, hey, it's fun. Please join in.

This year’s prizes for the champion will be announced later in the season, but most important of all, they will include a framed certificate announcing the winner as 2023 SOQL champion.

Last week … Week 10: Which Spurs player has won 28 international caps, made his Premier League debut on the first day of the 2018-19 season before joining Tottenham, and which number Spurs shirt does he wear?

Yes, nice and topical … Yves Bissouma, who we now all know wears the No 38 shirt.

See you back here next Monday, same time, same place. COYS!

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