James Maddison Confirmed

[AllGoneTitsSchlupp]

James Maddison casts a glance around the photographs which adorn the media room at the King Power Stadium, and contemplates some of the figures staring down at him: Riyad Mahrez, N'Golo Kante, Danny Drinkwater, Robert Huth, Claudio Ranieri.

These are Leicester City's miracle men, many of the heroes from the Premier League title-winning campaign - all departed now, but remembered no less fondly for that. It would be an intimidating experience for most, but not Maddison. Instead, Leicester's new £25 million signing is on a mission to make some history of his own.

He has played just 63 minutes in the Premier League, making his debut at Manchester United last Friday, yet it already feels as if Leicester have found a new hero - an attacking midfielder who has piqued the interest of England manager Gareth Southgate. 

“This time last year, probably nobody knew who I was apart from Coventry and Aberdeen fans,” he says, in his first big interview since the move. “But I had a great season at Norwich and coming here was the perfect next step. It’s not going to be easy, it’s the best league in the world for a reason, but I’m desperate to be a success here.

“I’m only 21 but feel like I’ve been around for ages. I’ve done the rounds but everyone has a different path. I think mine has shaped up nicely and I’m now in the Premier League which is what every young boy dreams of.”

James Maddison arrives at the King Power Stadium CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES

More on Maddison’s career path later, but his emergence at Norwich last season – where he scored 15 goals and contributed eight assists – has already seen him identified as a future England star.

He made his under-21s debut last year and it can be revealed Southgate was set to invite him to train with the senior squad before the World Cup in May only for Maddison to suffer a knee injury on the final day of Norwich’s season at Sheffield Wednesday.

It seems only a matter of time, though, for a player carving out a reputation as a crafty and streetwise No 10, pulling the strings behind whoever is leading the line.

“My first aim is to become a regular at Leicester but of course the dream is to play for England in a World Cup, it’s the absolute pinnacle,” he says. “Gareth’s not afraid to throw young players in, look at the average age of the squad now. You can’t rule it out, I’ve set myself short-term targets and that would be the aim.

“I think it is a real positive that Gareth has brought the seniors and under-21s closer together. When you train at St. George’s Park, you’re in the gym and on the bikes with the first team – there’s no separation and it’s all integrated. It’s a good time to be an under-21s player.”

Maddison’s route to the Premier League has been a capricious one, so he will not feel out of place in a dressing room including the likes of Jamie Vardy, Kasper Schmeichel and Wes Morgan.

He joined Coventry’s academy at the age of seven, making his debut 10 years later in League One before his move to Norwich in February 2016. Loan spells at Coventry and Aberdeen followed, and he believes that grounding was crucial.

“It definitely toughens you up. It makes you mature from a young age, living away from home. I’ve had to make lots of sacrifices, particularly off the pitch. When you’re coming out of school, your friends want to do other things.

“It’s hard but you have to keep a steady head to make those decisions. It starts early now and if you don’t make those sacrifices, I probably wouldn’t be here today.

James Maddison shone at Norwich CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES

“There are quite a lot of young players around now with undoubted talent who get stuck in academies at big clubs. I’m not saying that’s the wrong way to do it because if you’re good enough you can break through, but there’s a lot of players here at Leicester, including myself, who have played a lot of games in the lower leagues and gained experience that way.

“People may look at my age but I’ve come a long way already and there is still a long way to go.”

The close support of his family, father Gary, mother Una and his younger brother Ben, has also been vital and they didn’t miss a Norwich game home or away last season. Gary, a graphic designer, has even set up a YouTube account with Maddison’s best moments from last season [as gazmaddy].

That campaign under Daniel Farke was remarkable for Maddison, emerging as arguably the best player in the Championship behind Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves.

A move to the Premier League was inevitable and in June Leicester paid £21m, which will rise to £25m on achievable instalments. He was the biggest signing of Leicester’s summer, yet Maddison proved in just over an hour at Old Trafford that any sceptics can forget about the price-tag.

James Maddison battles for the ball with Eric Bailly CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES

“That’s irrelevant to me. If you think about the money aspect, you get derailed from what you should be focused on,” he says.

“It was a hard decision to leave Norwich and you have to take into account a lot of things – could I make the step up, do I want to have another season of really showing what I can do? You weigh up all those things and Leicester was the right move for me. I can tell I’m at the right place.”

