Xavi Simons

[Lilbaz]

Can't we have them interchanging during the game. Muani or richarlison as strikers could drift left with xavi sometimes coming more centrally during the game. Dependent on the situation.
Would be a nightmare for defenders to deal with.

 

[Diamond Lights]

To me that applies when one of the better players is clearly better on one position than another.

I don't think that applies as much to Simons, particularly if playing a more inside left role. Wouldn't want to see him just hug the touchline, but as long as he has the freedom to roam a bit I'm not sure it matters much where it's starting position is.

Too many potential solutions to list them all. But if Frank wants two out of Palhinha, Sarr and Bentancur in a given game. Simons left and Bergvall through the middle or Simons in the 10 role and one of those you mentioned on the left. What's better? I think it depends.

At the highest level i'm also very much a horses for courses view. At home with teams sitting deep, Xavi in the middle. Away from home, more energy and pressing in the middle, definitely opportunities to mix up. But really, if you want to win, you go out with him in the middle.

 

[braineclipse]

Small sample size playing for us but not a a small sample size in terms of his career. He's played a lot on the left and through the middle. His attributes best suit a central role. He plays from the left regardless of where his nominal starting position is but the point is if hes started as the left hand side guy it's his responsibility to spread the game and provide the width, this does not suit him or get the best out of him. We need a player on the outside of him which then allows Simons to drift into the spaces where he is most dangerous and that is not our on the left holding width and yes he will be the one holding width of he's played there as we've already seen in his first two matches.

I think I already said something about not having him just be a touchline hugger to get the best out of him from the left. When he played there for us he had Spence behind him, but with Udogie now getting back to real fitness that won't always be the case.

My point is essentially "it depends", and on a lot of things and I don't think it has to be in the centre to get the best out of him - and more importantly getting the most out of the 11 on the pitch in total.

 

[braineclipse]

At the highest level i'm also very much a horses for courses view. At home with teams sitting deep, Xavi in the middle. Away from home, more energy and pressing in the middle, definitely opportunities to mix up. But really, if you want to win, you go out with him in the middle.

We always want to win, no?

I think he's a horse that can fit different courses (I know nothing about horses, but think I get the saying correctly).

What was the song about Eriksen... "on the left, on the right" etc... He's a bit like that. He doesn't require a specific position to thrive.

 

[NaijaSpurs]

Based on a very small sample size where him playing as a 10 against Brighton coincided with us chasing a goal and also playing another of our more creativity players in midfield (Bergvall).

Long story short the story is still rather short and it's a bit early to be making strong conclusions on what should happen in the future.

On the contrary, I would suggest that when you factor in his pre Spurs career the sample size is quite large. It proves beyond a reasonable doubt hat his best position is as a number 10.

 

[P.D.]

Maybe we're keeping him wider till he adjusts to the pace/strength of the league, a little bit like we did with Modric.

 

[braineclipse]

Maybe we're keeping him wider till he adjusts to the pace/strength of the league, a little bit like we did with Modric.

I think that's the most likely by far. But also think sometimes, in some games playing him on the left could be the better option.

 

[parklane1]

Based on a very small sample size where him playing as a 10 against Brighton coincided with us chasing a goal and also playing another of our more creativity players in midfield (Bergvall).

Long story short the story is still rather short and it's a bit early to be making strong conclusions on what should happen in the future.

Agree, the kid is 22 and played a couple of games for us and i am amazed that there are fans who have allready made up their minds where he should or should not play.

 

[braineclipse]

On the contrary, I would suggest that when you factor in his pre Spurs career the sample size is quite large. It proves beyond a reasonable doubt hat his best position is as a number 10.

Where a player should play depends on the system and style of play too. From what I understand he's done well on the left for Leipzig too?

My feeling is that he'll most likely end up being more of a 10. Then again so was Eriksen and he was brilliant on the right for us. Kranjcar was also quite clearly a 10 at heart, but really good on the left for us for a while.

Players aren't positions, particularly not players like Simons.

 

[Bishop]

Agree, the kid is 22 and played a couple of games for us and i am amazed that there are fans who have allready made up their minds where he should or should not play.

Maybe they've seen him play before he joined Spurs...

 

[parklane1]

Maybe they've seen him play before he joined Spurs...

IF that is the case then its at best foolish to judge a player on who he used to play for at such a youg age. But sadly some do i guess.

 

[braineclipse]

IF that is the case then its at best foolish to judge a player on who he used to play for at such a youg age. But sadly some do i guess.

And in a different league for a different manager in a different system.

 

[Daisuk]

Agree, the kid is 22 and played a couple of games for us and i am amazed that there are fans who have allready made up their minds where he should or should not play.

I remember the song for Gareth Bale as late as 2012 going: "he plays on the left!" - famous last words. Having said that, I think we definitely need Simons to play in the middle.

 

[braineclipse]

I remember the song for Gareth Bale as late as 2012 going: "he plays on the left!" - famous last words. Having said that, I think we definitely need Simons to play in the middle.

To be fair "Gareth Bale he has the potential for and seems like a good profile fit for an inverted right wing role I think he could really smash it from there given the opportunity" would have been a really brick song

 

[Bishop]

And in a different league for a different manager in a different system.

Football is football and a players attributes are their attributes. Changing leagues isn't going to make Kane a world class goal keeper. That different league, different manager and different system are the indicators and identifying factors of why he caught our eye in the first place. Are we going to now pretend that where he played previously has no impact on his earlier performances or where we see him going forward?

