NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 520
Submitted by Norman Giller
Here we go again! I've been searching for the right word to capture my feelings as Tottenham face the new season at the start of my 12th year as a Spurs Odyssey blogger. I think you'll agree I have found the appropriate one: trepidation. Mind you, my mood considerably brightened with today's news that Tottenham are hoping to put the finishing touches to signing tricky winger Savinho from Man City and the explosive Eze (at last) from Palace, but don't believe it until you see them in Lilywhite shirts.
That thumping defeat by Harry Kane's Bayern Munich on top of the departure of Sonny and the long-term injury to James Maddison pitched me into pessimistic mood just at the time when I am usually preaching positivity.
On top of the Madders nightmare, Ange Postecoglou has departed. Kulusevski is out for months, and there are fitness doubts about Solanke and Udogie. No wonder I am under a cloud of gloom and doom. Sorry if I am dragging you down with me.
I cannot believe that I am typing the following sentence: If Spurs beat PSG in Udine on Wednesday they will win back to back European trophies.
You will have gleaned that I have little confidence that Tottenham will overcome the French giants, and I just hope we will be talking about football and not crowd violence when the shooting and shouting is over. We shall see.
A victory would get the Thomas Frank era off to a flying start, but let me share a piece of guidance my granny used to give me: don't hold your breath.
I was firmly of the view that the club should have allowed Ange until Christmas to feed off the euphoria of the Euro Cup triumph, particularly with a Champions League challenge on the horizon. But the managerial musical chairs gives jaundiced pundits like me the chance to talk frankly about Frank.
At least two of the many rumours about incoming transfers had better prove correct for Thomas to feel he was right to surrender that comfortable job he had with Brentford. The strongest tips I get from my Tottenham insiders is that the hugely talented Savinho and long-time target Eze could be on their way to N17. I certainly hope so for Thomas Frank's sake.
My frank advice to Thomas would have been that he should have stayed with the Bees rather than take on what Gerry Francis rightly labelled years ago "the impossible job".
That Pape Sarr-inspired victory over Arsenal in a weird NLD encounter in Hong Kong was an interlude that told us precisely nothing about either team. I rarely take notice of close-season results, but there was something about that 4-0 mauling in Munich that screamed 'trouble ahead.'
There was no passion, no pride and seemingly no plan. Let's hope PSG do not repeat the prescription that left Tottenham looking extremely unwell. There is no question that Spurs must spend boldly in this transfer window and the arrival of the likes of Savinho and Eze would certainly silence the doubters.
The season gets properly under way with Scott Parker bringing Burnley to his old Tottenham hunting ground on Saturday. By then, I just hope we have had time to lick any wounds after the PSG experience and will be showing off our new signings. Fingers crossed.
I cannot close without showering praise across the Atlantic on Heung-min Son, now showcasing his skill in Los Angeles. He is without question an all-time Tottenham great and I thank him for his sparkling, sporting service to Spurs. What an admirable ambassador for Asia. "Gomawo", said with a polite bow.
Now, back to basking in my mood of trepidation (considerably brightened by possible action in the transfer market).
COYS!
Sue Webb with her Spurs Odyssey Quiz League Winner's certificate
Here, on a much brighter note, we have our 2025 Spurs Odyssey Quiz League champion Sue Webb, who takes a wheelchair view of Tottenham as she and her husband Dean follow them all over the globe.
I just hope Spurs can match her stamina, desire and determination as they tackle the new season. Let's do it the Webb way as you take on week one of our 12th season of the Spurs Odyssey Quiz League. And the question - really tough, this one - is ...
Who signed for Spurs from AC Milan, previously played for Chelsea and against which team did he score a hat-trick on his debut for Tottenham?
Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 1. Deadline: midnight this Friday. 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.
See you back here on Monday, hopefully in brighter mood. Enjoy the season! COYS!
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