The domestic circuit in England has over the years produced some of the best young talents in Europe. Clubs around the country, not just in the top flight, have some quality players who will grow on to become world-class if given the right opportunities to learn and prove themselves. One such player, who could have had a completely different career if not for an injury in 2014 is Norwich City midfielder James Maddison.
The 19-year old was on the verge of a move to the Premier League with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool close to striking a deal but an injury prevented the English giants from going through with the move.
This has seen the youngster picked up Norwich City in February this year. He is currently on loan at Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership and has made a sizzling start to his time there with 2 goals in the first three games. He is contracted with the Scottish outfit till January next year and will be a great option for a number of clubs in the Premier League. With the January transfer window not that far away, let’s take a look at the SWOT analysis of the 19-year old.
Strengths
A player with enviable attacking instincts, Maddison, is one of the very few players in the domestic circuit who has an equal ability with both his feet. He is a gifted player with exceptional technique who likes to dribble past opponents in dangerous areas. He is smart, nimble and has a great first touch that makes him a dangerous player in the final third.
He can pick a pass even in a crowd and is adept at setting his team-mates on goal playing in a playmaker’s position. His set piece ability was evident in the thumping free kick he scored off this season for Aberdeen while his worth ethics only make him more of an exciting prospect.
Weaknesses
Though a decent finisher, Maddison is not the prolific goal scorer a top class team wants from their playmaker. He knows his way to goal but more often than not, his positioning in the final third without the ball is critical. He is a gifted player but will have to add goals to his game if he wants to be successful at the highest level.
He is also not a strong player who will fend off challenges from the opposition but the technical ability that he possesses allows him to overcome that part of the game. However, at his age, he will only get stronger and will surely get over this problem playing regularly in England.
Opportunities
The 19-year old, who was born in Coventry, England, is yet to play for his national side at any junior level. He has not been able to impress enough to be called up for the U19’s side this year but his start to the season will make him a potential prospect for the national side.
He is currently an important part of the Scottish side till the January transfer window and if he can keep up his good work for the rest of the year, he will surely attract some of the top clubs in the top tier of English football. He has the attributes to be successful and will have to work hard to get his first national cap and a place in one of the best sides in the country.
Threats
At 19, Maddison has his whole career in front of him and he will have to be careful before deciding his next move. He will be a Norwich player come January and will have gathered some much-needed experience in his time there. If he is successful, he will walk into the Norwich City side that will be desperate for a comeback into the Premier League at the end of the season.
At his age, Madison will need all the game time in the world he can get but if he is not able to impress for the Canaries for the second half of the season, he may not be able to keep up with the requirements of the top sides in the country. He will have to work hard and stay focused for months together to become a successful player in one of the top-5 teams in the Premier League.
