WE XAV A PROBLEM

Spineless Spurs are booed off as Frank pins his hopes on new boy Simons after Cherries shocker

- BY STEVE JUDGE

XAVI SIMONS was welcomed warmly by Tottenham fans on Saturday before his new teammates showed him exactly why he is needed by Thomas Frank.

The arrival of the Dutch playmaker from RB Leipzig for £51.8million is the sole reason alarm bells were not clanging as loudly at Spurs' attempts to play through Bournemouth.

They were booed off at halftime after failing to register a shot in the first half of a home game for the first time since they went on to beat Manchester City 2-0 in February 2020.

The creative limitations of midfield trio Joao Palhinha, Rodrigo Bentancur and Pepe Sarr were highlighted by the Cherries’ intense press.

Striker Richarlison struggled to hold the ball up, while Brennan Johnson treated it like a hot potato and Mohammed Kudus was starved of service.

Injuries to Dominic Solanke, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have not helped.