There were high hopes for Maddison when he joined Spurs this summer in a £40m move from relegated Leicester City. It’s unlikely anyone quite expected the playmaker to settle in so quickly, however.

In the wake of Harry Kane‘s departure this summer, Maddison has instantly stepped up and helped to ease that loss for the club. Taking on the number 10 shirt, the 26-year-old has carried himself with all the verve and confidence you expect from a key figure in the team.

His performances and attacking output speak for themselves. With three goals and five assists to his name already this season (Transfermarkt), Maddison has been a talismanic presence for Spurs as they remain unbeaten and sit at the top of the Premier League.

(Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

Maddison was made for Tottenham Hotspur

Maddison already appears to be a perfect fit for Ange Postecoglou‘s system, and was even named as one of his vice-captains. Suffice to say, things are going well for Spurs and Maddison so far.

Speaking to Premier League Productions (29/10/23 at 9:20 pm) about Maddison’s impact, Jermain Defoe was full of praise for the England international.

He said: “Maddison has been, for me, probably the best signing of the season. He is a Tottenham player, if that makes sense. Unbelievable signing. Really, really good.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I know what Defoe means about Maddison just feeling like a Tottenham player. I thought it even when he was breaking through at Norwich and definitely during his time at Leicester, that he just seemed to be the kind of player that we love to have at Spurs, and he’s proving that now. We are very lucky to have him.

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It’s hard to pick the most impressive part of Ange Postecoglou‘s team right now, but if we had to choose just one, the midfield has to be considered the most successful area at present.

The central midfield pairing of Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma has been a revelation for Spurs, helping Postecoglou’s side to dominate games in possession. Meanwhile, James Maddison has arguably been the signing of the season.

The 26-year-old has had a huge impact since joining from Leicester City in the summer, and has three goals and five assists to his name already this term (Transfermarkt).

Aside from his attacking output, Maddison has proven himself to be a huge influence on the team in many other ways, and has relished his role as one of Postecoglou’s vice-captains.

(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Will Maddison be Spurs captain one day?

Speaking to Kick Game, Bissouma was full of praise for Maddison, and predicted the England international might be the captain of Tottenham Hotspur one day.

He said: “He’s a good guy, he’s really good. [He’s always] trying to know what’s happening and trying to check on everyone. I think he can be a good captain in the future as well, but as a player I love him.

Bissouma hasn’t always enjoyed Maddison’s performances though, but only because he had to play against him.

“Do you know what? When I was at Brighton there was only two players making me crazy when I was playing against [them],” Bissouma added. “First one was Madders, second was [Jack] Grealish. Now I’m playing with Madders, I’m so happy to have him on my team.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Maddison will make a great captain one day, and I’ve no doubt that he will succeed Sonny when the time comes. He seems like the perfect captain, in that he leads by example but also has such a strong personality and isn’t afraid to step up and speak for his team, too.

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The choice was clear, obvious and only needed to be announced. Son would be captain and that would be that.

Yet there is a reason that Ange Postecoglou is the Tottenham manager and I am just a bloke sitting behind a laptop (despite leading Vauxhall Motors to multiple Champions League on Football Manager 2013).

When Son was duly announced as captain, it was part of a leadership triumvirate. This is a relatively new concept and not something that has been commonly seen in football despite people being anointed vice-captain or being part of a ‘players’ representative group’.

In this system, Son would be the new sheriff in town, ably by his deputies, Messrs Maddison and Romero. In theory, it made sense (despite some chuckles from opposition fans), but time has proved that it has been a masterstroke from Postecoglou.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: Son Heung-Min of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates their first goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 23, 2023 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

By having three leaders, Anger realised, you can combine a range of characteristics to create one ‘super captain’ and also give all players a ‘link’ to a leader, be that be by position, age or nationality.

However, for such a combination to work effectively, the constituent parts have to work both individually and as a collective. So let’s look at what each brings to the role.

In all honesty, the South Korean was the obvious choice for the role of captain. He is the elder statesman of the starting eleven, and a player whose open devotion to a club is rare in this day and age.

In the depths of the darkness under Nuno, while Harry Kane was trying to wangle a move to Manchester City, Son came out and signed a new contract. To do so at such a time spoke volumes – he is Mr Tottenham.

However, his appointment challenges the traditional view, bandied about by a collaboration of pundits and former pros – that there are two types of captain.

Either you fall into the category of badge-thumping, loud shouting, heart-on-the-sleeve leader, or there is the lead-by-example player – an individual that lets his feet to the talking and inspires others thus.

