James Maddison has been backed in his row with Roy Keane – after appearing to take aim at the Irishman in celebrating Sunday’s winning goal for Tottenham against Man United.
‘Just a little bit of outside noise, wasn’t there this week,’ said Maddison on Sky Sports after celebrating his 10th goal of the season by throwing an imaginary dart down the lens of a TV camera and then putting a finger to his lips to shush the noise.
‘People have their opinions. I wanted to do my talking on the pitch. There will be a certain few enjoying me being the match-winner.
‘The gaffer, he always talks about blocking the outside noise but it’s difficult. It’s in your face with social media. You see it and it’s there, especially when it’s a high-profile name.’
The seemed like an oblique reference to former United captain Keane who had taken a swipe at Maddison during an episode of Gary Neville’s Overlap podcast last week.
And, in case there was any doubt, after the game, Maddison then posted the clip from The Overlap on social media.
James Maddison puts his finger to his lips to shush out the noise after scoring on Sunday
Roy Keane had been critical of Maddison on Gary Neville’s podcast just days before the game
James Maddison responds quickly to knock in a rebound for Tottenham’s winner on Sunday
‘Maddison isn’t bad, when he’s not at the darts,’ Keane had said on the podcast.
‘People say Maddison’s the man. When is he going to step up to the plate? He got relegated with Leicester and he’ll get relegated with Spurs.’
‘He’s good, he’s a talented player, but if you’re a player in the Spurs dressing room and Maddison’s back in the squad, you wouldn’t be looking and going “Oh Jesus, he’s back today, we’re going to be fine”.’
It seemed a rather brutal attack on a man who is Tottenham’s topscorer – in a tough season for Ange Postecoglou’s side.
And, on Monday, former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor weighed into the row.
‘Roy Keane’s comments were unprovoked,’ he said on talkSPORT.
Gabby Agbonlahor believes Roy Keane planned his comments on Maddison to get a reaction
‘Maddison has had a decent season. Can he do better? Yes he can, but these are unprovoked comments.
‘I worked with Roy Keane at Aston Villa. I know his character, what he’s like, and didn’t like it. There’s no need.
‘James Maddison seems like a good lad. Good on him for giving these pundits something back. It just summed Roy Keane up.
‘The way the comments were made, it just seemed like it was pre-planned. Let’s say something, if it’s going to go up on social media it’s going to blow up. There’s just no need for it.’
Maddison will have the opportunity to make another point to Keane on Saturday when Tottenham travel to Ipswich Town – where the Sky Sports pundit used to manage and was targetted by Tractors fans earlier this season.
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