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FOOTBALL | HENRY WINTER
Disgraced James Maddison is at a crossroads
Henry Winter
, Chief Football Writer
Tuesday April 13 2021, 12.00pm, The Times
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James Maddison was on the pitch when England qualified for Euro 2020. It was a night of celebration at Wembley, and Maddison’s proud family were among the 77,277 crowd, revelling in the 7-0 win against Montenegro in England’s 1,000th international on November 14, 2019. “A very special feeling,” Maddison reflected afterwards, “a moment I won’t forget.”

The following day Maddison posted a photograph of himself a decade earlier, wearing an England No 10 shirt, and then a picture of him at Wembley. “Just a young lad from Coventry with a dream,” he tweeted. “Last night I fulfilled that dream of playing for my country. I can’t begin to try and describe the satisfaction it gave me.”

He has to remember what drove that young lad from Coventry with a dream and refocus. He will have a free summer to work out how. Any chance of being picked by Gareth Southgate for the Euros ended with his decision to break lockdown regulations and attend a party indoors.

Maddison’s furious Leicester City manager, Brendan Rodgers, dropped him for Sunday’s important game against West Ham United. When he should have been facing Jesse Lingard, a rival for a Euro 2020 place, in front of Southgate at the London Stadium, Maddison was in disgrace. Lingard’s exceptional performance pushed Maddison further down the pecking order. He has to scrutinise his own thought process, or lack of, over why heading to a friend’s party would mean him missing Southgate’s party. Cameraphones are everywhere. People gossip. Stories get out. Maddison was either naive or arrogant.

Others were involved in the party, including Hamza Choudhury and Ayoze Pérez, but it is Maddison’s presence that carries most consequence. It is frustrating because his talent was certainly maturing, if apparently not his personality.

Maddison has the potential to be one of the best No 10s in the country, a player with the belief and technique to operate and create in tight spaces. He has a swagger to his play, reflecting his expressive personality. He has scored against Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool. Nothing scares him. He can deceive defenders with a no-look pass, with a dribble, or running at them, as he did against City’s Benjamin Mendy to win a penalty.

Maddison has to remember what drove that young lad from Coventry with a dream and refocus
Maddison has to remember what drove that young lad from Coventry with a dream and refocus
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Maddison’s influence was growing from seven goals and seven assists in 2018-19, to nine goals and three assists last season and to 11 goals and 10 assists so far this campaign. His love of the game and of his own talent is seen in his joyous and varied goal celebrations, including the motion of throwing a dart. So this story is both a folly and a pity. It’s a cautionary tale for others.

Maddison had been building so promisingly with England, making nine appearances for the under-21s, including scoring in the European Championship in 2019. Yet, talk to some Coventry City fans and they will reflect on a likeable character from their home town, yet cocky. Talk to some England fans and they will swiftly mention how he missed an international trip through illness but was then spotted in a casino.

Southgate forgave him, pointing out the player would learn and that there is an “increased spotlight” on him given his England connection, and still picked him the following month against Montenegro. Maddison appeared to have learnt his lesson and proved a popular member of the squad. He spoke well in camp, revealing his passion for his profession, reminiscing about going on loan from Norwich City to Aberdeen, growing as a player and a man, taking responsibility as a teenager, curling in a free kick against Rangers at Pittodrie. He talked of his enjoyment of his time at Norwich and then the step up to Leicester, the £22.5 million move in 2018.

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His career trajectory appeared ever upwards. He came on for his 36 minutes at Wembley aged 22 years and 356 days, replacing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. It should have been the start for Maddison yet it is his only cap. Mason Mount, two years Maddison’s junior, also played that evening, and his professionalism has made him one of Southgate’s undroppables.

But Maddison? Rather than getting ready for June friendlies at the Riverside and the Euros, the 24-year-old is at a crossroads in his career, and he must be mindful he does not wander down the road that ends up as a cul-de-sac.

It will be a painful summer, watching from afar as Mount and company look to entertain the nation. It is just the sort of stage and limelight that Maddison would relish. He needed to be playing well, returning from a hip injury, playing catch-up as Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Lingard are ahead of him.

He could argue that others heading to the Euros, players such as Foden, Grealish and Kyle Walker, have also been caught breaching lockdown or bubble regulations, and Southgate is undeniably selective but their mistakes were earlier in the season, they’ve done their penance, they’ve proved their worth. Maddison could not have timed his indiscretion worse.

Leicester are better with him, and might have secured a point against West Ham United, but Rodgers has handled the situation well, not bothering to fine the players as they are wealthy enough not to worry about the loss of a couple of weeks’ wages. Denying them football was more of a punishment.

For a squad to thrive, there has to be discipline and accountability. Actions should have consequences. Rodgers has to show support for those in his squad who do abide by the rules. For a player whose judgment under pressure on the field is generally astute, Maddison’s decision-making off it can be suspect.

“You have to respect what the nation is going through and you have to respect what our values are in the club,” Rodgers said. One of Leicester’s key values is respect, for team-mates and staff.

Maddison’s chances of being picked for the Euros ended with his decision to break lockdown rules
Maddison’s chances of being picked for the Euros ended with his decision to break lockdown rules
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Maddison owes it to Rodgers to make amends by focusing harder off the field and delivering more on it. Leicester are in a dogfight with some pedigree rivals for a Champions League place. The difference between finishing in the Champions League and Europa League places could be worth £30 million upwards. Leicester face Southampton at Wembley on Sunday for a place in the FA Cup final.

Maddison owes it to those team-mates he has let down to get their season going again. He owes it to the fans too. He needs to be thought of as the James Maddison who shines for the first team and loves the club so much that he attends under-23 games to show his support. He does not want to be thought of as the fans’ mocking meme with his head superimposed on John Travolta in the Saturday Night Fever white disco suit.

Maddison has the ability to wrest the narrative back and make his story positive again. Ultimately, Maddison owes it to himself to do his special talent justice, and that involves greater dedication than currently demonstrated.

Posted By: ihateipswich on April 13th 2021 at 12:43:22

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