Although Son does lead by example, that is not what makes him the leader he is. In all honesty, he is a modern man. Yes, he usually does perform, but when he is not, he is openly vulnerable and takes and accepts criticism.

Previously, I thought this would be a reason to not give him the captaincy – as it might be extra responsibility that he did not need. I was wrong and am a victim of my antiquated thinking.

Imagine the culture in that dressing room now. If you make a mistake, or are suffering with form, you have a captain, who will be there for you and seems as though he will emotionally connect with people – rather than just offering the same tired platitudes about ‘you’ll turn it around’ or ‘better luck next time’.

This is not to criticise others, it is to shine a light on the fact that, in a world of alpha males and hyper-competitiveness, you have a man who is capable of bucking the trend and succeeding.

Some may, lazily in my opinion, attribute this to his ‘culture’ or ‘heritage’. This does Sonny a disservice; the truth of the matter is that he is just a beautiful human being – I hate the phrase ‘one of the good guys in football’ but here it is apt.

From the moment he walked through the door, Son has been a bundle of positive energy. From his elaborate collection of handshakes with the likes of Dele and Kyle Walker, to his warm welcome of new, younger players such as Pape Mate Sarr.

Son’s personality also seems to dovetail nicely with that of Postecoglou. Some like to lean into the narrative that ‘Big Ange’ is a warm and avuncular character, however, he has made it clear – in various interviews – that he is somewhat detached from the players.

They love him, that is true, but that is because he is direct and unequivocal in his communication and his expectations and is not driven by his own self-ego. It does not sound like much – but doesn’t everyone wish their respective bosses behaved in such a fashion? Anyway, I digress.

In true Sonny fashion, he is more than happy to be part of a ‘leadership team’. Many would see it as a slight, or would feel that their ego was somewhat bruised at having to ‘share’. Sonny however has embraced the idea of a ‘team’ and made both Maddison and Romero feel just as important.

The fact that he was never part of the previous ‘leadership committee’ seems bizarre and wondering why may take one into more uncomfortable avenues of thought.

At the time, the selection of Maddison as vice-captain would have to be regarded as a calculated risk. Now, a quarter of a season in and playing like he has been at The Lane for years, it seems an obvious choice, but at the time it seemed like even more pressure on his shoulders.

However, pressure, it seems, is something that Maddison thrives upon. This is where he demonstrates his true leadership.

When Spurs are in the proverbial ‘pickle’, he has the desire, combined the technical excellence, to be that talismanic figure and drive the team on. He wants to be ‘The Man’. It reminds me, to some extent, of Gareth Bale. When the chips were down and all hope was lost, he would come to life.

Do not be surprised to see multiple Maddison-inspired last-minute reprieves in the coming seasons.

He is also symbolic of the new era at Spurs and represents hope, change and excitement at what might come to pass. A player not tarnished by previous disappointments or associated with past regimes.

He has that intangible trait of being charming and has already developed a strong relationship with both the squad and the fan base.

At the team’s nadir last season, I had never felt so detached from the club I love. It is incredible that having orators such as Ange and Maddison, who are so excited to be at the club can serve to reforge links that many thought might take years to repair.

Cristian Romero is turning into a Tottenham leader

So why is Romero a good choice? When I wrote my aforementioned article, I did not truly believe it myself (Spurs Web) but the arguments were logical at the very least.

In his role, he has stepped up as the main man in defence. He is their leader and acts as such. His plethora of fouls and yellow cards he acquired at will have all but evaporated.

For now, such claims about his commitment to the club seem to have dissipated. I am showing my age here, but he is still a boy – but boys quickly grow up when responsibility is laid on their shoulders.

There is a final angle that needs to be observed when looking at the leadership group as a whole – there is the bigger picture. Few places are more cosmopolitan in places of work than a Premier League dressing room.

In the current first-team Tottenham squad, there are players from sixteen different countries and three different continents (The Premier League).

Despite the myriad nations represented, the previous leadership group had a distinctly Western European feel to it. Kane, Dier, Hojbjerg and club captain Hugo Lloris compromised the group and purportedly the next inductee was to be Oliver Skipp.

Consider all the players in that dressing room who previously may not have felt represented by this selection. This is not a dig at those players, but an observation around diversity and inclusivity – we are constantly given the message ‘See it to be it’.

This limited selection could only serve to lead to a fragmented dressing room and the building up of cliques and factions. Now, the squad seems, like the peak Pochettino days, to be a united and integrated family.

