Tottenham returned to winning ways last weekend with their comeback win over Brentford.
James Maddison scored the third goal on the day to take the game away from the Bees. The Englishman was praised for his overall performance after the game, most notably by two former Premier League veterans.
Danny Murphy and Alan Shearer back James Maddison after Brentford win
Football pundits Danny Murphy and Alan Shearer were full of praise for Tottenham’s James Maddison after his goal-scoring exploits during the win against Brentford last weekend.
“I did pick him out because he was the best player on the pitch. Some sections of the media or people have questioned his start to the season, and I think that’s because Tottenham have started poorly.
“He has started this season very similar to the beginning of the last. He was the best player on the opening day at Leicester. Against Everton, he was superb when they won.
“Against Newcastle, he helped them dominate the game for long periods and probably should have won, and today in this deeper role that Postecoglu has put him in, as a central midfielder, Kulusevski ahead of him, he was absolutely outstanding.
“He is always brave, goes and gets the ball under pressure, and he’s always positive with his passing. And so many times he set them on the attack because he takes responsibility.”
Murphy on Maddison, as quoted by Hotspur HQ.
Shearer, meanwhile, backed the England international to have a successful season.
“He’s a good player, I don’t think you’d get many complaints, would you, from Spurs fans about him being a good player?
“We know what he’s capable of. He’s so intelligent and great on the ball and can make that final pass and he’ll have a good season.”
Shearer speaking about Maddison on the Rest is Football podcast.
Maddison made 30 appearances last season, scoring four and assisting nine goals in a campaign that saw him kick things off in fiery fashion before seeing his form drop off a cliff as the season progressed.
This campaign has kicked off as a bit of a mixed bag for the 27-year-old, with one goal and two assists from six games.
The England international has a £170k-per-week contract at Spurs, which runs until June 2028.
Fitness is key
If Spurs are to have a season that would be considered an upgrade over the previous one, they are going to need Maddison.
The creative midfielder is on a mission to once again stake a claim for a spot in the England setup and is gunning for glory to prove his detractors wrong this time round.
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If Spurs are able to manage his game time properly and have him available for most of the season, they might just be able to pull a rabbit or two out of the bag this time round.
