NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 566
Submitted by Norman Giller

It was when Archie Gray danced on the touchline with James Maddison after scoring the first goal against Crystal Palace on Saturday - see the screen grab above - that I realised the Spurs spirit was back, alive and kicking at Tottenham.

Let's be honest, it's a long time since we've all relaxed and truly enjoyed ourselves in the League. But now, as if with the waving of a wand, Tottenham are playing with their hearts as well as their heads.

And there it was, captured by Archie and reluctant substitute Madders as they celebrated Spurs taking the lead on the way to a (excuse the nosebleed) third successive victory.

What pleased me about that little jig was Archie's choice of dancing partner. Where would Madders sooner have been when that goal went in? On the pitch, of course, preferably scoring it himself. Yet there he was, deliriously sharing Gray's anatomy of a goal that would have thrilled his famous footballing uncles.

Gray, a wonderfully gifted all-rounder with football greatness in his family genes, will be hoping to help steer his suddenly on-their-toes team-mates to a fourth win on the trot when he visits his old hunting ground at Leeds on Saturday.

Declan Mulcahy reports here for Spurs Odyssey and points out how Gray picked up a first-half yellow card and was not risked after the interval, but he remains a vital ingredient in this Tottenham revival.

The only thing missing against pummelled, outplayed Palace was finishing accuracy. Spurs, taking full advantage of their opponents being reduced to ten men after 13 minutes, had more than 30 attempts on goal to just two by the sorry South Londoners.

I would love to have had my old mate Jimmy Greaves alongside me for that little statistical gem. More than 30 attempts! I can picture the raised eyebrow as Jim did a quick calculation of how many he might have helped himself to. Anybody lucky enough to have witnessed Jimmy at his peak will know he would have filled his boots (although he would have been the last to boast about it).

The much-missed Kulusevski was given another late run-out to sharpen his match fitness, and teenage Luca Williams-Barnett gave us a brief, exciting glimpse of what we can expect from his speed and skill.

That's one of the pleasures of watching Spurs at my age. You can spend half-time happily arguing about a player you saw 60 years ago, and then rabbit on about a teenager you'd have liked another ten minutes to watch. I hope young Lucas enjoyed his afternoon as much as this old press-box veteran enjoyed seeing him.

All in all, a great day at the expense of the Palace. But it should have been at least 6-0 as Spurs proved they have their spirit back but are still looking for their shooting boots.

Here's one for a Spurs quiz in years to come. "Who scored for Tottenham with a double header against the Palace?" Van Hecke will be able to tell his grandchildren how he got a goal and an assist all in one movement. I can't recall even Greavsie scoring a goal like that, with not one but two headers. Jim would have wanted an aspirin.

COYS!

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

Who joined Spurs from Dundee, played in the Double team and the back to back FA Cup final triumphs, and which team did he join from Tottenham?

Email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 9. 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: Who wore the No 11 shirt for Tottenham in the 1967 FA Cup final, and with which club did he finish his Football League career in 1976?

Answer: Frank Saul/Millwall

See you back here on Monday, when I hope we are celebrating at least a point at Elland Road.