NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 528
Submitted by Norman Giller
Those doubting Thomas must be patient
The beauty of a crowded fixture list is that Tottenham can escape to Monaco for a Champions League match that camouflages the pain of yesterday's home defeat by Aston Villa. But be warned Thomas Frank, if Spurs don't at least get a draw on Wednesday you will come under the sort of crowd pressure that eventually drove Ange Postecoglou out of his job.
(Who would have thought that Ange would be unemployed again after being shown the door at Nottingham Forest. I wouldn't mind a share of his redundancy payouts!)
But back to yesterday's heartbreak. We should have known this was not going to be Tottenham's day from the minute skipper Cutie Romero was withdrawn because of an injury picked up in the warm-up for the Villa match.
Those demanding fans suddenly doubting Thomas Frank's ability as manager must learn patience. He is feeling his way, and recent changes in the structure of the Tottenham hierarchy means he does not stand alone in the line of fire.
There have been seismic changes in the power base at Tottenham, with joint sporting directors Johan Lange and Fabio Paratici now advising Thomas Frank and all of them answerable to new chief Executive Officer, Vinai Venkatesham, who held the same role at (sssh) Arsenal. I've not heard "Venkatesham out" on too many lips.
But they will all struggle in the eyes of Spurs fans without somebody who can put the ball into the net!
Things looked bright when that Rolls Royce of a player Rodrigo Bentancur scored in the fifth minute, as reported here by our Spurs guru Paul H. Smith. It hurts this ancient observer to admit that Villa just about deserved their three points after two cracking goals brought Spurs to their knees, particularly that Exocet from Morgan Rogers.
We are getting thin gruel at the new stadium. It is such a regal place that it brings the best out of visiting teams, who seem lifted by the majestic surroundings. Blame the ousted Daniel Levy, who planned the new HQ that has given a regeneration to the whole area of N17.
Home form remains a concern: just a solitary victory in Tottenham's last four home Premier League games this season, and only three League wins in their last 18 at the stadium. Not good enough and we will remain in the dungeon of despair until we can find a striker who can regularly find the net.
Ah, remember the tandem team of Kane and Son? Those were the days my friends. Wonder if any of the new powers-that-be at Tottenham can recall them.
COYS
Spurs select - A book to read and play
Spurs select - A book to read and play
I am sure you are desperate to know that my 122nd book is about to go 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 who missed the gravy train.
Spurs Odyssey readers can save a fiver by ordering the book NOW. If you are interested please contact me at normangiller@gmail.com...or mention you would like 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.
Spurs Odyssey Quiz League 2025-26
Here we go with the ninth week of our quiz that tests your knowledge of Tottenham players and the club's history ...
Who appeared in FA Cup final teams in 1967, 1978, 1979 and 1980, and with which club did he start his Football League career before joining Spurs in 1964?
Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 9. 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 has won 33 caps for his country, scored his first goal for Spurs against Manchester United in 2023 and which Tottenham squad number does he wear?
Answer: Pape Matar Sarr/29
See you back here on Monday.
COYS!
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