Player Watch Player Watch: James Maddison

[crokey]

He should be the 10 for the national side.

Don't see how Southgate can turn down a midfield 3 of Maddison, Bellingham and Rice. Can win tournaments with that.

 

[Colonel_Klinck]

And imagine Conte is said to have turned him down last summer!

Just pisses me off remembering how we were under him. Lets never speak of that **** again

 

[Colonel_Klinck]

Look no further than the England manager

England need a manager like Ange, we have the talent but instead we have a dinosaur who just doesn't want to lose.

 

[Chimbo1]

Shades of a young Beckham, although arguably more dynamic

 

[McFlash]

He needs a better chant, that one yesterday was a bit shit and unimaginative.
That being said, the away fans were incredible yet again, so well done for that.

 

[BorjeSpurs]

 

[philll]

I was hoping fan footage of that would show up, it was clear that he was having a laugh with them when he did it.

 

[mark87]

How does this guy only have 3 england caps? Crazy

Because Gareth prefers playing two holding midfielders and Mason Mount. The buffoon.

 

[mark87]

 

[McFlash]

He grows on me more and more, not just for his footballing ability but as a person.
That moment had my son and I in stitches for its cheeky banter, along with the big smile to the crowd it was great fun (entertainment, dare I say).
Neither of us were particularly sold on Madders when we were first being linked but that's totally turned round in just three games, he's rapidly becoming a favourite.

 

[werty]

Surprised he didn't get booked for it the way things are nowadays.

 

[Fidget]

How does this guy only have 3 england caps? Crazy

I’d say a lot more to come.

 

[sundanceyid10]

Don't see how Southgate can turn down a midfield 3 of Maddison, Bellingham and Rice. Can win tournaments with that.

I agree, however he will, he likes to play ‘safe’.

 

[sundanceyid10]

England need a manager like Ange, we have the talent but instead we have a dinosaur who just doesn't want to lose.

yes he plays not to lose

 

[bomberH]

That moment was perfect in so many ways, none more so than the fact it literally shut all of them up in a split second.

The fact you can hear a few of them laughing out loud means they appreciated the banter. Perfect from Maddison.

 

[carmeldevil]

From the Athletic

Spoiler: Tottenham are the perfect club for James Maddison’s blend of swagger and skill

Since being named Tottenham Hotspur head coach, Ange Postecoglou has spoken about how it’s the fans who ultimately know the team best. That they are the best judges of what’s going on.

The week just gone has borne that out.

For most Spurs supporters, the few days leading up to Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth were spent fretting about the availability of James Maddison. Ever since Maddison was seen leaving the stadium wearing a protective boot after last Saturday evening’s home win over Manchester United, this became the primary preoccupation for anyone connected with the north London club.

And yesterday lunchtime, this feeling was entirely vindicated.

Maddison was passed fit to play, and when he did he produced a masterful performance, scoring the opening goal and bossing the game before being taken off after 73 minutes of a 2-0 victory that, until they were supplanted by West Ham United five hours later after their defeat of Brighton & Hove Albion, took Spurs to the top of the Premier League table.

Maddison wears Tottenham’s No 10 shirt, but he takes up so many different positions that he could be their No 24 — a No 6, a No 8 and a No 10 rolled into one. Postecoglou nominally positioned him as the left-sided No 8 of a central midfield three (and that was where his average position was), but it was clear early on that he was trusted to go more or less where he pleased.

This freedom, and how much Maddison is making of it, helps to explain why, after only three league games for the club, the man bought this summer from relegated Leicester City feels like the one player Spurs absolutely can’t do without. Hence the fretting about his availability for the Bournemouth trip.

In so many ways, Maddison is already the leader of this team. It’s why he was appointed one of Tottenham’s two vice-captains before even playing a competitive game for them.

What stood out the most against Bournemouth was Maddison’s role as the “technical leader”.

After just five minutes, he dropped way back into his own penalty area to receive the ball and then shimmied his way out of trouble. Soon after, he went through on the inside-left position but was denied by goalkeeper Neto.

No matter. Two minutes later, he switched over to the other side of the pitch and put Spurs ahead after latching onto Pape Matar Sarr’s through ball. His team-mates joined Maddison in his trademark dart-throwing celebration, the visiting fans sang his name, and it was clear already that this was absolutely going to be his game.

Maddison scoring his first goal for Tottenham (Luke Walker/Getty Images)
Maddison rarely lacks confidence, but after scoring that early goal you could see him visibly become even keener to get on the ball at every single opportunity. Whether that meant dropping to the left-back position, moving to the right-wing or playing more centrally, there he was — in possession, making things happen.

