Clive Allen and James Maddison talk us through Madders’ ‘poacher’s goal’ that toppled United
Mon 17 February 2025, 17:00|
Tottenham Hotspur
It takes one to know one...
Clive Allen loves nothing more than seeing a Spurs player in the right place at the right time for what he always calls ‘a poacher’s goal’ and James Maddison was the embodiment of that striker's instinct as he grabbed the goal to beat Manchester United in the Premier League at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.
Madders followed in as Andre Onana parried away Lucas Bergvall’s low drive to plant home what would be the winner 13 minutes into Sunday’s clash in N17.
Legendary former striker and first team coach Clive, who scored a club record 49 goals in a season back in 1986/87, was on co-commentary for SPURSPLAY with Rob Daly, and said at the time, ‘it’s the easiest of finishes, but the work’s already done, the anticipation was fantastic’.
Clive later joined us pitchside for our Review Show and had a chat with the goalscorer...
Clive: “Come on, James. Poacher’s goal. Tell me, how did you do it?”
Madders: “I just followed it in!”
Clive: "You sensed it...”
Madders: “You know, I’ve been taught that from a five-year-old...”
Clive: “It looked like you just sensed there was going to be a chance... Lucas did really well, great first touch, great shot, but you were there to follow up. Everyone says it's easy...”
Madders: “I know everyone will say it’s a tap in and stuff, but it is a skill, and a skill that I've had to kind of learn. I was never the natural number nine goalscorer, the natural number nines who will score 30 a season, and who will get 15 of those (tap ins) a season, but as my career has gone on, I’ve tried to pride myself on being a goalscoring midfielder. That's why Spurs brought me to the club, to score and create. So, when I saw Lucas lining up the shot, I was ready to go, making sure I was onside, hungry and on the front foot, because I’m not the quickest, but if I’ve got a head start, no-one’s going to beat me.”
Clive: “It's as good as a 40-yarder, the same feeling.”
Madders: “They count the same at the end of the season!”
Madders on responding to critics...
“I just try and do my talking on the pitch. I love football. I always have. I’m quite an out there character I think, and that sometimes puts a bit of a target on my own back. I don't mind that. I don't mind that at all. Like I said, it was nice to be the match winner today and that would have put a frown on a few faces, I think!”
On being back in action after injury...
“I loved being back out there, especially here. I was itching to get back for this fixture. It was either this one or next one, depending on how the rehab of the injury went, credit to the medical team, they managed to get me back fit for this one and the manager put me straight in, and I wanted to repay him and wanted to repay the lads who have been churning out game after game, because it's when you get your senior players back and your experienced players back, it just gives everyone a boost. Even just stood in the tunnel like before, you're waiting to go out in a big game, Super Sunday against United, and you see the senior, experienced players - and that’s no disrespect to the younger players - but when you are going toe to toe and you are stood in the tunnel and you see those experienced players, it can give you a boost.”
On the team missing experienced players in the last couple of months...
“It’s been tough, and that's why I just give so much credit to the lads, the form and the results haven't quite been there of late but, it’s like... you don’t just turn up and play. The lads are playing, recovering, you can’t have a life when you are playing every three days, trust me, and they have for three months. I think about some of the younger lads like Archie, Lucas, Toni’s still young, I’m really proud of the lads who have managed to grind through that period even through adversity, because they kept stepping up, kept taking responsibility and when you get players back, like today, you can reap the rewards. If you take the number of injuries we’ve had and the amount of senior players we’ve had out of any squad in the Premier League and it will be detrimental to their season, it’s simple.”
On the importance of the win against United...
“It was important for the momentum of our season after going out of the two domestic cup competitions so close together, a bit of a dagger, but I think we did ourselves proud, the young lads who played. It would have been beautiful if we could have had the group back for the FA Cup game, but obviously that's just the nature of injuries and we weren't ready for that. It's a big win for the momentum of our season. Like I said, anytime Tottenham play Man United, it's a big game, no matter even if it's 15th vs 14th or first vs second, it's always a big game.”
