XAVI SIMONS was the player Chelsea AND Spurs fans were clamouring for this summer.
On this evidence, one set of supporters will have been relieved NOT to have signed him.
While the other will be left fearing – even at this early stage – that they have been sold a pup of a playmaker.
Simons has had it rough since joining Spurs from RB Leipzig in August, grabbing just one assist and scoring no goals in 11 games prior to last night (SAT).
He was not even supposed to feature as heavily as he did here, starting on the bench, only to be forced into action thanks to Lucas Bergvall’s seventh-minute concussion substitution.
But, unfortunately for the Dutch international, his major contribution to the game was not teeing up the winner for Spurs – but, inadvertently, for Chelsea.
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It was Simons’ carelessly underhit pass that allowed Moises Caicedo to rob Micky van de Ven’s pocket and tee up Joao Pedro on 34 minutes for the only goal of a feisty London derby.
While £51.9million man Simons suffered the embarrassment of being a sub subbed as he was brought off with 18 minutes to play.
Spurs fans will be wondering whether the 22-year-old has it in him to adapt to the hurly-burly of the Premier League.
But his manager Thomas Frank will also face questions over whether his tactical approach is getting the best out of the playmaker – as well as most of his attacking players – after another toothless home performance.
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And yet, Spurs still lie in third – 14 places above where they finished last season – and above Chelsea on goal difference.
So it is certainly not all doom and gloom, even if the boos at half-time and full-time would suggest otherwise.
What will have irked the Spurs fans so much is this was yet another loss to bitter rivals Chelsea – their fifth in a row – and without laying a glove on them, either.
They were robbed of one of their creative talents in Bergvall before the action had really got going, too.
The Swedish sensation took an early blow to the back of the head from a clearance.
And despite his considerable resistance following lengthy treatment, which at one point saw him push Spurs doctor Tamim Khanbhai away and tell him “No, no, no”, the 19-year-old was forced off due to concussion protocols.
On came Simons, badly in need of a talismanic performance to kickstart his Spurs career – but instead he delivered a most unwanted ‘assist’.
Spurs were messing about with it on the edge of their box, and with the tigerish Moises Caicedo is on the prowl, it was always a risky strategy.
The Blues midfield powerhouse robbed Djed Spence of the ball, only for Pedro Neto to casually give the ball away to Micky van de Ven.
But when Van de Ven laid it off to Simons for a one-two, the Spurs No7’s return ball was sloppy and short.
Van de Ven should just have hacked the ball clear but he then tried to dribble the ball out of danger, only to be dispossessed by the irrepressible Caicedo.
The Ecuadorian kept his head up and found Pedro who steered home his first goal since August 30.
Spurs had little in response with Chelsea looking in control.
And with two minutes of the first half to go, Pedro almost turned his drought into a hot streak.
The Brazilian connected sweetly with a Malo Gusto cross but was denied by a terrific stop from Guglielmo Vicario.
It was yet another example in recent weeks of the Italian stopper, who had had some treatment earlier in the game on a possible groin issue, coming to the rescue.
Frank may be unbeaten away from home in the Premier League so far at Spurs but his home record has been patchy.
His team’s lack of invention has already caused rumblings among the fanbase – and there were audible grumblings as they went backwards instead of forwards during six minutes of injury time.
Rodrigo Bentancur will have been relieved just to get to the break still eligible to play in the game.
The Uruguayan somehow escaped with just a yellow when planting his foot on Reece James’, leaving the England man howling in pain.
It sparked a mini melee with Wesley Fofana and Bentancur rutting into each other, while James was left flabbergasted that a red had not been issued.
Nine years on from the Battle of the Bridge this was more like the Needle in North London.
There was more Argie-bargie in the second half with scuffles involving Joao Palhinha and Enzo Fernandez, while Simons was booked for hacking down Alejandro Garnacho.
Chelsea had their chances to make sure of the result, with Pedro Neto failing to keep a shot down and then having a powerful effort repelled by Vicario.
Sub Jamie Gittens and Pedro also missed a sitter apiece deep into stoppage time.
Spurs meanwhile mustered a humiliating 0.05 expected goals tally, with their only real half chance coming when Chelsea bizarrely allowed a Kevin Danso long throw to bounce in their area.
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But just as Bentancur was about to pull the trigger, the omnipresent Caicedo hacked the ball to safety.
Their lack of creativity has fans alarmed – and with chief playmaker Simons struggling as badly as he did here, there is no sign of it improving anytime soon.
