At the risk of fully boarding the 'hype train', this is taken from a piece on Maddison by Coventry fan and journalist, Tom Furnival-Adams: Everyone who played football in the playground at school remembers the one kid who could ghost past 15 opposition players in a single run. You’d be on a concrete ‘pitch’ with fluorescent-coloured Umbro rucksacks for goalposts and a Laughing Cow triangle in hand, and you didn’t get a look in. He’d be picked first for every game, and all he ever wanted to do was talk about football. When everyone else stopped watching Match of the Day and started wearing Nirvana hoodies, he still only wanted to talk about football. James Maddison is that kid. James Maddison makes watching football fun. Football as pure euphoria, not statistical analysis or death by tactics – just a player who makes you hold your breath with anticipation every time he gets the ball. That’s why Maddison emerged at the right time for Coventry fans. We’d spent months, if not years, wearily following news of court cases, transfer embargos and points deductions, and suddenly here was a kid who reminded us what we were all here for. With some players, you can see instantly there's something special about them, and Maddison stuck out straight away. After a couple of substitute appearances as a 17-year-old at the beginning of 2014-15, he marked his first start with a goal in a 4-1 defeat to Oldham. With his tiny frame and exuberant style, he was a boy among men – but in the best way possible. Maddison is not a physically imposing player – in fact, at that point, he looked like a small child – but his sublime technical ability means that he has had no difficulty evading bigger, stronger, more experienced League One defenders. As his reputation has grown, so too has the tendency for sides to attempt to intimidate him, rarely with any success. In that respect, he may as well have been custom-built to play at the highest level. He is adept at dodging his marker with his close control and quick feet, which makes him superb at negotiating his – and his team-mates’ – way out of tight spaces and packed defences. A strong awareness of his surroundings means he has a great knack for picking exactly the right pass when under pressure, even if it barely registered as an option from a spectator’s perspective. He’s most effective when playing alongside players on the same wavelength as him, who are similarly nimble and sharp. We began the season with back-to-back victories against Wigan, Millwall and Crewe, and Maddison was the fulcrum of a devastating front four that also included Rúben Lameiras, Newcastle’s Adam Armstrong and the Canaries’ very own Jacob Murphy, all of whom shared in common speed, dynamism and a predilection for rapid interplay. Maddison’s ideal position is as a free-roaming No. 10, where his ability to control the ball, bring wide players into play and thread incisive passes forward is best utilised. That said, he’s able to use both feet and is equally as effective playing either side of the three behind the striker. When asked about him last August, Coventry manager Tony Mowbray said: “I think he likes football. Some players don’t – they’re just good athletes with the attributes to get them into a team, but I think James likes talking about football. He’s a very intelligent, bright lad – he knows about tactics and what’s expected.” It is this palpable enthusiasm for the game and genuine self-confidence that set him apart. Some young players are bizarrely overconfident in comparison to their ability or work rate, but Maddison is confident in a constructive way; he simply knows how good he is, understands what he needs to do, and has the self-belief to take control of games. Becoming a key player at such a young age might have overawed some, but Maddison thrived on it. He takes responsibility and wants to be the protagonist. Not at the expense of the team, but almost out of a sense of duty. On a gloomy day in Sussex last May, in a final-day relegation decider against Crawley Town, it was Maddison who came on early in the second half with his side 1-0 down. We were a one-goal swing elsewhere away from becoming a fourth-tier side, and it speaks volumes of Maddison that it was he who inspired the revival – and scored the winner – that ultimately kept us up. He has that rare ability to create a moment of magic from nothing, to single-handedly spark a lethargic team into life. His first touch is phenomenal and he is one of the most instinctive, naturally gifted footballers we’ve ever had. It is worth noting how much time he’s spent out injured since breaking through – he suffered a back injury last season and only recently returned after damaging his ankle in August – and he could do with scoring more regularly, especially for a player who has his fair share of attempts on goal. But I think it would be unfair to claim he’s injury prone, and there is plenty of time for him to fine-tune his all-round game. Although his departure was inevitable, I’m gutted that we’ve sold him. Not only because he’s a Coventry kid and a Coventry fan, and because of the romanticism that accompanied the prospect of building a side around a player like that, but because the timing of the deal has left us short as we look to capitalise on a decent start to the season. The departure of Callum Wilson in 2014 – another Coventry-born academy graduate whose spell in our first team was similarly, frustratingly, fleeting – put us in our place. Maddison signing for someone else after only 12 starts further reinforces just how hard it is to compete as club at the lower end of the food chain. Supporter reaction to the news of Maddison’s departure – on Twitter at least – resembled the five stages of grief, condensed into a frantic, expletive-filled half-an-hour: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and – perhaps only after a good night’s sleep – acceptance. Aware that he was being watched by scouts from Liverpool, Spurs and Man City, some even suggested it was an unambitious move, to a club that may be in the same league as Coventry next season. Once the dust had settled and the financial implications had become clear, though, most fans had come to terms with the deal itself and were simply left scratching their heads over the timing. In choosing Norwich over the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham he’s made a very astute choice in terms of his own development. I fully expect him to realise his immense potential, but it’s going to take a while for us to recover our morale. I’ll take solace in the fact that he’s with us until the end of the season and pray that he can help mastermind promotion – what a fitting legacy that would be for a player who is already a Sky Blues legend. Good luck, James – don’t ever stop being that kid in the playground. http://www.thelittleyellowbirdproject.co.uk/articles/2016/2/3/maddison-the-kid-who-loves-to-play
Brilliant find, JK, and a damned fine accolade for what sounds like becoming extremely hot property in a year or two Can't believe this even gets a mention please log in to view this image
Thanks JK and this says it all for me - "In choosing Norwich over the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham he’s made a very astute choice in terms of his own development. I fully expect him to realise his immense potential, but it’s going to take a while for us to recover our morale. I’ll take solace in the fact that he’s with us until the end of the season and pray that he can help mastermind promotion – what a fitting legacy that would be for a player who is already a Sky Blues legend." I'm looking forward to seeing how well he fits into our team next season and agree with the writer of the article that he has more chance of regular starts playing for us than he would if he had gone to the likes of Spurs or Liverpool.
