Spurs Odyssey

NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 507

Submitted by Norman Giller

Am I really typing this? ... Tottenham Hotspur (note the full name) play Manchester City at home on Wednesday seeking a fourth successive Premier League victory and a second hat-trick of wins this season against a Manchester team!

After defeats by Real Madrid in Europe and yesterday's pounding by Liverpool, Manchester City are dangerously wounded animals, so don't expect them to just roll over against Spurs. But the fact that we are even discussing victory over the reigning Premier League champions underlines what a crazy season this is.

It was only recently that the main topic was if Ange Postecoglou could survive another day in his job before the dreaded Daniel Levy axe dropped on him.

Now Tottenham Hotspur - again, note the full name - are looking for a third win of the season over City (to go with the hat-trick against ManU) ... and dreaming of Europa League glory after a last 16 draw paired them with AZ Alkmaar, the Dutch side Spurs beat in the group stages.

Let me repeat the main point in that previous paragraph, because it is quite unique and never achieved before in football history: If Spurs beat Man City on Wednesday they complete a double hat-trick on the two great Manchester clubs in a single season. Well, I'll go to the foot of our stairs, as older Mancunians say.

I must get my feet back on the ground and try to stay balanced with my judgement. But the fact remains that suddenly the Spurs season is being turned on its head.

Of course it could all start to unravel again if goal poacher supreme Erling Haaland is fit to return to lead the City attack on Wednesday. I understand he is going to have a late fitness test to decide whether he starts.

Meantime, Spurs are finding new confidence as their appalling injury list shortens, allowing Ange to put out a squad much nearer to his first choice.

Along with our guru Paul H. Smith we have to accept that Saturday's 4-1 whacking of Ipswich provided a final scoreline that was somewhat flattering.

As Declan Mulcahy reports HERE, the Tractor Boys might easily have had a harvest of goals if the ball had run kindly for them. The fact remains, however, that - with Sonny sparkling and Lucas Bergvall immense - Tottenham Hotspur (full title again) eventually made amends for their shock home defeat by Ipswich earlier in this topsy-turvy season.

All that 'Tottenham Hotspur' business? An official reminder has gone out from the thought police that this is how the team should be referred to by the media, not just plain old Tottenham (you know, that Tottenham that won the Double and were the first club to win a major European trophy).

For those who do not understand the concept of branding, Spurs - sorry, Tottenham Hotspur - need to be recognised far beyond England shores and the club image makers feel just plain old Tottenham no longer meets the needs to be known internationally.

Personally, I don't care what we call them providing they are winners. Come On You Spurs! You know, good old Tottenham Hotspur.

Week 27 of our eleventh season of the Spurs Odyssey Quiz League, and the question is:

Who won 67 England caps, skippered Spurs and which Football League club did he briefly manage?

Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 27. 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: Which Scottish international striker played for Tottenham, Manchester United, Coventry and QPR in the 1980s and with which club did he start his career in England?

Answer: Alan Brazil/Ipswich Town.

See you back here on Monday. COYS!

Follow @spursodyssey

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!

Follow @spursodyssey

NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 490

Submitted by Norman Giller

To think I interrupted my honeymoon to watch that dross at Selhurst Park yesterday! The story so far: I have married Joyce, who will be 90 in November. It has been love and laughter ever since our wedding earlier this month ... until that demoralising defeat by Crystal Palace.

Suddenly, my new bride realises the important part Spurs play in my life, and she now knows that the joker she took on as a husband has a gloom and doom side to him.

I have never got out of the habit of taking notes during a match since my football reporting days, and I had a virtual blank piece of paper at the end of Tottenham's guileless and goalless game.

I did not envy our Spurs Odyssey reporter Declan Mulcahy having to report the non-action HERE. It was certainly not a game to write home about. The Rachel Reeves Budget will have more punch.

There was not too much to raise the spirits either in Thursday's turgid Europa League engagement with AZ Alkmaar. The highlight for me was going on to the pitch at half-time to discuss with master of the mic Paul Coyte the book I have written with Steve Perryman on the legend that is 'Sir Bill' Nicholson.

Steve, who played more games for Tottenham (854) than any other footballer in history, agreed with me that the one thing memorable about the match was the second-half performance of Mikey Moore.

