NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 489
Submitted by Norman Giller

A funny thing happened on the way to Tottenham"s hammering of the Hammers. Uh, I got married. In the history of blogging and online messaging, not too many have competed with the following sentence:

"We were going to hold back the news until my bride"s 90th birthday next month, but the secret got out ..."

Yes, a funny old game. My new wife, Joyce, allowed me to watch the dismantling of West Ham and (I shall whisper this) the sparkling way Spurs played was one of the high spots of our honeymoon.

I should reveal here that, still a youngster of 84, I am Joyce's toyboy but definitely not her Toryboy. Politically, we are poles apart and she - a former Conservative councillor - thinks Spurs should keep attacking from the right.

Right or left, just imagine if Ange Postecoglou could get the Tottenham team playing all the time like in the first-half against Brighton and then Saturday's second-half. They would be the great untouchables.

As our correspondent Declan Mulcahy reports HERE, Spurs had to go a goal down before firing on all cylinders and making a useful and lively West Ham team suddenly look ordinary and lifeless.

The pick of the goals was from Sonny, displaying vintage form as he danced like Fred Astaire against defenders suddenly turned into statues before he caressed the ball home in his old style. Hopefully, that will restore our skipper's confidence.

For me, the best man (ha ha) was swaggering Swede Dejan Kulusevski, who ran wedding rings around the Hammers defence on his way to a pulsating performance as he continued raiding more as a No 8 than a right winger. "Deki was great," agreed Ange in his typical Aussie way, "and, believe me mate, there's even more to come from him. He's playing a different role for us and his national team, and I think we can get more goals out of him."

The honeymoon's over for me but could be just beginning for a Tottenham team playing in a style and a spirit that is more entertaining to watch than even City, with all their megastars.

Hands up who thought Ange had made a bloomer when he took off Maddison? I had just relayed my negative thoughts to my disinterested bride when Spurs suddenly scored three goals, proving the substitution a master stroke. Sorry, Saar. What do I know? One groom who should vow to keep quiet.

Next up it's AZ Alkmaar in the European adventure on Thursday, when Steve "Skip" Perryman and I are due to discuss our "Sir Bill" Nicholson book with Paul Coyte in his half-time interview. Don't forget what one astute reviewer said, "This should be on the bookshelf of every true Tottenham fan." You can order a dual signed copy right now from www.steveperryman.com.

Come on, I've got a wedding to pay for!

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

Who won 59 international caps, wore Tottenham shirt numbers 7, 11 and 12 in FA Cup finals at Wembley and which London club did he join from Spurs?

Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 9. 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 145 caps, used to captain Spurs and in which country does he currently play his club football?

Answer: Hugo Lloris, USA (Los Angeles F.C)

See you back here on Monday. COYS!

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