Like almost every article relating to Tottenham at the moment, there needs to be a nod to the greater challenges and adversities that will undoubtedly lie ahead. However, you get the impression that the current guidance and togetherness will hold them in good stead.

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While Maddison’s quality in the final third was quite evident to anyone who watched him at Leicester City, the 26-year-old has seemingly evolved as a footballer since making the switch to Tottenham.

He is now often seen dropping deep and receiving the ball from the Spurs centre-backs to help the side progress the ball high up the pitch, which is not something we saw the England international do in the past.

The former Foxes star has also demonstrated his ability to read the game well and win the ball high up the pitch as we saw at the Emirates for Tottenham’s second goal.

(Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

James Maddison soaks up Spurs tactics like a sponge

Postecoglou has now admitted that the attacking midfielder takes in more information than most as he wants to understand what he can do to help the team.

The Spurs head coach told Football.London about Maddison: “He’s very intuitive around the game and at understanding the game.

“For all the players, we try to provide a framework of education where we give them information to improve them as individuals but some of them take them in a more broader concept of the team aspect, and Madders is one of those.

“He takes the information but just from an individual aspect but how it can help the team. The goal he scored the other night came not from his individual ability but just from him working hard. He pressed two or three times. That’s a conscious thing he has to do.

“That’s not just about him being a good footballer, that’s him as an individual saying I need to do this because I think the team will benefit. And ultimately he benefitted from it because he scored the goal. But if he didn’t someone else would have, like we did for Sonny’s goal.

“So I think he’s one of these players that looks at it from a broader perspective, not just how it can help him as an individual but how it can help the team evolve into the team we want to be.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I have been surprised by how good Maddison has been off the ball. The attacking midfielder leads our press at times and evidently has an excellent engine. Despite his tireless work out of possession, he still has the composure to make the right decisions when he gets the ball.

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Opposition fans and pundits have been waiting for Tottenham’s bubble to burst and for them to fall away but there is no sign of that happening so far.

There has been plenty of discussion in the media regarding how long Spurs can sustain their current run of form, with the general consensus among pundits being that the Lilywhites have no chance of competing for the title (Football.London).

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal with teammate Son Heung-Min during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 23, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)

Can Spurs cope without James Maddison?

Murphy believes that Tottenham might struggle to pick up results consistently if they lose either Bissouma or Maddison to an injury.

The pundit also asserted that the real test for Ange Posteocoglou’s men will come when they hit a bad run of form as we will then see whether they are brave enough to continue playing the way they currently do.

The former Tottenham midfielder told talkSPORT: “The way they play, which is really brave, playing out. They continue to do it. They nearly, remember in the Arsenal game, shot themselves in the foot when Maddison dropped deep and Jesus missed that chance.

“The test will come for any group of footballers to maintain that footballing philosophy when you’ve lost a few games and there’s murmurs. That’s when we’ll see. I don’t think they’ll change. I think he’s given them the freedom to do it.

“They’ve got quality. If they keep Bissouma and Maddison fit, they’ll keep doing it. But if they lose a few players and a few of them hide a bit, you might see a little poor run of form.”

Spurs Web Opinion

The one thing we know about Postecoglou is that the style of play is a complete non-negotiable for him. So, there is no chance of Spurs changing their approach if they hit a bad patch of form, like they did under Mourinho for example.

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James Maddison is proving to be incredibly influential on the pitch for his new club. Since joining Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, the playmaker has become the club’s vice-captain, and has forged a very fruitful partnership with Heung-min Son.

His goal against Fulham on Monday night – the first at home for the new Spurs man – took Maddison’s tally to three goals and five assists in the early days of his career in North London (Transfermarkt).

Maddison’s impressive form has helped him become a more regular fixture in Gareth Southgate’s England squad, too. And, while on international duty, he has clearly developed a good friendship with Real Madrid superstar, Jude Bellingham.

A report from the Daily Mail recently detailed how Maddison and Bellingham, along with Jack Grealish and Trent Alexander-Arnold, had hit the town after the win over Italy last week.

(Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

Bellingham’s goal celebration linked to Maddison

Perhaps that night out is where Bellingham’s new celebration came from. While the Madrid player has long opted for a more traditional arms outstretched celebration, he may have debuted a new move on social media recently.

The ‘Sheriffs’ celebration, akin to a salute, was showcased by Bellingham on Instagram this week, and prompted a response from Maddison doing the same action.

