FIFA 23 Team of the Season (TOTS) Xavi Simons Player Review

Round 2 of our TOTS review marathon and this time we jump from the TOTS Community squad into the TOTS Eredivisie options.  There were a few cards that caught the eye from the outset of the release but it soon became clear that there was really only one option worth exploring.

By now we all know that TOTS boosts can be at eye catching levels, but I am not sure I was ready to be staring down the barrel of a card with Simons’ statistical overflow this early into the promo.  It really does beg the question of what is to come with future squads and more prominent players.

In order to get Simons in the squad and on chem you will notice in the squad that I added another TOTS Eredivisie option in Steven Bergwijn… mini-review: He is not great and generally underperformed in all statistical categories.    

With Simons in the squad there was a matter of where to play him and I opted for a more central role as the Box to Box midfielder in my 4-2-2-2 formation… Switching the PSV man to the RAM around the 45 - 60 minute mark.  The ANCHOR Chemistry Style did the trick and brought the Defending into a more than usable range.

Standing at the edge of Weekend League doom, it was Simons staring danger in the face throughout the final match grind in the following squad:

Overall

It is crazy to think that when you input the attacking statistics that Simons’ carries into a FUTBIN search you get a list consisting only of the Dutchman himself and the various versions of Pele.  That is of course excluding some decent Defending statistics as well.  Not everything felt quite as brilliant as it appears on card, but there is a lot to like and more and more I think that Simons could be the answer to FUT Managers looking for more defensively responsible CAMs, with the ability to chip in among the goals.

Main Statistics – Dribbling

Dribbling Rating: 10/10

Pace Rating: 9/10

Height: 168cm | 5’6

I knew from the outset that playing Simons as a Box to Box midfielder would come with some defensive pitfalls.  But the idea of the PSV man burning through opponents' midfields and creating offensive havoc was too enticing to pass up… and I wasn’t wrong about the results.

Opponent after opponent literally struggled to keep up with the 99 ACCELERATION & 98 SPRINT SPEED, offering a great counter attack and chance creation opportunity.  My one concern, and what keeps this card from a perfect 10/10, was the ability for taller, LENGTHY, players to catch me up and nullify chances that I had worked so hard to create in the first place. 

On the other hand there were zero complaints about the dribbling with this card and overall it performed majestically on the ball.  The responsiveness and movement caused by the 99 AGILITY & BALANCE was a handful and led to a majority of the assists and near chances during the 7 match review.

Value/Coins

Value/Coins Rating: 5/5

You have to hand it to EA… when they want to kill the value of cards, they do it with an unapologetic and unmatched ruthlessness.  The TOTS Challenge 1 SBC coming in at 5k with a guaranteed 5 tradeable Dutch players all but destroyed the value of the Eredivisie TOTS… Xavi Simons dropping nearly 500k in minutes.  The result (beyond a lot of frustrated FUT Managers who lost coins) is a card that is about spot on for value.  

Good vs. Bad 

Good vs Bad Rating: 5/5

Definitely a more attack minded option, but there were defensive moments of quality as well. 

+ The dribbling creates the time and space, while the passing delivers the deadly blow.  The 95 SHORT PASSING was intricate and matched with the pace allowed for some fine moves through the midfield.  The 87 LONG PASSING looked more concerning on paper but was actually incredibly accurate and always found the correct option given the 97 VISION.

+ Defensively this card thrives in moments where speed kills… Interceptions and straightforward tackles turned out to be exactly that as Simons proved a consistent ball-winner during the review.  

+ From a shooting standpoint it was not always the best experience with Simons, but the four goals suggest some talent.  The 94 SHOT POWER came in incredibly useful and the 89 FINISHING was just fine on the strong foot side.  Truthfully I would be more dead set on Simons as a CAM of some sort, but the shooting inconsistencies might just be the factor that kills the idea off.

Not all was perfect in paradise as Simons struggled in some key areas throughout.

- I mentioned the defensive quality when speed was involved, but it was an entirely different story when it came down to strength.  The 87 STRENGTH is not a pitiful number, but the size and body type of this card leaves little to push against bigger opponents.  Similarly, it was a losing battle in the air and did cause me some grief at different stages in the review.

- I briefly mentioned the Shooting with Simons but it is worth a final word on the overall quality.  The 4 goals were taken rather well and all included a right-footed finish of varying difficulty.  However, even with the 4 STAR WEAK FOOT there was not a similar quality on the left.  

Closing Words

This card is fun and definitely had an impact on my squad, honestly, I think Simons could be a key contributor moving forward.  However, the lack of immediate links and difficulty getting full chemistry in FIFA 23 is definitely a consideration.  Yet, the ability for Simons to impact the match at both ends of the pitch might just be worth the hassle for those needing transition-style players.

Two reviews… two options with the “Hair Trait” flowing in-game… Do we continue the trend?

Hoping you are well.  Cheers for reading.