With how the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder was ‘running things’ away against AFC Bournemouth on Saturday.
Spurs travelled to the south coast and only needed 17 minutes to take the lead as Maddison broke the deadlock. The 26-year-old recorded his first goal since signing for Tottenham after solid play from Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr. The former was another to impress Keown.
Bissouma and Sarr linked well on the edge of the Bournemouth box before Maddison burst into the area. He scuffed his effort but the England international got just enough on the ball to turn it past Neto. Maddison guided the ball home with his studs after a strong early start.
Maddison impresses on Tottenham’s trip to Bournemouth
Keown already admired what Maddison was offering Tottenham at Dean Court after taking control of the game straight away. Son Heung-Min had a chance to break the deadlock after just four minutes when Maddison nutmegged a pass through. But Son’s effort was blocked.
Seeing Tottenham take control, mostly through Maddison’s magic, left Keown pondering if Ange Postecoglou has already created a ‘new Spurs’. The Australian only took charge of the north London club on July 1. But he has transformed how they play and is enjoying results.
“Ange Postecoglou has definitely injected a new energy into the side,” Keown told the BBC’s Football Focus. “Maddison is running things in midfield [and] Bissouma [is] playing with lots of confidence.
“Spurs are playing with freedom, passing the ball around with confidence, passing forward instead of sideways. So, this could really be a new Spurs we are seeing.”
Maddison has slotted in seamlessly to the ‘new Spurs’ side
Maddison continued to stroke the ball around the pitch at Bournemouth as the architect of Tottenham’s early plans. His creativity was creeping through with almost every touch of the ball. The £40m summer signing from Leicester City nearly scored in the 16th minute, too.
Right before he found a way past Neto, the Brazilian shot-stopper got a foot on Maddison’s strike to thwart him. Son had picked the Coventry-born creator out to return the favour for his earlier chance. But Neto just about atoned for turning over possession moments before.
Maddison failed to directly influence a goal as Tottenham beat Manchester United 2-0 last weekend. But he started the season with two assists at Brentford in Spurs’ 2-2 draw. He left the Gtech Community Stadium having created goals for Cristian Romero and Emerson Royal.
