Player Watch Player Watch: James Maddison

[Flobadob]

Does Ange play one DM and two more advanced? I like the look of Hatate as well as Maddison, who does suffer from a fair few injuries- or Eze, who might be gettable for 40….

I guess we’ll see mate. I feel like a coach with 20+ years experience is going to play whichever formation suits our players best, he’s not necessarily going to be dead set on the formation he played at Celtic

 

[rossdapep]

PRETTY RUTHLESS

Love it

Everyone will get worked up about incomings and its easy to understand that.

But I am certainly putting more hope on who we get out the door because that is the sign of real change in the way we operate. Not only that but it signifies that the new coach (and Munn) are in control, which will be much more importante than any transfer.

 

[FloridaSpur]

Honestly, 55m is not a crazy price for maddison. Though you would want it to be cheaper. We have spent that kind of money before if he's the priority its doable.

Could not agree more, especially if you consider that reports suggest that Woolwich are prepared to spend one hundred million on Rice, just two years younger.

Different players i know, but still a fair comparison.

Maddison played in a poor Foxes side last season and would fit perfectly in Ange's system.

Options and quality squad depth is what we need and Maddison would add that and some.

 

[Colonel_Klinck]

......Then we need to start clearing the decks. From what I hear, we are going to be pretty ruthless.

God I hope that is true. We need the big broom swept through this squad.

 

[Revo19]

Big clubs make signings like this, prove it by getting him over the line


Raya
Porro
Romero
Laporte/ Theate
Udogie
Bentancur
Bissouma
Maddison
Son
Kulusevski
Kane

This is an exciting team on paper for sure, but in terms of application and work ethic is severely lacking unfortunately. Son, Kane, Kulu, Maddison aren’t the best at pressing from the front and the former two, shouldn’t be asked to play this role. Even the midfield has a lack of discipline in it - that team could only work with pacy wide men who can press very well, cause opposition mistakes and play direct or workman-like midfielders who can go about a pragmatic way to plug gaps and cover defensive deficiencies of the forwards and full backs. Could take a leaf out of the Klopp Liverpool team at its peak with Fabinho, Hendo and Wijnaldum or the current Argentina midfield and attack balance. We need better work-horses in midfield who are dynamic def/attackers competent going either way and supporting the star players who can make a difference.

This is why after signing Kulu, I wouldn’t be too fussed about missing out on Maddison if we can bring in the right type of midfield player to complement the attackers and compensate for current squad deficiencies. Porro is very attack minded and Udogie is still young and requires refinement. Bissouma doesn’t have the tactical awareness to plug gaps and fill holes when the team is out of shape or unbalanced in out of possession transition. Neither can many of our team press competently and subsequently transition well offensively. Hojbjerg would be needed to fill this role and his pass numbers are regularly on the upper end of the league spectrum. James Ward Prowse would be a very good option and it also means set-pieces are covered and a far greater weapon for us. Teams will think twice about conceding a foul around their area. JWP, Edson Alvarez, Ibrahim Sangare, Manuel Ugarte(although now out of reach) would be ideal. Perhaps even a Mohammed Kudus from Ajax who can cover multiple roles and positions equally well.

 

[Donki]

I guess we’ll see mate. I feel like a coach with 20+ years experience is going to play whichever formation suits our players best, he’s not necessarily going to be dead set on the formation he played at Celtic

A manager who plays a system that suits the squad? At THFC does that exsist?

 

[elfy]

This would be great but definitely falls into the category of believe it when I see it given past form

To be fair, last season was a change in approach, where we bought in incomings before others left and I think it proved effective.

Even if it only ended up being loans, it focussed players minds when they saw new guys coming in to play where they play. Especially now with no Europe next season, I don't think that those who are told they are surplus would find much hope of being able to work their way into the team.

I think the big mistake we have made previously was to wait to sell before we buy, which means players reluctant to leave stay because they believe they will play either by working hard or just due to a lack of options. The way we worked last season made it crystal clear that there were players who would be highly unlikely to get on the pitch, and hopefully that will work out the same way this year.

 

[Flobadob]

A manager who plays a system that suits the squad? At THFC does that exsist?

I think the very fact he wants to play with the ball and on the front foot will suit our squad from the very start tbh. Will be interesting to see which formation or formations he uses. I think putting together a line up based on what he’s done previously at Celtic is a waste of time for now until we see which players we bring in and see a few pre-season friendlies. Quite looking forward to it. The last pre-season that felt exciting to watch and observe was the first season under Poch for me

 

[Stoof]

PRETTY RUTHLESS

Love it

STRUTHLESS*

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

we are going to be pretty ruthless.

 

[Thenewcat]

To be fair, last season was a change in approach, where we bought in incomings before others left and I think it proved effective.

Even if it only ended up being loans, it focussed players minds when they saw new guys coming in to play where they play. Especially now with no Europe next season, I don't think that those who are told they are surplus would find much hope of being able to work their way into the team.

I think the big mistake we have made previously was to wait to sell before we buy, which means players reluctant to leave stay because they believe they will play either by working hard or just due to a lack of options. The way we worked last season made it crystal clear that there were players who would be highly unlikely to get on the pitch, and hopefully that will work out the same way this year.

