Gary Neville sends strong Wayne Rooney message to James Maddison
James Maddison put in a performance against Manchester City that showed glimpses of brilliance, but Gary Neville believes there’s a level of consistency and tenacity the Tottenham star must reach to truly cement his place among football’s elite.
Maddison shines after reclaiming starting spot
James Maddison started the season on fire for Tottenham Hotspur, registering four goal involvements in the opening seven Premier League games.
However, a dip in form saw the midfielder lose his starting spot in recent weeks, as Postecoglou opted for a more robust midfield trio of Pape Matar Sarr, Yves Bissouma, and Dejan Kulusevski, favouring their physicality and defensive work rate to balance the team.
Maddison, meanwhile, found himself on the bench, with questions beginning to arise over his ability to impact games consistently.
Against Manchester City, though, the Englishman returned to the starting XI and proved his worth with a sensational display.
He opened the scoring by latching onto a perfectly weighted cross from Kulusevski before combining with Heung-min Son to produce a delicate dinked finish for Spurs’ second goal.
His two-goal heroics were a reminder of his undeniable quality, though his performance also highlighted the need for consistency to elevate his status as an elite player.
Gary Neville’s assessment and advice for James Maddison
Gary Neville, speaking on Sky Sports, did not shy away from addressing the potential and pitfalls of Maddison’s game, offering both praise for his Manchester City performance and advice for the future.
He said: “Look, we love his character, we love his personality, we love seeing it when he scores. But to be a serious football player and he has got the potential to be a serious football player, he needs to be what he was in that second half and that’s be tenacious.”
Neville continued: “Pep Guardiola came to City and turned David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, two of the most beautiful midfield players, into fantastic defenders. It’s not mutually exclusive.
“You can be both a great attacker and defender. You can work your backside off for your team and be a fantastic defender, and also be a creative genius. Some of the greatest I played with, were the greatest spirits.
“I’ll name one, Wayne Rooney, as soon as he lost the ball, he was like a kid in the street trying to win it back. And that’s what Maddison did in the second half.”
He concluded by urging Maddison to maintain this level consistently, adding: “For James, don’t be the maverick, don’t be the one that people say ‘oh he doesn’t work hard’. Don’t be that player.
“Think of them all – Xavi, Iniesta – those who play in that midfield role, be a dog. Be a dog in there. Be that all the time. You’ll be an England player. No one can touch him. All those players we’ve got at England, he can be the best. He ran that game in the second half.”
Consistency is key if James Maddison wants England spot
Neville’s comments strike at the heart of what separates good players from the greats. Maddison’s ability to dictate the tempo and deliver moments of brilliance, as he did against Manchester City, shows he has the tools to dominate games; however, the challenge lies in replicating these performances week in, week out.
Statistically, Maddison’s contributions this season have been strong, but adding defensive intensity and work rate to his arsenal would elevate his game.
Players like De Bruyne and Silva became indispensable because they mastered the balance of creativity and grit, an approach Maddison must adopt to take the next step in his development.
Under Postecoglou, Maddison has the perfect platform to refine his game. The manager’s system encourages freedom in attack but demands discipline and pressing off the ball.
If Maddison can maintain the tenacity Neville praised and continue delivering in big moments, he won’t just be pivotal for Spurs; he’ll establish himself as a mainstay for England, finally fulfilling the immense potential he has shown throughout his career.
The post Gary Neville sends strong Wayne Rooney message to James Maddison appeared first on Spurs Web.