Xavi Simons has shown flashes of his Bundesliga form, contributing 1 assist in his first five appearances across all competitions, but in truth, the boy has struggled recently, with only seven touches in the opposition box so far this season, perhaps indicating issues with positioning and service.
Despite this, Frank remains confident in his progress, stating Simons is “taking steps forward” and will “come good” with better team integration. It also has to be said that this current squad is absolutely ravaged by injuries.
Simons’ playing style is characterised by exceptional vision, dribbling flair, and composure in tight spaces, which fits well as a No. 10 or left inside-forward in Tottenham’s fluid 4-2-3-1 system, where he can drift into half-spaces to create chances. However, he is not a one-man band, and the sooner he is teamed up with more inventive and intelligent players, the better for all of us.
The Premier League’s relentless pressing has left Simons exposed against physical sides, as seen in recent games, where he’s been muscled off the ball more than he was perhaps at Leipzig.
Indeed, Frank has noted this as a key adaptation area, praising Simons’ hunger to improve.
A major issue is Simons’ low touches in dangerous areas—Spurs are over-relying on set pieces (56% of goals this season) instead of open-play service to him.
The “key to unlocking Simons” lies in better progression from deep-lying midfielders like Yves Bissouma or Pape Matar Sarr, who need to play quicker, riskier passes into his channels.
Individually, Simons should demand the ball more vocally during build-up and work on one-touch layoffs to draw markers. Team drills emphasising quick vertical passes, similar to Leipzig’s counter-attacks, would almost certainly help.
His talent is undeniable; it’s about fine-tuning for Frank’s “invention-heavy” style.