Also inevitably, there will be comparisons with Mahrez, who joined Manchester City last month for a club-record £60m. Maddison waves them away.

“I’m a different player and you can’t look at it like that. I’m a No 10 and played there for the majority of last season at Norwich in a 4-2-3-1. I also played central midfield for a spell as well. I don’t think you can make comparisons [with Mahrez] and I’ve got to bring my own strengths to the team.”

James Maddison talks with John Percy CREDIT: JOHN ROBERTSON

‘Madders’ is already a popular figure in Leicester’s dressing room and laughs when he recalls how his new team-mates camped around the TV to watch Love Island during the pre-season training camp in France.

He is particularly close with Ben Chilwell and Demarai Gray, who also play with England’s under-21s, while being given the No 10 jersey has received the blessing of the former incumbent, long-serving midfielder Andy King.

Maddison will make his home debut against Wolves on Saturday. “I can’t wait to get started and I’ve got a great feeling about it,” he says. “We think we can have a really good season this year. Wolves will be a tough game because they ran away with it last season. We played them at Carrow Road, lost 2-0 and were chasing shadows for 90 minutes. But it’s our first home game and we’ve got to show our fans what we’re about.”

[RumbleFox]

2 hours ago, murphy said:

Maybe it's cus I'm mid forties and no longer have my finger on the pulse, man, but what is there today?  

 

We had Oasis, Blur, Pulp, The Charlatans, Radiohead, Stone Roses, Nirvana, The Verve, The Prodigy, Suede, Massive Attack, Portishead, Spiritualized, St. Etienne, The Strokes,  Manic Street Preachers and loads of lesser bands hanging on their coat tails like Dodgy, Supergrass, Cast and OCS.  it was a golden era.  'Specially for a frustrated bedroom guitar legend like myself.

 

Beats Taylor Swift.

 

I'm not sure any are all time greats, but we haven't really had an all time great band since The Smiths I'd say.

 

This thread's gonna get locked.  

 

I'm almost 40 and feel the same, I've lost touch. Young Farthers are very very good and I like St Vincent but other than that I have no idea. Don't get me wrong I loved all that stuff and my post, as always, was slightly tongue in cheek. The Strokes (although later) were truly phenomenal and I think arcade fire were amazing. Loved St Etienne by the way, great voice. I just never want to be THAT GUY - still in his Fred perry and with a Gallagher hairstyle in my 50s talking about the good old days. Music should move on, modern music is not for us, we are irrelevant but sure there must be lots of good stuff out there. Personally I don't like oasis but music is subjective and personal which is what makes it great. I pretty much listen to an endless loop of velvet underground, dexys, Scott walker and Roy Orbison so I'm waaaaay out of touch. Quite like perfume genius and he is pretty new. That is about as down with the kids as I get.

 

Anyway........ Maddison gonna be a star. X 

[murphy]

49 minutes ago, RumbleFox said:

I'm almost 40 and feel the same, I've lost touch. Young Farthers are very very good and I like St Vincent but other than that I have no idea. Don't get me wrong I loved all that stuff and my post, as always, was slightly tongue in cheek. The Strokes (although later) were truly phenomenal and I think arcade fire were amazing. Loved St Etienne by the way, great voice. I just never want to be THAT GUY - still in his Fred perry and with a Gallagher hairstyle in my 50s talking about the good old days. Music should move on, modern music is not for us, we are irrelevant but sure there must be lots of good stuff out there. Personally I don't like oasis but music is subjective and personal which is what makes it great. I pretty much listen to an endless loop of velvet underground, dexys, Scott walker and Roy Orbison so I'm waaaaay out of touch. Quite like perfume genius and he is pretty new. That is about as down with the kids as I get.

 

Anyway........ Maddison gonna be a star. X 

Yeah, Sarah Cracknell - great voice!  Second only to that mad, leotard-ed, serpentine, legend Kate Bush.  

 

Love your 'loop' bands, but could live without The big 'O' and never wanted to be down with kids anyway.  The kids are idiots.

 

But James Maddison... cracking player.

[RumbleFox]

10 minutes ago, murphy said:

Yeah, Sarah Cracknell - great voice!  Second only to that mad, leotard-ed, serpentine, legend Kate Bush.  

 

Love your 'loop' bands, but could live without The big 'O' and never wanted to be down with kids anyway.  The kids are idiots.

