James Maddison reveals he thrives on being the ‘villain’ with in the ground and with fans, and also wants to entertain like Gazza did.
James Maddison recalls how he was age 8 when Paul Gascoigne retired, but it was with thanks to father, Gary, that showcased Gazza’s talent having been a huge fan of his.
While Madders was at Coventry City’s Academy, he watched Gascoigne turn football into theatre, as per Telegraph Sport, ‘where the great showmen can perform’.
James Maddison explained hows Gazza was inspiration behind his move to Tottenham: “I could just see myself in that team, in that kit, in that stadium. It just fitted well for me. And they’ve always had that type of player.”
Maddison has impressed so much in the in the first four Premier League matches since his arrival from Leicester City for £40 million that he earned a nomination for Player of the Month for August.
He has so far scored two goals and two assists, but along with that, he has provided so much more, with the Premier League explaining the reason behind his nomination.
“The summer signing has helped Tottenham Hotspur quickly transform into a possession-based, attacking team. He has been at the heart of everything, directly contributing to three goals in an unbeaten start.”
James Maddison on England and start at #Spurs
🔵 #THFC just felt like right move
🤩 clips of Gazza and being the showman
⚽️ relationship with Southgate and message after World Cup
👕 on getting the No10 shirt. ‘I knew it meant one thing…’ https://t.co/7L0G2jvOpo— Mike McGrath (@mcgrathmike) September 8, 2023
Gascoigne was once struck by a Mars bars and responded to that by eating it.
Maddison has also been targeted by away fans and responded by teasing them.
The chant “Southgate’s right, you’re shite” was aimed at him by Bournemouth fans as he took a corner.
In video footage, Maddison cheekily moves the ball out of the quadrant closer to goal, smirks and winks to the fans.
“That keeps me hungry,” he said. “I like the theatre element of almost being the villain a little bit. That keeps me at my best. That’s how I enjoyed watching it and that’s how enjoy playing it.
“Before you become a professional, you are a fan of the game and I loved players who had personality, I loved watching players who had a little bit of cheekiness about them, a little bit more than your bog-standard.
“Gazza was a perfect example. For example, something silly … I remember a clip where the cameras are going down the national anthem and it gets to him and he sticks his tongue out and starts messing around with the camera and going all bog-eyed. And I just love that. That’s why I like interacting with fans and showing my personality.”
Maddison says getting stick from fans is a sign that he is doing well, whether it is about his work-rate, social life, performance, or even posting a topless picture of himself with newborn twins earlier this summer, it seems fans on social media are finding absolutely anything to troll him over.
“Listen, it’s important you have a social life as well,” he says. “I am not going to sit in my room and go to bed at 8pm at night. I am a social guy. I have friends and I like to go out as well. That is normal, I think. You need that stimulus in your life – a good balance between family and social life and professional working hard game.
“If you don’t look after yourself you get found out pretty quickly. So I think that is more a perception from the outside rather than people within.”
Bournemouth fans to James Maddison: ‘Southgate’s right, you’re f*cking shite’
He then proceeds to antagonise them a little more…😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/wmuDpoXrwR
— george (@StokeyyG2) August 27, 2023
“Gareth gave me a massive compliment as we were leaving. He said he knew it has been tough with the injury and not featuring, but he was really impressed with the way I had carried myself round the group,” Maddison said. “Him putting his arm around me and saying that as we were leaving stuck with me. I made a conscious effort not to be down, even though I was at the World Cup and I wanted to play for England.”
“I didn’t want the No10 shirt to become free, to be honest, because that meant one thing and I didn’t want Harry to leave,” he said as he adapts to live as a Tottenham and England player. “It’s my favourite number. I’ve got it tattooed on me, I loved that number growing up as a kid so I was never going to say no.
“I knew there was a chance Harry could leave but it wasn’t all doom and gloom. There was such a good feel with the new manager coming in and new players, and I didn’t feel any hangover from the previous managers. There were connotations around more negative, defensive football and I didn’t feel any hangover from that. Everyone was on a fresh slate and there was a really good energy.”
“When you start playing football as a kid, you don’t play for anything,” he added. “There’s no politics, nothing like that. You play because you love playing football and you do the things you love and you become the player you become because of what you do and what you’re good at. And that will never change for me. That’s non-negotiable. That’s how I play. I’m never going to change and that’s why my journey has gone like this and I’m happy to have ended up at Tottenham.”
“James Maddison has been the signing of the summer.” Discuss 📝 pic.twitter.com/2lk1pVPdRN
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 6, 2023
Here’s what fans said as James Maddison says he thrives on being the ‘villain’ with fans, and wants to entertain like Gazza…
@1882Callum96: Maddison speaking more highly of us than Kane ever really did. The future is bright 🤍
@AndyTech79: Gazza is some player to try and emulate.
@THFC_E: Really love him already 🏴🤍
@caysiesienna2: Always thought he was a brilliant player at Leicester but now he plays for us and we get to see him in every game I honestly do think Maddison is a worldclass absolute baller
@1882spurs1: Perfect response again 🤩
@JimmyBronze: I completely underestimated him both in character and ability. His ball striking probably the most. Has embraced the club way further than I would expect 👏
@ramsfan0285: He should be a shoo-in for a midfield berth, let’s see if Southgate releases the shackles and picks an attack minded team.
@LGW77: Born to play for Spurs.
@Dzlr69: Has any @SpursOfficial player ever connected to the club and fans; and in return been embraced so much by fans, as quickly as @Madders10 has? It’s like he was born to play for Spurs! #THFC #COYS #TTID
@DaBaby29798755:
Rashford, Kane, Saka
Maddison, Bellingham, Rice
Shaw, Colwill, Stones, James
Pickford
This XI makes so much sense for euro 24. Hence, Southgate won’t pick it.
@shemag12: Another wonderful @SpursOfficial No:10 👌
@gamray: He really does say all the right things
@LikeAnsi: Don’t get injured madders
@padrejeb: He gets it in so many ways. Thought we were getting a player but he is even better than I thought.
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