He is a gold-plated prospect, but I am not so sure he should have been pitched into his first Premier League start yesterday on the difficult hunting ground that is Selhurst Park. Let's be patient with Mikey and bring him along carefully.

The biggest concern for me was the failure of James Maddison to make any impact before his substitution after 62 minutes. He trudged off without a hint of the cockiness that lifts him when he is in monopolising mood. Ange must find a way of reigniting the Maddison flame to quickly end speculation on line that all is not right.

Man City in the League Cup on Wednesday and then a visit from high-flying Aston Villa are back-to-back tests that need Tottenham on their toes not flat on their heels.

Meantime, I am sure you are all anxious to read about the golden reign of Bill Nicholson in the book I have lovingly written in harness with Steve Perryman. You can order a dual signed copy at https://steveperryman.com/product/sir-bill-the-book/.

Steve and I will be talking about the book at a recording today of the hugely popular Spurs Show, with Mike Leigh and Theo Delaney asking the questions.

Here comes the pride.

COYS!

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

Who was a member of the 2012 British Olympic squad, joined Spurs from Leeds, won 29 England caps, and which club did he eventually join in 2022 after several loan deals?

Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 10. 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 won 59 international caps, wore Tottenham shirt numbers 7, 11 and 12 in FA Cup finals at Wembley and which London club did he join from Spurs?

Answer: Cliff Jones, Fulham

See you back here on Monday. COYS! 

Follow @spursodyssey

. Premier League Matchday - last year

. See the current injury list for all Premier League Teams

. All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats

Spurs' record in Europe:- U.E.F.A Champions League P W D L F - A 53 22 12 19 90 - 75 (Finalists 2019) European Cup P W D L F - A 8 4 1 3 21 - 13 (Semi-Finalists 1962) European Cup Winners Cup P W D L F - A 33 20 5 8 65 - 34 (Winners 1963) UEFA Cup/Europa League P W D L F - A 155 90 37 28 318-135 (Winners 1972, 1984 Finalists 1974) Europa Conference League P W D L F - A 7 3 1 3 14 - 9 + Forfeited one game due to Covid - 09/12/21) Total P W D L F - A 256 139 56 61 508-266 Europa League Placings Pos P W D L F-A GD Pts Spurs 3 2 2 0 0 5-1 4 6 AZ Alkmaar 18 2 1 0 1 3-4 -1 3

Spurs well-placed to assert their authority

For the second consecutive Europa League game, we face a team we have never played before in senior competition. There will be one very familiar name in the AZ Alkmaar squad, and that is Troy Parrott, who rose through the ranks of our academy, but was sold for €8 million in July this year.

Now 22, Troy made his senior debut for Spurs in an ill-fated league cup game at Colchester in September 2019 (we lost on penalties), and made three brief substitute appearances in league and cup games in that 2019-2020 season. Troy had a successful loan with Excelsior in The Netherlands last season, scoring 17 goals in all competitions.

Troy has made 25 senior international appearances for The Republic of Ireland and has five goals to his name. He played in the 2-0 defeat in Greece earlier this month.

Troy has been ever-present in AZ's 9 league games and also played in both their Europa League games to date. He scored from the penalty spot in their 3-2 home win against Swedish side Elfsborg who we play in our final Europa League stage match at the end of January.

Troy has scored five league goals this season, four of which came in a 9-1 home win over SV Heerenveen.

AZ finished fourth in last season's Eredivisie, 26 points behind league winners PSV. They started this season well, winning five of their first six league games, plus their first Europa League match, but have since lost four consecutive games, including a 2-0 away defeat to Athletic Bilbao. On Saturday, they were narrowly beaten (2-1) by PSV, who again lead the league table. PSV drew away to PSG this week in their third Champions League game. AZ are currently fourth in their league table and 18th in the early Europa League standings.

There is another former player who has connections with Spurs, Excelsior and AZ Alkmaar. At the age of 20 in January 2005, Mounir El Hamdaoui signed for Spurs from Excelsior. El Hamdaoui didn't make the Spurs first team, but did play for our reserves. He scored on his debut in February, 2005 playing in the same Spurs side as current Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna.

El Hamdaoui first joined Dutch side Willem II before signing for AZ in August, 2007. He played 16 games for the Moroccan national side between 2009 and 2013. El Hamdaoui was on Fiorentina's books when we met in 2015, but did not feature in either of our Europa League matches against the Italian side. Mounir took up employment as a football agent for youth players at Alkmaar in 2022.

