James Maddison and the art of being a pantomime villain

The nights are drawing in and people are already being bombarded with Christmas adverts. Mince pies have been available in your local reputable supermarkets since August, parents are debating which colourful piece of plastic is most likely to entertain their child for 17 minutes on the Big Day, and Football Daily has already been thinking which colourful piece of Tin will provide the ammunition for entertainment this year at Guardian Towers.

For those casting directors wondering where they are going to find their next star for the pantomime season – Peter Beardsley and Yeovil and Scunthorpe legend Ian Botham have all made the not-so-trodden path from the pitch to the boards – please consider James Maddison, who is all-too-happy to play the part of villain alongside his distinguished roles as creative midfielder for Tottenham and “main man” at his family’s roast dinners.

“I like that pantomime villain-type vibe that’s created often at away games, especially because of the type of player I am and even the type of person I am sometimes, I don’t mind getting a bit of stick,” Maddison chuckled to TalkSport. “Sometimes it comes with the character I have but I don’t mind that.”

Humour is not something that Football Daily is very familiar with, but who can forget this slapstick classic of Maddison not drinking properly out of a water bottle, in an apparent reference to Maddison not drinking out of water bottle a couple of days earlier!? Oh! James!

PC Tony Stamp nor Ian Beale simply cannot compete with the Spurs No 10, who lines up for the visit of Fulham on Monday. We could even see a repeat of the Madders corner skit last seen at Luton. He’s going to take it from outside of the designated quadrant! Oh no he isn’t! Good, because then the laws of the game wouldn’t have been properly enforced.

Join John Brewin for piping-hot MBM coverage of Tottenham 3-1 Fulham, with kick-off at 8pm BST.

Monday 16 October
New Monza signing Papu Gómez taunts José Mourinho before his side’s clash with Roma on Sunday: “Mourinho? I only have one memory of him and that is winning the Europa League with Sevilla against him a few months ago.”

Friday 20 October
Gómez is banned for two years on Friday in a doping case stemming from his time at the La Liga club Sevilla. He tested positive last October, shortly before joining the Argentina squad that went on to win the World Cup.

Sunday 22 October
Gómez confirms he has asked his lawyers to look into his doping suspension and said that the banned substance came from his son’s cough medicine: “I accidentally ingested it in a spoonful of my little son’s cough syrup … I have asked my lawyers to look into the matter as I believe the disciplinary case was not treated according to the rules.”

Mourinho, after Roma scored a 90th-minute winner against Monza: “I have a cough, but I won’t take that syrup. I don’t remember playing against him in the Europa League final [Gómez was an unused substitute]. What happened to him isn’t my problem.”

“The Sheffield United v Manchester United game was dedicated post-match by the victorious manager to the memory of Sir Bobby Charlton. At the final whistle the cameras by the technical areas caught Paul Heckingbottom walking towards Ten Hag to shake hands but his opposite number had immediately turned to the United support staff behind him to begin the now traditional process of high-fiving everyone in sight – no doubt including the person responsible for checking the tyre pressures on the club jet – and ignored the Blades boss. As a 67-year-old football fan I suggest Sir Bobby would have treated the beaten manager with a great deal more respect and that the best way to have honoured his passing would have been to do the same” – Graham Price.

“Re Ralph Culver’s thoughts on Aaron Ramsdale [Friday’s Football Daily], it’s probably just as well that David Raya’s understudy wasn’t at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, otherwise his stapled-on smile may have accidentally transformed into a full-on, David-Seaman-esque belly laugh at a couple of points” – Jim Hearson.

“The first letter of the first five teams in the premier league tonight spells MALTA. I wonder is that the longest word that’s ever been spelled in such a manner?” – Chris Francis [Wrong inbox, although we’ll let the Knowledge know – Football Daily Ed].

Send your letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s winner of our prizeless letter o’ the day is … Jim Hearson.

Arsenal have accepted that there is a lack of diversity in their women’s team, vowing to improve the situation after publishing their 2023-24 squad photo which featured no black or ethnic-minority players in the 27-strong line-up.

Manchester United will hold a minute’s silence before Tuesday night’s match against Copenhagen in memory of Sir Bobby Charlton, and are discussing additional ways to commemorate his life.

Football being football, of course there’ve been people behaving like clowns; Manchester City have condemned fans involved in “offensive” Charlton chants at half-time of their game against Brighton.

Aston Villa moved fifth in the Premier League, just two points off the lead, after thrashing West Ham 4-1.

Juventus snaffled a 1-0 win away to Milan, while teenage Marc Guiu celebrated his debut by scoring Barcelona’s winner against Athletic Bilbao. Find out more with our European roundup.

Gotham moved into the semi-finals of the NWSL playoffs after beating North Carolina Courage, and will now face Portland Thorns.

Nikita Parris and Rachel Williams starred, scoring two goals apiece, as Manchester United won 5-0 at Everton in the WSL.

Brendan Rodgers was delighted after Celtic won 4-1 away at Hearts. “I love challenges like this,” he self-basted, “coming to really hostile environments because it’s an opportunity for you to show your value as a team, dealing with difficult circumstances.” For avoidance of doubt, he did not play in the game.

Bill Gates, the former Middlesbrough defender who inspired the campaign which highlights the links between football and dementia, has died aged 79.

Few footballers have transcended their club and sport in the manner of the late Sir Bobby Charlton. Paul Wilson reflects on the ultimate footballer here, Paul Hayward discusses Sir Bobby’s relationship with his brother Jack here, Jonathan Wilson – Bobby’s biographer – shares some thoughts here, and Richard Williams writes on the miner’s son who became a global icon here.

Have you got any Charlton memories you want to share? Did you bump into him at an airport? Did he ever kick the ball back over the fence? Did you once see him eating a continental breakfast? Please use this form to enlighten us.

After another terrific round of matches, our writers have their say on the WSL weekend.

It’s been another Premier League-style Premier League weekend, so here are our writers’ talking points on the action.

Manuel Locatelli loves a cry, and he was at it again after scoring Juve’s winner at Milan. Here’s Nicky Bandini on that and the rest of the Serie A news.

“I’ve never seen anything like it – and I’ve seen Dennis Bergkamp. I remember someone throwing a ball of tinfoil at him at a corner: he controlled it, juggled it and volleyed it back.” Lauren gets his chat on with Sid Lowe and reminisces about Diego Maradona at Sevilla and the Invincibles.

Dortmund are unbeaten in the league, but in advance of Wednesday’s trip to Newcastle, Andy Brassell’s Bundesliga roundup wonders whether they’re actually any use.

When was the last time a Manchester United midfield signing worked? This and other teasers are considered in our newest newsletter, Soccer With Jonathan Wilson.

Lyon are rubbish and going down. Maybe. Find out why in our Ligue 1 roundup.

Bobby Charlton celebrates winning the 1957 league title with teammates (from left to right) Johnny Berry, Bill Foulkes, Billy Whelan, Eddie Coleman, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor and Roger Byrne – and manager, Matt Busby. Go well, Bob.