In a short space of time, Ange Postecoglou has brought an entertaining and attacking style to Tottenham. Speaking exclusively to TNT Sports ahead of Spurs’ Premier League game against Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon, Postecoglou discusses the importance of James Maddison, why having “circuit-breakers” is important to him and reveals some of his all-time favourite playmakers.
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Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, speaking exclusively to TNT Sports, believes James Maddison’s unpredictability and his capability to “see things that others don’t” is what makes him a crucial part of his new-look team.
Tottenham have adopted a more attacking style of football since Postecoglou arrived in north London this summer, and the results so far have been positive. A 2-2 draw at Brentford was followed up by a statement 2-0 win over Manchester United last Saturday.
Speaking ahead of Tottenham’s Premier League game against Bournemouth at Saturday lunchtime – live on TNT Sports – Postecoglou has emphasised the importance of having more creative players in his team.
“In terms of the way we want to play and the football team we want to be, we have to have creative players who can do things through their own imagination and their own ability,” Postecoglou told TNT Sports.
“So much of football today is structured that having circuit-breakers in there [is important]. Sometimes that’s people with capabilities whether that’s speed or power, or it can be people like Madders [Maddison] who maybe see things that others don’t.
“For me having players like that in your team can make you an effective attacking force.
“The unpredictability in his play, and he is always looking for the passes and the runs that maybe others don’t. He will always provoke rather than play safe and with the first few weeks with us, you’ve seen that already.
“Irrespective of how our opposition set up, he’s constantly looking at areas and ways to provoke the opposition and to try and hurt the opposition. For us he gives us that extra strength when we’re going forward.”
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Maddison has played in an advanced No. 10 role behind striker Richarlison in Tottenham’s opening two games of the season, and assisted for both of Tottenham’s goals against Brentford in West London.
With more Premier League sides employing a flat midfield line in recent years, Postecoglou feels the traditional No. 10 position where the player would mostly only attack “is gone” and someone who plays that role must be able to do the attacking and defensive sides of the game.
“Football has become a lot more structured and organised,” he said.
“When one part of the game that gets squeezed out, that tends to be the creative side where you need a bit more freedom to make decisions.
“Invariably those type of players maybe don’t get as much of an opportunity when sides are so structured.
“I think there’s definitely room in every team for players who are circuit-breakers in the way you play and the opposition sets up and an unpredictability in the way they play. The days of just having a luxury player who plays one side of that game and that may be offensive side of the game, that is gone.
“With Madders, we need him to work hard defensively and he’s embraced that side of his role. He understands for him to continue to play and have an effect he needs to do both sides of the game. Just being good at the offensive side of the game, very few teams are going to carry those kind of players.”
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Postecoglou also pointed out some of his favourite playmakers over the years, including a Tottenham fan favourite.
“There’s all different types but you look at your classic players like Diego Maradona or [Johan] Cruyff,” he said. “Guys who would do things that maybe others who would look at the game a little bit differently.
“The club had Paul Gascoigne, the players who when the ball arrives at their feet people get genuinely excited because it’s in their players’ nature to look for something that’s going to be creative and hurt the opposition rather than the more basic elements of the game in terms of their reactions. You need a balance of both but those are the guys I think laid it out there.
“They’re the kind of players [I like] for the most part, especially in the midfield area. They’re exciting on the ball, lively with their feet. They always told you that player had something special about them.”
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