NORMAN GILLER’S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 97
Submitted by Norman Giller

Something very special is happening at Spurs

Memo to Daniel Levy: Something very special is happening at Spurs. Please do not spoil it by getting an itchy firing finger. Leave that to your boardroom predecessor Alan Sugar.

Mauricio Pochettino has a plan and is building a team that can light up the NEW White Hart Lane two years down the road, provided he is given time and full support from a chairman who has a habit of changing managers like other people change socks

For goodness sake, Mr. Levy, don’t risk losing him to a club like Real Madrid, who will be noting his progress and certain to be impressed by the exciting pressing game that he has brought to Tottenham.

Yesterday’s 1-1 draw at the Emirates could and should have been a victory. If only … if only … the final whistle had gone after 75 minutes we would have been hailing the finest Spurs performance on Arsenal turf since they left their old Highbury home.

But football is a 90-minute game, and let’s give the Gunners credit for the way they battled back in those final 15 minutes to snatch a point that strengthens their title bid.

Their aerial bombardment in the closing period exposed defects at the heart of a Tottenham defence in which Belgian buddies Vertonghen and Alderweireld were flawless on the floor, but distinctly uncomfortable when the ball was being lobbed over their heads.

But after yesterday’s magnificent team effort against the Gooners, I am not going to dwell on the worrying moments of the last fifteen minutes of an exhausting three games in six days spell that featured victories over Aston Villa and Anderlecht and a draw that should have been a victory against the Woolwich Nomads.

I prefer to think of the peak moments by the Tottenham Tots, and the potential of a team that will be coming to the boil just in time for the opening of the new stadium.

Speaking from the experience of watching Tottenham teams develop for 60+ years, I have rarely been more excited by the promise of a Lilywhite side. It is the sort of multi-talented team that ‘Sir’ Bill Nicholson would have drooled over, because they play the traditional Spurs way.

They concentrate on making the ball do the work with simple, quick passes and mix it with individual skill of the highest standard. Some of the ball control from Alli, Dembele, Lamela and Eriksen was bewitching, and made Arsenal at times look strictly second rate.

I am still concerned that too much rests on the shoulders of Our Harry Kane as the sole striker. It would please me greatly to see him being left on the bench by England manager Roy Hodgson during the international break. Aitch would willingly run all day for his club and country, but needs protecting from his own enthusiasm. There is a danger of burnout if he is not given enforced rest.

His fifth goal in three games shut up those idiots who were dismissing him as a one-season wonder.

Let’s finish on a high note: that’s ELEVEN Premier League matches unbeaten, and the only defeat was to an own goal in the season opener at Old Trafford.

Be patient, Mr Levy, and it will get better and better. In Pochettino and Tottenham we trust.

For those of you kindly considering purchasing my 100th book (Headlines Deadlines All My Life) you need to order it here: www.normangillerbooks.com I will send a personal reply to everybody who supports me.

Here’s a neutral review that just might make you tempted to buy the book: http://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/books-and-reviews/100-not-out-gillers-life-story-is-one-to-inspire/

Your support will be greatly appreciated, both by me and my bank manager.

SPURS ODYSSEY QUIZ LEAGUE, Week 14

Week FOURTEEN of our Spurs Odyssey Quiz League, and I caught few of you out last week: “Apart from Adebayor, I am the only player to score for both Arsenal and Tottenham in a North London Derby. Who am I and what number shirt was I wearing when I scored an FA Cup final goal for Spurs?”

Jimmy Robertson was the mystery man, who wore the number seven shirt when scoring in the 2-1 1967 FA Cup final victory over Chelsea. Bill Nicholson made one of the few mistakes of his managing career by swapping Jimmy for Arsenal winger David Jenkins, who was not exactly a success in his brief stay at the Lane.

This week’s teaser: “I appeared in 218 League games for Spurs after playing in Germany and Sweden and won 97 international caps. Who am I and against which side did I win an FA Cup final winners’ medal with Tottenham at Wembley?”

You get two points for identifying the player, and a bonus point for naming the FA Cup final opponents.

Keep a check on your points tally, because the contestant topping the SOQL table at the end of the season will receive a huge, personally autographed photograph of Spurs legend Jimmy Greaves, plus a signed, framed certificate announcing the winner as the 2015-16 Spurs Odyssey Quiz League champion.

Email your answers, please, to SOQL14@normangillerbooks.com Give your name, the district where you live and how long you’ve supported Spurs. I will respond, and will email a screen version of one of my Tottenham-themed books to the sender of the first all-correct answer drawn at random. Closing date for entries: midnight this Friday.

First name drawn at random from the correct answers last week is George Johnston, of Finsbury Park. I will email a screen version of one of my Tottenham-themed books to George, who has been a Spurs supporter since the early 1970s.

Thanks for your company. See you same time, same place next week. COYS!

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