NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 567
Submitted by Norman Giller

It was the question on many lips after Tottenham's 1-0 surrender to Leeds at Elland Road: "Why put James Maddison on the bench if you have no intention of playing him?"

Surely manager Roberto De Zerbi must have seen what was obvious to the most novice of football spectators: that - particularly in the second half - Spurs were getting bossed and battered in midfield.

There are few more gifted midfield players in the Premier League than Madders, yet he sat idly, puzzled and perplexed, watching from his touchline seat as a procession of substitutes were preferred ahead of him.

The only conclusion we experienced onlookers could draw was that RDZ was not 100 per cent sure of Maddison's fitness, which then begs the question: why on earth even risk giving him a bench seat? The mind boggles, and I start to fear that the excitable manager's judgement has been shot to pieces by the stresses and strains of his "impossible" job.

Our Spurs Odyssey guru Paul H. Smith gives his account HERE, while I could only look on from my sofa seat, wondering why Maddison did not get the call to action. Both Madders and I sat this one out.

Just about the only talking point of a deadlocked first half was whether Jayden Bogle should have seen red over his tackle that eventually put Mathys Tel out of the game. We viewers almost lost the will to live while the VAR adjudicators dithered over a sequence of replays. They then came to the conclusion that indisive referee John Brooks did not even have to take a confirming look at the screen.

My view? Let me confess that I had the following post all set to send to my thousands of followers (okay, just Charlie) on Facebook: "For the second successive game Spurs are facing ten men ..."

But the comment was never sent because it was judged that Bogle had not committed a red-card offence, despite Tel - who had been making a telling contribution for Tottenham - writhing about as if shot.

Spurs are going ahead with a protest over the decision, although I think there was sufficient doubt about the severity of Bogle's challenge to make the verdict less clear-cut than some would have us believe. Brutality is in the eye of the beholder and the highly respected referee Mike Dean told viewers that in his eyes it should have been an instant sending-off.

So Tottenham have expert opinion in their corner as they make their protest. But I still think they should just get on with the game.

It was bad enough having to sit through all those replays without now having to watch Spurs squabbling with the powers that be. On this occasion, they should have just swallowed it. A bit like Spurs did on the pitch.

One thing the Premier League chiefs might like to consider: give Spurs a long, long break from having Brooks in charge of one of their matches. He has become like a red rag - rather than red card - to many Spurs players and fans.

Oh well, now for yet another international break. See you on Monday week after the visit from Ipswich Town and a hoped-for return to winning ways. Otherwise, I get the impression the expressive Roberto might actually cry.

I will spend the international break putting the finishing touches to my ambitious app, in which I will be giving the 1960-61 Double team a deserved fanfare and, as a bonus, putting my old mate Jimmy Greaves in the spotlight. All for less than a fiver, with a pound from every sale going to the Tottenham Tribute Trust to help our old heroes who missed the gravy train. Watch this space.

COYS!

Here we go with the 11th week - yes, eleventh week - of the quiz that tests your knowledge of Tottenham players and club history ...

Which Coventry-born player joined Spurs from Leicester City in 2023, and who was manager of Tottenham when he signed?

Email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 11. Deadline: midnight this Saturday. I will do my best to respond to all who take part. Answer in Monday 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 signed for 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?

Answer: Bill Brown / Northampton Town.

See you back here on Monday week, when I hope we are celebrating a return to winning ways against Ipswich Town.