Having won their first two games, and playing at home tomorrow, Spurs are well-placed to assert their authority upon this competition by winning a third game. With a second consecutive London derby game at Selhurst Park to come on Sunday, Ange Postecoglou may well choose to switch some personnel. He has confirmed that Son will not be involved, as he felt sore following his return last Saturday. Not only Richarlison, but also Wilson Odobert are in training and available for selection.

I'll take Spurs to win by two clear goals.

Match referee Manfredas Lukjancukas and his on-field officials are from Lithuania. Mr. Lukjancukas is another new official to Spurs, but he has officiated European and International games over the last year at least.

Follow @spursodyssey

. Last season's game - Brighton 4 Spurs 2, 28.12.23

. Premier League Matchday 7 - last year

. See the current injury list for all Premier League Teams

. All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats

Full League Record of Spurs -v- Brighton Prem Pl W D L For- Ag Pts Home 7 6 0 1 11 - 5 18 Away 7 3 1 3 8 - 10 10 ========================================== Total(Prem) 14 9 1 4 19 - 15 28 2 Pts per game ========================================== Football Lge Home(Div 1) 4 2 1 1 6 - 4 6 Away(Div 1) 4 3 0 1 8 - 3 7 ========================================== Total(Div 1) 8 5 1 2 14 - 7 13 ========================================== Football Lge Home(Div 2) 1 0 1 0 0 - 0 1 Away(Div 2) 1 0 0 1 1 - 3 0 ========================================== Total(Div 2) 2 0 1 1 1 - 3 1 ========================================== Total(Prem) 14 9 1 4 19 - 15 28 Total(Div 1) 8 5 1 2 14 - 7 13 Total(Div 2) 2 0 1 1 1 - 3 1 ========================================== Grand Total 24 14 3 7 34 - 25 42 ========================================== Last Six Premier League results:- Brighton - WWDDDL Everton 0-3 Brighton Brighton 2-1 Man Utd Arsenal 1-1 Brighton Brighton 0-0 Ipswich Brighton 2-2 Nottm Fst Chelsea 4-2 Brighton Spurs - DWLLWW Leicester 1-1 Spurs Spurs 4-0 Everton Newcastle 2-1 Spurs Spurs 0-1 Arsenal Spurs 3-1 Brentford Man Utd 0-3 Spurs Pos P W D L F-A GD Pts 8. Spurs 6 3 1 2 12-5 7 10 9. Brighton 6 2 3 1 10-8 2 9

A feeling of dread

Thanks to Eugene Gasper for the picture

This weekend's trip to The Amex Stadium comes five years (almost to the day) after a 3-0 defeat and a horrible performance by a Spurs team led by Mauricio Pochettino, who one month later would depart. We've won two and lost two of our subsequent trips to the "Seagulls" home, but I can't help but feel some dread about any visit to a club which last season experienced European football for the first time, and which was unbeaten until last week.

That 4-2 at Stamford Bridge (all the goals were scored in the first half) featured some hapless defending and poor play-out moves. We must hope for a Spurs performance full of vigour and confidence similar to that displayed at Old Trafford last Sunday. After last night's win in Hungary, achieved with a side featuring four young players, we can anticipate a line-up similar to that which started last Sunday. This preview is being published ahead of any team news, but I understand both Son and Udogie have a 75% chance of playing.

Back in 2019, Brighton were coached by Graham Potter, who lasted just under one full season at Chelsea. Ironically, Potter was replaced by Pochettino, who managed one complete season at a club where players and coaches simply come and go with greater regularity than at most teams.

Few players survive from the 2019 game. Lewis Dunk remains captain and a stalwart at Brighton where he began his professional career in May 2010, making his debut in League One against MK Dons. Dunk (33 in November) has made 468 appearances for his club and was one of five players in England's 26-man Euro 24 squad who had no game time. He does have six senior caps.

Yves Bissouma (signed by Spurs in June 2022) was an 80th minute Brighton substitute. Heung-min Son and Ben Davies survive of the Spurs team which played on that day.