In Bellingham’s original post, he tagged Maddison, along with fellow England stars Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Spurs Web Opinion

It’s great that Maddison is well and truly integrated into the England fold now, and deservedly getting more game time for the Three Lions. Hopefully, if he is becoming such good friends with Jude Bellingham, he can persuade him to join the Spurs revolution.

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Signing a new goalkeeper was of the utmost importance for Tottenham this summer. After the downfall of former number one and club captain Hugo Lloris, it was clear that Ange Postecoglou needed someone he could trust between the sticks.

For a long time, it seemed David Raya would be the solution to that problem, but when a move for the Spaniard fell through, Spurs moved quickly to snap up Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli in a £17.2m deal (Sky Sports).

The Italian stopper had a relatively shaky start on his debut in the 2-2 draw against Brentford on the opening day, but has not looked back since.

Vicario has pulled out some huge saves to help Spurs maintain their unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign, and is now coming off the back of two clean sheets in a row after the 2-0 win over Fulham on Monday night.

ENFIELD, ENGLAND – JUNE 27: Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario poses as he signs for Tottenham Hotspur at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on June 27, 2023 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

Is Guglielmo Vicario Tottenham’s best signing?

Speaking to ESPN, Michallik explained how Vicario had been underestimated by many when he arrived at Spurs, but is proving all those people wrong now.

He said: “It’s easy to point at James Maddison, all the goals and how they’re scoring in so many different ways. But defensively what he’s done is even more impressive. They’re the second-best defensive team.

“Look at Vicario – Google probably went down when Vicario came to London because nobody paid attention to who he was, but, today, we’re talking about Sanchez, Onana and Raya, here you have Vicario who is excellent.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I have to admit, I was a bit sceptical about Vicario when we first signed him. I knew he was decent, but I thought he might struggle in his first year and take some time to adjust, but he has been phenomenal.

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James Maddison has taken the Premier League by storm since joining Spurs in the summer. The £40m paid to Leicester City now looks like a bargain, with the playmaker flourishing under his new manager, Ange Postecoglou.

With three goals and five assists so far this season (Transfermarkt), Maddison has been an integral figure in helping Tottenham maintain an unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign.

The England international has forged an incredible partnership with Spurs captain Heung-min Son, and it was the two stars who combined on Monday night to secure another three points and help the Lilywhites return to the top of the Premier League table.

Naturally, Maddison is attracting a lot of positive attention right now, and rightly so.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal with teammate Son Heung-Min during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 23, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)

Michael Owen loves to watch Maddison play

Speaking to Premier League Productions (23/10/23, 10:05 pm), Michael Owen highlighted one area Maddison needs to work on, but had plenty of positive things to say, too.

He said: “[Maddison] is so brave with the ball. Even in the first half, I just purred with three or four of his passes. He just whips them into that frontman. Takes risks.

“He gives the ball away a fair bit, but that’s exactly what you have to do if you are going to provide the assists or score the goals that he scores.

“It’s brilliant to watch. He is always trying to make something happen. There are a lot of safe players around. They pass it around and keep their stats up and the percentage of keeping the ball.

“He doesn’t care. He literally doesn’t care – he will risk it every time he gets it. On those magic moments he creates and scores.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Maddison is truly our new talisman, and he’s so exciting to watch. You can see him on the pitch, wanting the ball all the time, dropping deep to make things happen, and driving forward to provide goals and assists. He’s special, and we are very lucky to have him.

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There is no doubt that several clubs across the Premier League will be ruing the fact that they allowed Spurs to have a relatively free run at Maddison, with the £45m deal undoubtedly representing the bargain of the summer.

The former Leicester City star has not only made Tottenham tick as an attacking unit, with three goals and four assists to his name so far this season, but he has also emerged as one of the leaders of the Spurs side both on and off the pitch.

The Telegraph revealed back in September that Maddison was on Chelsea’s radar in the summer but they decided against signing the midfielder due to his age.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal with teammate Son Heung-Min during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 23, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)

Would Maddison have been a hit at Chelsea?

The outlet explained that the Blues owners have a policy of not signing anyone over the age of 25, which is why they turned down the chance to make a move for the Tottenham man, who is 26 years of age.

Speaking about Chelsea’s decision to pass up on Maddison, Hislop has now told the ESPN FC podcast: “Maddison was a good player in an average team, you saw that at Leicester when he wasn’t able to do much. 

