NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 552
Submitted by Norman Giller

My Spurs Odyssey readers - okay, reader - will confirm I wrote last week that we would be happy to win ugly against Wolves, if need-be. The first victory of 2026 at mournful Molineux was very, very ugly, but it was a victory ... and beautiful in the eyes of this ancient observer.

Only the "save of the season" by born-again goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky in the 98th minute virtually kept Tottenham's survival hopes alive, as reported HERE by my colleague Declan Mulcahy. If he had not performed a Superman impersonation and somehow saved the last-minute Wolves free-kick, we would all be heading for Stoke on a cold midweek evening next season. That's how significant the save was.

This was Kinsky's second clean sheet, and provided more evidence of the Czech's great character after he had been humiliated by his brutal early removal against Atletico Madrid.

The Spurs performance at doomed Wolves was a hard watch, but there were encouraging signs that new boss Roberto De Zerbi is getting through to the players with his demands for determination and discipline to go with their personal contribution to the team effort.

Tottenham's season-long injury crisis struck yet again when the inventive Xavi Simons suffered a painful knee problem (now confirmed as ACL - Ed) and he revealed yesterday that it is bad enough to probably keep him out of the Dutch World Cup squad.

This adds to the injury misery that has claimed Cuti Romero, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke, and Mohammed Kudus. What on earth have Spurs done to upset the football gods?

Now, with just four League games to go, Tottenham know exactly what they have to do to make sure it's the Hammers rather than the Lilywhites who make the dreaded drop into the Championship.

On Sunday evening, Spurs face a mountain climb against Aston Villa at Villa Park, before challenging matches against yesterday's FA Cup contestants Leeds United (h) and nemesis club Chelsea (a).

All Tottenham can hope is that Leeds are despondent after their defeat at Wembley ... and, then, that Chelsea are preoccupied with whatever happens in the FA Cup final against mighty Man City on May 16.

Finally, it's a home engagement with unpredictable Everton on Sunday May 24. Can Spurs still be in the race then and taking the relegation rat race right the way down to the wire?

Over to the defiant De Zerbi, who is talking a brave fight. But he is running out of time to keep Tottenham in the Premier League, and is going to have to earn his big bucks. But, let's be honest, Tottenham's destiny is down to the players. Let's all get behind them and not in their way on this final straight. We must ALL pull together.

If Sebastian Sawe can break two hours for the marathon, then anything is possible, yes, even Spurs staying in the Premier League. We have got to believe and shut up those moaning-minnie 'supporters' who have dragged the club down all season with their poisonous pessimism.

Now then, nurse, my tablets please.

COYS

Here we go with the 33rd week of our quiz that tests your knowledge of Tottenham players and the club's history ...

Who was born in Hampstead in 1931, started his career with Enfield before winning a League championship medal and back to back FA Cup winners medals with Spurs, and in which country did he finish his career? Ps: Please now go to www.normangiller.co.uk and order my 1966 World Cup book at a cut price and post-free. Hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst provides the fee-free introduction - and there's lots about Greavsie! I promise it's a rewarding read. Scroll down the landing page and you'll see a video of me talking about the book. Please support this hungry writer!

Email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 33. 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 joined Spurs from Racing Club de Lens in 2025, and for which country has he won 31 international caps?

Answer: Kevin Danso/Austria

See you back here on Monday.

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