Another veteran on Brighton's books is James Milner (38 last January) who has now appeared in his 23rd Premier League season, beating the record held by Ryan Giggs. Milner is 15 matches away from equalling Gareth Barry's record of 653 appearances in the competition. Milner scored his first goal against Spurs when on loan to Aston Villa from Newcastle in September 2005. He was a 62nd minute substitute for Liverpool in our 2019 Champions League Final defeat. Milner hasn't played since suffering a hamstring injury at the end of August.

Roberto De Zerbi and Brighton "mutually agreed" to move in separate directions after months of uncertainty over his future, leaving the Premier League club in need of a replacement head coach before the new season. This announcement was made on the eve of Brighton's last game of the season, when they played Manchester United.

De Zerbi was being linked with a possible move to Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Juventus or even Manchester United, but ultimately became Marseille's new coach.

De Zerbi was given a guard of honour by his players and a standing ovation from the fans after full-time in his last game at the Amex Stadium, before admitting that he was leaving Brighton owing to "different ideas" and a "disagreement with the owners".

Roberto De Zerbi's side won 4-2 at the Amex Stadium in December - the first time they had scored four or more goals against Tottenham in any competition.

Spurs didn't take the lead against Brighton until the final minute of the second game in their two league games last season.

Three of Brighton's Premier League penalties last season were conceded by Spurs. It was the eighth time that one team has scored three penalties against another in a Premier League season and Spurs became the first side to be on the receiving end more than once (also against Leicester City in 2020-21).

In June Brighton announced that Fabian Hurzeler had joined the club as head coach. Hurzeler (just 31) was previously the manager of Bundesliga Tier 2 Champions St. Pauli.

Brighton have a knack of excellent recruitment of both players and coaches. Hurzeler has certainly made a positive start and summer playing arrivals included 20-year-old midfielder Yankuba Minteh for a fee in excess of £30m from Newcastle, Mats Wieffer from Feyenoord, forward Georginio Rutter from Leeds (also for big money), Brajan Gruda from Mainz (yet to play for his new club), Ferdi Kadioglu from Fenerbahce and Matt O'Riley from Celtic.

Departures included Adam Lallana (back to Southampton), Pascal Gross to Borussia Dortmund, Deniz Undav to Stuttgart and Billy Gilmour to Antonio Conte's Napoli.

Another veteran player Danny Welbeck, continues to impress and top-scores for Brighton this season with three league goals. Welbeck will be 34 next month and came to fame with Manchester United and Arsenal. Joao Pedro was a great signing from Watford in May last year, and Japanese Kaoru Mitoma is ever-present in 6 league games to date.

Brighton's best results of the season so far have been a 3-0 opening weekend win at Goodison Park, a 2-1 home win over Man Utd, and a 1-1 draw away to Arsenal.

Spurs climbed above "The Seagulls" following their 3-0 win at Old Trafford, and will be looking for a sixth consecutive win in all competitions. I am hopeful of a 2-1 away win. The Spurs Odyssey website will be updated on Monday.

Our match referee for the first time this season is David Coote. We only saw Mr. Coote in the middle once last season. That was our 3-2 home win against Brentford. This will be Mr. Coote's 15th Spurs game since his first game in September 2016. The game kicks off at 4.30pm on Sunday.

Did you know? - Steve Harley of Cockney Rebel fame, who died in March was born Stephen Malcolm Ronald Nice in Deptford, southeast London, on February 27 1951, the second of five children. His father, Ronald, was a milkman and part-time footballer with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Follow @spursodyssey

. See the current injury list for all Premier League Teams

. All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats

Spurs' record in Europe:- U.E.F.A Champions League P W D L F - A 53 22 12 19 90 - 75 (Finalists 2019) European Cup P W D L F - A 8 4 1 3 21 - 13 (Semi-Finalists 1962) European Cup Winners Cup P W D L F - A 33 20 5 8 65 - 34 (Winners 1963) UEFA Cup/Europa League P W D L F - A 153 88 37 28 313-134 (Winners 1972, 1984 Finalists 1974) Europa Conference League P W D L F - A 7 3 1 3 14 - 9 + Forfeited one game due to Covid - 09/12/21) Total P W D L F - A 254 137 56 61 503-265

Hoping for a comfortable start to another European campaign

When Spurs hosted Qarabag in September 2015, 9 years ago, it was the first ever meeting in a UEFA competition between an English club and one from Azerbaijan. Our present-day captain Son Heung-min had only recently signed from Bayer Leverkusen and opened his Spurs scoring account with a brace against unknown opponents.