“Those concerns are absolutely genuine, but he has been outstanding, he really has. He drops so deep and then also finds himself on Son’s shoulder. Chelsea apparently refused to sign him because 25 is their limit and he’s 26. Well, if that’s their policy that’s their policy. 

“I just don’t think given where Chelsea were and a genuine feeling about James Maddison, he probably wouldn’t fit the bill, but now, all of a sudden, a lot of people shared that opinion of James Maddison, and he has changed opinions.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I suspect that the reason the likes of Man Utd, Newcastle and Arsenal did not get involved in the race for Maddison’s signature was because they saw him as more of a number ten rather than a number eight.

However, the 26-year-old has proved them wrong with the way he has received the ball in deep areas at Spurs and helped progress the team up the pitch, which is why the aforementioned sides will undoubtedly be ruing the fact that they passed up on him.

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The atmosphere at Tottenham’s home ground was quite toxic at times last season under Antonio Conte and it did not seem like the players particularly enjoyed playing in front of the home supporters.

The performances were frequently met with jeers from the fans, with Davinson Sanchez even being booed off the pitch against Bournemouth back in April after coming on as a second-half substitute (talkSPORT).

However, things have been completely different in N17 this season, with there being a celebratory atmosphere at the ground after games.

(Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)

Maddison sings along to Dolly Parton at Tottenham

The Spurs players celebrated along with the home fans after scoring late winners against Sheffield United and Liverpool earlier in the season, and it turns out that Maddison did the same following the 2-0 win over Fulham on Monday.

The Telegraph wrote: “How Spurs are loving it. They loving Big Ange – at the final whistle they played Robbie Williams Angels and they also belted out Islands in the Stream by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton.

“Watching man-of-the-match Maddison return to the pitch to sing along to that country-and-western classic was almost as astonishing as his tireless performance.”

Spurs Web Opinion

There seems to be a deliberate attempt by the players to establish a closer connection with the supporters by celebrating with them for an extended period after each game. I suspect that is something that either Son or Postecoglou suggested in order to ensure that the fans are behind them the whole season.

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Son had what was arguably his worst season in a Tottenham shirt last year and, following the loss of Harry Kane in the summer, the Lilywhites desperately needed the South Korean to return to his best this campaign, which he has certainly done.

The 31-year-old has stepped up and delivered the goals for Ange Postecoglou’s men, with his strike against Fulham being the seventh time he has found the back of the net in nine Premier League appearances so far.

The Spurs captain also set up Maddison’s second-half goal, with the attacking midfielder slotting past Bernd Leno into the far corner after being played through on goal by the striker.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal with teammate Son Heung-Min during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 23, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)

Heung-min Son is world-class – says James Maddison

Maddison remarked after the 2-0 win that Son’s ability to produce top-class finishes on a consistent basis is what sets him apart from many others in world football.

The 26-year-old said about BBC Sport about his partnership with the forward: “We have a brilliant relationship. Sonny is a player who I loved for years and years, just watching, and now it’s a pleasure to play with him.

“He’s a top, top quality player. A world-class player in my opinion. And I don’t throw that around a lot, he’s just of that ilk.

“Just look at his first goal, it’s a wonderful finish, and you can’t take that for granted. He sticks it in the top corner, I know it’s from the edge of the box unopposed but you still have to put it in and he’s ice cold in those moments.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Even a lot of good strikers tend to panic when they have too much time to think in front of goal. You will never find that with Son, who always remains composed and gets a clean strike off with either foot.

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It is fair to say that Tottenham’s decision to sign Vicario from Empoli in the summer was not universally popular among the supporters, with many feeling that the club took a cheap option rather than signing Brentford’s David Raya.

However, the Italian has quickly won over the Spurs faithful and has already shown that he is more than capable of filling Hugo Lloris’ shoes.

The 26-year-old’s impressive decision-making on the ball has helped Ange Postecoglou’s men build out from the back while he has also showcased his excellent shot-stopping ability.

(Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Vicario is impressing his Spurs teammates

Vicario made some sharp saves in both halves against Fulham on Monday, keeping yet another clean sheet, and Maddison admitted that he has been impressed with the new Spurs number one from the first time he walked through the door.

The attacking midfielder told BBC Sport about the goalkeeper: “To be fair I thought his save in the first half was better from the corner, from Palhinha’s header, that was top-drawer.

“After that, he probably wasn’t really worked until the latter stages and the moment you talked about and it was a fantastic save again. He’s been brilliant since he came in, Vic. Hopefully, he can continue that form for us.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Tottenham’s recruitment department deserves huge praise as they have hit it out of the park with the signings of Micky van de Ven and Vicario, who have both settled in seamlessly to life at Spurs and in the Premier League.

