NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 508
Submitted by Norman Giller
We all needed that break - worn-out players, overworked Ange, cheesed-off supporters, and little old me. The only people who did not take time off were the keyboard warriors, keeping up their vicious attack on ENIC in general and Daniel in particular.
I've got news for the club bashers: you remain in the minority. Most of us are sick to death of the defeatism that you are spreading like a contagious disease. None of us are happy to be in the wrong half of the Premier League table, but the balanced people among us know that constant moaning and groaning will not get us anywhere.
We are all worriers, but - please - being warriors helps nobody. Like Donald Trump, you need to show diplomacy. 'Time for a Change'? No, Time for Togetherness. And all those of you sending me anonymous insults, grow up and accept that I am speaking on behalf of the silent majority. We all want a successful team, but shouting from the sidelines is not furthering the cause.
There is sunshine on the horizon because of the talent of a host of youngsters coming through, led by Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall. Just have faith and believe that good things are ahead.
Screaming 'Levy Out', 'ENIC Out' is a waste of breath unless you are going to come up with a sensible alternative. I have yet to find anybody who can tell me a takeover regime that does not have faults. I know I have become a broken record but I will say yet again, 'better the devil you know ...'
We all need to be pulling together, and with all our eggs in the Europa League basket it is going to take a concerted effort to rescue something from this topsy-turvy season.
It was just our luck that goal gourmet Erling Haaland was fit to return to business for Man City last week, and his goal against Spurs was the difference between delight and despondency.
I am trying hard to hide any bias when I say that Spurs deserved to come out of the game with a point, so it was not the disaster that some pessimists tried to paint it. My Spurs Odyssey team-mate Declan Mulcahy describes Tottenham's dramatic game of two halves HERE.
Now we face two crucial home and away games in the Europa League against AZ Alkmaar, the Dutch side Spurs mastered in the group stages. A place in the last 8 is what is at stake.
Let's ALL get behind Tottenham Hotspur, not in their way.
Yes, a broken record. But you know it makes sense.
COYS!
Week 28 of our eleventh season of the Spurs Odyssey Quiz League, and the question is:
Who has won four international caps, wears the number 15 Spurs shirt and against which team did he score his first goal for Tottenham in January?
Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 28. Deadline: midnight this Friday. I will do my best to respond to all who take part. There are around 60 out there within shooting distance of the SOQL title. You will soon hate me. What fun!
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 won 67 England caps, skippered Spurs and which Football League club did he briefly manage?
Answer: Martin Peters/Sheffield United
See you back here on Monday. COYS!