Agree especially the bold bit, but we also have for years overvalued players who aren’t good enough and allowed them to hang around, polluting the squad and depreciating in value (see Winks, H). Players either need to be reintegrated (if Ange wants them) or got rid of

 

[C0YS]

I think the very fact he wants to play with the ball and on the front foot will suit our squad from the very start tbh. Will be interesting to see which formation or formations he uses. I think putting together a line up based on what he’s done previously at Celtic is a waste of time for now until we see which players we bring in and see a few pre-season friendlies. Quite looking forward to it. The last pre-season that felt exciting to watch and observe was the first season under Poch for me

From everything I've read and listened. Including old interviews and podcasts I'm pretty darn confident he will play 4-3-3 maybe an outside chance of 4-2-3-1, and an outside of 3 at the back, but he's played that formation consistently for a long time now.

I also think we wont see much flexibility from a manager who has consistently been perfectly happy to replace half a squad in one window and have no issue with getting rid of big names. Maddison seems incredibly suited to playing under Ange, specifically his 4-3-3 system.

I am pretty certain he will play fullbacks that tuck inside and wide wingers. Mostly because in one of his interviews at a Celtic podcast he made it very clear what the motivation was. Which seems like its an integral part of his understanding of the game. Namely, he wants his attacking players able to stay forward and focus on attacking and the roles of the fullback to be simplified and focused without worrying about having to do a bit of everything. It's largely a defensive thing. Wingers therefore provide the width. Overlaping players will be CMs not full backs. Maddison as a player capable of playing off the right would suit that.

This idea of Ange being flexible is completely contrary to everything I have seen and read. The idea that he wants everyone of his games to be as if it was the game in which his managerial career will be judged on. The fact that he would be demanding his players to play from the back even after mistakes at celtic even when he could sense some of those same players doubting that. The fact that he is a manager who in interviews can be incredibly defensive when questioned and has essentially said he only really knows one way of playing and will continue to do that as it works. And the one time he tried something different in the australian youth teams he regretted it immediately. He seems to have a supremely strong belief in his own abilities and way of playing.

Sure, he might edit his formation to suit the players. He went 3 at the back for australia for a bit etc. But it's unlikely his fundamentals will change and those fundamentals are really about providing a positional attacking game based on creating overloads, particularly inside the oppositions box. With loads of runners into that space. It also means we will play from the back. We will play a seemingly suicidal high line and we will press the ball out of possession. And try to have the ball as much as possible. If some players cant do that, he wont adjust to suit them ,rather, they will be sold or removed from the team without a second thought. Something he has done time and time again.

So, to bring it back on point our signings are important here because we do need to adjust the team to fit the manager. Maddison fits, it makes sense. I am very confident that its with the idea that he would play as the most attacking option in a 4-3-3.

 

[rawhide]

Please take your analysis of the squad and how they’ll play to an appropriate thread, because this one isn’t it.

 

[90s Kid]

So if Maddison is being looked at for one of the 8s, I'd assume he'll need to do a fair amount of defensive work - anyone got an idea of his defensive qualities? What I've seen of him for Leicester he's been more no10 or wing so less defensive responsibilities...

 

[Impspur1]

Raya looking likely to be done. Madison I'd say is more difficult, but we have progressed over the last couple of days. Base are obviously leading this one.

How does it work when a player is represented by an agency that are leading negotiations for the buying club, if that makes sense? Is there not a conflict of interest? Not meant as a direct question ref the info but more generally

 

[SpursSince1980]

I really, really, really hope they get Raya, Maddison and a top LCB. Hopefully, before the start of preseason. As those are the three most critical needs.

Curious about where Maddison’s mind would be when it comes to basically choosing between us and Newcastle. If it comes down to wages, we can, ironically can outbid them due to FPP.

Outside of money though, I do wonder where he’d prefer to play and live. The coaching thing is neither here nor there. As I don’t think he’d consider Howe as heaps better than Ange.

I hope Harry can help be an influence here.

 

[djhotspur]

If they want 50m plus then walk away and don't waste time. We need to spend more in defence than attack anyway. Maddison would be good competition but we can't spend that much on competition. We're better off unearthing a young cheaper prospect to compete. We spent 60m on a forward to compete last summer and had a massive lack of quality at the back. Maybe give Gil a chance to compete with Kulusevski. I think he could do well under Ange anyway. Get a cheaper attacker to complete the forward line and spend more in defence.

I really, really, really hope they get Raya, Maddison and a top LCB. Hopefully, before the start of preseason. As those are the three most critical needs.

Curious about where Maddison’s mind would be when it comes to basically choosing between us and Newcastle. If it comes down to wages, we can, ironically can outbid them due to FPP.

Outside of money though, I do wonder where he’d prefer to play and live. The coaching thing is neither here nor there. As I don’t think he’d consider Howe as heaps better than Ange.

I hope Harry can help be an influence here.

Yeah those 3 in, then replace others who need replacing after we move a bunch on would be a fantastic transfer window given the circumstances

 

[Trix]

How does it work when a player is represented by an agency that are leading negotiations for the buying club, if that makes sense? Is there not a conflict of interest? Not meant as a direct question ref the info but more generally

Happens an awful lot mate. Obviously as long as the buying and selling clubs are happy with the price it doesn't really matter. The super agents have been doing it for well over a decade, and they usually have a good relationship with both clubs which makes things a little smoother(generally speaking).

 

[McFlash]

I seem to have a weird mental block when it comes to Maddison.
I mean, I know he's a good player and I know that he's probably just what we need but I just can't seem to get excited about the idea of him.
I'm just not sure about him but in all honesty, probably couldn't give a decent reason why.

 

[Johnny J]

I seem to have a weird mental block when it comes to Maddison.
I mean, I know he's a good player and I know that he's probably just what we need but I just can't seem to get excited about the idea of him.
I'm just not sure about him but in all honesty, probably couldn't give a decent reason why.

Not getting excited is a step up from where we all were at the end of last season.