 

But James Maddison... cracking player.

Haha, I like "voices" which is why I love a bit of Roy I think, same with Gene Pitney.  Yeah I saw St Etienne, amazing.  I think the kids are probably glad we think they are idiots.  Even if they are really.  Fvcking idiots.

 

But my God, Maddison looks a real gem.

[Izzy]

Seems to be a lot of expectation on the lad here. I hope he lives up to it and delivers the goods.

 

I wonder what the reaction will be on here if he has a couple of dodgy games? Early signs look good but I’m not sure he’s the saviour some are making him out to be.

 

He comes across as mentally quite strong so just hope he can handle the pressure of the PL.

 

Fingers crossed 

[murphy]

2 minutes ago, Izzy Muzzett said:

Seems to be a lot of expectation on the lad here. I hope he lives up to it and delivers the goods.

 

I wonder what the reaction will be on here if he has a couple of dodgy games? Early signs look good but I’m not sure he’s the saviour some are making him out to be.

 

He comes across as mentally quite strong so just hope he can handle the pressure of the PL.

 

Fingers crossed 

You're right, he looks a prodigy and looked like an oasis of quality on Friday night.  He played with verve and with a speed of thought that was just a blur.  He's gonna make our attack massive!

 

See.  I can stay on topic.

[WigstonWanderer]

2 minutes ago, murphy said:

You're right, he looks a prodigy and looked like an oasis of quality on Friday night.  He played with verve and with a speed of thought that was just a blur.  He's gonna make our attack massive!

 

See.  I can stay on topic.

If he fulfills his potential I’m sure we’ll all be in a state of nirvana.

Edited 16 August 2018 by WigstonWanderer

[KingsX]

I'd like to thank the posters on this and the Chilwell thread for cluing me up on what "Yer Da" means.

 

Rarely used over here, but I think I've got it now.

[Izzy]

1 hour ago, WigstonWanderer said:

If he fulfills his potential I’m sure we’ll all be in a state of nirvana.

 

Never mind 

[Bluetintedspecs]

7 hours ago, murphy said:

Maybe it's cus I'm mid forties and no longer have my finger on the pulse, man, but what is there today?  

 

We had Oasis, Blur, Pulp, The Charlatans, Radiohead, Stone Roses, Nirvana, The Verve, The Prodigy, Suede, Massive Attack, Portishead, Spiritualized, St. Etienne, The Strokes,  Manic Street Preachers and loads of lesser bands hanging on their coat tails like Dodgy, Supergrass, Cast and OCS.  it was a golden era.  'Specially for a frustrated bedroom guitar legend like myself.

 

Beats Taylor Swift.

 

I'm not sure any are all time greats, but we haven't really had an all time great band since The Smiths I'd say.

 

This thread's gonna get locked.  

 

I'll raise you with   Rene & Renato, St Winifreds Choir & Clive Dunn, Mr Blobby, Rolf Harris, Goddle & Waddle, The Firm -Star Trekkin, Joe Dolce and many more 80s greats 

 

Ps maybe some dates wrong but feels like they were 80s ?

Edited 16 August 2018 by Bluetintedspecs

[WigstonWanderer]

7 hours ago, KingsX said:

I'd like to thank the posters on this and the Chilwell thread for cluing me up on what "Yer Da" means.

 

Rarely used over here, but I think I've got it now.

Had to look it up myself

Edited 16 August 2018 by WigstonWanderer

[fuchsntf]

60yrs  gone, do we have a new-modern. DAVID GIBSON...

[SecretPro]

**** me, he is the one. 

 

 

[StriderHiryu]

Integral part of the team already at 21 and two games in. I felt he struggled quite badly to get into the game but whenever he got on the ball he greatly affected the game and looked like the most dangerous player on the pitch. 

 

Teams are going to wise up to this so we need to think about how we can get him the ball more often without him having to drop deep. His threat though does provide space for both fullbacks and wingers to do damage. 

 

Delighted he scored because with Mahrez gone we need others to step up with end product. 

 

This is a very talented player and a great signing. Nice one Scouting team, manager and DoF.

Edited 18 August 2018 by StriderHiryu

[Mint23]

He’s on a different level to most of the players, there were numerous times today when he was in so much space and screaming for the ball but didn’t get it. With more games he’s going to be epic, talksport today were bigging him up for the England squad next month 

[The Doctor]

What was the don't look back in anger chant for him?

