Xavi Simons’ start to life at Tottenham has been fairly slow, already raising some concerns about the club’s hefty investment in the Dutchman.
Thomas Frank dealt Xavi Simons concern at Tottenham
The 22-year-old struggled to influence the game once again during Spurs’ 2-1 loss to Aston Villa at home in the Premier League on Sunday.
Since his high-profile move from RB Leipzig in the summer, which could end up costing the club a whopping £125 million in total when factoring in wages over a potential seven-year deal (Paul O’Keefe), expectations have been sky-high for Simons to inject creativity and flair.
Appearances
25
Minutes played
2,157
Goals
10
Assists
7
Bookings
5
Shots at goal per 90 minutes
2
Passing accuracy
82.9%
Average match rating
7.32
via WhoScored
However, his performances so far have largely fallen short of those hopes, with many fans and pundits noting Simons’ inability to make his mark in the way those at the club envisioned.
One of the most glaring concerns has been Simons’ output — or rather, the lack of it.
Despite being touted as a dynamic playmaker to replace the injured James Maddison, capable of unlocking defenses with clever passes and incisive dribbling, he has struggled to consistently make an impact in the final third.
So far, Simons has registered just one goal contribution, which came during his Premier League debut, and even that was an in-swinging cross from a corner for Pape Sarr to head home against struggling West Ham.
Part of the problem may be attributed to the pressure of living up to his big-money price tag at a club with high expectations.
The weight of that can sometimes hamper a young player’s confidence, especially in a league known for its intensity and competitiveness. Moreover, adapting to a completely new environment, manager and tactical setup takes time, and the Netherlands international’s early struggles could be a reflection of this adjustment period.
Interestingly, Thomas Frank has been told by some members of the media that Simons isn’t a playmaker at all, but this is hardly reflective of the numbers during his time at Leipzig.
The former PSG sensation, who was also a member of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy during his time as a youth player, racked up 11 goals and eight assists in 33 total appearances for Leipzig last season — even despite missing a good portion of 24/25 with an ankle problem.
Simons did deliver a good portion of those numbers in a CAM role, including a match-winning performance against Borussia Dortmund and brace at home to Werder Bremen, but he impressed out on the left too during his final Bundesliga matches for Leipzig.
Frank could have some experimenting to do, and Lucas Bergvall could be deployed in a more advanced midfield role with the Dane playing centrally, Simons out wide and Mohammed Kudus on the right.
In the meantime, though, Simons is attracting criticism from on-lookers.
Gabriel Agbonlahor gives scathing Xavi Simons verdict after Tottenham loss
Following Spurs’ disappointing loss to Villa, pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor gave a scathing verdict about Simons when debating who would get into a team combining both sides’ best players.
“What has he done this season?” Agbonlahor said.
“I’m not having him because he’s done nothing and has a lot to prove.”
Despite his challenges, it’s worth noting that Simons is still young and has shown flashes of his talent in glimpses during games.
His technical ability, vision and dribbling are evident when he finds space, and Tottenham’s coaching staff will be keen to work closely with him to help unlock his potential.
Meanwhile, Frank has already leaped to the player’s defence — insisting he needs more time to bed in.
“I think we defend with 11 players,” Frank said in his post-match press conference.
“We also attack with 11 players. I think it’s the whole team. Of course it will always be, let’s say, the front four – today Wilson, Mo, Xavi and Mathys – that is the main guys that will be judged on it, which is fair.
“I like Xavi’s personality today, especially in the first half. I think he wanted to get on the ball, he wanted to create. I think he was very aggressive in the pressure. I think it was a fine game.
“I’m not in doubt that Xavi will be good for us. Today was an average-plus game.”