NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 499
Submitted by Norman Giller
The calls for Ange Postecoglou's head grew after Tottenham's underwhelming 2-2 draw against Wolves yesterday. The dropped two points added to the frustration all Lilywhite fans have felt this season, and Ange supporters - including me - are fearing for his future.
Many in the fickle Tottenham fan base have run out of patience with the affable Aussie. The lynch mob are on the march, and the axeman Daniel Levy will be fully aware of their feelings. I detest the way supporters can decide who goes and when. This blood-thirsty lot would have run Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw out of town in their first seasons in charge. They have no patience, no tolerance, no qualities of mercy. I hope they set the same high standards of delivery for themselves at their place of work, but I doubt it.
After conceding that late equaliser against revived Wolves, Levy could not have helped but hear the Ange-haters boo and jeer the two-faced Tottenham team in general and Postecoglou in particular.
I am informed by a reliable source that Ange is safe while Spurs are still in the three cups, but having to face lethal Liverpool in the League Cup semi-final does not exactly fill we Postecoglou defenders with confidence. Don't forget Levy got rid of Jose Mourinho after he had steered Spurs to a final and did not give him the satisfaction of leading the team out at Wembley. The man is ruthless.
Tottenham gave a completely new meaning to being "home sick" when they became the first team in the history of the Premier League to concede first in 15 home games in a single calendar year.
And continuing with the sickening stats, they have now fallen behind first in seven top-flight home matches this season from their ten fixtures at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Any self-respecting Spurs follower will have to admit that is just not good enough.
I leave it to our Spurs Odyssey reporter Declan Mulcahy to tell the story of yesterday's topsy turvy game HERE, and I am sure he will agree that Tottenham's long injury list cannot be blamed for conceding goals that are wounding and worrying.
Ange will hope to be active as soon as the transfer window opens on Wednesday. The question is whether Daniel Levy will be willing to allow him to spend before he brings down his well-used chopper?
There was, as is usual with Ange-ball, lots of positive play from Tottenham yesterday, but they are simply dropping too many points. Ange must strengthen the squad. But will he be allowed to? Over to you, Mr Levy.
It will be my 500th Spurs Odyssey blog next Monday. Will Newcastle allow me to have a celebratory column to kick off 2025? Watch this space.
Happy New Year!
COYS.
Week 19 of our eleventh season of the Spurs Odyssey Quiz League, and the question is:
Which gentleman from Verona has played nine times for Italy, joined Spurs from Udinese and which number Spurs shirt does he wear?
Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 19. Deadline: midnight this Friday. I will do my best to respond to all who take part.
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 scored four goals for Spurs in a cracking 7-1 Christmas Day victory and against which team?
Answer: Les Bennett/Middlesbrough (1952)
See you back here on Monday. Happy 2025.
COYS!
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