NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 507
Submitted by Norman Giller
Am I really typing this? ... Tottenham Hotspur (note the full name) play Manchester City at home on Wednesday seeking a fourth successive Premier League victory and a second hat-trick of wins this season against a Manchester team!
After defeats by Real Madrid in Europe and yesterday's pounding by Liverpool, Manchester City are dangerously wounded animals, so don't expect them to just roll over against Spurs. But the fact that we are even discussing victory over the reigning Premier League champions underlines what a crazy season this is.
It was only recently that the main topic was if Ange Postecoglou could survive another day in his job before the dreaded Daniel Levy axe dropped on him.
Now Tottenham Hotspur - again, note the full name - are looking for a third win of the season over City (to go with the hat-trick against ManU) ... and dreaming of Europa League glory after a last 16 draw paired them with AZ Alkmaar, the Dutch side Spurs beat in the group stages.
Let me repeat the main point in that previous paragraph, because it is quite unique and never achieved before in football history: If Spurs beat Man City on Wednesday they complete a double hat-trick on the two great Manchester clubs in a single season. Well, I'll go to the foot of our stairs, as older Mancunians say.
I must get my feet back on the ground and try to stay balanced with my judgement. But the fact remains that suddenly the Spurs season is being turned on its head.
Of course it could all start to unravel again if goal poacher supreme Erling Haaland is fit to return to lead the City attack on Wednesday. I understand he is going to have a late fitness test to decide whether he starts.
Meantime, Spurs are finding new confidence as their appalling injury list shortens, allowing Ange to put out a squad much nearer to his first choice.
Along with our guru Paul H. Smith we have to accept that Saturday's 4-1 whacking of Ipswich provided a final scoreline that was somewhat flattering.
As Declan Mulcahy reports HERE, the Tractor Boys might easily have had a harvest of goals if the ball had run kindly for them. The fact remains, however, that - with Sonny sparkling and Lucas Bergvall immense - Tottenham Hotspur (full title again) eventually made amends for their shock home defeat by Ipswich earlier in this topsy-turvy season.
All that 'Tottenham Hotspur' business? An official reminder has gone out from the thought police that this is how the team should be referred to by the media, not just plain old Tottenham (you know, that Tottenham that won the Double and were the first club to win a major European trophy).
For those who do not understand the concept of branding, Spurs - sorry, Tottenham Hotspur - need to be recognised far beyond England shores and the club image makers feel just plain old Tottenham no longer meets the needs to be known internationally.
Personally, I don't care what we call them providing they are winners. Come On You Spurs! You know, good old Tottenham Hotspur.
Week 27 of our eleventh season of the Spurs Odyssey Quiz League, and the question is:
Who won 67 England caps, skippered Spurs and which Football League club did he briefly manage?
Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 27. 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: Which Scottish international striker played for Tottenham, Manchester United, Coventry and QPR in the 1980s and with which club did he start his career in England?
Answer: Alan Brazil/Ipswich Town.
See you back here on Monday. COYS!
