James Maddison may be a better match for Tottenham Hotspur than Premier League rivals Newcastle United, according to Danny Murphy, who wonders if there is a natural fit for him in Eddie Howe’s club.
If we’re talking about pure football skill, James Maddison is on a completely different level from Joelinton, Joe Willock, and Sean Longstaff.But there is more to top-level athletics than pure ‘talent’.
Newcastle United’s hard-running midfield came to represent the Magpies’ industrious, all-action style, which helped the Magpies finish fourth last season.
Murphy compares Newcastle’s engine room to that of a post-Philippe Coutinho Liverpool, with Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, and Gini Wijnaldum making up for their technical limitations with a never-say-die work ethic and considerable running power.
And Murphy worries Maddison will be a difficult fit; a natural ‘ten’ moved to the wings to accommodate two box-to-box ‘eights’.
James Maddison might join Newcastle United or Tottenham Hotspur.
When asked if Maddison would be better off at Newcastle or Tottenham, Murphy says, “From a footballing standpoint, the obvious answer would be Newcastle.” “Because they are in the Champions League and on the rise.”
“If I were him, I’d be talking to both managers (Howe and Ange Postecoglou) and trying to figure out where they think he’ll play.”
“The way Eddie Howe has set up this Newcastle side – and the way I see them moving forward – is not with James Maddison, despite the fact that he’s a fantastic player.”
“(Howe) plays three in the center of the field. Similar to when Coutinho left Liverpool. Three athletes who are capable of playing yet are all box-to-box. They come back, recognize danger, and play fast.
“And (Howe) has three in front of him. He could (play out wide), but that isn’t his best position. It all depends on what he believes is his finest position.”
Celtic, too, used a ‘dual eight’ system under Postecoglou. But the presence of Reo Hatate and Tom Rogic under the Australian at Parkhead implies that – as long as Spurs get the balance right – Maddison has a more obvious role in a Tottenham side that is nowhere near as settled tactically as Newcastle.
“The Spurs could assemble a team around him.” He was capable of playing as a ‘ten’ as well as with two holding midfielders. Tottenham are in a period of transition,” Murphy adds.
He’s a fantastic technician and a fantastic artist. But I think if he goes to Newcastle, he’ll have to play wide unless Howe completely alters his system, which I doubt.”
According to the Northern Echo, the £50 million-rated Leicester City playmaker prefers a move to Tottenham over a move to Newcastle.
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