NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 515
Submitted by Norman Giller

It is fitting and topical that I should describe West Ham and Tottenham as snookering each other yesterday in a match in which there were literally no winners. The Spurs minds were a couple of hundred miles away towards the Arctic Circle and Thursday's semi-final second leg against Bodo/Glimt.

Let's be honest, that is the only fixture that now matters to a Tottenham team that has all its eggs in the Europa Cup basket...and they will be totally scrambled if Spurs cannot make the most of the 3-1 lead they take from the first leg.

We will find out on Thursday just how vital that goal was from the Norwegians in the closing moments at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Few would have backed against Spurs if they had travelled with a 3-0 advantage.

But it is hardly a secret that Bodo become close to unbeatable on their artificial pitch, as Ange Postecoglou discovered when he took his then Celtic side there in the Europa Conference League.

Let's be positive and think that Spurs should be able to plunder a couple of goals while the Norwegians are pushing forward trying to repair the damage done in N17.

Swedish ball juggler Dejan Kulusevski reveals that he grew accustomed to playing on plastic pitches in his homeland - neighbouring Norway - and Tottenham will be looking for him to run Arctic circles around the Bodo/Glimt defence.

Then (he typed awkwardly because his fingers were crossed) it will be a Final showdown in Bilbao, probably with a Manchester United team having as many problems this season as Tottenham. What a momentous game that would be for both clubs!

Yesterday's match at the London Stadium - described HERE by our Spurs guru Declan Mulcahy - was a shocker, with so few incidents that the Match of the Day editor deserves a medal for getting 'highlights' from it.

It will be fascinating to see if Ange and Graham Potter are in their same managerial roles when the two clubs meet again next season. As one of my very sarcastic West Ham pals said: 'It would take Harry rather than Graham Potter to put some magic into both clubs.'

The world snooker final between Zhao Xintong and Mark Williams was far more exciting.

Yes, I know, as usual I am talking a load of balls. COYS!

Ps Congratulations to Tottenham's record goal scorer Harry Kane on winning his first silverware with Bayern Munich. How sad that it could not have been with Spurs.

I again make no excuses for repeating my personal plea for you to support my latest publishing venture, 'Life Begins At 90'. It is a joint effort by my 'child bride' Joyce and I that tells the story of our nine decades on this mortal coil, starting out 500 yards apart in London's East End before Hitler unleashed his bombers and The Blitz.

Our journey reached a pinnacle this year with my 90-year-old wife being awarded an MBE and me writing my 122nd book. Most important of all, £5 from every book sold will will go to the Music Man Project, which supports and encourages people with learning difficulties to grow and have a full life through music. Let me tell you how you can get YOUR name in the book

I hope you can put money where your hearts are. Please contact me at normangiller@gmail.com and I will give you full details. Thank you. So far just two of you have been in touch. I know we can expect better support from my Spurs Odyssey friends.

COYS!

Week 35 of our eleventh season of the Spurs Odyssey Quiz League, and the question is:

Which player turned down a contract with PSG, later joined Spurs from Turf Moor and what Tottenham squad number does he wear?

Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 35. 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: Which Yorkshireman scored in the semi-final and final of the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1963, and which London team did he join from Spurs?

Answer: Terry Dyson/Fulham

See you back here on Monday. COYS!

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