Player Watch Player Watch: James Maddison

[SuperLuka]

It's not about being pl proven or not. I don't think there's an obtainable player anywhere near his level.

 

[Impspur1]

I’m not as convinced as others that we need him.

If you watch todays Sensible Transfers video from Tifo, they suggest exactly what I’ve been thinking, which is to move Deki to the 8 role (De Bruyne role) and instead spend our money on 2 quick wide players who are strong dribblers. They suggest Jota and Nico Williams who are both on my list.

Instead of signing Maddison, we push Deki inside where I think he can really thrive. Deki is also an excellent presser. It then gives us way more pace and dribbling ability out wide.

I’m not convinced Maddison is the right fit for Ange’s system anyway.

I still think we would need another as cover for Deki, but absolutely, why spend money when we may have the answer within the squad.

 

[ajspurs]

I’m not as convinced as others that we need him.

If you watch todays Sensible Transfers video from Tifo, they suggest exactly what I’ve been thinking, which is to move Deki to the 8 role (De Bruyne role) and instead spend our money on 2 quick wide players who are strong dribblers. They suggest Jota and Nico Williams who are both on my list.

Instead of signing Maddison, we push Deki inside where I think he can really thrive. Deki is also an excellent presser. It then gives us way more pace and dribbling ability out wide.

I’m not convinced Maddison is the right fit for Ange’s system anyway.

My only problem with this is that I'm not wholly convinced that Kulusevski will be the answer in the 8 role. I really like the idea of experimenting with him there, but am not sure I like the idea of not getting anyone else more specialised in that position to primarily play there, whether that be Maddison or anyone else.

If Kulusevski were to for whatever reason not produce in that more central role, we would all of a sudden look incredibly short in that department. Actually even with him producing there we'd still look short without Bentancur for half the season. Would personally like to move away from either of Hojbjerg/Skipp starting.

 

[Impspur1]

This assumes we approach transfers like there is a set pot of cash each summer, and by saving 20 million on this deal, we can spend 20 million more on that deal. But I see very little evidence suggesting this is the case.

I think we approach every deal in more or less the same way, irrespective of how much we 'saved' or not in previous deals. For sure, we will have budgets, but just because we save money on a GK and AM does not mean we will use that 'extra' cash to splash out on a new CB.

Yeah I actually fell into the trap of thinking that we save money here to spend there but the more I think about it I think you are right. we have a value we think a player is worth and won’t go to far beyond that. Hopefully the change is that we move quickly onto the next option

 

[Roberts84]

It's not about being pl proven or not. I don't think there's an obtainable player anywhere near his level.

Why do you know the availability of every player? Do you know if Ange particularly likes Maddison and thinks he really fits into how he wants play.

 

[andyp8080]

Exactly this. It’s why we are where we are as a club

ndombele wow just wow. The guy is crap there is no two ways about it

TN is so frustrating.........he is technically such a gifted player. Its his work ethic and attitude which sucks, as we all know

 

[SuperLuka]

Why do you know the availability of every player? Do you know if Ange particularly likes Maddison and thinks he really fits into how he wants play.

I don't know the availability of every player or what Ange is thinking and didn't claim to.

 

[King of the Lane]

I just hope we arent going to baulk at the price of every player over £40m. The stadium was supposed to be a game changer for us.

If Ange doesnt see Maddison as 1st choice then fine move on but it would be really disappointing if he wants him and we wont pay the fee.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

As much as I would like Maddison I personally have my doubts he has the work rate to really be effective as the most advanced midfielder in a midfield three, so i'm not overly bothered if he doesn't sign.

I actually think Lo Celso would thrive in that role under Ange but obviously it depends if he wants to stay...

 

[HoltbiusMac]

I think Maddison’s creativity is a little overrated. A lot of his chances created and assists come from set pieces - which is good because he’s a really good set piece taker - but doesn’t necessarily add an enormous amount to us. I don’t have the numbers to hand but say he monopolises set pieces and gets 10 assists that doesn’t really mean we’ve added much creativity beyond what Son/Porro would have done.

His goal threat from the 8/10 position is really good though and we desperately need to add that. I do think that if we added him to our attack then he would score extra goals over and above what our existing players are capable of.