Soon after scoring, Maddison produced a gorgeous turn and then a reverse pass to Richarlison, who was offside. Before the first half was over, he had sent Son Heung-min scampering away and created an excellent chance for Richarlison with another perfectly-weighted through ball.

Maddison was quieter in the second half but nearly scored his second of the game with a low shot from the edge of the box shortly before being substituted.

And he contributed in so many other ways, too.

Postecoglou referenced afterwards how hard the 26-year-old works, and there was a moment in the first half that typified this. Bournemouth’s Max Aarons had the ball deep in his own half, and Maddison wouldn’t let him get out. He blocked the clearance, then won a free kick off Aarons, and finally from that set piece, crossed for Richarlison to head wide. Maddison and Son combined just before half-time to stop Aarons advancing in Spurs territory.

At half-time, Maddison performed a more conventional leadership role by going over to Dejan Kulusevski and offering some words of encouragement. During the break, he told his new colleagues they needed to be switched on for the second half. Spurs didn’t seem to heed those words, and endured their only difficult spell of the match in the 15 minutes after the interval. But Kulusevski scored on 63 minutes to settle their nerves — and the game.

The Bournemouth fans grew increasingly frustrated as the match wore on, with their team having picked up just a point from their previous two matches, and Maddison was their main target as they vented. This was the case at Brentford on the opening weekend of the season too, where most of his touches were booed.

Maddison revelled in his pantomime villain role at the Vitality Stadium, and it’s perhaps an underappreciated leadership skill to be able to absorb so much of the opposition’s hostility.

At one first-half corner, Maddison deliberately placed the ball outside of the quadrant as he further wound up a set of supporters who had been taunting him all game. Then, when a home fan hurled abuse at him while he took a swig of water during a stoppage in play, he responded by pointing to the scoreboard.

Postecoglou laughed when asked afterwards whether this was ill-advised. “That’s fine, mate. It’s all a bit of theatre,” he said.

It’s all a bit of the Maddison package too, and his swagger is part of what has made him feel so instantly like he belongs at Spurs.

Having players with that confidence and creative expression, be it Paul Gascoigne, David Ginola or Dele Alli, is a part of the club’s DNA. Another of that ilk, former England forward turned TV analyst Joe Cole, said on TNT Sports’ live coverage of the game in the UK that he thought Maddison could prove the signing of the summer. And that was before the match started.

Certainly at this point, the £40million Leicester received looks like excellent value in the current market.

Maddison was confident enough after the game to admit he has set himself a target for the number of goals he wants to score this season, though he wouldn’t reveal what that number was. And why wouldn’t he be feeling confident after a man-of-the-match performance, a week on from excelling against United and before that producing two assists at Brentford on his debut?

It’s only been three games, and yet it feels hard to imagine Tottenham without him.

 

[McFlash]

From the Athletic

Spoiler: Tottenham are the perfect club for James Maddison’s blend of swagger and skill

Since being named Tottenham Hotspur head coach, Ange Postecoglou has spoken about how it’s the fans who ultimately know the team best. That they are the best judges of what’s going on.

The week just gone has borne that out.

For most Spurs supporters, the few days leading up to Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth were spent fretting about the availability of James Maddison. Ever since Maddison was seen leaving the stadium wearing a protective boot after last Saturday evening’s home win over Manchester United, this became the primary preoccupation for anyone connected with the north London club.

And yesterday lunchtime, this feeling was entirely vindicated.

Maddison was passed fit to play, and when he did he produced a masterful performance, scoring the opening goal and bossing the game before being taken off after 73 minutes of a 2-0 victory that, until they were supplanted by West Ham United five hours later after their defeat of Brighton & Hove Albion, took Spurs to the top of the Premier League table.

Maddison wears Tottenham’s No 10 shirt, but he takes up so many different positions that he could be their No 24 — a No 6, a No 8 and a No 10 rolled into one. Postecoglou nominally positioned him as the left-sided No 8 of a central midfield three (and that was where his average position was), but it was clear early on that he was trusted to go more or less where he pleased.

This freedom, and how much Maddison is making of it, helps to explain why, after only three league games for the club, the man bought this summer from relegated Leicester City feels like the one player Spurs absolutely can’t do without. Hence the fretting about his availability for the Bournemouth trip.

In so many ways, Maddison is already the leader of this team. It’s why he was appointed one of Tottenham’s two vice-captains before even playing a competitive game for them.

