Tim Sherwood has questioned Xavi Simon's decision to join Tottenham Hotspur.
Tim Sherwood has questioned Xavi Simon's decision to join Tottenham Hotspur
Tim Sherwood has questioned Xavi Simon’s decision to join Tottenham Hotspur
Xavi Simons arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium amid considerable fanfare after Spurs hijacked Chelsea’s pursuit during the summer transfer window. However, the opening months of his Tottenham career have proven deeply underwhelming, with the 22-year-old struggling to make any meaningful impact.
The Dutchman has “absolutely no excuse” for not performing at Tottenham unless Thomas Frank failed to clarify how he intended to deploy him, according to former Spurs boss Tim Sherwood.
Simons was particularly anonymous during Tottenham’s 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea, raising serious concerns about whether he fits Frank’s tactical system. The midfielder’s struggles have become increasingly apparent as the season progresses, with his performances falling well short of expectations.
Tim Sherwood has questioned Xavi Simon's decision to join Tottenham Hotspur.
As per Tottenham News, Sherwood spoke to Sky Sports, acknowledging the difficulties of adapting to English football but insisted Simons bears responsibility for accepting a role that may not suit his strengths.
Positional disconnect causing problems
Sherwood believes the fundamental issue stems from where Frank deploys Simons compared to where the player wants to operate. He explained via Sky Sports (h/t Tottenham News):
“Play him where he wants to play. He wants to play as a number 10 and Thomas Frank don’t play him at number 10,” the former Tottenham manager explained.
“[Frank] must have told him when he’s come to sign. Xavi Simons shouldn’t have come. If he said ‘I’m gonna play you off the left and you can drift in, or I’ll play you off the right and you can drift into central areas’, then fine.”
Sherwood continued:
“He’s got absolutely no excuse not to deliver when he gets on the ball and he’s got to show more than what he’s shown. I think there’s a lot of onus on him, the reputation, but it’s difficult to adjust to a different country and adjust to the Premier League.”
The criticism highlights a potential communication breakdown between manager and player. If Frank outlined his tactical vision during recruitment discussions, then Simons should have recognized the role wouldn’t maximize his talents. Conversely, if those conversations lacked clarity, the midfielder has legitimate grounds for frustration.
Simons needs to step up quickly
Both Simons and Frank find themselves under intense scrutiny following Tottenham’s inconsistent start to the campaign. The Dane faces mounting pressure if results don’t improve, while his marquee summer signing desperately needs a catalyst moment to justify the hype that accompanied his arrival.
The 22-year-old has yet to score his first goal for Tottenham, a statistic that reflects his struggles to adapt to the demands of the Premier League. His inability to influence matches has raised questions about whether the club made a mistake in beating Chelsea to his signature.
Despite inconsistent performances, Spurs have maintained a respectable league position for much of the season. However, they currently sit in ninth place and are sliding down the table at an alarming rate, desperately needing contributions from players like Simons to arrest the decline.
Fans are growing increasingly anxious about the team’s trajectory, and both Frank and Simons need to deliver convincing responses. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether this partnership can be salvaged or if Sherwood’s damning assessment that Simons “shouldn’t have come” proves prophetic.
For now, the Dutch midfielder must prove his doubters wrong by adapting to Frank’s system and finally showing the quality that made him one of Europe’s most sought-after talents. Time is running out for him to make his mark at Tottenham.