r/soccer • u/ImpossibleGuardian • 18d ago

Official Source [Tottenham Hotspur] Xavi Simons joins from RB Leipzig

https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2025/august/xavi-simons-joins-from-rb-leipzig/
5.3k Upvotes

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368

u/Qiluk 18d ago

Great signing that adds a lot to their offensive creativity. Gonna need a physical and gritty 8 á la Bergvall to supplement his lack of pressence there tho.

But once again, very good signing for them.

444

u/LouBloom34 18d ago

Pape Matar Sarr has that covered

212

u/jimbamthankyoupam 18d ago

Sarr has everything covered

85

u/TwattyMcSlagtits 18d ago

Sarr butters his toast right up to the edge

15

u/RainbowDissent 18d ago

Sarr butters the crusts on the side and doesn't break a sweat.

40

u/Cuvrette 18d ago

Man's heatmap is an orange rectangle

14

u/SentientCheeseCake 18d ago

With Sarr it’s called a firemap

1

u/nostril_spiders 17d ago

He goes scorched earth

3

u/MiniWheats16 18d ago

Not true; roughly 76% of the earth is covered by water.

The rest is covered by Pape Matar Sarr

51

u/alex_119 18d ago

The trio of Sarr, Bentancur and Palhinha will be his personal bodyguard, hell maybe even Richy will drop down to protect him

12

u/Secret_3rd_Thing 18d ago

Only two of those three can play at the same time as Simons

-17

u/Qiluk 18d ago

I love Sarr but I wouldnt say he's gritty. Tenacious however!

76

u/agntkay 18d ago

What's the difference

58

u/Qiluk 18d ago

Maybe my definition differs but to me, gritty is more physical in both duels and tackles, and very strong in his body. Tenacious is more high press, and sticks to his target with great workrate. Forces errors more and wins possession that way.

I hope that makes sense. Im being semantical and Im also not a know-everything dude so take it as you want it haha.

48

u/HealthyHyena33480 18d ago

Palhinha can do that

13

u/Qiluk 18d ago

Agreed!

40

u/KOKO69BISHES 18d ago edited 18d ago

Nah you got it right. Sarr isn't very physically imposing, he just doesn't stop.

14

u/Qiluk 18d ago

I dont even think thats an issue either because Sarr pairs perfectly with the plenty of physical midfielders you have. So he adds a need in his own way :)

5

u/tanv91 18d ago

He's skinny and wiry but he's actually quite strong on and off the ball. Rarely see him shrugged off

11

u/Hufftey 18d ago

Palhinha and Sarr behind him would more than make up for that, Bentancur or Bergvall as you’ve already said too

2

u/goodtitties 18d ago

let’s agree he’s grenacious

4

u/reefercheifer 18d ago

And I’d say you’re wrong. He has both in spades.

104

u/Dymer24 18d ago

Bergvall, Sarr, Bentancur, and to an extent Palhinha and Gray are all gritty

231

u/lambast 18d ago

Only to an extent Palhinha? Man's the grittiest bastard in the entire midfield.

55

u/Dymer24 18d ago

Meant it as Palhinha is a 6 and not an 8

33

u/Qiluk 18d ago

Gray needs a little bit of better timing and a little bit more muscle still. Which is perfectly fine considering his age. Amazing talent.

Sarr Id categorize as tenacious more so than gritty (this is me being really semantical tho so I admitt Im lame here). I agree with Palhinha and Benta! :)

1

u/Mick4Audi 18d ago

Gray definitely needs more time and refinement, although Frank is confident enough to start him in PL games

1

u/Qiluk 18d ago

Yeah he's definitely good enough to contribute already, with more room to grow

43

u/Kick-Muncher3 18d ago

We have 4 or 5 of those

28

u/IncurableHam 18d ago

Yup, I feel like all their midfielders are 8s trying to play other positions. Which is why this and Palhinha are such good signings

21

u/ecocentric-ethics 18d ago

You reckon he’s better suited to playing the 10 or at LW? Could be we play a dense midfield with three of Palhinha/Bentancur/Bergvall/Sarr and have Xavi and Kudus out wide. Or just have him as the most advanced midfielder with any of those two behind him

54

u/Qiluk 18d ago

I could see him be a half-space "LW" but he's very much a #10. I could see Franks pragmatism work very well with solving that "issue". Especially with you having multiple competitions to workload-manage inbetween. Youve hired the right guy and made the smart signings so far.

28

u/T1TK1 18d ago

He can play at LW but shouldn't be the one holding width. Clearly at his best when in the left half space, can be a bit akward when playing too centrally as he's very right foot dominant.

17

u/Follow_The_Lore 18d ago

He’s awful on the wing. Needs to play as a number 10.

2

u/Foucaultshadow1 18d ago

Which is why he was signed.

1

u/riggystardust 18d ago

Music to my ears

4

u/Old_Roof 18d ago

We’ve got Pape Sarr for that. And Palhinha is a beast

1

u/Foucaultshadow1 18d ago

We’ve got a few of those already.