Player Xavi Simons

[Shadydan]

So he can only play surrounded by world class players, I can do that.

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Probably means players on his wave length, not the likes of Gallagher, Bentancur, Palhinha...someone who will release the ball to him and play it into his feet before the oppo defence gets settled.

He also needs width on his left hand side, at Leipzig he had Angelino stretching the pitch for him and had space to play in that inside channel, now he has Spene who cuts in for example.

 

[bonaspur23]

Fascinating read

 

[Papafeels]

Go back and watch how often he had unmarked players ether side of him.
Side to side passing for the sake of it is shit. But when it's the best option, you do it. He never does it. Just gives the ball away.
I remember when United were just about the most elite club on the planet. I watched a documentary about their training. I shit you not, they had an expert who's job it was to improve their field of view. To help their players spot a team mate out of the corner of their eye that, without it, they may not have seen.
You combine that level of detail with training players to pass in to space because they trust their team mates to run into it and you end these blind, pointless runs that give the ball away.

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I doubt anyone is getting anything like that level of coaching here

 

[Matt1882]

I doubt anyone is getting anything like that level of coaching here

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FYP.

 

[thinktank]

We looked better when he went off.

 

[GinolasLeftFoot]

We looked better when he went off.

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That because thick cunts keep playing him out of position on the left, and all his best game came when he played in the middle.

 

[thinktank]

That because thick cunts keep playing him out of position on the left, and all his best game came when he played in the middle.

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Nah, he keeps making dumb decisions on the ball and losing it.

 

[Norwegian Jim]

Oscar Bobb>Xavi Simons

 

[Sir Archibald Crooks]

Looked good in those 2 or 3 games a while back. Reverted to type. Maddison on 1 leg would be more effective

 

[TonySoprano]

He’s crap. A Dutch Bryan Gil.

And his hair is even more shit.

 

[StripiestPilot]

Get rid in the summer even if we stay up. Just not a PL player, he doesn’t have the tools. Small, weak and slow of thought.

 

[Hairy Cane]

Watched him dribble into a cul-de-sac of four Fulham player and promptly lose it, while teammates were running down the pitch along side of him.

 

[The Dazzler99]

Can say “he needs players around him etc” but boy does he look crap for the money spent.

Technically poor, can’t take a man on and doesn’t offer any goals or assists

 

[LeeMcl]

If an under 21 player put in the level of performance this guys does we would be “ meh he’s not gonna make it at this level”

I’ve no idea why he starts games and I’d be very questioning as to why he keeps making the bench, they paid how much for him ? FFS

 

[Jaynola]

Awful.

Such a waste of money.

That's what happens when you go for your 6th option.

 

[Zest]

It’s 100% clear, as some suggested very early season, that Moore is Maddison’s heir apparent as a floating 10 (in from the left in next couple of seasons).

Simons seems a nice lad, but just nothing like a fit for current Prem sides (so we have no chance of selling him).

 

[The Mercurial No.10]

Shades of Ndombele.

Is he the type we can rely on when the metaphorical chips are down? I do not believe so.

 

[FightingIllini]

Shades of Ndombele.

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Oh, behave

 

[The Mercurial No.10]

Oh, behave

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Holds on to it too much, tries stupid passes, all a bit look at me, massive fee and wages, talented yet mostly anonymous.

 

[FightingIllini]

Holds on to it too much, tries stupid passes, all a bit look at me, massive fee and wages, talented yet mostly anonymous.

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He plays and tries when he does, which is all it takes to avoid Ndombele comparisons.

Xavi wasn't good today and is definitely a bit of a show pony for the scrap we're in, but he's played well lately and is all we've got from a creative perspective.