There had been a lot of talks about James Maddison and the lack of output that the England international has produced along the ongoing 2024/25 campaign, which has raised doubts among the Lilywhites faithful on whether his presence at Hotspur Way needs to be replaced. The former Foxes maestro has hardly looked like himself all season; now that could also be down to Ange Postecoglou and his use of the 28-year-old.

The struggles at N17 continued at the weekend as the North Londoners could barely scrape a draw at home against Bournemouth yesterday, with the Cherries pressing Spurs in a contained manner to make them uncomfortable and give the hosts a difficult time at the back. Unhurt returnee Cristian Romero did look rusty as his mistakes at the back continued. But while there had been so many errors at the back and struggles for the North Londoners, the Australian head coach once again refused to play with his marquee number ten, leaving James Maddison on the bench and rather opting to play a settled midfield of Yves Bissouma, Mate Sarr, and Rodrigo Bentancur. And with Wilson Odobert and Brennan Johnson occupying the wings, the former Foxes maestro didn’t have any space in the starting eleven.

Thoughts and opinions over lack of play time

And with Maddison entering the field only in the 61st minute, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, alongside Gary Lineker (via ‘The Rest Is Football’ podcast), wondered if there may have been some kind of fallout between Maddison and Postecoglou to explain his absence. While the former Man City fullback Micah Richards talked Lineker out of his theory, it was an interesting conversation, one that the Spurs faithful could give some thought to.

Lineker began: “Maddison, late coming off the bench again. And when he comes on he always looks the part and played some really good football.

“I’m at a bit of a loss at what’s happened there this season. I wonder whether there’s been a bit of a fallout or…”

Shearer: “What have you heard, Micah?”

Richards: “Nope, I’ve not heard anything from Maddison. I think they’ve got the game in Europe, haven’t they?”

Lineker: “Maybe, maybe he’s thinking of that.”

Ange & Maddison need to find common ground soon

As we go into the far end of the ongoing season, it is going to be important for both Maddison and Postecoglou to find some common ground. And the Australian head coach at some point has to realise that Maddison does bring some unique qualities to the team, and he needs to find ways to integrate such qualities to optimum use into his tactical framework.

More Tottenham Hotspur News:

• TTLB Opinion: Is Postecoglou the reason behind Maddison’s underwhelming season at Tottenham?
• TTLB Opinion: Tottenham target Branthwaite and Guehi – but who makes more sense?
• TTLB Opinion: USNMT ace leaving Tottenham talks to his father, but where does he fit at N17 under Ange Postecoglou?

For Maddison, he has to show grit and determination to be back to his form and ensure that he asserts himself in the games (something that has been missing from him for the majority part of the season). Hopefully in the coming weeks we will see the return of the dynamic playmaker that took N17 by storm…