Three dejected footballers in white shirts stand dwarfed by a huge open tub of hair gel on a sunny pitch.

Match ReportThe High Road Herald

De Zerbi Dilemma Asks If Spurs Are Yet To Gel And Supporter Brings Tub Of Gel

Desmond Parry · Chief Football Correspondent9 October · Reading time: one pint

BBC Sport asked whether Tottenham, bottom of the Premier League and without a win in five, are yet to gel or facing the same old struggles under Roberto De Zerbi, and a season ticket holder has brought a tub of hair gel to the stadium on a day with no match.

A Tottenham man arrived at the stadium forecourt at 9:40am on Friday carrying a tub of hair gel, having read the phrase "yet to gel" in a BBC Sport piece on the club's winless start and concluded that the matter was practical.

The piece, published after a three-week international break, notes that Tottenham have won none of their opening five matches and sit bottom of the table. It then asks whether the problem is that the team are yet to gel or that these are the same old struggles.

The Herald understands the man read only the first option. He has not been dissuaded by the second.

It says right there in the headline. They haven't gelled. So I've brought the gel.

He has placed the tub on the lowest step beside the main gates, removed the lid, and positioned himself nearby in what he described as a state of readiness. The squad are not at the ground, the stadium being closed, which he accepts is a minor logistical point.

A passing steward asked whether the tub was intended for the players or the manager. The man said he had not got that far, and that the article had not got that far either, which he took as encouragement.

By noon he had applied a small amount to his own fringe, to test it, and reported that it held. He has since drawn up a plan, in biro, for the second option on the BBC's list, and is currently looking into the struggles.

He has also been seen reading the headline aloud to the tub.

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Two faceless footballers seen from behind hold up an oversized telephone handset on a confetti-strewn pitch while a tiny fan tallies chalk marks beside them.

Match ReportThe High Road Herald

Davies Says He Speaks To Son Very, Very Regularly And Supporter Starts Logging Calls Outside Stadium

Desmond Parry · Chief Football Correspondent8 October · Reading time: one pint

Ben Davies told the official Tottenham channel he remains close to Heung-min Son, who left for Los Angeles FC in 2025, and a supporter has since taken a folding stool to the forecourt with a notebook.

A Tottenham supporter has begun a programme of very, very regular telephone contact with a friend, after reading that Ben Davies maintains the same with Heung-min Son.

Davies made the remarks to the official Tottenham Hotspur channel, as reported by Spurs Web. Asked whether he and Son still speak regularly, he replied: "Yeah. Very, very regular."

The Herald understands the supporter read the line at 7:40am on Thursday and was on the forecourt by half past nine, carrying a stool, a flask and a spiral notebook ruled in columns.

He said very twice. That's not a figure of speech, that's a rate. I'm doing it twice as often as I was doing it, which was never.

The friend, who works in insurance and was rung during a meeting, has confirmed the supporter opened with the words "Just checking in" and then did not continue.

The supporter has also noted that Davies and Son spent pretty much every day together during their time at the club, and has drawn up a rota. Son has since scored 43 goal involvements in 49 games for Los Angeles FC and become South Korea's all-time top scorer with 59, facts the supporter described as "not the point, but noted".

At press time the notebook showed six calls, two of which went to voicemail, and a margin note reading is this too regular.

The friend has asked to be told what the Tuesday call is for.

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