Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

[Neon_Knight_]

Bentancur is in Carrick’s class, Hojbjerg isn’t. Pretty sure Bentancur’s stats for goals and assists are unimpressive but you really don’t need them to see he’s pure quality

My point was that top CMs don't necessarily contribute many goals & assists. I don't recall Carrick being criticised as heavily as Hojbjerg for a lack of goals & assists while he played for us, yet he got fewer. Modric did have that criticism thrown at him during his first year at Real Madrid but, after being named the "worst signing of the year" despite actually playing well, fans and the Spanish media soon backtracked and started to appreciate his quality.

I don't think Bentancur or Hojbjerg are at the level of Carrick. When he was younger than Bentancur, he was able to dictate games from midfield against top opposition, in a way that only Modric has done for us since. Carrick was a key player in a side that won 5 PL titles in the space of 7 years, also reaching the CL final 3 times (winning it once) and winning domestic cups in the same period.

 

[Joshua shepherd]

My point was that top CMs don't necessarily contribute many goals & assists. I don't recall Carrick being criticised as heavily as Hojbjerg for a lack of goals & assists while he played for us, yet he got fewer. Modric did have that criticism thrown at him during his first year at Real Madrid but, after being named the "worst signing of the year" despite actually playing well, fans and the Spanish media soon backtracked and started to appreciate his quality.

I don't think Bentancur or Hojbjerg are at the level of Carrick. When he was younger than Bentancur, he was able to dictate games from midfield against top opposition, in a way that only Modric has done for us since. Carrick was a key player in a side that won 5 PL titles in the space of 7 years, also reaching the CL final 3 times (winning it once) and winning domestic cups in the same period.

Carrick was an unbelievable player who never gave the ball away. PEH's passing is what can let him down, it's often rushed and ill thought out as well as not being played at the right weight or in front of the player which ultimately slows down our game.

The things he does well though he does do really well.

 

[Trix]

The most underrated Tottenham player in my lifetime. One of the best midfielders in the world.

He's very Dembele imo. Not in the way he plays, more in that it takes time for a lot of fans to realise just how good he is. It took Dembele to leave before a lot of fans understood how much we'd miss him.

 

[Timberwolf]

It's actually pretty nuts how many blocks and interceptions he makes. He's such a clever player positionally and I think that's something that often goes unnoticed.

He will always have his critics because he's not got incredible technique on the ball, but he's so important to us and I'm growing to appreciate more and more how much he offers in such a variety of different ways.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

He's very Dembele imo. Not in the way he plays, more in that it takes time for a lot of fans to realise just how good he is. It took Dembele to leave before a lot of fans understood how much we'd miss him.

Yep, very underrated and he's really improved this season and is thriving under Conte which isn't surprising as in a way he's a similar player to Conte was in terms of all action, blood, guts and thunder, amazing engine, fitness, work-rate etc. Conte was a bit better technically than PEH is but PEH is better with the ball than people give him credit for.

Can see why Real Madrid are linked with him., won't find many better than him especially for that role in a CM2, positionally very good, engine good, work rate good, passing not bad etc etc.

 

[BigVic]

The most underrated Tottenham player in my lifetime. One of the best midfielders in the world.

Come off it.

 

[dudu]

He’s a similar style of player to Keane but that’s where the comparisons should end. Keane had superior athleticism, touch, passing, agility, plus everything Hojbjerg has. The bias towards our players is truly mental sometimes. How many times do we need to see Hojbjerg outclassed by the top midfielders for some to realise he isn’t absolutely top drawer like some proclaim, he just isn’t. Is he good? Yes. Does he have strength and leadership and full commitment? Absolutely. But he’s still not getting in any top 6 midfield other than ours and United’s and give your head a wobble for a second and realise the ones he wouldn’t get into are the ones we are aiming to usurp to get into the CL and win trophies, how that’s not a problem to some I don’t know

He is better than Xaka and Partey

Apart from Chelsea and City, he would get into every side in the prem

 

[Joshua shepherd]

He is better than Xaka and Partey

Apart from Chelsea and City, he would get into every side in the prem

That’s your tottenham bias shining through for sure, the same way I doubt there’s a single arsenal fan that would ever accept that swap.

Point being he’s not as suited to arsenal as he is for us, i don’t think he gets into their team but equally I don’t think xhaka gets into ours. Both players have found a team that is suited to them.

