Tottenham Hotspur's midfield crisis is a pressing concern for manager Thomas Frank, with only four players having played more Premier League minutes than Portuguese international Joao Palhinha this season. The 30-year-old has been an instant impact, bringing much-needed steel to the defensive side of the ball, but his lack of natural ability as a progression of possession is hindering the team's performances.
The recent 2-2 draw against Manchester United highlighted the issues with Spurs' midfield pairing, with Palhinha and Pape Sarr struggling to create anything of note in front of goal. Despite having Wilson Odobert on the bench, who brought a different dimension with his dribbling skills, the midfield duo was too easy to mark.
Frank's decision to sign Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig as a natural creator has been largely unsuccessful so far, as he is still adapting to life in the Premier League. The manager's reliance on injury-prone players like Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison adds further complexity to the midfield conundrum.
The bigger issue for Tottenham is that it lacks a supply line to progress the ball to a number 10 player, which is essential for making an impact on the top end of the Premier League. The January transfer window could be a turning point in Frank's assessment of his midfield options, with Spurs potentially targeting a deep-lying pace-setter to address this deficiency.
If a suitable replacement can be found, Spurs could make genuine progress and climb even higher in the table. For now, however, the absence of a natural progression of possession in the midfield remains a major concern for Frank's team.
The recent 2-2 draw against Manchester United highlighted the issues with Spurs' midfield pairing, with Palhinha and Pape Sarr struggling to create anything of note in front of goal. Despite having Wilson Odobert on the bench, who brought a different dimension with his dribbling skills, the midfield duo was too easy to mark.
Frank's decision to sign Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig as a natural creator has been largely unsuccessful so far, as he is still adapting to life in the Premier League. The manager's reliance on injury-prone players like Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison adds further complexity to the midfield conundrum.
The bigger issue for Tottenham is that it lacks a supply line to progress the ball to a number 10 player, which is essential for making an impact on the top end of the Premier League. The January transfer window could be a turning point in Frank's assessment of his midfield options, with Spurs potentially targeting a deep-lying pace-setter to address this deficiency.
If a suitable replacement can be found, Spurs could make genuine progress and climb even higher in the table. For now, however, the absence of a natural progression of possession in the midfield remains a major concern for Frank's team.
remember when we were struggling to score goals last year? at least they're trying to solve the problem now, signing new players and all that... but i'm still worried they won't find the right fit 
what's with this reliance on injuries tho? it's like they're trying to keep things fresh by bringing in new players every few months 
maybe that's just me being paranoid...
esp with xavi simons still getting used to the pace of the premier league i think dejan kulusevski and james maddison's injury history is super concerning 
anyways, a deep-lying playmaker would make all the difference in creating those chances for wilson odobert and others to shine 
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...it's not just about signing players to fix the midfield crisis, it's about rethinking our approach to football altogether. I mean, what is the point of having talented players if they can't work together in harmony? It's like trying to build a beautiful puzzle with broken pieces 
. And let's be honest, we're living in an era where football has become more focused on individual brilliance rather than collective cohesion. But, at the same time, I think that's what makes the Premier League so exciting – the unpredictability of it all 
. So, do we need to find a 'natural creator' or a 'number 10 player'? Or is it about creating a more fluid system where players can adapt and thrive? It's a tough nut to crack, but that's what makes this debate so fascinating 
palhinha is doing his thing but it's not enough to carry the team on his back... they need a natural playmaker who can break up the oppositions defense and start some attacks 
xavi simons just doesn't feel like he's fitting in yet... i'm hoping january might bring some fresh blood 
what was up with all those red cards lol anyway back to this spurs stuff... i feel like they need someone who can link up play really well, you know, like a little glue that makes everything stick together 
but it sounds like it's hard to find one of those guys, esp in the premier league 
and what's up with frank's signing decisions? xavi simons seems like a promising player but he's still finding his feet 
wilson odobert is the real MVP right now 
they need to bring in someone who can provide that '10' player I'm low-key hoping they sign some decent player in jan 
And Spurs just don't have it. They're relying too much on the front three to do all the heavy lifting. It's like trying to build a house without a foundation – it's gonna come crashing down eventually 
. Need someone who can control the tempo of the game, bring some creativity and vision to midfield... or else they'll be stuck in 4th place forever 
. Like, if you get it right, everything falls into place, but if not... oh man, I'm all confused now 
. Maybe they should just stick with Palhinha and hope he gets better at dribbling? 
. And lets be real, thats what Spurs needed - some defensive solidity. Its not like they were getting tormented by midfielders like they used to. But yeah, the other players arent doing their part. I mean, Xavi Simons is still adapting, and Dejan Kulusevski has been injury prone... that does sound like a problem 
Dejan Kulusevski & James Maddison r injury prone its like Spurs dont know how 2 build a solid midfield 
any1 got a link 2 get the latest transfer rumors? 
. Adding a deep-lying pace-setter could make such a big difference in getting that supply line going to a number 10 player - it's like they're finally solving a puzzle 
! Of course, Xavi Simons is still finding his footing here, but I'm sure he'll find his groove soon 
!
Need something tangible and not just promises. 
