Thomas Frank urged to re-deploy Tottenham summer signing; lack of ‘creativity’ a major concern

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back
By Aaryan Choksi | Last updated Sep 20, 2025 9:25 AM ET

Xavi Simons is hoping to make an instant impact at Tottenham following his high-profile summer switch

Tottenham managed to shock the footballing world during the business-end of the transfer window by landing Xavi Simons on a long-term deal. The Dutchman’s arrival at N17 was a real statement of intent by the Lilywhites, proving that the North London club was not there to mess around anymore.

Signing a player of Simons’ calibre was not what Spurs fans expected the club to pull off after enduring countless heartaches in the summer. But the 22-year-old did join the Lilywhites, and most of the credit should go to Thomas Frank for convincing the Dutchman to come to N17 and continue his development.

The Spurs No.7 made his debut against West Ham last week in the Premier League, featuring on the left-flank. He managed to grab an assist against the Hammers from a set-piece situation, but his overall game was just short of the mark. The same trend continued against Villarreal in the Champions League, leaving fans to question Thomas Frank’s decision to utilise Simons on the left-flank.

Thomas Frank needs to bring out the best in Xavi Simons at Tottenham

As soon as he joined Tottenham, Xavi Simons made it perfectly clear that he prefers to play as an attacking midfielder. The Dutchman admitted that he tends to thrive in the #10 position, as it comes more naturally to him. However, the 22-year-old also insisted that he could also feature on the left-flank, but his lack of pace tends to be an issue to make regular impact from wide positions.

Now, lifelong Spurs fans and famous musician AJ Tracey has urged Thomas Frank to not utilise Simons on the left-wing. Speaking on talkSPORT, Tracey said,

“I do think that Xavi Simons playing out on the left is not preferable. Richarlison can also play on the left, so you can maybe swap them around a little bit and rejig. [Dominic Solanke] can play on the left, to be fair. It wouldn’t be my preference, but I’d rather have him there than someone who doesn’t play there at all. We need creativity.”

AJ Tracey believes Thomas Frank has many better options than Xavi Simons in the squad that could feature on the left-flank. The lifelong Spurs fan does not want to see the 22-year-old get wasted in the wide positions, as he clearly lacks the flair and creativity to operate on the wing. Tracey admits that the Lilywhites need a spark on the wings, which the Dutchman fails to provide.

There is no doubt that Xavi Simons will be a success at N17 under Thomas Frank. But for Simons to completely settle in at N17 and become a vital part of the project, the Danish tactician will quickly need to find a way to utilise the 22-year-old in his best position. Will Frank be able to bring the best out of Simons at Tottenham? Only time will tell.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.

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