Analysis | James Maddison breaks down his display against Brentford

James Maddison gave us a fascinating insight into both his own outstanding performance and the team’s impressive display in the 3-1 win against Brentford on Saturday.

Later highlighted by former Spur and pundit Danny Murphy on Match Of The Day, Madders was at his brilliant best as we responded to going a goal behind after 23 seconds to pin Brentford back and create chance after chance at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The England midfielder won possession and his shot was parried by Bees’ goalkeeper Mark Flekken into the path of Dominic Solanke for the equaliser, he then won the ball again and started the move for Brennan Johnson’s fine strike for 2-1 and then the icing on the cake, Madders ran onto Heung-Min Son’s pass before coolly chipping over Flekken for the third in front of the South Stand.

Breaking it all down afterwards on The Review Show - here’s what Madders had to say...

‘I love football, and enjoyed that!’

First up it was put to Madders that ahead of anything else, it just looked a lot fun for him and the team out there...

James: “It's important that you enjoy what you do, and you love what you do. I always say, and people are probably bored hearing it, but I love football, and I enjoyed that today. I enjoy every game and I've been really enjoying this season, we just haven't had the results to go with the performances. People start to talk a little bit, people start to doubt, but within us and staying compact within our unit with the gaffer, the staff, everyone at the training ground, we’ve ignored that, stuck to our principles, continued to play well and then we’ll have results and performances like today. So, really happy when we play like that, dominate and get the result to go with it.”

That goal-den feeling

How did Madders feel to finish it all off with a goal of his own? Relief at being back on the scoresheet, or just delight at the win?

James: “The team's always most important. I would have been happy with my performance and how I played, regardless of whether I got the goal at the end or not, and obviously helped us within the game. It kind of just shuts up a few people in the background who think the goals and the assists do matter more than what they probably do. I'm an attacking player who has always scored goals and always got assists. That's my job. So, when you're not doing that, and even if you feel like you're playing well personally helping the team, and the gaffer is happy with what I'm doing for the team, if you don't get a goal or assist to show for it people start questioning the numbers. So, sometimes you have to take the outside noise with a pinch of salt. On the other hand, I love scoring goals, and it was a nice feeling. I had to blow the dust off the old darts celebration because it's been a little while, but it felt so good in front of the South Stand.”

Pass before the assist

It was put to Madders that, because they don’t count as assists, it gets lost a little that he’s often playing the pass before the assist - like he did for Brennan’s goal...

James: “Yeah, amongst people who look at the numbers and compare the numbers, but my team-mates, the manager and the coaches know that that build-up phase is just as important as the person who lays it off for the person who scores. Within our unit, like I said, we're not naïve to that. Brennan scored today, a brilliant finish, so happy for him, but he played well, and he was a threat. He made some unbelievable runs. So, if he didn't score, he still was good for the team today.”

Playing deeper

It was put to Madders that the sight of him getting out of tight areas and running away from defenders, especially towards the end of the game, was a sign that he was at his best, physically...

James: “I really do like helping with the build-up deeper because I’m… without sounding like I'm blowing my own trumpet, but I'm good in the tight areas. We worked on it after Coventry…Brentford press man to man, so sometimes all it takes is one player to have a good touch, drop the shoulder or just to separate half a yard and then that's where you can get the better of it, because if one player gets the better of their man, then you're away.”

Playing with Deki

Madders was asked about how his role changes when he plays alongside Dejan Kulusevski in midfield...

James: “It is a little different. Deki is very attacking, a forward-thinking, driving-forward type player. So, when I play with Pape, for example, I know he's going to be a bit deeper in the build-up, so I can stay high and keep my discipline in my position between the lines. Kulu likes to do what I do, so sometimes I have to be a bit deeper, which maybe means you (personally) get less shots on goal, less chances in the final third, but I'll help in the build-up and then Kulu can be the one... it’s just about getting the balance right. We're a team, and the gaffer says it all the time, we’re a team and it's not about who scores the goals. He used an analogy the other day, which I thought was brilliant, we made changes at Coventry, but it's just like handing over the baton. Then we come on as subs and have an impact, like the subs did today. It's important that people realise that it’s not always just about the goals. Hopefully the fans enjoyed the performance and that's all because of the structure that comes from the gaffer, for us midfield players.”