Many individuals have been struggling to see how or the place Xavi Simons suits in with Chelsea, IF they signal him. Essential to say IF at this level as a result of nothing is finished, and even near being performed on the time of writing.
Nonetheless, it’s sparked up a debate, so let’s look into the place Simons can play and slot in, ought to Chelsea get their man.
Simons is a flexible participant. Actually, the 22-year-old is perhaps probably the most versatile gamers I’ve seen shortly.
In his quick profession up to now, he has performed in SEVEN totally different positions, and other people is perhaps shocked to see that the place he has performed probably the most (59 occasions) is as a left winger.
He’s performed 41 occasions as a central attacking midfielder, 27 occasions as a RIGHT winger, 10 occasions as a centre ahead, 5 occasions as a centre midfielder, 2 occasions as a left midfielder, and as soon as as a second striker. What about that for some versatility?
In his most up-to-date season (24/25), he performed 16 occasions as a left winger, 15 occasions as an attacking midfielder, as soon as as a second striker, and as soon as as a left midfielder. I’d argue that he even makes a swiss military knife look ineffective!
As folks have identified, IF Chelsea use him off the left, then he can be extra prone to drift inside quite than hug the touchline, that means Chelsea would want Marc Cucurella to be a correct full again overlapping offering that width whereas Jamie Gittens could be the large out and out winger choice.
As you’ll know, Enzo Maresca desires choices and alternative ways of breaking down low blocks. So the way in which he traces up can be depending on the opposition, and it’s nice to have totally different tactical choices and turn into much less predictable than we have been final season.
Tactical analyst Connor Holden posted these on his X account in the present day and has a video out on it later which I’ll try to share on the dwell weblog if I bear in mind.
He wrote:
“Two lineups I want to see subsequent season that gives good stability of traits, tendencies and stability
“Xavi Simons is ideal for Zone Alternative soccer, he’s a wonderful footballer – simply have to get the proper items in the identical group with him.”
I feel this makes all of it a bit clearer as within the pondering of Maresca/the membership to need to carry Simons in. It’s not going to be a one-laced formation and tactic when we’ve got such versatile gamers in our squad going into subsequent season.
Solely time will inform if it really works, however I can see what they’re pondering with this and having so many versatile gamers and totally different lineups that they’ll flip to. I’ve been eager to see extra variation and adaptation in our techniques and setups.
We additionally want a deep squad stuffed with high quality now we’re enjoying within the Champions League, if we really need to problem on all fronts and achieve success. The Premier League season is lengthy and difficult, add the UCL into that as nicely now and we want to verify we’ve got the energy in depth to take care of it.
It could possibly create points with gamers not enjoying, in fact, however we’ve got to place the group first and the wants of the group and membership.
I charge Simons extremely, he’s a participant that ticks so many bins and I see him as a little bit of a maverick participant. I’d be happy to see him are available particularly if we are able to choose him up for an inexpensive payment and we transfer different attackers resembling Joao Felix, Christopher Nkunku, and even Nicolas Jackson on.