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Fulham were the visitors to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this week, but they left empty-handed as Ange Postecoglou‘s men cruised to a comfortable victory over the Cottagers.

The result saw Tottenham extend their unbeaten run in the league to nine games, and the three points took the Lilywhites back to the top of the table.

Spurs are now two points clear of Manchester City and Arsenal, and have a chance to go five clear if they beat Crystal Palace on Friday.

A stunning first-half goal from Heung-min Son got Spurs on their way, before the captain turned provider for James Maddison to bag his first goal on home turf in the second half.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 19: Guglielmo Vicario of Tottenham Hotspur celebrate during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 19, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)

Vicario and Maddison impress again for Spurs

In his regular selection for the BBC, Garth Crooks selected both Maddison and the Spurs stopper, Guglielmo Vicario, for his team of the week.

On Vicario, Crooks said: “What a save by Vicario from Joao Palhinha’s header in the opening exchanges against Fulham. The save was an important one and set Spurs up for their second clean sheet in consecutive games.

“Clean sheets win titles and whilst I am not suggesting for one minute Spurs will win the league, they currently sit two points clear at the top of the table and deservedly so. Vicario has finally brought a calm stability back to the Tottenham penalty area.”

And, on Maddison, he added: “This player was made for this club. Not since Christian Eriksen have Spurs had a real football technician in midfield. He scored his first goal at home for the club against Fulham but this is a player who should be scoring on a far more regular basis.

“He does however have the ability to carve open the opposition almost at will and create openings for others to put the ball in the back of the net. He’s a lovely footballer and has Spurs playing proper football again.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I have to say I’m a little surprised by Vicario’s inclusion, as he looked a little bit shaky against Fulham and nearly made a big mistake in gifting them a way back into the game.

That said, his saves were excellent and you can’t argue with a clean sheet. As for Maddison, what more can we say, he’s an absolute star.

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Maddison has not only made a huge difference to Tottenham in the final third this season, now having eight goal contributions to his name after his strike against Fulham, but the midfielder has also not been shy of dropping deep to get on the ball to help the side progress up the pitch.

The 26-year-old did that to brilliant effect against the Cottagers on Monday night after the away side decided to sit off and not press the Spurs centre-backs in the first half.

Maddison played several incisive passes through the lines as Marco Silva’s men found it difficult to control wave after wave of Tottenham attacks.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal with teammate Son Heung-Min during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 23, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)

James Maddison continues to impress at Tottenham

Although the Lilywhites took their foot off the gas in the second period, they cruised to a 2-0 win to return to the top of the Premier League table.

Smith said during the game on Sky Sports (broadcast on 23/10; 21:25): “Maddison has been outstanding this evening, Fulham haven’t been able to get near him. Surely if he keeps up this form he will easily make England’s squad for next year’s Euros.”

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Maddison will be eyeing a place in England’s starting eleven for the European championship, which would be difficult considering that Jude Bellingham plays in the same position.

However, the way the Tottenham man is going at the moment, it seems like Gareth Southgate would have no choice but to accommodate both players in the team next summer.

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Maddison was once again Tottenham’s most potent attacking threat against Fulham, with the attacking midfielder picking up the ball in dangerous areas in the first half and being at his creative best.

The former Leicester man got the home side’s second goal in 54 minutes, slotting home calmly into the far corner past Bernd Leno after being played through on goal by Son Heung-min.

It was the 26-year-old’s eighth goal contribution of the season (three goals and four assists) but it was the first one at home.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal with teammate Son Heung-Min during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 23, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)

James Maddison is in good spirits at Tottenham

Maddison spoke to Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football (as relayed by Football.London) after the 2-0 win, starting the interview with a joke before going on to admit his delight at getting off the mark at home.

At the start of the conversation when the host Dave Jones asked a question, the Tottenham man said: “I can actually hear Marco Silva’s interview in my ear now.”

When Jamie Carragher asked what Silva was saying, Maddison joked: “I think he’s saying Maddison’s goal was excellent.”

The attacking midfielder then went on to remark that he was relieved to get off the mark in front of the home fans.

When asked about getting on the scoresheet, he said: “I’m really happy. All of my goal contributions have been away from home and I keep seeing the stats popping up about it.

“It’s nice to get off the mark here with a convincing performance and a solid win that puts us back of the table, so I’m relatively happy.”