He’s the most obvious option and I think a good one. There may be ‘smarter’ choices but nobody springs to mind in PL that we could sign and my knowledge of European football couldn’t tell you who the smarter buy for the same role would be.

 

[sam_mason]

And the cost of those players too….. none were expensive

Well not by todays standards maybe, but we paid what £16.5m for modric from Dynamo Zagreb. At the time that was a big fee, for a player, who'd had a couple of seasons for Zagreb and a loan in Bosnia.

Similar for Berbatov. Its not so much the level of the fee, but the comparative from other leagues. Those transfers were demonstrably excellent deals for the Club - trying to buy equivalent players from English clubs would not have been possible.

 

[DiVaio]

You just listed a generational talent and yes whilst there are exceptions to the rule. The fact is the majority of our major signings who have come from outside the PL have flopped massively.

Lo Celso
Ndombele
Gil
Perisic
Bergwijn

We were at our best under Poch when we were signing PL proven players.

They have flopped because they mainly played under bad manager who played counter-attacking football when they all played before more attacking, ball-possession football. Or in case of Bryan didn't even get a proper chance. It has nothing to do with them not being PL proven.

Our best eleven when we were the best under Poch had like 3 PL proven players before? And still Dembele wasn't massive hit immedatiely lol

 

[Timbo Tottenham]

I tend to agree. Kane isn't a quick aggressive presser can we afford another in the side?

“Quick and aggressive” is key here as Kane definitely presses more for England than Spurs, as I assume is because he asked to.

 

[Albertbarich]

Put me in the not too fussed camp.

We have no issues going forward and whilst I definitely want a creative player I also would be happy with younger ones that press and play with lots of energy.

I'm sure the club has a decent list.

 

[ukdy]

I just think we won’t get anyone better than Maddison

I think there are many many players who we might not know about that can be just as good. That's what the scouts are for. Kulu and Bentancur are examples of 'unknowns'

We may have been able to cut costs with the GK

It wasn't about 'cutting costs' with a GK, when we were apparently willing to go near the £30m mark for Raya, but Brentford were unwilling to move lower. As I said elsewhere, have a budget, have other options. Stick to your guns.

Trix has suggested that there's still distance on what we're willing to pay for JM, and what Leicester want. We're not going to wait until Aug30th for them to lower their price by just 20p, so we have to get a settled team ready for Ange.

 

[Roberts84]

I don't know the availability of every player or what Ange is thinking and didn't claim to.

You claimed that you didn’t think there was an obtainable player anywhere near his level.

 

[PaulThurston]

This makes no sense from a football or business perspective whatsoever, other than to appease some online fans. And we should in no way be running the club to appease fan's speculation. There's a reason no club in the world openly announces its transfer targets and dealings outside of rare and specific exceptions.

I think you're misreading what I mean. I absolutely agree we shouldn't comment on details but the occasional bit of reassurance about direction of travel wouldn't hurt.

The current radio silence doesn't help anyone in my view.

 

[Albertbarich]

As much as I would like Maddison I personally have my doubts he has the work rate to really be effective as the most advanced midfielder in a midfield three, so i'm not overly bothered if he doesn't sign.

I actually think Lo Celso would thrive in that role under Ange but obviously it depends if he wants to stay...

I still think there is a player there but now Barcelona are sniffing he will want our and will no doubt expect us to take peanuts despite having contributed f all to our club for the huge money we paid

But yes, he would thrive under Ange. Much more than N'dombele I think.

 

[SuperLuka]

You claimed that you didn’t think there was an obtainable player anywhere near his level.

Yes, that's clearly my opinion. I didn't claim it as fact. I didn't even mention Ange.

 

[spursfan77]

I just hope we arent going to baulk at the price of every player over £40m. The stadium was supposed to be a game changer for us.

If Ange doesnt see Maddison as 1st choice then fine move on but it would be really disappointing if he wants him and we wont pay the fee.

It’s becoming increasingly obvious that it isn’t going to make a difference, they are scared of spending. Sure we've had the covid losses, but soon enough we are going to have to have something to show for it. They made such a song and dance about the £150m injection (and only used two thirds of it) and other clubs like West Ham spent the same as us. I’m definitely one of the people who has always said I’d rather sign the right player. If they cost £5 million then fine. But for top draw proven quality players, they are going to be expensive. We always seem to be behind the market.