The Hoddle of Coffee: Tottenham Hotspur news and links for Monday, July 8

good morning -

We simply can’t not have a hoddle hero. It’s part of the game.

After Micky van de Ven’s glorious reign came to an end last week, your hoddler-in-chief searched high and low to determine who the next hoddle hero might be.

After much searching, I have found them: Welcome Barbora Votikova!

Votikova made a name for herself shortly after arriving at Tottenham this past season, keeping a clean sheet and securing the Player of the Match award in Spurs’ victory over Arsenal.

That alone should really cement this decision.

She was a key player for Spurs this past year, and hopefully in the coming season.

Votikova previously played for Sparta Prague and PSG.

Votikova suffered an ACL injury in 2022 and apparently has pictures and videos of her recovery on one of her instagram stories. I only went through a little bit of it because seeing injuries grosses me out. But! She seemed to handle the recovery process very well.

She’s pretty well-rounded too. Votikova also dabbled in some comedy and sketch shows, and wrote a book in 2019 called Bára Votíková: A Little Different, where she came out as a lesbian. She’s since used her instagram to share some positive messages about her experience too.

I imagine the ‘comedy’ and ‘sketch shows’ aspect helped her through the ACL ordeal.

With all this, Votikova is a fitting player to serve as hoddle hero. A reminder of she will be hoddle hero until:

1. Tottenham Hotspur announce a senior team signing
2. Votikova leaves the club
3. Spurs go through the rest of the season without signing anyone

As much as I’d love to see Votikova here for the next few months, I’d rather keep it around the two-week length (because we want signings!).

Welcome, welcome, hoddle hero Barbora Votikova.

Fitzie’s track of the day: Tonight at Noon, by Charles Mingus

And now for your links:

Five things Football London spotted in Tottenham’s training return

Michael Olise joins Bayern Munich from Crystal Palace

Why women’s squads for Bournemouth, Fulham and Brentford are playing catch-up