Why Destiny Udogie’s return could validate Thomas Frank’s Tottenham experiment
Xavi Simons’ start at Tottenham has unleashed more questions than answers.
Tottenham signed Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig a couple of days before the end of the transfer window.
The Dutchman was supposed to be the answer to Spurs’ injury woes, with James Maddison sidelined for Tottenham with an ACL injury.
Instead, he has had a difficult start in North London. But that could all come to an end within weeks.
Xavi Simons is struggling on the left wing
Simons produced glimpses of magic during his Tottenham debut against West Ham on the left wing.
But he has since disappointed during Spurs’ win over Villarreal in the UEFA Champions League. The Dutchman was easily one of the Lilywhites’ worst players on the pitch.
- Simons did not score or assist against Villarreal
- The 22-year-old created one chance and registered a 0 per cent shock accuracy
- Only 76 per cent of Simons’ passes were accurate
As such, Tottenham fans have coined Thomas Frank’s left-wing experiment as a resounding failure. But there is still hope for this experiment.
Destiny Udogie’s return from injury could be key for Tottenham
One of the biggest talking points to come from Tottenham’s win over Villarreal was how lacklustre the left side was.
Almost all of Spurs’ dangerous attacking plays came from Mohammed Kudus and Pedro Porro on the left wing. Meanwhile, the partnership between Djed Spence and Simons seems less than convincing.
But with Destiny Udogie returning to Tottenham provides an alternative option which could produce results.
| Udogie | Attacking statistic | Spence |
| 0.75 per 90 | Chances created | 0.55 per 90 |
| 0.19 per 90 | Successful crosses | 0.45 per 90 |
| 21.1% | Cross accuracy | 36% |
| 2.42 | Touches in the opposition box | 1.26 per 90 |
Both Spence and Udogie are excellent going forward. The Englishman is the better crosser of the two, but the Italian creates chaos when in the box.
Simons is best positioned as a 10, but with freedom to drift onto the left wing throughout the game. One of the issues with his and Spence’s partnership is that the Dutchman is forced to hold width when that is not his game.
This is also part of the reason why Brennan Johnson and Spence’s partnership has not come to much. Johnson has a tendency to cut inside and make runs in the box, which often leaves Spence isolated on the left wing.
However, Udogie has shown on numerous occasions that he is content to hold width while his attacker cuts inside. This would allow Simons to drift behind the striker, while Udogie provides an attacking threat on the left side.
Therefore, Udogie could earn his starting spot back quite easily over the next couple of games.
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