NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 548
Submitted by Norman Giller
And the Oscar for best supporting player goes to Richarlison de Andrade. No matter what the critics say about him, he always plays with his heart on his sleeve, and yesterday's late-late equaliser at Liverpool was worth its weight in Brazilian gold. What a difference a goal makes!
It was fitting that he stabbed home his vital goal on March 15 - the Ides of March anniversary of the ambush of Julius Caesar. I wonder if Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk said to him as the ball hit the net, 'Et tu, Brute.'
That precious and unexpected point saved parachuted-in manager Igor Tudor the ignominy of an instant dismissal after four successive defeats, and while there are still huge mountains to climb the second-half performance pumped us all full of hope.
Okay, it was 'only' a draw. But in the context of Tottenham's relegation battle it was a momentous point, particularly at an Anfield ground where we struggle to pick up crumbs. I honestly thought we would come away with nothing.
Let's accept that Wednesday's second leg of the Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid is - with a 5-2 hangover from that farcical match in Spain - a lost cause. It is a distraction that we could do without, but we have to go through the motions.
The only thing that really matters is getting three points from fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest at Tottenham Stadium on Sunday, and that dramatic Richarlison dagger thrust of a goal at Liverpool means our confidence is suddenly as high as a kite on the fourth of July (I am deliberately dipping into the Richard Rodgers songbook for my metaphor after Spurs stood up to the You'll Never Walk Alone brigade at Anfield).
If we can overcome Forest in what is a six pointer relegation battle, it will mean we can go into the international break with at least expectation of being challengers in the Premier League next season.
The run-in after Forest and the break takes in Sunderland (a), Brighton (h), Wolves (a), Aston Villa (a), Leeds United (h), Chelsea (a) and. finally, Everton at home on Sunday May 24. Every game will be like a cup final but a victory over Forest - after an unnerving run of 12 games without a win - would give us vital breathing space.
Our Spurs Odyssey guru Paul H. Smith gives the facts and figures of yesterday's pinching of a point from complacent Liverpool HERE. He records how Tottenham might easily have been three or four goals down before their spirited second-half revival that culminated in that dramatic equaliser by Richarlison.
Yes, what a difference a goal makes!
Meantime, rumours swirl about the facts behind Daniel Levy's sudden departure. I am not going to risk making the lawyers richer by repeating them here, but it just exposes that all is not right in the good ship Tottenham and leaves us all - here's that man Richard Rodgers again - bewitched, bothered and bewildered. Now THAT was worth an Oscar, and here to accept it on behalf of the composer: Richarlison de Andrade.
COYS!
Here we go with the 29th week of our quiz that tests your knowledge of Tottenham players and the club's history ...
Who is the England Under-21 star whose father and uncles played for Scotland, and which number shirt did he wear at Anfield yesterday? Ps: Please, let me know if you'll be interested in purchasing my 1966 World Cup book at a cut price. Hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst provides the fee-free introduction - and there's lots about Greavsie!
Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 29. 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 was born in the same Yorkshire town as Bill Nicholson, famously scored two goals against Atletico Madrid in Rotterdam and which club did he join when leaving Tottenham Hotspur after more than 200 first-team appearances?
Answer:Terry Dyson/Fulham
See you back here on Monday.
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