NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 535
Submitted by Norman Giller
It was Gerry Francis who said in 1997, when finally throwing in the towel, that managing Tottenham Hotspur was "the Impossible Job." After yesterday's spineless 3-0 capitulation at Nottingham Forest, Thomas Frank may already have that quote bookmarked - if not framed.
From the first whistle yesterday there was that sinking, unmistakable feeling known only to long-suffering Tottenham supporters: this was going to be a demanding afternoon. A yard short, a step slow, a side waiting for inspiration to arrive by special delivery.
Tottenham just never got started. The passing was sloppy, the movement static and the defending alarmingly generous. I strongly defended goalkeeper Vicario against the boo boys last week, but he hardly helped himself against Forest with some glaring errors that sapped the confidence.
Forest, meanwhile, looked like a team with a plan. They pressed with purpose, attacked with conviction and played as though the result actually mattered against a team consistent only in its inconsistency.
Those of us of a certain age will remember how Jimmy Greaves gathered the little matter of 25 goals against his 'rabbit' club Forest during his career, but Spurs were always second best yesterday ... as our Spurs Odyssey guru Paul H. Smith reports HERE.
Most worrying of all is that Thomas Frank's better players are not playing like better players. Whether through fatigue, confusion or quiet dissent, too many performances suggested footballers going through the motions rather than buying into the mission. This is not a squad short of talent - it is a squad short of spark.
I have been, and remain, a chief cheerleader for Frank. But faith, like form, is not infinite - and displays like this one drain it rapidly.
His growing army of 'Doubting Thomases' were worried about his substitutions, particularly Ben Davies for the energetic Djed Spence. It felt like change for the sake of it, not change with intent.
The uncomfortable question arises: is the manager still dictating the game, or merely reacting to its slow, painful unravelling?
Frank is walking a tightrope and next up a friendly little home date with the reigning champions Liverpool on Saturday. We Spurs fans will greet that fixture with the gallows humour of people who have seen this film before - and know how it usually ends.
I remain convinced that if Daniel Levy was still in power, Thomas Frank would already be on his bike. Many supporters, bruised and weary, would greet his departure with weary acceptance rather than outrage.
But perhaps the Joe Lewis family prefer a different path. Perhaps they still believe that sacking a manager is not, in itself, a strategy. I admit I lean towards that view. Football could use a little more patience and a lot less panic.
Gerry Francis knew exactly what he was talking about all those years ago. Managing Tottenham is still 'the Impossible Job'.
Ask Thomas Frank for his view ... after the Liverpool match on Saturday.
COYS
Spurs select - A book to read and play
Just 10 shopping days to Christmas and a reminder that my 122nd book is available: Spurs Select, in which you are challenged to pick a Tottenham Team to Play for Your Life.
I shall be plugging the book on the always informative Spurs Show from today, and a donation for every book sold will be made to the Tottenham Tribute Trust, who help our old heroes that missed the gravy train.
Spurs Odyssey readers can save a fiver by ordering the book NOW from normangiller@gmail.com.
If you prefer, you can mention you'd like purchasing details when entering the Spurs Odyssey Quiz below. It's a book that you play as well as read and is guaranteed to revive memories of your most memorable matches. Please join me in playing the Selecting Game.
Here we go with the 16th week of our quiz that tests your knowledge of Tottenham players and the club's history ...
Who once played with Alf Ramsey for Tottenham and was selected by him in his first match as England manager, and what number Spurs shirt did he usually wear?
Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 16. 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: Which England international started his career at The Dell and to which country did he first move after scoring 174 goals for Spurs?
Answer: Martin Chivers/Switzerland
See you back here on Monday.
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