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Xavi Simons

Another step in a very good direction from him.
He looked more like the player I've seen in previous seasons. And this is my issue with Frank, it's all well and good saying we are missing Kulu etc but we have a very creative player in Simons and Frank has not been utilising him correctly.

Him and Muani alone have talent to open teams up, it's down to Frank to find solutions for them to be able to do that....
 
He looked more like the player I've seen in previous seasons. And this is my issue with Frank, it's all well and good saying we are missing Kulu etc but we have a very creative player in Simons and Frank has not been utilising him correctly.

Him and Muani alone have talent to open teams up, it's down to Frank to find solutions for them to be able to do that....

That's unfair on Frank. I think Xavi is one of Frank's few successes so far. The player clearly struggled with the physicality initially as players from other leagues often do. To Frank's credit he rested him for a few games to take the pressure off and probably worked with him behind the scenes. When Xavi came back into the team, he looked so much better. Unfortunately he then got sent off for a reckless tackle on VVD which broke his momentum.

Frank has also done impressive work with Tel. Remember when he was abused online by our so called fans for missing his penalty? And a lot of fans writing him off earlier this season when we signed him permanently?! Again the nurturing by Frank continuing what Ange started and we are starting to see a player.
 
He looked more like the player I've seen in previous seasons. And this is my issue with Frank, it's all well and good saying we are missing Kulu etc but we have a very creative player in Simons and Frank has not been utilising him correctly.

Him and Muani alone have talent to open teams up, it's down to Frank to find solutions for them to be able to do that....

Young players from abroad need time to settle in the PL - Xavi's performances so far have been individually poor, sloppy passing, dribbling in to opponents, easily knocked off the ball - some of it will be/could be the tactics but also a lot is down to the player himself and the path new players to the league need to go through before showing their best.

2nd half yesterday he impressed me greatly - more of that and he can start effecting games positively
 
That's unfair on Frank. I think Xavi is one of Frank's few successes so far. The player clearly struggled with the physicality initially as players from other leagues often do. To Frank's credit he rested him for a few games to take the pressure off and probably worked with him behind the scenes. When Xavi came back into the team, he looked so much better. Unfortunately he then got sent off for a reckless tackle on VVD which broke his momentum.

Frank has also done impressive work with Tel. Remember when he was abused online by our so called fans for missing his penalty? And a lot of fans writing him off earlier this season when we signed him permanently?! Again the nurturing by Frank continuing what Ange started and we are starting to see a player.
@billyiddo aswell - I agree regarding taking time to settle, and even now he is nowhere near the player he can be. That doesn't change the fact Frank hasn't been utilising him as he should, he was better second half because he changed him positionally.

As for Tel, I think that's a bit of a stretch. I've been saying all season he has been underused and deserving of more minutes as no one had impressed on the left hand side.

But regardless of us disagreeing on this, this is exactly why I want to see Frank get the season. If it's taken him longer to figure these things out then fine, let's see what he does know he has learnt more about Simons and Tel etc. I've praised him for some green shots in the past couple of weeks, I have no horse to back in terms of Frank in/out. But he needs to use these little positives and turn them into bigger ones in the coming months if he wants to turn the tide. Good luck to him....
 
he was better second half because he changed him positionally.
Frank tried him as a number 10 too and he struggled there as well. We have seen a different player since Frank rested him and then brought him back.

As for Tel, I think that's a bit of a stretch. I've been saying all season he has been underused and deserving of more minutes as no one had impressed on the left hand side.

Tel has played on the left and centrally before and although has had decent moments has not effected a game on a consistent basis. But what we have seen in the last two games (and it’s still early days) is more consistency of performance. More confidence to take on his man, better decision making with runs and crosses. With respect mate that is more than just “stick him out on the left”

In both cases imho we have to give the manager the credit.
 
Frank tried him as a number 10 too and he struggled there as well. We have seen a different player since Frank rested him and then brought him back.



Tel has played on the left and centrally before and although has had decent moments has not effected a game on a consistent basis. But what we have seen in the last two games (and it’s still early days) is more consistency of performance. More confidence to take on his man, better decision making with runs and crosses. With respect mate that is more than just “stick him out on the left”

In both cases imho we have to give the manager the credit.
Tel has had hardly any starts, he comes on for the last 5/10 minutes and shows enthusiasm then is back to the bench for the next game. The one game he started up front away to Leeds he got a nice goal, got an hour the next game with next to no service and then after that was back in the bench.

And if Kudus hadn't got injured he wouldn't even be starting now, it hasn't been part of some master plan by Frank. Sometimes in football a player gets injured and another player comes in and takes the opportunity. It's more credit to Tel than Frank IMO - if you actually get proper game time then more often than not a player is going to feel better about themselves and perform better....
 
Tel has had hardly any starts, he comes on for the last 5/10 minutes and shows enthusiasm then is back to the bench for the next game. The one game he started up front away to Leeds he got a nice goal, got an hour the next game with next to no service and then after that was back in the bench.

And if Kudus hadn't got injured he wouldn't even be starting now, it hasn't been part of some master plan by Frank. Sometimes in football a player gets injured and another player comes in and takes the opportunity. It's more credit to Tel than Frank IMO - if you actually get proper game time then more often than not a player is going to feel better about themselves and perform better....
Frank wanted Tel to sign permanently so he clearly must have been in his plans! But based on what the manager sees in training he will pick his best starting 11 and Tel has not been in that. That does not mean the player is not being coached in the back ground or he is not working hard to improve. One of the things that has impressed me with Tel since he has been here is his attitude and I reckon it impressed TF too.. And yes Tel got his chance because of injuries, that’s often how it is; but he’s been put in a better place to take that chance by the work on the training pitch. Work we will never see, so we assume he was always just going to be like this.

I would say this is just time and luck that we are seeing these player improve and, it’s early days so their form could dip again.. But we know this is a strength of TF’s to improve players at his disposal. Probably one of the reasons he was hired.
 
He has talent, confidence, fight and belief in himself.
In his first few he was poor but you could see what he was trying to do, he bawling out established senior pros because they were not doing what he needed them to do to get him on the ball in good positions.
He never hides, the more you kick him the harder he tries, he's a leader.
 
Frank wanted Tel to sign permanently so he clearly must have been in his plans! But based on what the manager sees in training he will pick his best starting 11 and Tel has not been in that. That does not mean the player is not being coached in the back ground or he is not working hard to improve. One of the things that has impressed me with Tel since he has been here is his attitude and I reckon it impressed TF too.. And yes Tel got his chance because of injuries, that’s often how it is; but he’s been put in a better place to take that chance by the work on the training pitch. Work we will never see, so we assume he was always just going to be like this.

I would say this is just time and luck that we are seeing these player improve and, it’s early days so their form could dip again.. But we know this is a strength of TF’s to improve players at his disposal. Probably one of the reasons he was hired.
Did he really? We already had the loan with the option to buy agreed obviously way before Frank was in the the door. Even the official permanent signings was made only 3 days after Frank was appointed.

I think there's a very reasonable argument to be made that Tel was signed regardless of Frank. We had the deal already in place.
 
He looked more like the player I've seen in previous seasons. And this is my issue with Frank, it's all well and good saying we are missing Kulu etc but we have a very creative player in Simons and Frank has not been utilising him correctly.

Him and Muani alone have talent to open teams up, it's down to Frank to find solutions for them to be able to do that....

The poor bloke was being knocked off the ball like a dieting Bryan Gil the first couple of months he was here. He said himself that he was finding the PL very challenging. He needed time and a graduated introduction, which is exactly what he got.
 
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