NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 564
Submitted by Norman Giller

It was like welcoming back old friends to see James Maddison and - in his substitute role - Dejan Kulusevski featuring for Tottenham against Coventry last night. There is no doubt Spurs would have avoided the nightmare of the last year if these couple of swells had not been grounded by injury problems.

Let's be honest, we could not relax and enjoy the game. Even the combustible Roberto De Zerbi kept his excitement on a tight rein, like a condemned man watching his scaffold being built and then granted a reprieve.

There was always that nagging feeling that Coventry were going to nick a point, and it was not until loyalist Ben Davies banged in the injury-time third goal that we dared accept Spurs had at last won a League match.

Our Spurs Odyssey guru Paul H. Smith gives the match facts HERE, but most of us were not counting goals as much as checking our blood pressure.

The picture above that I snatched from my TV screen captures the relief Madders and Deki felt as the final whistle signalled they were back in a winning Spurs side. I've waited a long time to write that and it was wonderful to see King James miming his trademark darts throw again after his beautifully struck opening goal. Bullseye!

Kulusevski was welcomed back to the Spurs team like a saviour and the warm applause that greeted his appearance brought a lump to the throat of this veteran spectator. I had not heard anything like it since Dave Mackay made his comeback after twice breaking a leg.

It reveals what a good judge I am that I was calling for the under-performing Omar Marmoush to be replaced when he unleashed the unstoppable shot that gave Spurs their deserved 2-1 lead.

Then we had to live on our nerves until Ben struck to make it 3-1. At last, at last Paul H. Smith and I have been able to write about a victory.

But no time for plaudits and dancing in the streets. It is all hands to the pump again on Saturday with a visit to Stamford Bridge. Tin hats will be provided.

Are suddenly buoyant Spurs up for the fight? We shall see, but at least we have remembered how to win. Yes, just like welcoming back an old friend.

COYS

Here we go with the eighth week of the quiz that tests your knowledge of Tottenham players and club history...

Who has won 45 caps for his country, has a Macedonian mother and which number Spurs shirt does he wear?

Email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 8. Deadline: midnight this Saturday. I will do my best to respond to all who take part. Answer in next week's Blog here at Spurs Odyssey.

The rules are the same as in the previous 12 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 2027, plus three signed books to be revealed at a later date.

Last week: Which player was top League goal scorer in Tottenham's Double season of 1960-61 and which club did he join from Spurs?

Answer: Bobby Smith/Brighton

See you back here on Monday, when I hope we are celebrating victory in the Battle of Stamford Bridge.