NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 533
Submitted by Norman Giller

Frankly, Thomas deserves that transfer window

Norman is suffering technical problems this week, so here's an image of him with Steve Perryman last season

Many Spurs supporters turned their anger for the defeat by Fulham on manager Thomas Frank, and the body language of his players suggests he has lost the dressing-room. If Dan "the axeman" Levy was still in power I believe Frank would have been counting his compensation by now, but I am hoping the Joe Lewis family have more patience and understanding.

In my view, Thomas deserves at least until the January transfer window to turn things around. First and foremost he must win the confidence and full support of his players. The way they gathered together at half-time after that bleak first-half clearly indicated they were looking for each others instructions and support rather than the guidance of their manager.

If ever there was a moment for Thomas Frank to steady the ship, it comes tomorrow night on Tyneside. St James' Park is not the place you would choose for a crisis-control mission, not with the Geordie crowd roaring like a jet engine and Newcastle rediscovering some of their swagger with that resounding victory at Everton.

But football has a funny habit of offering redemption in the most unlikely arenas.

For Frank, this is less about formations and more about foundations. The players need clarity, purpose and belief - and he needs to convince them he is the man to provide it.

As our Spurs Odyssey guru Paul H. Smith reports HERE, the second half against Fulham flickered with signs of self-help among the squad, but Tottenham cannot rely on huddles and hope. They need leadership, conviction and a clear plan that everybody buys into. As my Quiz regulars know, they need the spirit of Dave Mackay but that is like looking for a bonus in a Budget...or the purpose and passion of my old mate Steve Perryman, who never knew the meaning of the word surrender. Those were the days, my friends.

Newcastle will come at us hard and fast, particularly down the flanks, and our defensive concentration must be unrecognisably sharper than it was at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday. If Spurs allow the same space and confusion as they did in that dire first half, Eddie Howe's side will punish them without mercy.

But - and here is the eternal fascination of football - Tottenham have the talent to hurt Newcastle if they can only rediscover their front-foot identity. Perform with bravery and positivity and the tide can turn. Shrink into caution, and the night could feel very long indeed, particularly for Thomas Frank.

Tomorrow is not a season-defining match, but it is character-defining. A spirited, unified display would buy under-fire Thomas breathing space and rebuild trust with supporters who are rapidly losing faith. A limp repeat of Saturday, however, would deepen the fault lines and make that January deadline a date with destiny for Frank and his players.

I was in total agreement with Frank when he described the crowd booing Vicario as "unacceptable". I (patting myself on the back) have never jeered or booed a player in my life. They are just humans like the rest of us and deserve our full support and backing, even when an error is beyond stupid. How on earth does booing help anybody?

We now go into tomorrow's challenge with trepidation. Let's cheer and encourage all players wearing the Spurs shirt. They need every one of us behind them, not in their way.

Thomas Frank would call that as "acceptable."

COYS

Spurs select - A book to read and play

Just 24 shopping days to Christmas and another gentle reminder that my 122nd book has gone off to the Printer: Spurs Select, in which you are challenged to pick a Tottenham Team to Play for Your Life.

A donation for every book sold will be made to the Tottenham Tribute Trust, who help our old heroes that missed the gravy train.

Spurs Odyssey readers can save a fiver by ordering the book NOW. normangiller@gmail.com.

If you prefer, you can mention you'd like purchasing details when entering the Spurs Odyssey Quiz below. It's a book that you play as well as read and is guaranteed to revive memories of your most memorable matches. Please join me in playing the Selecting Game.

Here we go with the 14th week of our quiz that tests your knowledge of Tottenham players and the club's history ...

Who was born in Udine, has won five caps for his country and from which club did he join Spurs in 2023?

Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 14. Deadline: midnight this Saturday. I will do my best to respond to all who take part.

The rules are the same as in the previous 11 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 is when I lose what few friends I have.

This season's main prize will be a framed certificate announcing the winner as SOQL champion 2026, plus three signed books to be revealed at a later date.

Last week I asked: Who won 22 caps for his country, wore the No 6 Tottenham shirt and against which team did he captain Spurs to victory in an FA Cup final at Wembley?

Answer: Dave Mackay/Chelsea

See you back here on Monday.

Follow @spursodyssey