Unexpected Tactic by Ange Postecoglou: James Maddison May Be in a New Role
Reports suggest that Ange Postecoglou might use Tottenham Hotspur’s fresh recruit, James Maddison, in a position that wasn’t previously thought of. This comes from The Athletic, which suggests that instead of the speculated role as a No 8, Postecoglou might field Maddison as a No 10. Spurs brought Maddison into the squad after striking an […]
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Reports suggest that Ange Postecoglou might use Tottenham Hotspur’s fresh recruit, James Maddison, in a position that wasn’t previously thought of.
This comes from The Athletic, which suggests that instead of the speculated role as a No 8, Postecoglou might field Maddison as a No 10.
Spurs brought Maddison into the squad after striking an agreement with Leicester City earlier this week.
On Tuesday, the 26-year-old was announced as the third arrival during the Ange Postecoglou tenure, following Dejan Kulusevski’s loan turned permanent and the signing of Guglielmo Vicario.
A creative midspace presence in the team became essential for Tottenham following Christian Eriksen’s departure in 2021.
The Celtic setup under Postecoglou was a 4-3-3 system, and many concluded that Maddison would assume one of the No 8 positions at Spurs.
However, the Australian coach has an unanticipated tactic up his sleeve involving a slight formation twist.
Potential for Maddison to Play an Unforeseen Position
The Athletic brings attention to the possibility of Postecoglou deploying Maddison as a No 10.
Potentially, this tactic could place the English player behind the forward duo of Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min.
Maddison’s performance last season left a strong impression on the Tottenham staff. His tendency of rarely running past offensive players could make him a crucial link between the midfield and the forward duo of Kane and Son.
A similar game scheme to what Postecoglou applied at Celtic is expected at Spurs.
That tactic sees a single defensive midfielder behind two No 8s. Maddison has demonstrated his flexibility in Leicester, playing as a deeper-sitting midfielder, a No 10, and even out wide.
He notably played as a No 8 under Gareth Southgate for England recently.
Tottenham’s acquisition of Maddison, one of Premier League’s top attacking midfielders, grants Postecoglou a wide array of strategies in the central field.