Ben Davies was an unused sub and is the only other surviving Spurs player from that game. Between then Son and Davies have made 742 club appearances, 126 of which have been in European matches. Indeed, they are both in the top 5 of our all-time appearance makers in European competition, joining Harry Kane (76), Hugo Lloris (70) and Steve Perryman (64). "Sonny" has made 61 whilst Ben Davies has made 65 appearances in Europe for Spurs.

Son has scored 24 goals for Spurs in Europe, most of which (19) have been in The Champions League. Since those first two goals against Qarabag he has added 162 more in all competitions. We might be lucky to see Son start tomorrow (8pm - TNT), but it would be great to see him "book-end" those first two Spurs goals.

Qarabag qualified for early Champions League qualifiers as champions of Azerbaijan, but fell 5-0 on aggregate to Dinamo Zagreb. Bearing in mind Zagreb just lost 9-2 to Bayern Munich (Kane scored 4, including three pens), perhaps that tells us something of the likely quality of our opponents tomorrow. Surely we can look forward to a comfortable start to this new-style Europa League campaign.

Most readers will know there is one league of 36 teams, eight of which (two from each level of seeding) we will meet in single games. Those teams which finish in the top eight will automatically proceed to the last 16, while those who finish 9th-24th will face a play-off round. Opta has calculated that 16 points should be enough to reach the last 16, so that's five wins and a draw. Spurs' most difficult opponents would appear to be Roma (at home) and Galatasaray (away). Both those matches will be played in November, but next week's tip to Hungary for Ferencvaros will also be tricky.

Qarabag have won five of the six league games played so far and won the most recent of these 4-0 last Friday. Their league goals come from various sources but Portuguese midfielder Leandro Andrade tops the early chart with three of those, scored in the last two games. They have a Brazilian midfielder with a familiar name - Juninho - who has scored 8 goals in all competitions this season.

I'm hoping for a convincing home win, perhaps three or four goals. With a trip to Old Trafford on Sunday, I expect Ange Postecoglou will ring the changes with his personnel and I suspect we'll see Dragusin and Davies at the back. I hope for a strong strike force to start the game. With Richarlison and Lankshear injured, there's not too much choice at the front.

Referee Willy Delajod (aged 32) and his on-field officials are from France. Msr. Delajod is new to Spurs, but not to European football, having officiated in several European and International games over the last year.

Follow @spursodyssey

NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 486

Submitted by Norman Giller

A slightly cocky, very confident James Maddison is what Tottenham need as they progress into a season that has already had more ups and downs than Anthony Joshua.

Madders is one of those players who thrives on being cock 'o the walk, and he had a lot of the bounce knocked out of him by injury and then Gareth Southgate snubbing him for the Euros.

Against lively Brentford on Saturday, he showed his old swagger and style and played a key part in a victory that - at least temporarily - shut up the keyboard warriors, who had shown immaturity and impatience by turning on Ange Postecoglou.

The affable Aussie (who just like Maddison goes to work on an ego) was dismissive of his critics and suggested they try some yoga to get rid of their tensions. Great, mate!

Our Spurs Odyssey guru Paul H. Smith gives his reading of the victory over Brentford HERE, spotlighting the part Madders played in restoring stability after that shock early sting from the Bees.

The final 3-1 scoreline might easily have been 7-4 to Tottenham. We can't claim we're not being entertained,

Madders revealed he was in trouble with his mother for getting booked when whipping off his shirt in understandable celebration of his points-clinching goal. 'Mum had me in her fantasy football league team and the booking cost her a point,' he explained in the after-match chatter.

I'm putting my shirt on Madders to return to his dominating best alongside the elegant Bentancur and supporting the re-charged Brengun Johnson as Spurs take their first steps back into Europe.

They kick off Euro duties against Azerbaijan league leaders Qarabag at the Tottenham Stadium on Thursday, followed by a challenging visit to Old Trafford on Sunday.

Time perhaps to adopt the Lotus position.

I almost managed to complete my blog without mentioning the 'Sir Bill' biography I have written on the legendary Bill Nicholson in harness with the master, Steve 'Skip' Perryman. Thanks for all those of you who have asked for details. I can tell you it will be published next month by distinguished, official Tottenham Hotspur publishers VSP, and their esteemed director Toby Trotman is already making noises about it being one of the most important Tottenham books for many a year. "It is a book that belongs on the shelves of all Tottenham fans who wish to know the history of their great club," he says. I could not have put it better myself.

