After being on the sidelines for a number of months with injury, James Maddison is now starting to find his groove again in Tottenham colours.
You could argue that the 27-year-old was the best player in the Premier League before his ankle injury against Chelsea in November.
Since then, he has taken his time to settle in again, but during Tottenham’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday, he was back to his best.
Stephen Warnock highlighted the change in performance from James Maddison in the first half compared to the second period, as he told The Football Show on Sky Sports.
The former left-back stated that ‘there aren’t many players’ who have the vision and passing ability of the England international
It was highlighted that, in the first half, with Crystal Palace sitting in a low block and with nearly every man behind the ball, Ange Postecoglou’s men struggled to break them down and then Eberechi Eze proceeded to score a stunning free-kick.
But James Maddison, rather than play high up and in the pockets, decided to play a little deeper and that’s when things changed.
He was then able to see the bigger picture, open up his passing range and pluck out passes like he had a PlayStation controller in his hands.
James Maddison’s passing and vision
“The contribution of James Maddison, the way he plays and how they struggled in the first half with Maddison playing high up the pitch and struggling to get involved in the game,” said Warnock.
“When we look at his position and where he was on the pitch and where he found himself. This was the problem. He wanted to play high up, but then they wanted him to come back.
“That was the theme of the game (Tottenham struggling to play through the lines to players like Maddison). But then you change it, you put Maddison in this central position (building up play from his own half). Just look at the difference he now causes to Adam Wharton. Does he go and press James Maddison? Or does he worry about Son? He doesn’t know what to do and it gives them the problem.
“Look how deep Maddison wants to come again – that’s the question James Maddison has asked. Rather than play high up the pitch here and it is causing problems. Look at the space in midfield.
“He can see the whole picture, James Maddison. He has got the full picture in his head because I have had a little look up, I can see who is in front of me and I can make sure I have options left and right, then I can pick passes. We have spoken about his vision and ability to pick passes, there aren’t many players who can pick that from a midfield position.”
James Maddison in the big games
The reason why Maddison was signed by Spurs was to provide that magic and be that player in the big games.
Earlier on in the campaign, he stepped up in the north London derby and supplied two assists against Arsenal.
Well, on Sunday, Postecoglou and his players travel to Villa Park to take on their top-four rivals Aston Villa.
This is now the stage for Maddison to showcase his best stuff because, if he does, then it will more than likely result in his team securing Champions League football in May.
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