James Maddison already earning his Spurs in North London

The bold, attacking football of the new Spurs fits in perfectly with the characteristics of Maddison. He is a player who wants to entertain, enjoys responsibility on the ball and is prepared to take chances. As we saw during Sunday’s North London derby, there are times when those chances will not come off. At one stage he was dispossessed by Gabriel Jesus on the edge of his own box and it almost cost his side.

But this is a Spurs team who have changed their principles. Postecoglou is asking his players to be courageous on the ball and Maddison was undaunted by the mistake.

“Neutrals talk about Tottenham and often say, ‘Soft, weak, bottle it Spurs’, all that rubbish,” he said after the 2-2 draw with Arsenal. “I think the last couple of weeks have shown we might be going in a slightly different direction.”

Maddison set up both goals for Heung-Min Son illustrating two different facets to his game in this area. There was an impudence about the way he cut past Bukayo Saka for the first goal, getting to the byline and then expertly cutting the ball back for the South Korean. Then Maddison showed his tenacity, pinching the ball from the feet of Jorginho before neatly laying a pass in front of Son who did the rest.

For much of his career to date the question of trust has weighed on managers’ minds when it comes to the big games. For England, Gareth Southgate has overlooked Maddison for major tournaments and even at Leicester, where he developed significantly under Brendan Rodgers, the midfielder was left on the bench for the biggest game of Rodgers’ tenure – the 2021 FA Cup final, against Chelsea.

By the end of Rodgers’ time in the East Midlands, Maddison had become his most important player, entrusted with the captaincy. In last season’s Premier League Leicester averaged 1.5 goals per game with Maddison in the team but in his absence the side could only produce 0.8 on average. He has combined his effervescent personality with a responsibility on the pitch and it was a no-brainer as far as Spurs were concerned when it came to signing him.

Maddison has clearly thrived in these opening weeks of the season, enjoying his role in Postecoglou’s team and also benefitting from the security of being one of the first names on the team sheet. For all his outgoing confidence, Maddison likes to be loved.

Head coaches affect all their players and it is clear in this case that the change of coach from last season has benefitted the midfielder. Former Spurs boss Antonio Conte preferred a two-man midfield which protected his back three rather than looking to go forward through the middle. Under Postecoglou there will always be a role for a playmaker in a three-man midfield and Maddison fits the bill perfectly. Asking him to be part of a two-man midfield would be a far less effective use of his creative skills. Although it would be unfair to typecast Maddison as the type of player who is only

concerned with the entertaining stuff. He works tirelessly for the team and, as the second goal at the Emirates Stadium illustrated, he is happy to do the dirty work where tackling is needed.

Maddison’s set-piece strengths are another string to his bow. Overshadowed only by James Ward-Prowse in the Premier League, they are one more reason why the transfer price tag went as high as it did this summer. Anything around the edge of the box presents a goalscoring opportunity whereas from wide areas his delivery is up there with the best.

It is still only September – just – and with such a long season ahead it is far too soon to make lasting judgments on players. But Maddison’s form has been one of the real bright spots for a Spurs team who finally look like they might be changing direction after some dispiriting years under Jose Mourinho and Conte. Harry Kane’s departure is not being felt and with a more-rounded team developing in the former talisman’s absence there is an opportunity for others to shine.

Maddison is certainly one who intends to seize the opportunity under Postecoglou and the new broom that has swept through North London. He is approaching the peak years for a professional footballer. What happens between now and the age of 30 will help define a career that is showing all the signs of reaching its potential.

LEAGUE CUP

With Manchester City going out of the Carabao Cup this week, to last season’s finalists Newcastle United, there is an open look to the fourth round of the competition with 10 Premier League clubs left in the reckoning.

The draw threw up a repeat of last season’s final, with Manchester United hosting the Toon. A London derby came out of the hat too, with West Ham hosting Arsenal. Elsewhere, the big guns were kept apart with Chelsea and Liverpool surely fancying their chances of progressing in the competition.

Good luck to any Middlesbrough fans attempting a midweek journey to Exeter for the Teessiders’ tie with the League One club.

And with Mansfield hosting Port Vale it’s a guarantee that there will be a lower league club progressing to the quarter-finals. Could either of them follow in the footsteps of Bradford City, who famously reached the final of the competition as a League Two club back in 2013?

TEN HAG

What a difference a week makes. I’m at Old Trafford today for Crystal Palace’s second visit in a week. Had the Eagles arrived last Saturday afternoon then they would have found an atmosphere of tension around Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United. Instead, two wins, two clean sheets and a couple of solid performances have taken the heat off United’s head coach.

Sofyan Amrabat caught the eye in the midweek 3-0 victory over Roy Hodgson’s side. He started as a left-back on his full debut but ended up occupying most positions bar goalkeeper. It will be interesting to see where his longer term future lies in ten Hag’s set-up but it was a hugely impressive performance.

Another win today and the early season travails will recede further into the distance. There are still plenty of problems for ten Hag to address, particularly regarding the off-field situation with some of his playing staff, but winning football matches tends to make life a whole lot easier for a head coach.