NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 529
Submitted by Norman Giller

I was in my sick bed watching Tottenham dismantle Everton at their sparkling new home, and I celebrated stand-in skipper Micky van de Ven's second goal so enthusiastically that my wife thought I was having a fit.

Medical bulletin: I will survive a condition brought on by a change of statin. Spurs bulletin: Just what the doctor ordered in nailing third place but it has to be mentioned that it's that team in red powerfully leading the table.

So much to cheer in this performance, particularly Micky's goals, a Rolls Royce display from Bentancur and another untouchable goalkeeping exhibition from Vicario. There are a lot of Spurs fans out there who owe the Italian an apology after rubbing it in that 'Vic' is not the right man for the No 1 Tottenham jersey.

I leave the match details HERE to our Spurs Odyssey man Declan Mulcahy, but - spoiler alert - it was hardly a classic, mainly because of the atrocious, rain-swept conditions.

Tottenham, defiantly led by VdV, were sharper than Everton at the set-pieces and the defence remained unbowed, thanks mainly to three superb saves by Vicario to add to his gallery of greatness in Monaco.

It is quite obvious that Thomas Frank has cut the risk factor since taking over from the positive but sometimes naive Postecoglou. This more mature approach from Spurs has made them formidable opponents, as poster boy Jack Grealish discovered as he kept being forced into blind alleys. All they have to do is play as well at home as on their journeys!

This was not a vintage performance from Spurs, but they became the first team to win at Everton's new headquarters by playing with their heads as well as their hearts, which was not always the case under Ange when they often gave an impersonation of headless chickens.

Next it's Newcastle in the League Cup on Wednesday. The Geordies are never an easy nut to crack at the fortress that is St James' Park, but there's no question that Tottenham have been playing with more bite and belief away from home.

The likeable, modest Frank has introduced extra discipline and determination that has resulted in the best away record in the Premier League - so we live in hope up there in Geordieland.

Now I must get myself fit to give Spurs my full support. Carry On Nurse.

COYS!

Spurs select - A book to read and play

Just a reminder 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.

Here we go with the tenth week of our quiz that tests your knowledge of Tottenham players and the club's history ...

Which player won nine England caps before becoming a reenowned coach at Tottenham after winning Second and First Division medals with them, and against which team was he twice on the losing Spurs side in FA Cup semi-finals?

Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 10. Deadline: midnight this Saturday. I will do my best to respond to all who take part.

The rles 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 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?

Answer: Pat Jennings/Watford

See you back here on Monday. COYS!

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