 

[Bishop]

I remember the song for Gareth Bale as late as 2012 going: "he plays on the left!" - famous last words. Having said that, I think we definitely need Simons to play in the middle.

The Bale comparison sort of misses the point. It's not about where a player has played before but what their attributes suit. I've said it on here many times, but before Bale joined us he played LM/LW and not FB. We tried to shoehorn him into a role that never suited him (a bit like Simons). Him then moving over to the right made even more sense due to the increased threat of him being able to cut in on his left foot. That some Tottenham fans were stuck in the past and were 442 merchants is quite different to the question of what gets the best from Simons.

 

[braineclipse]

Football is football and a players attributes are their attributes. Changing leagues isn't going to make Kane a world class goal keeper. That different league, different manager and different system are the indicators and identifying factors of why he caught our eye in the first place. Are we going to now pretend that where he played previously has no impact on his earlier performances or where we see him going forward?

Why do you have to take it to an extreme? Kane as a keeper is a good comparison here? Am I really saying anything indicating that I think where he's played before has no impact on where we see him going forward?

I'm saying that it may at times be better for us if he plays from the left for us, where he also played for Leipzig. Where I'm guessing our scouts and transfer department saw him play as part of their research before signing him. Where Frank would be very much aware that he's played before. Where his attributes are a pretty good fit for what we need there.

 

[thfcsteff]

Why do you have to take it to an extreme? Kane as a keeper is a good comparison here? Am I really saying anything indicating that I think where he's played before has no impact on where we see him going forward?

I'm saying that it may at times be better for us if he plays from the left for us, where he also played for Leipzig. Where I'm guessing our scouts and transfer department saw him play as part of their research before signing him. Where Frank would be very much aware that he's played before. Where his attributes are a pretty good fit for what we need there.

Absolutely!
If Destiny is on the pitch and we go 4-2-3-1 this will absolutely be the case. Even in a 4-3-3, Destiny can provide the width. Xavi drifts inside anyway, as we saw by his fidning three chances (one of them a sitter for him) in precisely those inside pockets and spaces that players of his ilk sniff out and drift into. I think 4-2-3-1 will eventually get the best out of him. Check this out for a starting 11 from our squad (when fully fit):

Vic

Porro
Romero
VdV
Udogie

Bergvall
Pahlinha

Kudus
Maddison
Xavi

Solanke

subs: Kinky, Deki, Bentancur, Sarr, SuperKev, Djed, Johnson, Muani, Richy

With Romero and Porro able to ping passes, Madders and Xavi smart and creative enough to switch and drift, Kudus' power, Bergvall's ability to carry both the ball and the spirit of the thrust on his shoulders and hopefully a fit Solanke to bang them in, I think that'd be some starting 11. The bench shows pretty close to like for like ability in all positions (CB maybe an upgrade needed but SuperKev can defend!)...

 

[Bishop]

Absolutely!
If Destiny is on the pitch and we go 4-2-3-1 this will absolutely be the case. Even in a 4-3-3, Destiny can provide the width. Xavi drifts inside anyway, as we saw by his fidning three chances (one of them a sitter for him) in precisely those inside pockets and spaces that players of his ilk sniff out and drift into. I think 4-2-3-1 will eventually get the best out of him. Check this out for a starting 11 from our squad (when fully fit):

Vic

Porro
Romero
VdV
Udogie

Bergvall
Pahlinha

Kudus
Maddison
Xavi

Solanke

subs: Kinky, Deki, Bentancur, Sarr, SuperKev, Djed, Johnson, Muani, Richy

With Romero and Porro able to ping passes, Madders and Xavi smart and creative enough to switch and drift, Kudus' power, Bergvall's ability to carry both the ball and the spirit of the thrust on his shoulders and hopefully a fit Solanke to bang them in, I think that'd be some starting 11. The bench shows pretty close to like for like ability in all positions (CB maybe an upgrade needed but SuperKev can defend!)...

Real life doesn't work like this. Udogie can not provide width at the same time as defending and also be the same player he has to interplay with. No that will end up being Simons because that will be his role to provide the width and support the outside man, but Simons is both better in the middle and a better player than Maddison that I don't understand why we want to stifle him.

Just watch his performance through the mk idle versus when he's job is to provide width. He's not the same player and does not contribute to the same extent.

 

[Bishop]

Why do you have to take it to an extreme? Kane as a keeper is a good comparison here? Am I really saying anything indicating that I think where he's played before has no impact on where we see him going forward?

I'm saying that it may at times be better for us if he plays from the left for us, where he also played for Leipzig. Where I'm guessing our scouts and transfer department saw him play as part of their research before signing him. Where Frank would be very much aware that he's played before. Where his attributes are a pretty good fit for what we need there.

I exaggerated to make the point. Yes he played from the left at Liezpieg but he played centrally for PSV (the best period of his career) and for PSG.

He can do a job out left, but that's it he can do a job. It's not what suits his attributes. He doesn't have extreme pace, he can beat a man but he's not really a finesse dribbler, playing him out on the left frustrates him and his performances suffer. I've seen this out of him at Leipzig, it's a large part of the reason why he was relatively poor last season versus his first season there.

There is basically no one who has seen a significant amount of games for him that would argue that he's even half as good primarily covering the left hand side and before you say he would be there nominally that suggests that we leave the team unbalanced with no one covering the left if Xavi plays where he really wants to and no Udogie can't be in 3 places and providing 3 different roles all at the same time. Something would have to suffer, so for me I'd rather we maximise Simons' abilities by playing him where he does best and worry about getting something from one various of the LW options we have instead. Hobble one position rather than two if you will.