COYS!

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

Who has won 65 caps, wears the No 30 Tottenham shirt and from which club did he join Spurs?

Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 6. 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 ques-tion. 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 striker with an Italian-sounding first name scored 21 goals in 51 international appearances, and from which club did he join Spurs in 2008?

Answer: Roman Pavlyuchenko, Moscow Spartak.

See you back here on Monday. COYS!

Follow @spursodyssey

. Last season's game - Spurs 2 Arsenal 3, 28.04.24

. Premier League Matchday 4 - last year

. See the current injury list for all Premier League Teams

. All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats

Full Record of Spurs -v- Arsenal Prem Pl W D L For-Ag Pts Home 32 13 12 7 47 -40 51 Away 32 2 12 18 34 -65 18 ======================================== Total(Prem) 64 15 24 25 81 -105 69 1.08 Pts per game ======================================= Football Lge Home(Div 1) 55 24 12 19 93 -83 63 Away(Div 1) 55 16 12 27 65 -85 46 ======================================== Total(Div 1) 110 40 24 46 158 -168 109 ======================================== Total(Prem) 64 15 24 25 81 -105 69 Total(Div 1) 110 40 24 46 158 -168 109 ======================================== Grand Total 174 56 48 71 239 -273 179 ======================================== Last Six Premier League results:- Spurs - WLWDWL Spurs 2-1 Burnley Spurs 0-2 Man City Sheff Utd 0-3 Spurs Leicester 1-1 Spurs Spurs 4-0 Everton Newcastle 2-1 Spurs Arsenal - WWWWWD Arsenal 3-0 B'mouth Man Utd 0-1 Arsenal Arsenal 2-1 Everton Arsenal 2-0 Wolves A. Villa 0-2 Arsenal Arsenal 1-1 Brighton Pos P W D L F-A GD Pts 4. Arsenal 3 2 1 0 5-1 4 7 10. Spurs 3 1 1 1 6-3 3 4

I dream you can win this game Spurs!

In last season's home game we witnessed a once in 36 years phenomenon as Arsenal won back to back league games at Tottenham for the first time since 1987 and 1988. That 1988 defeat was also a 3-2 when all the goals came in the first half. On that occasion our nemesis won 5 consecutive league and cup games at White Hart Lane.

Arsenal will wear their black away kit for Sunday's north London derby after their home shirt was judged to clash with Tottenham Hotspur's strip.

The Premier League, which has consulted with refereeing body PGMOL, has ruled that Arsenal's new home shirt features too much white!

According to the Arsenal Shirt Collection group, it will be the first time since the 1985-86 season that Arsenal have worn their away kit in a north London derby. This also means we will have to wear our away strip for the return fixture in January. For the record, we drew 0-0 and won 1-0 at home in the 85-86 season!

Our last win against Arsenal was five games ago in May 2022 when we won 3-0. That was our biggest win over the gooners since a famous 5-0 in 1983. In 2022, with Antonio Conte in charge, we finished the season with a flourish whereas Mikel Arteta's team bottled it with a defeat at Newcastle, thus surrendering their Champions League place to Spurs.

Sadly, the biggest satisfaction we achieved in relation to Arsenal last season was to lose our penultimate game at home to Man City, who were then able to pip Arsenal to the title by two points. It goes without saying that it would be fantastic to manage a win on Sunday (2pm SKY).

Last season, Bukayo Saka, became the first Arsenal player to score against Spurs at home and away in the league in the same season since Ian Wright in 1993-94. Against Fulham last year, Saka set a new club record for Arsenal for consecutive Premier League games played in (83), with this run eventually reaching 87 before missing the Man City game in October.

Both sides will have notable absentees on Sunday. Declan Rice was booked twice in Arsenal's 1-1 draw at home to Brighton and will miss this game. New signing Mikel Merino (£27.4 million from Real Sociedad) suffered a shoulder fracture in his first training session before the Brighton match and must wait to make his debut.

Midfielder and playmaker Martin Odegaard suffered an ankle injury in Norway's midweek game against Austria and it is feared he will be out for three weeks.

