With the 25/26 season set to enter its busiest period, we have now compared James Maddison’s first 14 games in a Tottenham shirt with those of Xavi Simons to see how the two stack up.
Thomas Frank’s men have had a mixed start to life in the Premier League, yet they appear to be in a far better position at this stage of the campaign than they were last season.
Tottenham currently sit fifth in the table, but there remains a general sense that Frank’s side have not quite reached their full potential, with some players still struggling to settle or find consistent form.
Xavi Simons is one of those who has yet to truly hit the ground running in England, as the Dutchman’s performances have been somewhat underwhelming in the opening stages of his Spurs career.
This is, of course, not the first time Tottenham have invested in a creative midfielder. The club completed the signing of James Maddison back in 2023, and the Englishman quickly made his mark in north London.
But how did Maddison’s early displays compare with Simons’ current run?
Xavi Simons’ Tottenham start under Thomas Frank
Simons has not enjoyed the brightest of starts to life in N17, even though the midfielder caught the eye on his debut against West Ham United, where he registered an assist for Tottenham’s opening goal.
Since joining from RB Leipzig in the summer, the 22-year-old has featured 14 times for Tottenham, contributing just two assists in all competitions.
His standout display to date came in the Champions League clash against Copenhagen, where he not only produced his second assist in a Spurs shirt but was also named player of the match for his overall impact and creativity on the night.
The hope was that Xavi would kick on from there, but his next display in the Premier League against Manchester United left a lot to be desired, leaving Thomas Frank with no choice but to take him off in the second half for Mathys Tel, as Spurs sought to equalise.
James Maddison’s early impact at Spurs was impressive
So how did James Maddison fare after his first 14 appearances in a Tottenham shirt? The Englishman’s start to life was notably more impressive, and that was hardly a surprise given his prior Premier League experience.
In his first ten league games for Spurs, Maddison managed six assists and three goals, far surpassing Simons’ current tally, as the Dutchman is yet to score for Tottenham.
However, Maddison’s momentum was briefly halted when he picked up an injury during the 4-1 defeat to Chelsea in matchweek eleven.
After missing nine matches, he returned to action and continued to make an impact, adding further goals and assists upon his comeback.
By the time he had reached 14 games, Maddison had recorded three goals and seven assists, all in the Premier League, as Spurs were not competing in Europe that season.
Overall, Maddison played a major role in Tottenham’s success during his first campaign in north London, helping former boss Ange Postecoglou implement an attacking and front-foot brand of football.
Simons, on the other hand, has struggled to influence games in the same way and currently operates in a less adventurous Spurs side.
Still, at 22 years old, the Dutchman has time on his side to turn things around, though patience from both supporters and the coaching staff will be crucial.