Xavi Simons

[Mabspurs]

It's not obsession to understand you don't get the best out of Xavi by bypassing the midfield with long balls, always running the channels and spamming crosses into the box.

Maybe... but it seems an obsession to try to bring a criticism of the manager into every single post... especially after a rousing come back that the players have attributed directly to his half-time reshuffle and tactics tweak.

 

[thfcsteff]

Maybe... but it seems an obsession to try to bring a criticism of the manager into every single post... especially after a rousing come back that the players have attributed directly to his half-time reshuffle and tactics tweak.

Nah, it’s a fact re: Xavi.
As a player, the way he plays the game, his best work is when we’re more compact going forward and allowing him to use that large space between the touchlines called ‘the middle’. Doesn’t matter who the manager is, this is about Xavi’s skillset.

BTW, and not related to anything you’ve said FWIW, I have said for some time that the player is tough enough for this league, and am pleased people are seeing it now. The adjustment period has (IMO) been about absorbing the tactics and adjusting to the bricky reffing standards as much as anything. He routinely gets fouled and gets nothing. Not the first skill player we’ve had who gets that of course (I remember in AVB’s final season every time Bale was tripped/taken out the cries of ‘diver’ and ‘cheat’ were cacophonous), but the guy’s toughness has never been in doubt for me. He has so much, and I hope we allow him the space and give him the setup to show it.

 

[parklane1]

Such a very good player and is really starting to run a game.