Spurs have yet to confirm the fitness or otherwise of strikers Dominic Solanke and Richarlison and ace defender Micky Van de Ven. There are fears that Bissouma may have come back from International duty with an injury. (This preview is being posted early)

Rodrigo Bentancur has been cleared to play this week by the FA, but he has now been charged with aiming a racist slur at captain Son Heung-min after suggesting South Koreans "all look the same" when interviewed at the Copa America in summer. A ban is likely to follow.

Another Arsenal signing - Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori - returned from international duty with a knock, but may be available. Raheem Sterling was a surprise loan arrival after he was left out of Chelsea's squad by new coach Enzo Maresca.

Our last three September league meetings with Arsenal have been away fixtures. Our last home September Premier League game against Arsenal was in 2007 when we lost 3-1. Prior to that the last September game was a 0-0 draw at Highbury in 1990. The respective managers were George Graham and Terry Venables. Lee Dixon (ITV) and Gary Lineker (BBC) were on opposing sides then and in this summer's Euro '24 TV coverage!

The last time we played Arsenal at home first was in December 2020 when we won 2-0 (Son, Kane). We were at the top of the league for the third week, having beaten Manchester City and drawn at Chelsea.

Mikel Arteta is the fifth fastest manager to reach 100 wins in the Premier League era after Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp and Sir Alex Ferguson. Arteta has agreed to commit his long-term future to Arsenal and is about to sign a new contract that runs until 2027.

Five Arsenal players made the PFA Team of the Year - David Raya (now a permanent signing), Gabriel Magalhaes, Martin Odegaard, William Saliba and Declan Rice.

Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale (sold to Southampton last month) was one of five players in England's 26-man Euro 24 squad who had no game time. The others were goalkeeper Dean Henderson, and outfield players Lewis Dunk along with Joe Gomez, and Adam Wharton.

Kevin Campbell, who died in June aged only 54, was born in Lambeth and began his career with Arsenal winning a Championship medal in 1991, along with League Cup and FA Cup winners' medals with them in 1993. He also won a Cup-Winners' cup medal with Arsenal in 1994.

After spells with Nottingham Forest and Trabzonspor, Campbell joined Everton for whom he made 164 appearances between 1999 and 2005. In recent years, Campbell occasionally appeared on TV coverage "representing" Everton.

I dare to dream that Spurs might win this game 2-1, but that's my heart ruling my head. Here's hoping! The Spurs Odyssey match report will be posted on Monday.

This will be referee Jarred Gillett's ninth Spurs game in the middle and his first North London Derby match. Mr. Gillett's profile continues to rise, and he took charge of the pre-season Community Shield game at Wembley.

Did you know?

. Spurs record in recent London Derby League matches

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NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 484

Submitted by Norman Giller

The blanket of depression that dropped on many Spurs supporters after yesterday's defeat at Newcastle is an ageing process that I do not recommend. I refuse to become contaminated by the poison of pessimism that is contagious, and Dr Giller suggests some positive thinking as a remedy.

There were 25 minutes in the second-half when Tottenham played the Geordies off their St James' Park, and that's the memory I will take from a match that left us as frustrated as pianists trying to play with the lid closed.

Ange Postecoglou must continue with his bold attacking football and not be put off by those who are not necessarily keyboard warriors but definitely worriers. It just needs an improvement in that last third of the field in which so many teams lose their way.

In the two matches at Leicester and Newcastle Spurs have created THIRTY FIVE chances, and if just a couple of them had gone in the on-line and phone-in critics kicking the team would have changed their funereal tune and tone.

Many are tossing in the towel after only three matches. I just hope this morose mood does not spread to the players, who are playing some wonderful front foot football but with finishing that lacks, dare I say, the ruthlessness of a Harry Kane.

But let's remember, we went into the game without injured strikers Dominic Solanke and Richarlison, while the defence missed the majestic presence of Van de Ven. The moaners and groaners did not seem to take that into account with their post-match inquests.

There's the simple task coming up after the international break of playing the Arsenal. Let's get that out of the way before committing hara-kiri.

My Spurs Odyssey team-mate Declan Mulcahy gives the match facts HERE, and his account confirms that it was Tottenham who had the lion's share of the game on a hunting ground that has not been kind to Spurs of late.

The brightest thing to come out of the gloom of Geordieland is that Brennan 'Brengun' Johnson was electrifying when sent on from the bench. He played with a pace and precision that suggests he can develop into a Supersub.

