Spurs Head-Butt-Ing in the Right Direction!

A point at Old Trafford, a last-gasp equaliser, a headbutt and ten men. Just another perfectly normal afternoon supporting Tottenham Hotspur!

Graham, Mark and Thom are back to dissect Spurs' 1-1 draw with Manchester United — a performance that might just be the clearest sign yet that Roberto De Zerbi is starting to turn things around.

But was it a brilliant point earned against the odds, or another two points dropped against a very ordinary Manchester United side?

There's certainly no shortage of disagreement!

Dominic Solanke rescued a point with a late header, but Mark isn't buying the hero narrative. After two glaring misses and another frustrating performance, is Solanke really good enough to lead the line for Spurs? Graham and Thom aren't quite so convinced by Mark's criticism — particularly his suggestion that Solanke knew absolutely nothing about the goal!

And Solanke isn't the only player in the firing line. Savinho and Kudus come under scrutiny for their lack of end product, despite Spurs creating some excellent attacking opportunities. Are individual players now letting down a system that is beginning to work?

We also discuss Bentancur's extraordinary red card, Van Hecke's defensive mistakes, the impressive performances of Tonali, Udogie and Senesi, and the continuing mystery of why Fernandes can't get a regular place in the starting eleven.

With Maddison returning, other injured players edging closer to fitness and De Zerbi's style finally becoming recognisable, are Spurs genuinely turning a corner?

Thom has certainly changed his tune. After months of pessimism, he's suddenly looking forward to watching Tottenham again!

Attention then turns to Coventry at home, with all three hosts predicting a Spurs victory. Surely this is finally the week we get that elusive first league win?

❓ Thom's Teaser takes inspiration from Bentancur's Glasgow kiss with a red-card-themed Spurs quiz. Can Mark finally get the better of Graham and close the gap in the standings?

The football is improving. The chances are coming. The optimism is returning.

Now can somebody please put the ball in the net?!

Come On You Spurs! COYS

After three weeks without Tottenham ruining our weekends, The Crowing Cockerel Podcast is back — and surely the season starts now... right?

Graham, Mark and Thom look back at an eventful international break for Spurs, including goals for Marmoush and Tel, captaincy duties for Bentancur and Archie Gray, the latest injury concern over Van Hecke, and former Spurs striker Troy Parrott continuing to find the net.

Parrott's form leads us into a bigger debate about Tottenham's youngsters. Do Spurs give their academy players enough opportunities? We discuss Parrott, Will Lankshear, Luca Williams-Barnett, Mikey Moore and Vušković — and whether supporters are sometimes too quick to assume we've made a mistake when a young player succeeds elsewhere.

There's also the small matter of Manchester City. We discuss the verdict, what punishment should follow and whether any of it actually matters to Spurs — although Thom spots one potential advantage if a relegation battle really is on the cards!

Then attention turns to Manchester United away. With De Zerbi having had three weeks to work with the squad, injured players returning and Spurs showing some signs of improvement before the break, can Tottenham finally get their season going at Old Trafford?

And ❓ Thom's Teaser returns with a Jermain Defoe-themed higher-or-lower battle — with Mark looking to haul himself level with Graham in the season standings.

Pre-season is over. Again.

Come On You Spurs! COYS

Spurs are bottom of the Premier League. It really can’t get much worse… can it?

Graham, Mark and Thom are back to pick through another painful week for Tottenham after defeats to Liverpool and Aston Villa leave Spurs rock bottom heading into the international break.

And yet, somehow, there were positives. The first half against Villa was arguably Spurs’ best 45 minutes in a long time, with De Zerbi’s side pressing aggressively and creating chances — before another individual error changed everything. So are there genuinely signs of progress underneath the disastrous results?

We discuss the continued lack of goals, Solanke’s struggles in front of goal, whether Spurs have enough natural finishers in the squad and why nobody seems willing to just have a shot. We also look at the worrying drop-off in energy levels and ask why, this far into the season, the players still don’t appear match fit.

There’s plenty of debate about Roberto De Zerbi too. Are the players buying into his system? Is his public criticism helping or hurting their confidence? And with Spurs repeatedly collapsing after conceding first, can he change the mentality of a team that seems to have forgotten how to win?

We also ask whether the fans are becoming part of the problem. After another chorus of boos at half-time, how much patience can supporters realistically be expected to show after two years of miserable home form?

There is, however, a glimmer of hope. Thom has been digging through the history books to find out what happens to teams that are bottom at the end of September — and discovers that Spurs have actually been here before.

❓ Thom’s Teaser lightens the mood with a battle to find obscure Spurs goalscorers — and produces a potentially historic moment in the Crowing Cockerel Predictions League.

With three weeks until Tottenham play again, perhaps this really is the end of pre-season.

We’re bottom. We’re battered. But the only way is up.

Come On You Spurs! COYS