Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

[cliff jones]

I think PEH is just about good enough if we change formation, and a Maddison, Eze or Mount (for eg) could drop in and help stop our two from being outnumbered. But only for 4/5, no higher. Bents and Bissouma have the highest ceilings in there, although Sarr could still be anything.

They all annoy me though with their one-footedness, which restricts their passing angles.

When you start with Ghod, as I did, the only way is down unfortunately...

 

[Stuart Leathercock]

I think PEH is just about good enough if we change formation, and a Maddison, Eze or Mount (for eg) could drop in and help stop our two from being outnumbered. But only for 4/5, no higher. Bents and Bissouma have the highest ceilings in there, although Sarr could still be anything.

They all annoy me though with their one-footedness, which restricts their passing angles.

When you start with Ghod, as I did, the only way is down unfortunately...

I find it weird that some of our fans laud Bissouma, he was terrible in every game he played for us.

 

[Stuart Leathercock]

Every system has flaws and I agree that hoping to replicate Dembele and Wanyama is unrealistic.

I'd rather we go 433 or even 532 with the current personnel. But if we persist with the current formation, I don't believe Hojbjerg is the right player for that.

I agree with most of this but if we want to keep on playing the 3-4-3 formation then I think we need to spend a hell of a lot of money replacing PEH and I’m not sure we have the money for that with our far more pressing need of 2 new first choice centre backs and a first choice goalkeeper being required.

I really hope that this summer sees us immediately move away from 3 at the back and signing a new keeper, centre back and attacking midfield player who can all come straight into the starting line up. The January window or following summer could then be used to improve the midfield.

 

[Japhet]

I find it weird that some of our fans laud Bissouma, he was terrible in every game he played for us.

He was stifled by Conte and his dreaded 'automations'. He was absolute quality at Brighton before he had to learn Conte's system.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

Yes most teams are there for the extra revenue. They dont have the quality to go beyond round of 16, just like we were.

The competition includes 32 teams, each of which earns qualification on the merit of their domestic results. Revenue may be a significant factor in UEFA's decisions on the number of participants, but it is a 32-team competition, so being "good enough" for the competition means being good enough to qualify - not being good enough to reach at least the QF.

Since when does being "good enough" to be in a competition necessitate being in the top 25%? (Only 8/32 teams make it past the 'round of 16').

Applying that principle to the PL would mean any team finishing outside the top 5 "isn't good enough" to be in the competition, but like with CL qualification, they have earned their place in the competition.

 

[McFlash]

If we had prime Dembele and Wanyama in our midfield right now, we'd be winning midfield battles and would comfortably be top 4.

Well, yeah it kinda goes without saying considering those two in their prime were pretty much the perfect combination and the best midfield duo we've had in years.
In my view, Contes system doesn't help to flatter the two in the middle though, no matter how good they are.

 

[N17Jack]

I think PEH is just about good enough if we change formation, and a Maddison, Eze or Mount (for eg) could drop in and help stop our two from being outnumbered. But only for 4/5, no higher. Bents and Bissouma have the highest ceilings in there, although Sarr could still be anything.

They all annoy me though with their one-footedness, which restricts their passing angles.

When you start with Ghod, as I did, the only way is down unfortunately...

Mount FFS

 

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

Imo they look more isolated because they lack the mobility off the ball and it appears like sometimes they don’t have options on the ball because they can’t make a yard for themselves to move it effectively or carry the ball through midfield. In terms of PEH, I’ve seen players that he’s with, just run off the back of him. It’s not like he passes them on and picks up someone else instead either.

It doesn’t matter what formation you play, Hojbjergs not suddenly going to improve his mobility, technique under pressure and agility.

In terms of being outnumbered, Kane, kulu and son drop into areas that an attacking midfielder will play in, the wingbacks, in particular Emerson and Porro come inside a lot to fill that space on the inside right. We play very compact in our own half, there is really very little distance between our cbs and front three. The vast majority of teams leave a midfielder shielding in front of Kane. They are really not as isolated or outnumbered as people say.

 

[chas vs dave]

i don’t think we ever played a 3-4-3 under Pochettino.

