NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 472
Submitted by Norman Giller

I have been in a one-man wilderness trying to lift rather than trample on spirits in the wake of that awful performance at Fulham on Saturday. Pessimism and negativity is contagious, particularly when it comes in bucketloads.

Even our faithful guru Paul H. Smith got caught up in the gloom-and-doom mood with his account of the dismal 3-0 defeat. You can find him HERE claiming that 'Spurs will always let us down.'

This was the first Premier League match of Ange Postecoglou's eight-month reign in which Spurs have failed to find the net. He has continually stressed that his is a work in progress and that no judgements should be made this season.

He has this old git's total support and faith, but he would have struggled to find anybody on the unforgiving social media ready to acknowledge that his Ange-ball is bouncing the way they would like.

Many of those singing his praises after the win at Villa Park changed their tune following the Craven Cottage crash. Fickle or what? A handful even went so far as to call for his head. They, I think, need their heads tested.

The most vicious of the critics were as usual hiding behind a shield of anonymity, and I found myself in a word-wrestling match with somebody blaming ENIC within seconds of the final whistle. It was ridiculous to blame the club owners for individuals failing to match Fulham's aggression and appetite for victory.

Club captain Son Heung-min did not try to hide behind excuses. "Everybody has to look in the mirror and say, "it was my fault" because it was not good enough,' he said in the after-match inquest. "It was not near the level where we put the effort all season.

"We were very, very disappointing. The performance, the attitude was not good enough. I think everyone needs this as a big wake-up call. You always have lessons, including me. It is unacceptable ... that performance and the result."

What Spurs need is the spirit of a former captain, Steve Perryman. As I may have said several times on here, he and I are working together on the definitive biography of the Master, Bill Nicholson (due out in September).

'The Skipper' went into hospital last week for a second hip replacement operation. The price our heroes pay for entertaining us in the summertime of their lives. This is why I continually give a share of profits from my Tottenham-themed books to the Tottenham Tribute Trust who quietly help those players who missed the pre-Premier League gravy train.

I kept getting calls from Steve in his hospital bed giving me memories of Bill Nick. He just never switches off.

People of a certain age will confirm that is how he used to play the game. Always giving 100 per cent and involved in every way like a human dynamo.

Please note that my blog will be taking the international break and will be back here on Monday week. Let's hope that when Luton are at Tottenham on Saturday March 30 we will all have composed ourselves, ready to adopt Steve Perryman-style positivity.

Week 29 of season nine of the Spurs Odyssey Quiz League challenge, and the question is:

Which Edmonton-born defender played for Spurs, Millwall, Fulham and Stoke and which manager sold him to the Lions?

Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 29. Deadline: midnight this Friday. I will do my best to respond to all who take part.

The rules are the same as in the previous eight 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 become as popular as Sol Campbell in an Arsenal shirt.

This year's main prize will be a framed certificate announcing the winner as SOQL champion 2024, plus three signed books to be revealed at a later date. We have retired the omniscient David Guthrie after his three victories.

Last week's question:

Who has won two international caps for his country, was previously on Manchester City's books and which number shirt does he wear with Spurs?

Answer: Pedro Porro/No 23

See you back here ... on Monday week. COYS!

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