NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 537
Submitted by Norman Giller
How fitting that Thomas Frank will discover on New Year's Day whether his Spurs side is genuinely on the climb when he returns to the Brentford ground where his managerial reputation first took shape.
Victory against the Bees - following that stuttering but valuable win at Crystal Palace - would allow Tottenham to stride into 2026 with renewed confidence rather than the lingering uncertainty that has hovered over recent weeks. Two steps forward and one step back does not inspire the belief that this Spurs squad can add to last season's long-awaited trophy triumph.
There are, however, encouraging signs that Frank is beginning to get through to his players, blending a touch of much-needed pragmatism with the gung-ho attacking instincts that were the hallmark of Ange Postecoglou. It is a delicate balance - and one Spurs managers have often struggled to strike - but the early signals suggest Frank understands that survival mode alone will never satisfy the Tottenham soul.
As reported HERE by our Spurs Odyssey reporter Declan Mulcahy, the messages from Selhurst Park were mixed, with a point apiece perhaps a fairer reflection of a game in which Tottenham alternated between promise and frustration. Mind you, we would all be whistling a far more cocky tune had the enigmatic Richarlison not twice strayed inches offside when finding the Palace net. Fine margins, as ever, continue to shape Spurs seasons.
There was universal delight, meanwhile, at seeing Archie Gray finally rewarded for his tireless industry with a headed goal that secured all three points. Gray, alongside the gifted Lucas Bergvall, represents the face of Tottenham's future - young, fearless and unburdened by the baggage of past disappointments. Add to that the growing expectation that a marquee signing may arrive through the Spurs doors in the January transfer window, and optimism begins to stir once more.
Porto's highly touted - and highly priced - striker Samu Aghehowa is among half a dozen names currently being linked with a move to north London. We shall wait and see rather than indulge in endless guessing games, but there can be little doubt that a couple of major acquisitions will be required if Spurs are to make silverware-plated progress under Frank rather than merely tread water.
On a more personal note, I was saddened to see Matt Wells allowed to head to America in a head-coach role with the Colorado Rapids when his vision and football intelligence struck me as exactly what Tottenham will need in the years ahead. A man of Tottenham royalty - the grandson of Double hero Cliff Jones - Wells carries himself with a natural touch of class. Do not be surprised if he finds his way back to Spurs, where he belongs, a year or so down the line. Remember that you read it here first.
From Paul H. Smith, the Spurs Odyssey team and myself, may I wish you a wonderful 2026 - and perhaps, just perhaps, another trophy to celebrate along the way. COYS!
COYS.
Here we go with the 18th week of our quiz that tests your knowledge of Tottenham players and the club's history ...
Which Spurs player won six England caps despite the dominating presence of Frank Swift, and for which non-League team did he later become player-manager after winning Second and First Division championship medals with Tottenham?
Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 18. 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: Which Frenchman joined Spurs from Turf Moor in 2024, scored his first Premier League goal for Tottenham at West Ham and what number squad shirt does he wear?
Answer: Wilson Odobert/28.
See you back here on Monday ... in 2026!
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