Tottenham Hotspur are determined to get the better of their rivals, Arsenal, in their upcoming North London derby in the Premier League. But before that game, midfielder James Maddison has been at the receiving end of some strange criticism.
Tottenham Hotspur ‘Star’ James Maddison Slammed for Lacking ‘Killer Mentality’
What Did Rafael van de Vaart Say?
Rafael van der Vaart spent a few seasons with the Lilywhites after joining them in 2010, as he’d go on to appear in 63 Premier League appearances in which he scored 26 goals and provided 14 assists. He has given his assessment of Maddison before the North London derby and bluntly criticized him for some elements of his game.
Speaking about the quality of Maddison at Tottenham, the Dutchman told Goal: “I think it’s a difficult one. I think that he has everything, the ability, he’s quick with and without the ball so he can score, can give assists but somehow I have the feeling that the real killer mentality… that he doesn’t have that. It looks everything nice and the hair is perfect and everything, but that’s what I miss when I see him playing”.
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“I think it’s not his character. He’s just a player who I will come to the stadium for, because I really like him, but to make an even bigger impact than that, really that passion and that killer mentality that needs to be there (he doesn’t have). Maybe I’m wrong. There are too many games where I’ve thought ‘okay, he can do more’ because he is good, he scores and he has a big impact on the team. That’s my feeling when I see him play”.
How Has James Maddison Performed for Spurs So Far?
Maddison only joined Spurs in the 2023 summer transfer window from Leicester City, being brought in to add more creativity and goal-scoring power to their midfield line. He had a decent first season, scoring four goals and providing nine assists in 29 Premier League games last season, but he suffered from injury issues, lacked consistency and had a stuttering end to the campaign.
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The 27-year-old has begun the 2024/25 Premier League season pretty well, getting two assists in three games for the Lilywhites already. The “star” delivered two assists in Spurs’ 2-2 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last season, and will hope to produce a similarly influential performance to help his side get the win on Sunday (September 15) and shut up his doubters.
