Another game, another Xavi SImons snub. At this point, Thomas Frank's treatment of the biggest Tottenham Hotspur signing of the summer 2025 transfer window is bordering on managerial malpractice, and as Spurs continue to lose games and look like a unit bereft of any productive attacking ideas, Frank's almost personal vendetta against the Dutchman looks increasingly ridiculous.
Tottenham were beyond hopeless against Arsenal last weekend without Simons in the starting lineup, and if you take out the fact that Randal Kolo Muani contributed to literally every single one of the three goals Tottenham scored in their 5-3 loss to PSG on Wednesday night, they weren't all that much better at creating chances without him again in the Champions League, too.
So when Frank left Simons out of the starting lineup entirely yet again on Saturday night in what was obviously a must win fixture against Fulham in the Premier League return after the North London Derby debacle, you could hear the collective groan from the Spurs supporters scrolling social media as they saw that news.
Tottenham aren't any better without Xavi Simons
Predictably, Tottenham were dreadful without Simons. Aside from Pedro Porro spamming useless crosses and Mohammed Kudus practically falling over himself by doing too much in a game with his worst West Ham tendencies, the lone Lucas Bergvall assist was the only real moment of creative brililance from this Tottenham team.
Spurs are clearly not better without Simons in the starting lineup. Yes, Simons has been disappointing compared to his price tag and the quality he showed at RB Leipzig and PSV before this big move to Spurs, which he chose over London rivals Chelsea.
And you have to wonder if he is regretting that decision at this point as Frank either starts him in an isolated role where he has no prayer of succeeding or simply eschews him without explanation entirely. Frank has no idea how to manage an elite team or how to come up with creative attacking solutions within a structure, and him simply giving up on Simons is a very biting sign of his own limitations.