'He wasn't happy': Pundit has heard £40m Tottenham player was fuming after West Ham win

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Tottenham were brilliant against West Ham at the weekend as they ran out 4-1 winners against their London rivals.

Spurs put on a serious show in the second-half, but the game wasn't entirely one-sided.

Indeed, for the first 45 minutes, West Ham gave Tottenham a real challenge, the Hammers went 1-0 up and they could've led at the break.

However, Ange Postecoglou made a change at half-time, James Maddison was substituted for tactical reasons, and, from that point, Spurs looked stronger.

Maddison, seemingly, was holding Tottenham back, and according to Tony Cascarino, speaking on The Game Football Podcast, the midfielder was far from happy with the decision to take him off against the Hammers.

• READ MORE: Dominic Solanke reveals what Tottenham players were saying to each other after beating West Ham 4-1

James Maddison wasn't happy after West Ham game

According to Cascarino, Maddison wasn't happy with the fact he was taken off during this game.

Cascarino was actually at the match, and he says that the people working there for TNT Sports told him that Maddison was not happy and refused an interview at the game.

"He made a big call at half-time, Postecoglou, taking Maddison off. It felt like Maddison was in the way in midfield. I was told afterwards that Maddison wasn't happy, the TNT people were there and they said he wasn't happy Maddison, he just stormed, I wouldn't say stormed, he walked past them and didn't want to interview," Cascarino said.

""He's fighting for his career at Tottenham after a year really. I say his career as a first-team starter in their best XI. I'm not sure he's convinced by Maddison's role in the team. He's a great footballer, technically superb, but he has to be the main man, and he isn't now."

Why Ange Postecoglou substituted James Maddison

Maddison was subbed at half-time in this game, and Postecoglou did explain why he took the midfielder off in the game.

Postecoglou explained after the match that he wanted more running power in his midfield.

"Yes it was tactical, I just felt we needed a bit more running power in that midfield area. Pape gives us some good energy there and I thought that really helped us in the second half."

Postecoglou's plan clearly worked as Spurs completely turned the game on its head in the second-half, while Alan Shearer also praised Tottenham's substitution.

"He brings him on and they were a different team in the second half. Maddison goes off and all of a sudden he brings him on (Sarr), because he wants more legs, more power and bit of steel in that midfield, and he certainly offered that,” Shearer said.

Maddison may now have an uphill battle to reclaim his place in this team as Spurs showed on Saturday that they may actually be a better side without the £40m man.

Maddison may be set for a spell on the bench as Ange Postecoglou seems to have found his new first-choice midfield trio.