Xavi Simons

[braineclipse]

I exaggerated to make the point. Yes he played from the left at Liezpieg but he played centrally for PSV (the best period of his career) and for PSG.

He can do a job out left, but that's it he can do a job. It's not what suits his attributes. He doesn't have extreme pace, he can beat a man but he's not really a finesse dribbler, playing him out on the left frustrates him and his performances suffer. I've seen this out of him at Leipzig, it's a large part of the reason why he was relatively poor last season versus his first season there.

There is basically no one who has seen a significant amount of games for him that would argue that he's even half as good primarily covering the left hand side and before you say he would be there nominally that suggests that we leave the team unbalanced with no one covering the left if Xavi plays where he really wants to and no Udogie can't be in 3 places and providing 3 different roles all at the same time. Something would have to suffer, so for me I'd rather we maximise Simons' abilities by playing him where he does best and worry about getting something from one various of the LW options we have instead. Hobble one position rather than two if you will.

You say nominally, but yes. An overlapping full back providing width and a more creative player drifting in from a nominally wide role is a thing that happens and can work quite well in football. I mentioned Eriksen for us before as an example of that.

For me depends who the other options are. I do agree that I think he'll end up more as a 10 and I think that's his best position, but depends

You don't really rate Johnson, right? Johnson on the left, Simons in the middle or Kulusevski/Maddison in the middle with Simons left (just as an example). No games where the second option there would be better?

Similarly now with Bergvall doing really well and both Odobert and Tel struggling to really impress imo. I think some games Bergvall as the 10 and Simons on the left may be the best choice.

 

[Bishop]

You say nominally, but yes. An overlapping full back providing width and a more creative player drifting in from a nominally wide role is a thing that happens and can work quite well in football. I mentioned Eriksen for us before as an example of that.

For me depends who the other options are. I do agree that I think he'll end up more as a 10 and I think that's his best position, but depends

You don't really rate Johnson, right? Johnson on the left, Simons in the middle or Kulusevski/Maddison in the middle with Simons left (just as an example). No games where the second option there would be better?

Similarly now with Bergvall doing really well and both Odobert and Tel struggling to really impress imo. I think some games Bergvall as the 10 and Simons on the left may be the best choice.

I don't rate Johnson or think that Tel or Odobert currently are up to the level we require but I'd rather play one of them on the left and have Simons in the middle. I just think we will get so much more from him playing through the middle.

 

[thfcsteff]

Real life doesn't work like this. Udogie can not provide width at the same time as defending and also be the same player he has to interplay with. No that will end up being Simons because that will be his role to provide the width and support the outside man, but Simons is both better in the middle and a better player than Maddison that I don't understand why we want to stifle him.

Just watch his performance through the mk idle versus when he's job is to provide width. He's not the same player and does not contribute to the same extent.

Let's see...this is a comment to bookmark. What do you mean Udogie cannot provide width at the same time as defending? In what context is that offered? Could you explain what you mean?

Further, in a 4-2-3-1 Xavi will not be 'wide' in a touchline sense. How hard is that for you to understand? In fact, in a three with Maddison, the interchange between them could be both superb and incredibly productive. Xavi might well be a better player than Maddison, however Maddison can be a fine player, so why not play them both and allow them adaptability within the system?

Signing a Semenyo takes care of all the issues here. Start with him on the left in a 4-2-3-1 and place Xavi in the middle of that, and you'd have real power on each side of the pitch between Udogie/Semenyo and Porro/Kudus...

 

[thfcsteff]

You say nominally, but yes. An overlapping full back providing width and a more creative player drifting in from a nominally wide role is a thing that happens and can work quite well in football. I mentioned Eriksen for us before as an example of that.

For me depends who the other options are. I do agree that I think he'll end up more as a 10 and I think that's his best position, but depends

You don't really rate Johnson, right? Johnson on the left, Simons in the middle or Kulusevski/Maddison in the middle with Simons left (just as an example). No games where the second option there would be better?

Similarly now with Bergvall doing really well and both Odobert and Tel struggling to really impress imo. I think some games Bergvall as the 10 and Simons on the left may be the best choice.

I think the point that it will be Xavi on the left of a narrow three with the width provided by the FBs cannot be overstated. He will, essentially, always end up drifting into those pockets inside anyway, as we've seen already.

 

[braineclipse]

I think the point that it will be Xavi on the left of a narrow three with the width provided by the FBs cannot be overstated. He will, essentially, always end up drifting into those pockets inside anyway, as we've seen already.

He drifts into the same pockets playing centrally quite a bit. That's where he thrives. As long as he's playing a role that allows him to do that he'll do well. But of course centrally may be better for him and us most of the time.

 

[Gazza]

I don't rate Johnson or think that Tel or Odobert currently are up to the level we require but I'd rather play one of them on the left and have Simons in the middle. I just think we will get so much more from him playing through the middle.

Waiting for kulu to step in too

 

[Bishop]

Let's see...this is a comment to bookmark. What do you mean Udogie cannot provide width at the same time as defending? In what context is that offered? Could you explain what you mean?

Further, in a 4-2-3-1 Xavi will not be 'wide' in a touchline sense. How hard is that for you to understand? In fact, in a three with Maddison, the interchange between them could be both superb and incredibly productive. Xavi might well be a better player than Maddison, however Maddison can be a fine player, so why not play them both and allow them adaptability within the system?

