NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 495
Submitted by Norman Giller

I am taking a one-eyed look at the world at the moment following a cataract op; some would say that's how I always look at Spurs but yesterday's flukey draw against full-of-fire Fulham left me with a blurred view of the match.

Our Spurs Odyssey guru Paul H. Smith warned against inconsistency in a perceptive preview, and that's exactly what we got as Fulham took advantage of some sloppy play to get a richly deserved point.

Where on earth was the Spurs team that performed with such style and panache against Man City at the Etihad? The major problem - as much for Ange Postecoglou as we supporters - is that we have no idea as to which Spurs side is going to show up.

Yesterday's Tottenham, minus the unwell Dominic Solanke, often played like passing strangers and it was hard to realise that this was virtually the same side that took City apart.

Let's be honest, if it had not been for three stunning saves by the veteran Fraser Forster it could quite easily have been a defeat rather than a dodgy draw, as is reported HERE by Declan Mulcahy for the record.

It was the now-anticipated goal from Brengun Johnson that broke the deadlock, but only truly one-eyed Spurs fans (I'm only a temporary one, honest) would have denied that Tom Cairney deserved his cracking equaliser before getting sent off for a reckless tackle.

Now a rash (or rush, if you prefer) of games leading up to Christmas, starting with a visit to Bournemouth on Thursday before a mighty home challenge from Chelsea.

Hopefully I will be seeing it with two eyes and watching the REAL Spurs in action (the one that sparkled at the Etihad, please).

COYS!

Ps. Christmas galloping up. Get your order in for a signed copy of our 'Sir Bill' Nicholson biography direct from my writing partner Steve Perryman at https://steveperryman.com/product/sir-bill-the-book/.

If you want to hear me talking about the book with Steve, please tap into his immensely popular pod-cast at www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP44UZwbDv8.

Week 15 of our eleventh season of the Spurs Odyssey Quiz League, and the question is:

Who won 43 caps for his country, signed for Spurs from Chelsea and which club did he join from Tottenham in 1993?

Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 15. 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 ten 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 real stinker of a tie-breaking poser that is based on opinion rather than fact.

This year's main prize will be a framed certificate announcing the winner as SOQL champion 2025, plus three signed books to be revealed at a later date.

Last week's question: Who has won 92 caps for his country, played many of his early youth matches in Denmark and what number Spurs shirt does he currently wear?

Answer:Ben Davies/33

See you back here on Monday. COYS!

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