Thomas Frank has called for patience with Xavi Simons but many fans want the playmaker to be handed more minutes.
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Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank continues to be miserly with the number of minutes being handed to summer signing Xavi Simons as the playmaker adjusts to life in the Premier League.
Spurs forked out £51.8 million to sign the 22-year-old from RB Leipzig, beating Chelsea to the deal in the process. Simons has since made 17 appearances for the London outfit, picking up two assists, but has been afforded just seven starts in the top flight.
With Frank’s side struggle for creativity, the lack of minutes for Simons has frustrated fans. The midfielder had managed 22 goals and 24 assists in his 78 appearances for Leipzig.
Thomas Frank explains Xavi Simons lack of minutes
Speaking about the player after defeat to Fulham, Frank said: “He needs a bit of adaptation. There is a reason why we have Xavi here, he’s very good player. He has trained very well. It is not the first time a player has stepped into the Premier League and needs to adapt.”
Those words frustrated supporters online with many exasperated as to how Simons could adapt if not given a regular chance in the starting XI. One Spurs fan wrote: “We can’t buy a win and there’s a clear lack of creativity in the final third - why not just play him? He might actually find some form with regular starts.”
Meanwhile, another labelled Frank’s comments as ‘mind blowing naivety’ and one begged the Spurs boss to ‘give him a chance to prove to you, the team and himself that he deserves to be in the team’.
Jamie O’Hara sends Simons rocket ahead of Newcastle United
Only time will tell if Frank hears pressure from Tottenham Hotspur supporters and deploys Simons in the starting XI tonight. Should the midfielder start, he has been warned about his recent performances by a less than sympathetic Jamie O’Hara.
Speaking on Sky Sports this morning, the former Spurs midfielder said: “You can’t keep playing him if he’s being poor though. You can’t keep playing a player who keeps letting you down. You spent €60 million on him. I watched him last season at RB Leipzig and he looked sharp, he was good on the ball, he played with intent.
“I’m watching him at Spurs, he’s playing tippy-tappy football, he’s doing little flicks and tricks, I’m thinking, get hold of the game. You’re playing for Tottenham. Get hold of it. Make something happen. Move the ball quick.
When I’m watching the players out there they look lost of ideas and that’s on Thomas Frank to a certain degree. I don’t think the players know which way he wants them to play. Does he want to sit in, play counter attack, press?”
In other news, Newcastle United handed three-week injury blow hours ahead of Tottenham kick-off.