 

Looks quality, does maybe go down a bit easy though

[foxes_rule1978]

Maddison for me is capable of being up there with the very best creative players, his positioning and quick thinking is similar to De Bruyne and I’m not going OTT. He is a true genius 

[Voll Blau]

15 hours ago, The Doctor said:

What was the don't look back in anger chant for him?

 

Looks quality, does maybe go down a bit easy though

The first one.

 

On 20/06/2018 at 15:43, Voll Blau said:

James Maddison came
From Norwich to play
In the old Blue and White
Cov sigh away
Coz Maddison's at Leicester
He's here to stay

 

 

Maddison was at Cov Whooooooa
Told the cvnts to fvck off Whooooooa
Then he thought of his future
And now he's Leicester and proud

 

 

 

[Dan LCFC]

Banker to play for England. We do not produce players with that technical ability often.

[ScouseFox]

<3

[StriderHiryu]

A problem we will have this season is how to get him into the game. He barely touched the ball in the first 30 minutes versus Wolves but once he got on the ball he made things happen. That is the case for any team in the world who plays with a 10 and it’s quite a nice problem to have. The key will be passing and understanding between the midfield two and him. I thought he was building a good relationship with Silva but he was dropped (which was vindicated). Hopefully whoever is in the team can click with him. 

I think it’s important to note that this side has not had much time at all to play with one another. The more time and training games we play the better we’ll look. If Madders and Ricardo look this good already we could be flying by the time we get to Christmas. 

[YorkshireYellow]

10 hours ago, foxes_rule1978 said:

Maddison for me is capable of being up there with the very best creative players, his positioning and quick thinking is similar to De Bruyne and I’m not going OTT. He is a true genius 

And Coventry, Aberdeen and Norwich fans have all been saying the same.... ridiculous that Grealish was rated at £40m in the summer when he's second rate compared with Maddison..... wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if Maddison ends up being the next British player at Real Madrid. 

He's the player that England needs, and I think people will be calling him world class within a two years.... just one of those players who is one move ahead of every other player on the pitch and with a bit of magic, belongs in 2000's with the Henry's and the Bergkamp's when the magic was much more abundant in football. 

.... watching him last season gave me a little slither of faith that the beautiful game isn't completely ****ed, which is how I'd been feeling for quite a few years. I suppose Jamie Vardy is one of the few others who give me hope, and Leicester actually managing to win the ****ing league. 

Just remember who first polished the gem, perhaps you'll give him an extra coat 

Edited 19 August 2018 by YorkshireYellow

[YorkshireYellow]

7 hours ago, Dan LCFC said:

Banker to play for England. We do not produce players with that technical ability often.

Joe Cole was probably the last, who underachieved (probably because he was a chain smoker, allegedly). 

[Wymsey]

He's going to be so good, Kitchandro and seenitall will reveal some positivity into something.

[urban.spaceman]

On 16/08/2018 at 13:42, AllGoneTitsSchlupp said:

James Maddison casts a glance around the photographs which adorn the media room at the King Power Stadium, and contemplates some of the figures staring down at him: Riyad Mahrez, N'Golo Kante, Danny Drinkwater, Robert Huth, Claudio Ranieri.

These are Leicester City's miracle men, many of the heroes from the Premier League title-winning campaign - all departed now, but remembered no less fondly for that. It would be an intimidating experience for most, but not Maddison. Instead, Leicester's new £25 million signing is on a mission to make some history of his own.

He has played just 63 minutes in the Premier League, making his debut at Manchester United last Friday, yet it already feels as if Leicester have found a new hero - an attacking midfielder who has piqued the interest of England manager Gareth Southgate. 

“This time last year, probably nobody knew who I was apart from Coventry and Aberdeen fans,” he says, in his first big interview since the move. “But I had a great season at Norwich and coming here was the perfect next step. It’s not going to be easy, it’s the best league in the world for a reason, but I’m desperate to be a success here.

“I’m only 21 but feel like I’ve been around for ages. I’ve done the rounds but everyone has a different path. I think mine has shaped up nicely and I’m now in the Premier League which is what every young boy dreams of.”

James Maddison arrives at the King Power Stadium CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES

More on Maddison’s career path later, but his emergence at Norwich last season – where he scored 15 goals and contributed eight assists – has already seen him identified as a future England star.