My plea to all pessimists: Heads up. This could be a very special Tottenham team but they need full support, not the wounding arrows being fired from keyboard assassins.

I wonder what we will all be saying after the visit from the Woolwich Nomads?

My column - and positive thoughts - will be back on Monday week. I need that break, too! Trying to stop the team drowning in the waves of pessimism is akin to being a Canute (some others may use a more cutting description).

COYS!

So here we are already in the fourth week of our eleventh season of the Spurs Odyssey Quiz League, and the question is:

Which son of a professional footballer has won 127 caps and from which German team did he join Spurs in 2015?

Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 4. 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 won seven England caps, played in the 1986 World Cup finals and from which club did he join Spurs in 1983?

Answer: Gary Stevens, Brighton

See you back here on Monday week after the international break. COYS!

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NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 483

Submitted by Norman Giller

I very rarely reach for this comparison out of respect for a legend of our Beautiful Game ... but Micky Van de Ven's charging, 70-yard run that set up the fourth goal against Everton reminded me of the late, great Duncan Edwards. It was full of power, determination and purpose.

All the old pros I have been privileged to talk to spoke of Duncan in reverential terms. Billy Wright, for instance, called him: "A young God." Bill Nicholson described him as "phenomenal". Sir Bobby Charlton told me, 'He was the one player of whom I was in awe."

The Welsh Wing Wizard Cliffie Jones has often told me: "Duncan was The Master. We played in the same Army regiment, and it was like having two team-mates. He had strength and skill in abundance and could defend or attack with equal power. I don't mind admitting I cried when I heard he was in the Munich air crash. It was the very same week I joined Spurs.'

I don't want to put pressure on young Micky's mantle (a little baseball pun for you there, folks) but I honestly think he can grow into a modern Duncan Edwards. He has a similar muscular physique and seems able to run all day.

Micky and rock head Cristian Romero are developing into one of the great Tottenham partnerships and we can look forward to them earning respect in BOTH penalty areas. They make their powerful presence felt at the heart of the defence and, when necessary, at the fulcrum of the attack.

Let's give credit to the new coaching team of Nick Montgomery and Sergio Raimundo, brought in by Ange Postecoglou following the departure of Chris Davies to his new job as boss at Birmingham City. They are two disciplined characters who are working overtime to get the Tottenham defence cemented at set pieces, and they are giving particular attention to the polishing of the VDV/Romero twin machine.

Micky and Cristian were outstanding together in Saturday's dismantling of Everton, described HERE in dizzying detail by our Spurs Odyssey guru Paul H. Smith. Sonny's two goals and the booming strike from Yves Bissouma added to our delight. It was the first of what I am sure will be many goals from the reformed man from Mali, who does not need laughing gas to make us revere his obvious talent.

There was also a promising debut from Wilson Odobert to add to the warm feeling of all-round satisfaction, and the French flier did enough before being substituted by Richarlison to suggest he is destined for great things.

I am down with irritating bronchitis at the moment and accompanied the pulsating Tottenham performance with coughs rather than cheers. But the flowing, front foot football was much more potent than the Paracetamol in helping cure me.

Just think, if the ball had run for Spurs at Leicester, there would now be at least ten goals in the bank!

Of course, the question has to be asked whether Spurs were exceptional or Everton downright appalling. The answer probably lies somewhere between the two, but let's not try to pick any holes in the Spurs exhibition and execution of their at-times scintillating football.

The codeword has to be POSITIVITY as we go into challenging back-to-back fixtures at Newcastle United and then home to Arsenal in a North London Derby that will signpost just what sort of season we are going to have.

With Romero and the new VDV at the heart of the defence - and supporting the attack - anything is possible. Heads up. Let's all spread confidence. Remember, pessimism is contagious. Ange's Angels must be positive. COYS!

So here we are in the third week of our eleventh season of the Spurs Odyssey Quiz League, and the question is:

Who won seven England caps, played in the 1986 World Cup finals and from which club did he join Spurs in 1983? Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 3. 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 has won 57 international caps, was a Champions League Cup winner in 2021 and which shirt number did he wear for Spurs against Leicester last night?

Answer: Timo Werner, shirt number 16

See you back here next Monday. COYS!

Follow @spursodyssey