Tottenham Hotspur defeated Crystal Palace convincingly on Saturday at home 2-0 to make it three straight wins, and they proved an important point by winning without their starting No. 10 James Maddison. Because Spurs looked a whole lot better with Maddison back in the starting 11 after more than a year away, as he scored and dominated creatively in a 3-1 win over the club of his youth, Coventry. And while he was not as good against Chelsea due to a small injury, he was still a presence in the 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge.
Spurs won without Maddison, as Omar Marmoush played reasonably well in the No. 10 role despite not getting any goals or assists, and he certainly received no help from monumental striker flop Dominic Solanke, who somehow stunk up the joint despite literally everyone else having a great game.
Even so, Tottenham still missed Maddison despite dominating Palace 2-0. Because when you look at how well the back four and midfield played and what the wingers were doing, you would have expected Tottenham Hotspur to have scored more than just two goals, which were both headed goals from defenders Archie Gray (at right back) and Jan Paul van Hecke.
Tottenham are better with James Maddison
Tottenham Hotspur are a more dangerous attacking side without James Maddison than without. He is the best 10 on the team, and having him at the 10 allows Omar Marmoush to play as a striker over Dominic Solanke, which is a massive upgrade for the team, including in giving the wingers a 9 who can actually bring them into scoring opportunities, especially Mathys Tel from the left hand side.
Maddison is an elite creator and the best technician on Tottenham. He is also the best of the attacking players at reading the field and being in the right place. But he is also an important secondary scorer, as everyone saw with his worldie from just beyond the pale against Coventry a couple of weeks ago.
Having Maddison takes the pressure off Tel, Marmoush, Solanke, Mohammed Kudus, and the others to score goals, since he keeps defenses honest by having that quality with his right boot to score from just about any angle or distance. The set piece factor he brings is another asset worth thinking about.
Madders did not get to play against Crystal Palace after leaving last weekend vs. Chelsea with a groin injury, but he is fit, per Roberto De Zerbi, and did warm up during the game but was not needed. Tottenham will need him back next week against a much tougher Leeds United defense.
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