He made his under-21s debut last year and it can be revealed Southgate was set to invite him to train with the senior squad before the World Cup in May only for Maddison to suffer a knee injury on the final day of Norwich’s season at Sheffield Wednesday.

It seems only a matter of time, though, for a player carving out a reputation as a crafty and streetwise No 10, pulling the strings behind whoever is leading the line.

“My first aim is to become a regular at Leicester but of course the dream is to play for England in a World Cup, it’s the absolute pinnacle,” he says. “Gareth’s not afraid to throw young players in, look at the average age of the squad now. You can’t rule it out, I’ve set myself short-term targets and that would be the aim.

“I think it is a real positive that Gareth has brought the seniors and under-21s closer together. When you train at St. George’s Park, you’re in the gym and on the bikes with the first team – there’s no separation and it’s all integrated. It’s a good time to be an under-21s player.”

Maddison’s route to the Premier League has been a capricious one, so he will not feel out of place in a dressing room including the likes of Jamie Vardy, Kasper Schmeichel and Wes Morgan.

 He joined Coventry’s academy at the age of seven, making his debut 10 years later in League One before his move to Norwich in February 2016. Loan spells at Coventry and Aberdeen followed, and he believes that grounding was crucial.

“It definitely toughens you up. It makes you mature from a young age, living away from home. I’ve had to make lots of sacrifices, particularly off the pitch. When you’re coming out of school, your friends want to do other things.

“It’s hard but you have to keep a steady head to make those decisions. It starts early now and if you don’t make those sacrifices, I probably wouldn’t be here today.

James Maddison shone at Norwich CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES

“There are quite a lot of young players around now with undoubted talent who get stuck in academies at big clubs. I’m not saying that’s the wrong way to do it because if you’re good enough you can break through, but there’s a lot of players here at Leicester, including myself, who have played a lot of games in the lower leagues and gained experience that way.

“People may look at my age but I’ve come a long way already and there is still a long way to go.”

The close support of his family, father Gary, mother Una and his younger brother Ben, has also been vital and they didn’t miss a Norwich game home or away last season. Gary, a graphic designer, has even set up a YouTube account with Maddison’s best moments from last season [as gazmaddy].

That campaign under Daniel Farke was remarkable for Maddison, emerging as arguably the best player in the Championship behind Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves.

A move to the Premier League was inevitable and in June Leicester paid £21m, which will rise to £25m on achievable instalments. He was the biggest signing of Leicester’s summer, yet Maddison proved in just over an hour at Old Trafford that any sceptics can forget about the price-tag.

James Maddison battles for the ball with Eric Bailly CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES

“That’s irrelevant to me. If you think about the money aspect, you get derailed from what you should be focused on,” he says.

“It was a hard decision to leave Norwich and you have to take into account a lot of things – could I make the step up, do I want to have another season of really showing what I can do? You weigh up all those things and Leicester was the right move for me. I can tell I’m at the right place.”

Also inevitably, there will be comparisons with Mahrez, who joined Manchester City last month for a club-record £60m. Maddison waves them away.

“I’m a different player and you can’t look at it like that. I’m a No 10 and played there for the majority of last season at Norwich in a 4-2-3-1. I also played central midfield for a spell as well. I don’t think you can make comparisons [with Mahrez] and I’ve got to bring my own strengths to the team.”

James Maddison talks with John Percy CREDIT: JOHN ROBERTSON

‘Madders’ is already a popular figure in Leicester’s dressing room and laughs when he recalls how his new team-mates camped around the TV to watch Love Island during the pre-season training camp in France.

He is particularly close with Ben Chilwell and Demarai Gray, who also play with England’s under-21s, while being given the No 10 jersey has received the blessing of the former incumbent, long-serving midfielder Andy King.

Maddison will make his home debut against Wolves on Saturday. “I can’t wait to get started and I’ve got a great feeling about it,” he says. “We think we can have a really good season this year. Wolves will be a tough game because they ran away with it last season. We played them at Carrow Road, lost 2-0 and were chasing shadows for 90 minutes. But it’s our first home game and we’ve got to show our fans what we’re about.”

2

Well it was a nice 25 years but sadly my association with Leicester City Football Club must end. It's been a good one. Cheers everybody. Bye. X