 

[dudu]

That’s your tottenham bias shining through for sure, the same way I doubt there’s a single arsenal fan that would ever accept that swap.

Point being he’s not as suited to arsenal as he is for us, i don’t think he gets into their team but equally I don’t think xhaka gets into ours. Both players have found a team that is suited to them.

I watch a lot of Arsenal as my best mate is a fan and we watch a lot of football together.

I think overall, he is a better all-around player, especially defensively.

 

[dudu]

That’s your tottenham bias shining through for sure, the same way I doubt there’s a single arsenal fan that would ever accept that swap.

Point being he’s not as suited to arsenal as he is for us, i don’t think he gets into their team but equally I don’t think xhaka gets into ours. Both players have found a team that is suited to them.

This is per 90 mins - granted, in different systems.

 

[Flobadob]

I watch a lot of Arsenal as my best mate is a fan and we watch a lot of football together.

I think overall, he is a better all-around player, especially defensively.

He’s better defensively than Xhaka by a long way but falls behind in every other category. It’s close but i personally think Xhaka edges it, especially on this seasons form where he’s been superb for them. If Partey’s fit (which he barely ever is tbf) he’s a much better player than PEH. Your Spurs bias is pretty strong if you think Hojbjerg is clear of either of them

 

[Flobadob]

He's very Dembele imo. Not in the way he plays, more in that it takes time for a lot of fans to realise just how good he is. It took Dembele to leave before a lot of fans understood how much we'd miss him.

He’s not even close to Dembele and I loved him throughout his entire career here

 

[Joshua shepherd]

This is per 90 mins - granted, in different systems.


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But that’s kind of my point, neither are really better. They’re both good footballers in their own right, just xhaka suits their set up better than PEH would and PEH is more suited to us than xhaka would be.

It’s tough to improve on PEH, if you want a like for like replacement because he is very good at what he does. To say his game doesn’t have glaring weaknesses is wrong though.

 

[dudu]

He’s better defensively than Xhaka by a long way but falls behind in every other category. It’s close but i personally think Xhaka edges it, especially on this seasons form where he’s been superb for them. If Partey’s fit (which he barely ever is tbf) he’s a much better player than PEH. Your Spurs bias is pretty strong if you think Hojbjerg is clear of either of them

I trust my own eyes. I've watched both Xhaka and PEH for years and I think most teams would rather take PEH than Xhaka because he is just an all round better player.

Partey I conceed is a completey different player and on his day is a better overall player than PEH.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

He’s better defensively than Xhaka by a long way but falls behind in every other category. It’s close but i personally think Xhaka edges it, especially on this seasons form where he’s been superb for them. If Partey’s fit (which he barely ever is tbf) he’s a much better player than PEH. Your Spurs bias is pretty strong if you think Hojbjerg is clear of either of them

The stats directly above your post suggest Hojbjerg has superior passing and dribbling, in addition to better defending.

 

[Locotoro]

So many people under rate PEH. There's a reason Pep wanted to keep him in his Bayern team and why Conte and Mourinho have picked him over any other midfielder that we've had in recent years and why he constantly ranks highly in stats across top 5 leagues.

He's an organiser and an enabler. Everyone has worked in a well functioning team knows that there's always that one person who knows how to grease the wheels and get everyone working together. That person that does the simple thing but creates that team mentality and the glue. That's Hojbjerg and I think he's sorely underrated.

For what it's worth Xhaka doesn't come close to PEH in any respect. PEH is more technically able, more reliable, and better defensively.

 

[aliyid]

You can’t really compare this season as they’re playing in two very different systems.

So far this year Xhaka has been given more freedom to move forward and is playing a similar role to how PEH plays for Denmark (where he regularly impresses) this is very different to his role for us.

For us this season PEH is used to close down passing channels and press while out of possession and circulate the ball into wide areas / backwards while in possession.

It’s like comparing Dembele to Dele and thinking Dele was the better player as he scored more goals

 

[dudu]

The stats directly above your post suggest Hojbjerg has superior passing and dribbling, in addition to better defending.

Yes, but apart from all that.........

 

[Trix]

He’s not even close to Dembele and I loved him throughout his entire career here

Might be worth reading my post again, as I'm not saying he's as good as Dembele just that many people under appreciate him and won't understand how important he is until he's gone.

 

[aliyid]

So many things wrong with this but did make me laugh (and is why I will always try to call him PEH in this place )