Troy Deeney finally names Tottenham star in Team of the Week after ‘luxury’ performance vs Brentford
Troy Deeney was thrilled to see Xavi Simons get off the mark in a Tottenham shirt during the 2-0 win over Brentford on Saturday.
Thomas Frank went into the game under pressure as Spurs were looking for their first win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since the opening day of the season.
Simons did excellently to set up Richarlison for the first goal, before stealing the show with a wonderful solo effort.
The Netherlands international stole the ball off compatriot Sepp van den Berg on the halfway line, before driving forward and slotting the ball past goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher to score his first goal for Spurs.
The result moves the Lilywhites into 11th place, and Deeney was relieved that Simons finally put in the statement performance that Tottenham fans were waiting for.
Xavi Simons finally proves his credentials with stunning performance against Brentford
Simons has been heavily criticised for his performances this season, with Frank not trusting him to start in many matches since his big-money move.
Deeney named Simons in his Premier League Team of the Week and highlighted the qualities he showed against the Bees.
He said: “He has had a bit of a tough time at Spurs, but it felt like this was his moment to show everyone why people think he is so talented. He has pace, power, and glides past people.
“We used to call people like that a luxury, but when you put in a match-winning performance as he did against Brentford, you have to start saying he is just good.”
| Stat | Xavi Simons |
| Appearances | 12 |
| Starts | 7 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 2 |
| Shots | 14 |
| Chances created | 7 |
It’s fair to say that the young midfielder was incredibly effective at pressing Brentford’s midfield, and he has certainly got an incredible work rate.
According to FotMob, Simons has averaged 5.16 recoveries per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, which is more than 86 per cent of the players who play in his position.
Having also won the ball back in the final third 0.76 times per 90, he clearly adds a lot to the way Frank wants his side to play, in and out of possession.
Simons joined Tottenham for a fee of £51.8million, and Saturday’s display is the first sign he has shown of living up to that value.
Xavi Simons still has a long way to go if he wants to be a success at Tottenham
Simons’ underlying numbers are very good, registering a pass accuracy of 84.5 per cent and a long ball accuracy of 63.2 per cent.
What’s clear for Simons is that this spell of games represents his best opportunity to prove himself to Frank.
With long-term absentees James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski eyeing a return to the team in the near future, Simons must make use of the lack of competition in attacking midfield.
These statement performances need to become a regular occurrence if he wants to reach the next level, and the festive schedule could allow him to gain some real momentum.
The 22-year-old has an incredibly bright future ahead of him, and there are surely plenty of special moments to come from the Dutchman.
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