Even if you appreciate a player and know how talented they are, everyone needs to be held to account at critical junctures in the season when everything is falling apart. On that note, Xavi Simons needs to be stepping it up for Tottenham Hotspur, because he has been just as much a part of the problem as anyone else.
When Simons was snubbed by Thomas Frank in the games against Arsenal and Fulham earlier this season that Spurs struggled in, the former Brentford coach was roundly criticized for taking his biggest talent out of the equation. And then when Simons came back into the lineup, he dazzled, playing better than he did before.
Well, after a positive spell of form, Simons is back to being Mr. Anonymous. Eberechi Eze ran circles around him as Arsenal won the North London Derby even with Simons involved, trouncing Spurs by the same 4-1 score line.
Xavi Simons was a passenger for Tottenham vs. Fulham
Then on Sunday against Fulham, Simons lasted a meager 57 minutes, as Tottenham had no choice but to sub him after he created just one chance and offered no real ball progression, defensive quality, or composure on the wings or in the midfield. Simons actually started on the left wing again, as Igor Tudor frustratingly made the same foolish tactical blunder that Frank consistently did by isolating Simons out wide.
Yet even with the caveat that Simons was being played out of position against Fulham, with the season on the line and relegation a real threat, you still expect much more from a 60 million pound signing who was one of the best players in two leagues as a youngster, the Bundesliga and the Dutch Eredivisie.
Against Fulham, there was no creativity, urgency, or quality in Simons's game. He was a passenger with the season on the line, and that just cannot happen when you are a team's star player and main influence in the game. With Mohammed Kudus injured, Simons is even more important, and it is all the more vital that he step up.
Going forward, Tudor has to make it clear that more is expected of him. While Tudor has to do better at putting the Dutchman in a position to succeed, when you look at the fact that Simons did not complete one dribble or draw one foul against an otherwise average Fulham side, a lot of the blame has to go directly to the winger, too. He had opportunities to do something; he just did not want to be the one to force the issue, which is a real problem.