Tottenham have a perfect backup for James Maddison in Mikey Moore

In 16-year-old prodigy Mikey Moore, Tottenham Hotspur have a talent for the ages. The versatile teenager primarily plays on the left wing but has extensively featured as an attacking midfielder as well as featuring as a striker.

Moore has two appearances for the senior team, both coming in the Premier League. He featured for the final few minutes of our league games against Sheffield United and Manchester City towards the business end of last season.

While he has not exclusively played as an attacking midfielder for the senior team, that will, in all likelihood, hold the key for him to step up to the first team and become a regular feature for Ange Postecoglou’s side. Tottenham’s bench strength, particularly on the wings will make it difficult for Moore to find a spot as a winger in Big Ange’s tactics, but his familiarity with the #10 role might help ease things for the teenager. He’s also recently agreed to his first pro contract with the club, making things all the more exciting for Spurs fans.

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Let’s go back to last season. November 2023. Chelsea at home. A game that derailed Spurs’ entire campaign. We were unbeaten in the league until that point with James Maddison playing a key role in the same. However, he saw himself come off the pitch due to injury. Until his return, and even after that, Tottenham could never replicate their form from early on in the season.

That raised plenty of questions about Spurs’ ability to field a like-to-like replacement for Madders, who is a quality baller with his ability to find his team-mates, create chances, score goals of his own, and excel in retaining possession of the ball in either phase of transition.

Enter Moore. In 162 minutes of pre-season action, the Englishman has two goals (vs Hearts and Vissel Kobe) and an assist (vs QPR) to his name. These performances underline his potential and readiness to contribute more significantly to the first team.

Silky Baller

Moore’s skill set aligns well with the demands of the attacking midfielder role. He possesses excellent vision, quick feet, and a knack for finding space in crowded areas. His ability to thread through balls and deliver precise passes mirrors some of Maddison’s best qualities. Additionally, Moore’s confidence in front of goal adds another dimension to his game, making him a valuable asset in the final third.

In 24 appearances for Spurs U18 side, he has 19 goals and 13 assists to his name, and that is ABSURD, to say the least. Integrating a young talent like Moore into the first team requires careful management. Postecoglou’s tactical acumen and experience with developing young players will be crucial in this regard. Moore’s development can be accelerated by gradually increasing his game time, especially in cup games.

Despite his promising talent, Moore’s youth and inexperience mean he will face challenges as he transitions to regular first-team football. The physical demands of the Premier League can be daunting for any player, let alone a teenager. Moore will need to build his physical resilience and tactical understanding to compete at the highest level consistently.

Making a place for himself

Adding to that, the mental pressure of being compared to an established star like Maddison could be overwhelming. Moore must be given the time and space to develop at his own pace, without the weight of excessive expectations. Ensuring he has a supportive environment, both on and off the pitch, will be crucial for his development.

In the long term, Moore’s integration into the first team could be a significant advantage for Tottenham. Developing homegrown talent brings with it an unparalleled sense of joy within the club apart from the usual financial and other benefits attached to it. Moore’s rise could inspire other academy players, showing them a clear pathway to the senior team. Think of someone like Harry Kane or Ledley King.

While there will be challenges in his transition to regular first-team football, the careful management of his development could see Moore become a pivotal player for Spurs in the coming years.

Unparalleled Potential

Moore’s emergence as a potential backup for Madders is an exciting development for Tottenham Hotspur. His versatility, vision and goal-scoring ability make him a promising candidate to fill the creative void left by Maddison’s absence, or even when the management feels like giving the English international a break from action.

Adding to that, he could save Tottenham millions in transfer fees. Rather than spending significant sums on a high-profile signing to provide cover for Maddison, Spurs can nurture Moore’s talent, allowing the club to allocate resources more effectively.

The savings from not having to purchase a new attacking midfielder can be redirected to other crucial areas, particularly the defence. Last season, Tottenham’s defensive shortcomings, more so the positions we saw ourselves in from set-pieces, were evident, especially towards the end. Leaky at the back and prone to conceding crucial goals, the defence became a significant concern for Ange Postecoglou. We conceded more goals than 15th-placed Everton for further context.

With a strong defence and emerging talents in attack like Moore himself, Tottenham can aim for long-term success, with the core of a mixture of up-and-coming talent alongside experienced world-class footballers.

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• “We’ve been clear” – Manager has told ‘unstoppable’ Tottenham Hotspur target to find a new club after dropping him from the squad

All in all, if he continues to progress and adapt to the demands of the Premier League, Mikey Moore could well be the perfect understudy to Maddison and, in no time, perhaps even a key player in his own right. For now, his performances in pre-season have certainly given fans a reason to be optimistic about the future.