You rarely hear the term ‘free role’ anymore. But if there’s one player in the Premier League who might be operating in this mythical 1990s quasi-role, it’s Tottenham attacking midfielder James Maddison. His job in Ange Postecoglou’s system is best described as the main problem solver for Spurs, and the main problem causer for everyone else.
Perversely, this is one of the reasons why Gareth Southgate doesn’t envisage him as a natural fit for his
