If the answer to the question is “James Maddison”, then what is the question? (Those who lack the love of the game of football, a devotion to all things Premier League, an understanding of the intricacies of ‘the beautiful game’ and an unnatural obsession with small, furry animals, best look away now.)

For years we’ve watched Maddison play for Leicester and thought ‘yeah, too good to play for the Foxes’. Or, ‘he’s ok, that Maddison, decent player’. But that was because he was mired down in Vardie-land with a bunch of no-hopers and losers. Ok, they did actually win the league, possibly the single most amazing footballing achievement in my lifetime, but, as they said in Life of Brian, ‘what have they ever done after that?’

For all the plaudits about our Jamie, he has thus far amassed a grand total of 3 England caps. And yet… and yet…

And yet put him in a Spurs shirt, pull off the handcuffs, set him free and he becomes… what Joey would call a Superhero. 3 games, 3 man-of-the-match performances, one goal, 2 assists.

And yet… there’s so much more he brings to our game. We’ve had fab players before. We’ve had 10 seasons with the world’s top striker. Who often found himself ‘dropping back’ because we had no natural ‘provider’ for him and Sonny to feed off. They did it for themselves and at times to stunning effect. But every team needs a playmaker. That person who can change a game with one pass. Someone who sees the game in its entirety and knows how to break it open. Kevin de Bruyne does it. Luka Modric was our past master, Christian Eriksen his wonderful successor. And that’s what we’ve been missing. And that is the real ‘answer’.

And if I sound like I have a serious man-crush on the scrawny northerner, then I have. And in Ange Postecoglu we have a manager who not only brings out the very best of everyone’s talent, but is brave enough to give it a free reign on the pitch. Which may become known, tactically, as ‘enough rope to hang yourself’. But for now, its working fabulously. And it feels so good to be unleashed from miserable, ultra-conservative southern Eureopean ‘special ones’. Which has had the most wonderful, liberating effect on the rest of the team too. Our midfield is magnificent, and Rodrigo Bentancur is yet to return from injury. Ahhhhhh.

Oh, and Manchester City are top of the league now. Just FYI. And to remember that there are a few other teams out there at the moment.

Happy Monday

A xxxx