Signing a Semenyo takes care of all the issues here. Start with him on the left in a 4-2-3-1 and place Xavi in the middle of that, and you'd have real power on each side of the pitch between Udogie/Semenyo and Porro/Kudus...

What I mean is that we will require width on the left. Udogie can provide this as an overlap, but he needs someone to interchange with at times. That will need to be Xavi if Xavi is the player tasked with playing from the left. Hence Xavi can't be in the interior spaces at the same time that make the most of his abilities.

If Xavi is in the interior spaces Udogie will have to cover that space by himself, but Udogie can't be the overlap, the support, and the interplay all by himself. Playing Xavi the left is a fudge and like any fudge compromises will have to be made. We aren't going to get supreme Xavi performances in the middle in the short term especially (No Maddison this season) and decent performances on the left at the same time.

If Xavi drifts in as he is very prone to doing, that leaves Udogie isolated out wide. In some games he may have the running power to beat the FB but that won't always be the case and probably mostly won't be if he's tasked with essentially doing it by himself. As in saying neither Udogie or Xavi can be in two places at once.

 

[Silly McSilly Face]

Let's see...this is a comment to bookmark. What do you mean Udogie cannot provide width at the same time as defending? In what context is that offered? Could you explain what you mean?

Further, in a 4-2-3-1 Xavi will not be 'wide' in a touchline sense. How hard is that for you to understand? In fact, in a three with Maddison, the interchange between them could be both superb and incredibly productive. Xavi might well be a better player than Maddison, however Maddison can be a fine player, so why not play them both and allow them adaptability within the system?

Signing a Semenyo takes care of all the issues here. Start with him on the left in a 4-2-3-1 and place Xavi in the middle of that, and you'd have real power on each side of the pitch between Udogie/Semenyo and Porro/Kudus...

Its not difficult for a full back to both defend and provide width:
- Spurs not in possession = defend
- Spurs in possession = provide width
What's that about a simple game complicated by...?

 

[metalgear]

Let's see...this is a comment to bookmark. What do you mean Udogie cannot provide width at the same time as defending? In what context is that offered? Could you explain what you mean?

Further, in a 4-2-3-1 Xavi will not be 'wide' in a touchline sense. How hard is that for you to understand? In fact, in a three with Maddison, the interchange between them could be both superb and incredibly productive. Xavi might well be a better player than Maddison, however Maddison can be a fine player, so why not play them both and allow them adaptability within the system?

Signing a Semenyo takes care of all the issues here. Start with him on the left in a 4-2-3-1 and place Xavi in the middle of that, and you'd have real power on each side of the pitch between Udogie/Semenyo and Porro/Kudus...

semenyo is double footed so can cut in too

yes! he would be a great addition

 

[Roland Beurre]

Moving forward should definitely only be deployed as a number 10

Going backward, should be deployed more as a defensive midfielder.

I'll get m'coat.

 

[thfcsteff]

What I mean is that we will require width on the left. Udogie can provide this as an overlap, but he needs someone to interchange with at times. That will need to be Xavi if Xavi is the player tasked with playing from the left. Hence Xavi can't be in the interior spaces at the same time that make the most of his abilities.

If Xavi is in the interior spaces Udogie will have to cover that space by himself, but Udogie can't be the overlap, the support, and the interplay all by himself. Playing Xavi the left is a fudge and like any fudge compromises will have to be made. We aren't going to get supreme Xavi performances in the middle in the short term especially (No Maddison this season) and decent performances on the left at the same time.

If Xavi drifts in as he is very prone to doing, that leaves Udogie isolated out wide. In some games he may have the running power to beat the FB but that won't always be the case and probably mostly won't be if he's tasked with essentially doing it by himself. As in saying neither Udogie or Xavi can be in two places at once.

Right.

However, if you consider that Bergvall will also be pushing in attacking support in a 4-2-3-1, then the onus for interchange does not solely hang on Udogie and Xavi; others flow into that situation going forward. You seem to be suggesting that Xavi stay in a small 'inside central quadrant' (which I think is weird TBH) whereas I think if he is allowed to drift and drop and push and weave (essentially a semi-free role from the left in a 3 behind the CF) he will be excellent.

The whole idea of Udogie overlapping is to challenge the defence to either double-up inside on Xavi and give up with wide area to Udogie (remember, if he pushed on the overlap he has Pahlinha as security to drop in and cover as VdV shifts left) or shut down thw width and gamble that they have enough cover to shut down the channels and pockets inside. With Porro on the other side dovetailing the wide spot with Kudus, it would make us ver very difficult to shut down. Again, Pahlinha, Bergavll/Sarr are key in a 4-2-3-1 (should be take that route). I am not sure people appreciate just exactly what Pahlinha allows us to do both formation and individual approach wise.

 

[totalspurs]

I think he needs a goal to settle into the league. Whilst there's been signs of some good things and lots of clear signs of not being on the same wavelength with everyone yet. I feel he's trying just a bit too hard to impress. I think the first goal will settle him down a bit. Hopefully against wolves.

 

[Silly McSilly Face]

I think he needs a goal to settle into the league. Whilst there's been signs of some good things and lots of clear signs of not being on the same wavelength with everyone yet. I feel he's trying just a bit too hard to impress. I think the first goal will settle him down a bit. Hopefully against wolves.

I don't really have any concerns over him his quality is there to see and he definately made more of an impact in the centre.