James Maddison is facing an uncertain future at Tottenham Hotspur. Manager Ange Postecoglou left him out of the starting lineup for their recent match against Newcastle United.
Postecoglou explained his decision by stating that he wanted to use the experience of the players who came on later in the game. This was despite the fact that Maddison was suspended for the following match against Liverpool and was still among the substitutes against Newcastle.
Postecoglou had originally planned to start Maddison against Wolves in a previous match, but the playmaker reported ill on the day. Maddison was well enough to attend a darts championship that evening, which the head coach acknowledged was “no problem.”
Maddison was understandably frustrated to be left out against Newcastle, especially since the new England head coach, Thomas Tuchel, was watching from the stands. He was bright after coming on as a substitute, but getting back into the Spurs starting lineup will be his immediate priority.
Maddison started the first nine Premier League games of the season for Tottenham. However, he has been left out of six of the subsequent 11 matches and has often been restricted to brief cameos from the bench.
When he has played, Maddison has been an effective player, directly contributing to 12 goals in the Premier League. He scored two goals in the impressive 4-0 victory over Manchester City and also scored an important goal in the 6-3 defeat to Liverpool.
However, Postecoglou has frequently preferred the running power of other players like Dejan Kulusevski and Pape Matar Sarr in midfield roles. Postecoglou does not see Maddison as an option in the front three, where he has played for both England and his previous clubs.
Postecoglou has emphasized that Maddison’s good form has been a result of careful player rotation and has repeatedly stated that Maddison needs to be at his peak physically to perform at his very best.
However, the decision to start Lucas Bergvall, an 18-year-old player, over experienced players like Bissouma and bench Maddison again raises questions. It may suggest that Postecoglou is frustrated with the midfield pair, who can be inconsistent in their performances.
Despite these challenges, Maddison still has a significant role to play in Tottenham’s season. However, it remains to be seen if he can regain his place in the starting lineup consistently. His position within the team seems uncertain as he competes for a place in