Not wishing to talk anything up, or be a doom and gloom monger, but it would indeed be a 'silver lining' if the worst was to happen. Because, as we know, we'll see boogie-all of him if we're still in this division next season and he sure does look a red hot prospect
I have not seen anything of him and heard precious little more, other than what has appeared on this board. I have no ideas what to think and was more confused when I went to a Sky Blues forum only to see very conflicting comments. Such as..... Why Norwich and not a bigger team? all the way down to - Never mind, he wont get in the Norwich first team anyway.
Excellent article JK and it accords with the others I've read about him (avoiding the sour grapes on Twitter). Some on here are frustrated with us signing young players like Godfrey from York, but he played the whole game including extra-time in the U18's stunning 5-4 win over Boro last night after being 1-4 down. It's been too long since we've had young players like the Fashanu brothers, Chris Sutton, Jeremy Goss, Jamie Cureton and Darren Eadie breaking into the senior squad. It seems that AN sees bringing in young players from other teams as a way to accelerate that in his goal of building a dynasty here - at least I hope that's the case. Hopefully, Maddison (and Jacob Murphy) will help Coventry gain promotion to allay their disappointment so that he arrives for the pre-season bubbling with confidence. He seems to have the potential to be a natural succession for Wes in one of the most critical positions in modern football formations. He has the advantage of being two-footed, which also allows him to be an option on the right or the left as well. I've been keeping an eye on Jacob at Coventry and now will have more reason to do so.
I really hope you're proved wrong Thai - we REALLY need to start giving some of our youngsters a chance to shine on the bigger stage, but I agree we can't afford to take that risk at present.
Relegation would probably bring several youngsters to the fore. Josh Murphy has 7 goals and 6 assists from 30 games this season, Jacob 9 and 6 from 28 in a lower league. Those figures are as good as Redmond managed last season, and with inferior team-mates. Toffolo looked good in the championship in his Rotherham spell, and then of course there's Maddison. Should vultures come circling for Brady, Redmond or Naismith, those youngsters look to be doing enough to deserve their place in the squad.
Maddison, the Murphys, Toffolo and Louis Thompson should get a fair crack during the pre-season. Next season and the one after that Maddison and the Murphys will still count as under 21 so they wouldn't have to take up one of the 25 squad places. Toffolo has one season left but Thompson is already 21. Maddison would seem to have a good prospect of coming on as a sub for Wes or even Naismith initially at number 10 or out wide if he does get into the squad. The Murphys will have a tougher time displacing Brady, Jarvis and Redmond, but Toffolo has a reasonable chance at LB without taking up a squad place. Louis Thompson has a much tougher task at DM unless we are relegated.
Hi bors, it would be a good gesture on our part to offer Carlisle United a friendly game to help them financially after their flooding in appreciation of having the services of Grant Holt. Would also give our young players an opportunity to represent our club.
Ah that's good Never taken a tweet and posted it before, so wasn't sure. It seems we have a very talented young lad who loves his football, and speaks very eloquently and intelligently. Seems pretty grounded and like he is very happy and thankful that he can play football for a career.
Depends where you read that figure from. Plus Man U, Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool were never scouting Bradly Johnson at any point in his career.
Says something then doesn't it? Look at how Man U and Spurs are recruiting in particular at the moment. I never thought Spurs would start Deli Alli.He's be unreal, Man U keep starting Martial, Lingard, et al. They don't seem to be wasting time on players who will sit in the U19's anymore. They need fast results. The "9.5" you are talking about (if true) im guessing is if he reaches points like; 30 appearances in the first team, England call up, 25 goals....etc etc. If he reached all the add on, with us being a team that will be either fighting for promotion, or trying to stay in the Premiership. If he ticked off those kind of addons, he is well worth that money.
Another point. What do you mean 4x Johnson? What we paid for him? Again, he was never linked to the top 4 teams, when we bought him, before, or since. If you mean 4x Johnsons value. we got 6-7M for him. so again, don't understand what you mean.
