After producing excellent performances in his first two Premier League games under Ange Postecoglou as Tottenham’s new creator-in-chief, James Maddison finished a well-worked passing move to score during their 2-0 away win at Bournemouth – then praised his new midfield teammates and stressed a desire to repay the £40m fee they paid relegated Leicester for his services post-match.
Maddison: I’ll keep bringing quality, hope it makes us better
- James Maddison’s first goal for Tottenham (17′) and Dejan Kulusevski’s timely finish after 63 minutes saw off a resurgent Cherries side in the second-half, as Spurs continue their perfect start to 2023-24 season
- Maddison created both goals in their 2-2 draw away at Brentford on the opening weekend, before producing two key passes (and successful tackles) during their surprise 2-0 home win over Manchester United
- On his relationship with new midfield teammates: “You gain that [connection] during preseason and with more time on the training pitch, learning traits they have… Biss[ouma] is press-resistant, Pape has good legs, the dynamic worked brilliantly there [for his opener].”
- Former England international-turned-pundit Joe Cole declares 26-year-old as the signing of the season on TNT Sports’ broadcast, he responds: “It’s really nice to hear from a teammate at Coventry, I’ll keep bringing the quality, repay the club and hopefully it’ll make us a better team.”
Could a £40m figure ever be a steal, even in this current climate with overinflated transfer fees and performance-related add-ons boosting what used to be the norm?
Well, it’s still early days – something Tottenham have previously been guilty of – but Maddison’s instant impact on a core bereft of their talisman is forcing a rethink.
“As cliche as it is to say, there are no easy games in the Premier League and Bournemouth can be very tough.
I didn’t have the best record here with [Leicester], it can be a sticky place to come but we stifled them really well, it was a convincing performance,” the playmaker said before collecting his Man of the Match award on the TNT broadcast.
He refused to tell Jules Breach about any specific individual targets he’s set as far as goals scored this season, and why would he? Most players are superstitious about verbalising targets in public, but he predictably answered it well:
“If you have long-term goals then you get greedy after not scoring for a few games… I’ve just got to chip in with goals and assists. 1-0 is a tough lead, they were going to get momentum so the second goal came at a beautiful time with a cushion to control the game, did it brilliantly.”
Under the cosh as Dominic Solanke and Justin Kluivert probed intently to start the second-half, Postecoglou made a double change just before the hour mark: Richarlison and Pape Matar Sarr off, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Ivan Perisic on.
It might not seem like much on paper, but the Australian’s game-management will be under the telescope this season – so far so good, as they silenced a dangerous Cherries side threatening with half-chances through Philip Billing and Ryan Christie.
Four minutes later, fullback Destiny Udogie combined with Son before keeping the ball in play and crossing for a grateful Kulusevski to slot home, acting like a hammer blow in ending Bournemouth’s waves of pressure.
Not bogged down by continental competition this season, Tottenham travel to west London with Marco Silva’s Fulham up next before an away trip as Vincent Kompany and Burnley await before the international break.
Much was said about how they’d miss Kane and the pressure on Richarlison will intensify if his goalless streak continues, but shrewd collective displays like this – not faultless, but effective – show they can ride this momentum wave a little longer.
Picture source: Getty Images
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