TTLB Opinion: How can Tottenham setup with Xavi Simons vis-a-vis current Postecoglou setup?

With the Europa League triumph, the North Londoners have been looking to sign the best of talents on the continent when the summer transfer window comes around, and Daniel Levy has now expressed his interest in signing Dutch sensation Xavi Simons in the off-season. The 22-year-old has always had high potential, but he is finally showcasing his abilities with RB Leipzig this season, where he scored 11 goals and recorded a further tally of eight assists across all competitions. Now if Tottenham were to sign him, he would definitely be a long-term signing that has the potential to take over the starboy limelight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

This is not the first time the Lilywhites have been circling the Netherlands international; Spurs were also among the clubs vying for his signature when he played for PSG.

The thing with Simons is that he has the capacity to play a few offensive roles and bring a lot of traits in the final third, and this will end up giving Ange Postecoglou some goals and creativity in the final third (irrespective of where he plays). And we try to take a look at how he can fit into the current system that the Australian head coach has deployed at Hotspur Way.

I will try to explore a couple of structures that this Lilywhites squad has adapted in the current setup (since the former Celtic manager took over the reins). One would be the obvious 4-2-3-1 defensive or starting shape, and another would be in a 2-3-5 frame that the North Londoners have adapted with the ball (more in attacking sequences).

Game Setup 1 – As a left winger in 4-2-3-1 on stale state

So as we can see from the picture above, Simons can be deployed as a left-winger in the 4-2-3-1 setup where his position will be very similar to how he was being used at PSV and Leipzig. He can drift inside into left half-spaces with Maddison or Kulusevski staying central, where the right winger plays on the inside channel when Porro overlaps.

Herein, Simons can play multiple roles. He can stick to the wing and go for those outside-in runs, or he can even play as a third midfielder, tucking into those left half spaces with Udogie holding the width. This ends up giving a lot of verticality to the North Londoners with high carrying abilities.

If we are talking about the offensive sequences, this is where we see Tottenham go into more back two with a three-second phase of support and other aggregates of five taking up the offensive space. So here Simons operates in more of a left half-space, staying high and tight to combine with Maddison and Udogie. This also gives more freedom of expression to Maddison, who will move into central zones (this, in my opinion, is where he is best at expressing himself). Here he ends up giving the Lilywhites that shooting threat complemented by his smart cutbacks and pass layoffs in tight zones. This plays in line with how Ange currently deploys his setup.

Game Setup 2 – In the inside channels 2-3-5 offensive sequences

So integrating Xavi Simons into the side brings the North Londoners some heavy left overloads with more technicality. He also would be that link up in the final third option given how he can play as a second creative outlet to Maddison. And at the same time making the North Londoners press resistant from his channel.

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