D
Deleted member 5849
Guest
is that Maddison is being hailed in some quarters as our saviour, that we're just waiting for him to return from injury.
To me, it boils down to hope v expectation. Of course I hope he's the real deal but... so far he's played next-to-no first team games. It seems a) unrealistic to expect (as opposed to hope) he can carry a team and b) detrimental to his development to expect that too. It's somewhat different if he shows the temperament to step up to be the fulcrum, but dangerous to reply on a teenager who's barely played for us. If he reaches a consistent level of performance then great, but so far we're in the territory where he might be the next Gareth Bale, might be the next Kevin Thornton.
Personally, I'd see anything we get from Maddison this season as a happy bonus rather than an expectation.
To me, it boils down to hope v expectation. Of course I hope he's the real deal but... so far he's played next-to-no first team games. It seems a) unrealistic to expect (as opposed to hope) he can carry a team and b) detrimental to his development to expect that too. It's somewhat different if he shows the temperament to step up to be the fulcrum, but dangerous to reply on a teenager who's barely played for us. If he reaches a consistent level of performance then great, but so far we're in the territory where he might be the next Gareth Bale, might be the next Kevin Thornton.
Personally, I'd see anything we get from Maddison this season as a happy bonus rather than an expectation.