Gareth Southgate should “release” James Maddison from Tottenham Hotspur, according to Rio Ferdinand.
Gareth Southgate started James Maddison on the left wing as England’s Euro 2024 qualifier on Saturday ended in a 1-1 tie with Ukraine.
Ferdinand disagreed with Southgate’s decision to play Jordan Henderson in the center of the field alongside Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice because he wanted to see Tottenham’s new star “released” as a number ten, as he said in an interview with Vibe with Five.
One could argue that Maddison has been among the best English players so far in the new Premier League season.
The 26-year-old has contributed two goals and two assists to an Ange Postecoglou team that is playing some of the league’s greatest football and is undefeated.
Even though Maddison received a start by Southgate, many critics were most upset that the former Leicester City player was playing out on the left rather than in front of the striker.
James Maddison at England
Even the team’s choices, Ferdinand added. What else are you going to learn from Jordan Henderson, I wonder?
Bellingham is a player that performs above his years. Don Rice. seasoned, successful in Europe, and a £100 million player currently at Arsenal. What further knowledge do you seek to add?
Madison is present. He has joined Spurs, a new team. in flames. The opportunity to watch him play in that spot with those players is ideal.
Madison is a left winger right now! To give us that extra attacking flair to unleash when we are facing the stronger teams and that extra body to play in deeper areas to provide us ball retention (against the so-called weaker sides), release a man like Maddison to be the number ten.
Maddison is now an England regular
It is important to keep in mind that Maddison had been absent from England’s starting lineup under Southgate for a few years before to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
He was relegated with Leicester City, but he still managed to score enough goals the previous year to force open the door and secure the trip to Qatar.
Since that time, he has consistently been selected; the front-footed player is now playing in his natural position rather than being forced out wide.