What stood out the most against Bournemouth was Maddison’s role as the “technical leader”.

After just five minutes, he dropped way back into his own penalty area to receive the ball and then shimmied his way out of trouble. Soon after, he went through on the inside-left position but was denied by goalkeeper Neto.

No matter. Two minutes later, he switched over to the other side of the pitch and put Spurs ahead after latching onto Pape Matar Sarr’s through ball. His team-mates joined Maddison in his trademark dart-throwing celebration, the visiting fans sang his name, and it was clear already that this was absolutely going to be his game.

Maddison scoring his first goal for Tottenham (Luke Walker/Getty Images)
Maddison rarely lacks confidence, but after scoring that early goal you could see him visibly become even keener to get on the ball at every single opportunity. Whether that meant dropping to the left-back position, moving to the right-wing or playing more centrally, there he was — in possession, making things happen.

Soon after scoring, Maddison produced a gorgeous turn and then a reverse pass to Richarlison, who was offside. Before the first half was over, he had sent Son Heung-min scampering away and created an excellent chance for Richarlison with another perfectly-weighted through ball.

Maddison was quieter in the second half but nearly scored his second of the game with a low shot from the edge of the box shortly before being substituted.

And he contributed in so many other ways, too.

Postecoglou referenced afterwards how hard the 26-year-old works, and there was a moment in the first half that typified this. Bournemouth’s Max Aarons had the ball deep in his own half, and Maddison wouldn’t let him get out. He blocked the clearance, then won a free kick off Aarons, and finally from that set piece, crossed for Richarlison to head wide. Maddison and Son combined just before half-time to stop Aarons advancing in Spurs territory.

At half-time, Maddison performed a more conventional leadership role by going over to Dejan Kulusevski and offering some words of encouragement. During the break, he told his new colleagues they needed to be switched on for the second half. Spurs didn’t seem to heed those words, and endured their only difficult spell of the match in the 15 minutes after the interval. But Kulusevski scored on 63 minutes to settle their nerves — and the game.

The Bournemouth fans grew increasingly frustrated as the match wore on, with their team having picked up just a point from their previous two matches, and Maddison was their main target as they vented. This was the case at Brentford on the opening weekend of the season too, where most of his touches were booed.

Maddison revelled in his pantomime villain role at the Vitality Stadium, and it’s perhaps an underappreciated leadership skill to be able to absorb so much of the opposition’s hostility.

At one first-half corner, Maddison deliberately placed the ball outside of the quadrant as he further wound up a set of supporters who had been taunting him all game. Then, when a home fan hurled abuse at him while he took a swig of water during a stoppage in play, he responded by pointing to the scoreboard.

Postecoglou laughed when asked afterwards whether this was ill-advised. “That’s fine, mate. It’s all a bit of theatre,” he said.

It’s all a bit of the Maddison package too, and his swagger is part of what has made him feel so instantly like he belongs at Spurs.

Having players with that confidence and creative expression, be it Paul Gascoigne, David Ginola or Dele Alli, is a part of the club’s DNA. Another of that ilk, former England forward turned TV analyst Joe Cole, said on TNT Sports’ live coverage of the game in the UK that he thought Maddison could prove the signing of the summer. And that was before the match started.

Certainly at this point, the £40million Leicester received looks like excellent value in the current market.

Maddison was confident enough after the game to admit he has set himself a target for the number of goals he wants to score this season, though he wouldn’t reveal what that number was. And why wouldn’t he be feeling confident after a man-of-the-match performance, a week on from excelling against United and before that producing two assists at Brentford on his debut?

It’s only been three games, and yet it feels hard to imagine Tottenham without him.

Very good and sums things up perfectly.
Possibly the best signing we've made in a long time, it's like he was born to play for Spurs.

 

[Frank Blank]

Don't see how Southgate can turn down a midfield 3 of Maddison, Bellingham and Rice. Can win tournaments with that.

Don't be daft; nowhere near as good as Mount.

 

[Shanks]

Used to hate him playing against us, proper little piss taker.

love him under spurs, loads better than I initially thought too. Definitely a player who his club loves and everyone else hates!

need more personalities in football, him and grealish just look they love life and it’s great to see

 

[zicomerc]

Wasnt sure where to put this but should we not consider Iheanacho from Leicester City? I watched Maddison highlights from Leicester last season and the two of them linked up well last season with Iheanacho assisting a few Maddison goals. Only 20m, he's still 26 and is actually homegrown.