cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/2915745
Maddisons involvement in Tottenhams chance creation is spectacular! Also is 99th percentile in shot creating actions and 93rd in progressive passes despite playing so high up the pitch.
Bellingham in certainly the more talented amd well rounded player, bjt Maddison has had just as impressive a start to the season which should not be overlooked.
I meant in terms of profile “shape”. Here are three comparisons:
Bellingham v Maddison
Bellingham v Gündogan
Maddison v de Bruyne
See what I mean? Of course, different managers will have these players perform their role in different ways depending on their squad and tactics, so they will inevitably look different “on the eye”. E.g. look at the way Maddison is free to drop really deep in some games to act as a pivot and playmaker, which is something KDB doesn’t really do (Maddison’s season heatmap is building a deep left MF hotspot as a result). But I was talking more about their skills profiles and fit for certain roles. Of course, they’re not the same - I was just pointing out similarities in profile shape.
But agree that the Maddison and Bellingham comparison is very interesting. I wonder if Southgate can find a way for them to work together in the England squad? When they played together against Ukraine, they just got in each others’ way.