Would help if was played centrally as a 10 which is what should be happening with Maddison out
Its doing no favours to him or our attacking play by sticking him out on the left
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Player Xavi Simons
- Thread starter The Fighting Cock
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Would help if was played centrally as a 10 which is what should be happening with Maddison out
Its doing no favours to him or our attacking play by sticking him out on the left
I think Xavi would be better out left if there was another Xavi in CM as well
That may be true to Odobert too. Everyone will improve from Xavi playing in his best position. Improve our 10, Kudus should have more freedom because defenders should handle Xavi too. Bergvall is a great player he's not as good as Xavi in that position.
The biggest issue I saw about him in scouting reports from various places was his apparent physical weakness last season in the bundesliga. The premier league kicks that up a level.
We saw Maddison getting kicked week in week out.
If you put that level of attention onto Simons and then look at his lowisb stats for take ons and duels won last season you are looking at a 10 who will struggle to find space and is relatively easily dispossessed.
Maddison came deep a lot to find that space. Not sure if Frank would want to risk him losing the ball in front of the defence. Maybe he would??
And are you happy with that happening? Or do you think fans would be on his case.
Or is it better for Frank to give him a bit of time to get used to the league and also work on his physical strength?
Even if he's not a LW, he's supposed to be a dynamo and can beat a man every which way. So far, all he seems to want to do is move it past them a few inches and fall over looking for a foul. His corners are very, very good, but everything has looked very ordinary. Granted when he was in the #10 for that limited period he was a lot better. The persistence with putting him on the left is a joke.
Sure we have crap on the left, but equally, we have crap at the #10. So play him where he's strongest and only have one problem position.
Good argument.
However, evn at #10, I don't see it. Maddison runs all over the place looking for the ball. You could see him sometimes between the 2 CBs even trying to get the ball and run the show. This kid is just trying to fill the space. #10s are special type of players with vision, intellect, intent, persistence, play almost any position because of their skills and intelligence etc. I am not saying Maddison has them all in abundance, but he shows attributes of all #10 attributes.
I don't see it here (yet).
I like your argument about him needing to show dynamism even if played out of position. I don't know why people keep replying "He is used out of position". WE KNOW!!! WE KNOW!!! .... The point here is he is not showing anything more than what we have in the likes of Odobert or Tel.
I wasn't as excited by most by him. I've seen Himmat handful of times and he's never particularly stood out to me. He's a funny Madders replacement as he's a different profile. He's not as good a passer, but he's supposed to suck players on and create space around him, something I've seen little evidence of. Not to say he's a bad player by any stretch of the imagination and he does look significantly better through the middle. But this ability to beat a man, has not been particularly evident, and it doesn't matter what part of the pitch you're on, players that can take a man on, should be able to take a man on.
Hoping after a run of a few games at the #10 and not this mind boggling LW nonsense let's him develop a bit of rhythm.
Likewise. Patience and hope for the best for all.
I don't think we really have an option but to persist with him at the #10. They forked out big money, huge wages on the guy, who in my opinion is more reputation than substance.
I do find it odd that the replacement is a completely different profile to Maddison, and this side is lacking creativity and that ability to pick out a clever pass. That's not his game. I get having two different profiles is good, but only when they're both fit. We're starved of passing ability, which is demonstrated on the pitch.
I don't know what to make of Xavi. As you say, never really stood out to me when I watched him, and he's really quite limited.
Promising signs. Needs to work on that rabona though.
Don't think he contributed much at all. His decision making was poor and that stupid pass he tried to show off was ridiculous.
He does overplayed at times (like that rabona pass). But that’s what you get with creative players - the whole point is they produce the unexpected. Could have had an assist with that scooped pass to Porro.
It will probably take him most of this season to get up to speed and figure out the pace and intensity of the game. There’s a player there though.
It will probably take him most of this season to get up to speed and figure out the pace and intensity of the game. There’s a player there though.
He will come good , he's just got it .