Spurs Web Opinion

While it is still early days, there are already signs that the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is becoming quite a fortress, with four wins from four until now.

There is no doubt that teams will not look forward to coming to the venue this season, given the atmosphere we have seen during the four matches so far.

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It was a pretty good night for Tottenham as they defeated London rivals Fulham 2-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to return to the top of the Premier League and maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.

Goals for Heung-min Son and James Maddison sealed all three points for the home side in a fairly comfortable, albeit unremarkable win.

It could, and should, have been more, however. Spurs had plenty of chances, with Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison both missing gilt-edged opportunities to get on the scoresheet.

One particular incident involved both Son and Maddison, though, where the pair appeared to get in one another’s way and spurn a great chance to extend the Lilywhites’ lead in the second half.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal with teammate Son Heung-Min during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 23, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)

Maddison blames Son for missed chance

Speaking to BBC Sport after the match, Maddison insisted he was not to blame at all in the situation, and jokingly revealed he can’t even look at Son for what he did.

Asked about the moment he and Son got in each other’s way, Maddison replied: “No… he got in my way. I haven’t spoken to him. I can’t look at him, I’ll speak to him tomorrow.

“I was right in front of the goal, and he was facing the wrong way. But, even he’s allowed to make one mistake.”

It was ALMOST a perfect evening for James Maddison and Spurs… pic.twitter.com/GcKCZmlHKK

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) October 23, 2023

Spurs Web Opinion

I love James Maddison’s post-match interviews. He is a player full of confidence and he’s clearly having a lot of fun being a part of this Spurs squad.

He was outstanding again last night, and everything good came through him. It’s a shame he couldn’t get that second goal, but we’ll let Sonny off this time.

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Tottenham maintained their unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign with a fairly routine 2-0 win over London rivals Fulham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tonight.

Spurs dominated the game by and large, and aside from a couple of scares, were able to navigate the fixture relatively comfortably.

A first-half goal from Heung-min Son, his seventh of the season (Transfermarkt), put the Lilywhites in control.

The Spurs skipper then turned provider, laying a perfect pass into the path of James Maddison to convert early in the second half, with the playmaker getting his first goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Ange Postecoglou‘s men now return to the top of the Premier League and sit two points clear of Arsenal and Manchester City after nine games.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal with teammate Son Heung-Min during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 23, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)

Postecoglou demands pressing from his players

In his post-match interview with Sky Sports, Maddison commented on the joy of bagging his first home goal for his new club, and also explained why this Spurs team are so intensive on the press.

On his goal, Maddison said: “I am really happy. All my goal contributions have been away from home, I see the stats about being good away from home, so I am happy to do it now at home.”

Maddison then discussed the way the game played out, adding: “It felt a little disjointed tonight. Fulham didn’t really press. Our centre-backs were able to walk up the pitch. I started to drop deeper and we got a little more success.”

"The first day he came in he said 'pressing high is almost a non negotiable at any stage of the game'"

James Maddison reacts after scoring first his goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Spurs' 2-0 win over Fulham pic.twitter.com/xdshnWzaLi

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 23, 2023

And finally, the 26-year-old was asked about Tottenham’s style of play now, and said: “Pressing is one of the main messages. He said pressing high is a non-negotiable. We had a game in pre-season where we were [winning] and then sat in and he went ballistic at half-time. He said that is what Tottenham would have done previously.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Hopefully, that’s the first of many goals Maddison gets to score in front of the Spurs fans at home, and once again he was pulling the strings all night tonight.

It’s very interesting what he says there about Postecoglou’s instructions, and how important the press is, and that approach led to both of our goals tonight.

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Due to Richarlsion’s struggles in front of goal, Ange Postecoglou decided to move Son to the number nine role a few weeks ago, and the decision has worked a treat, with the new Spurs captain having found the back of the net six times since.

Since being moved centrally, the forward has also linked up well with Maddison, with the attacking midfielder looking for Son’s runs every single time he gets on the ball.

In many ways, the partnership is reminiscent of the impressive one that the 26-year-old had with Jamie Vardy at Leicester City.

Maddison said in an interview with The Daily Mail recently that he and Son have already developed a great friendship off the pitch and teased Spurs fans by remarking that their partnership will only improve as they continue to get a better understanding of each other’s games.

(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Heung-min Son and Maddison is a dream combo

Speaking about the England international, Melchiot has now told BBC Radio Five Live Football Daily Podcast: “You can see his creative brain, playing right behind Son is not a bad thing to do right. 

