The Hoddle of Coffee: Tottenham Hotspur News and Links for Monday, October 12

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 10: Dominic Solanke celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates Savio and James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on October 10, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Good morning everyone –

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It isn’t every day you see a club threatened with relegation from League Two (or a club that’s solidly mid-table in League Two) in SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays of the day, but this is what was shown to me when I woke up this morning.

Grimsby's Maldini Kacurri with a brilliant goal-line clearance against Port Vale. 🤯

Christy Pym saved from Onel Hernandez, and Kacurri dived to head George Hall's rebound off the line. Port Vale still won 1-0.#GTFC#EFLpic.twitter.com/goQDI5xutX

— CUPID FC (@CUPID_FC) October 10, 2026

What you are looking at right now is Maldini Kacurri, a centreback for Grimsby Town, who made a goal-line clearance using his face. Incredible stuff.

I don’t enjoy SportsCenter. I really don’t. But when it’s 7am on a Sunday, what else am I supposed to watch? The show always leads to the Top 10 plays from the day before, sometimes showing lacrosse or volleyball or softball. Not so much football, but I imagine that’ll change soon. Basketball’s also coming up.

So it was funny to see Grimsby Town featured here, a club I bet very few people who were awake at that hour of the morning. And for all my eye-rolling, I was very happy to see Grimsby Town and Port Vale featured in the number-one slot (does that validate SC’s Top 10 plays??).

For those of you looking for Grimsby Town’s next five fixtures, look no further. Here thay are: Northampton Town, at Rochdale, at Gillingham, York City, Forest U-21 (Football League Trophy)

And for the Port Vale ultras: Chesterfield, at Gillingham, at York City, Man City U-21 (Football League Trophy), Rochdale

Fitzie’s track of the day: Ecclusiastics, by Charles Mingus

And now for your links:

Alasdair Gold: “De Zerbi has his Pochettino moment and the strange decision during Tottenham’s draw at Man United”

The Athletic ($$): “Have Dominic Solanke and Tottenham turned a corner?”

The Telegraph: “Man Utd make worst start in 40 years after being hauled back by 10-man Spurs”

The Independent: “Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr sent off for hair pull as Jose Mourinho boycotts press conference”



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