Nope. He'd play wanyama, dier and eriksen in a 3.

 

[funkycoldmedina]

Nope. He'd play wanyama, dier and eriksen in a 3.

And Dier would drop back into make a defensive 3 at times

 

[HedgieSpur]

Seems weird to want to lose the second best of the group Instead of the worst? I’d much rather Sarr went and played a full season in the Championship on loan where he would learn a lot.

Completely disagree. Sarr looks like he's going to develop in an excellent player and should stay to further his development imo. Hojbjerg is nowhere near mobile or technically gifted enough for a team purporting to challenge at the top of the table imo. He offers grit, determination and against the "right kind of opposition" (that gives him time and space on the ball) can be effective.

A couple of years ago I was screaming for us to sign Ibrahim Sangare (when he was at Toulouse) and he's the kinda of player we need as a 6 imo. If we had Bentancur as the 8 and Maddison as the 10 , we'd have a very balanced midfield imo.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Seems weird to want to lose the second best of the group Instead of the worst? I’d much rather Sarr went and played a full season in the Championship on loan where he would learn a lot.

Egads man.

Sarr is already better than the Championship.

I'd much rather build the future with Sarr as a key player, than continue to see the current group slog through another season.

 

[coy-spurs1882]

if you have to sell one of our 5 CMs I think PEH is the most obvious choice

 

[DannyNZ]

Egads man.

Sarr is already better than the Championship.

I'd much rather build the future with Sarr as a key player, than continue to see the current group slog through another season.

The sad thing is Sarr has demonstrated he is capable but his minutes since Milan game have been minimal while we’ve watched PEH and Skipp get flogged hopelessly.

 

[Japhet]

The sad thing is Sarr has demonstrated he is capable but his minutes since Milan game have been minimal while we’ve watched PEH and Skipp get flogged hopelessly.

He should have had many more chances when we were still in all the competitions. So should Skipp and Bissouma. but we all know it would have been PEH and Bentancur right through if not for injury with Conte in charge. He demanded squad depth but refused to use it.

 

[ultimateloner]

The competition includes 32 teams, each of which earns qualification on the merit of their domestic results. Revenue may be a significant factor in UEFA's decisions on the number of participants, but it is a 32-team competition, so being "good enough" for the competition means being good enough to qualify - not being good enough to reach at least the QF.

Since when does being "good enough" to be in a competition necessitate being in the top 25%? (Only 8/32 teams make it past the 'round of 16').

Applying that principle to the PL would mean any team finishing outside the top 5 "isn't good enough" to be in the competition, but like with CL qualification, they have earned their place in the competition.

My feeling for being 'good enough' for CL is narrower for 2 reasons:

1) There's a difference in quality across Euro leagues so qualification alone doesn't say enough about ability
2) For some leagues, the gulf between the top teams may be big enough

Thats my feeling but your reasoning is sound and clear, so it's at least as good as mine.

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

Unfortunately Stoke are skint

 

[cliff jones]

Mount FFS

Eh? I just quoted him as another eg of a player in that position, that’s all. He’s a good player too, though? Although will be asking for silly wages so not an option

 

[DJS]

Seems weird to want to lose the second best of the group Instead of the worst? I’d much rather Sarr went and played a full season in the Championship on loan where he would learn a lot.

PEH is not the best of the group.

Personally I prefer the other four as they have more composure and overal ability.

I don’t care if he’s pulling assists out of the bag when his general play is contributing to us not controlling games or playing that well.

Like all of them he may greatly benefit in a change of shape to a 4-3-3, I don’t think he’d benefit from a 4-2-3-1.

 

[chrisd2k]

PEH is not the best of the group.

Personally I prefer the other four as they have more composure and overal ability.

I don’t care if he’s pulling assists out of the bag when his general play is contributing to us not controlling games or playing that well.

Like all of them he may greatly benefit in a change of shape to a 4-3-3, I don’t think he’d benefit from a 4-2-3-1.

Yep but people see an assist or goal and immediately think that player had a great game. I see it all the time and just try to ignore it but glad others do too.