“He can slip him in any time, he has the pace he has everything. All that pace, I will tell you know that’s exactly what I worried about when I played against Stewart (Downing), I’m sure now that Maddison will be happy playing behind Son and letting him go in and use his pace.”

Spurs Web Opinion

The most exciting thing about the current Spurs side is the fact that it is not anywhere close to its full potential yet, given that the players are still adapting to each others’ games and getting a better understanding of the system with each game that they play. In addition, the players are also individually not at their peak yet since this is quite a young squad.

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While Postecoglou has received plenty of praise for his tactical approach, having quickly got his Spurs side playing a free-flowing, high-intensity style of play, but one of his biggest strengths is undoubtedly his communication skills.

Tottenham fans will have already seen videos of some of the inspirational team talks the 58-year-old has given over the years (Optus Sport), and Maddsion has now revealed that the Spurs boss chooses the perfect words to get the players fully charged up.

(Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Postecoglou is a master of the Spurs team talk

The attacking midfielder told The Sun about Postecoglou: “He’s a really good motivational speaker. He has this way about him, when he talks to a group of players, he’s almost like an alpha male. When he’s talking, everyone’s listening. You can’t even blink.

“The team talks he does normally the day before the game, or even the day of the game in the changing room, they get you going, they get you ready to go out and play.

“He’s demanding of you. He uses real-life stuff to compare to football. He relates it back to life and family. It makes you want to play, work and run for him. He’s got a natural talent.”

Maddison also opened up on his budding relationship with Son Heung-min, praising the way that the South Korean has stepped up since being handed the captaincy, and admitted that no player at Tottenham wants to let down the 31-year-old.

The England international also remarked that the forward remains extremely down to earth and warm off the pitch despite setting high stands on it.

When asked about the new Spurs skipper, Maddison said: “He’s someone you just want to give a big hug to every time you see him in the morning.

“Even when I was at Leicester, I didn’t know him but he’d come up to me after the game and we’d shake hands, and he’d give you a hug and be complimentary about me as a player.

“He doesn’t have to do that and I see him doing that with other people. He gives his time to people. He’s a warm person to be around and a fantastic captain because he leads by example.

“With him as your captain, you don’t want to let him down because he’s such a good guy and has such high standards. It’s infectious for the group. Sonny’s a great captain and a great friend.”

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The leaders of the dressing room set the tone for the team culture and it is clear that under the leadership of Son, Maddison and Romero, there is a real sense of comradery and togetherness at the club, with everyone seeming to enjoy each other’s company.

However, the real test of their and Postcoglou’s leadership skills will come when we have a bad run of form.

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While Maddison’s attacking output was excellent for a struggling Leicester side over the last couple of years, the attacking midfielder is now rightly being talked about as one of the best playmakers in the Premier League since his switch to Spurs.

The 26-year-old’s England prospects have also improved after the transfer, with the Spurs man winning his fourth and fifth caps for the Three Lions in the last couple of months.

(Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)

Maddison is thriving in the spotlight at Spurs

The Coventry City academy product admitted that the spotlight on him is now a little bigger than it was during his time at the King Power Stadium.

Maddison told Men In Blazers: “What I would say is you definitely get more praise; people notice more because you’re at a big football club.

“There’s performances that I’ve played at Tottenham which have been spoken about as a really, really good performance, when actually, I’ve come off and I’m thinking I was alright. I was okay, I could’ve been a lot better. 

“Whereas, no disrespect to a team like Leicester, a smaller club in terms of the Premier League and stature, you come off and you think you’ve played really well and had a really good game, and it doesn’t get spoken about as much, just because Tottenham’s a bigger team at the right end of the Premier League.

“That’s happened a couple of times this season. There was one game I can’t remember, maybe even got man of the match and I was just like, there was no chance I was man of the match then. But I’ll take it, it’ll still go on the mantlepiece.”

However, Maddison did acknowledge that he feels he is now at the right age to kick on to the next level, given the experience he now has under his belt.

He added: “I feel like I’m arguably playing the best football I’ve played to be fair. I’m at an age now where I’m experienced. I’ve played a lot of football matches now, come through the lower leagues in my early career. 

“So I’ve played a lot of football. I’ve seen a lot of stuff. I’m still only 26. Got a long way to go, but I’d probably say, yeah I’m in the form of my career.”

Spurs Web Opinion

We are fortunate to have got Maddison at the right point in his career, with the attacking midfielder evidently ready to take his game to the next level and become a real leader on and off the pitch.

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