Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

[Ghost Hardware]

Skipp coming on before him was a signal that he’s got no future under Ange

I don't think there is any real surprise there tho. It seems very clear we are looking to move him on and he is also wanting to move. So far he has handled himself professionally and I have nothing negative to say about him. Im sure he will leave early in the Jan transfer window as long as there is a buyer willing to meet our valuation.

 

[kythg]

I think the Skipp over PEH is more of a role than personnel thing - i think it was the wrong sub but I think Skipp is seen as an 8 by Ange whereas Hoj tends to replace Biss at 6? There's obviously Hoj wanting to move on which won't help.

He did well when he came on, Biss and Madders looked absolutely gassed when they were taken off and probably should have been off a bit sooner imo. Hoj moved the ball across bigger distances, faster than we had been and created more variation and disruption by doing so.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

I think the Skipp over PEH is more of a role than personnel thing - i think it was the wrong sub but I think Skipp is seen as an 8 by Ange whereas Hoj tends to replace Biss at 6? There's obviously Hoj wanting to move on which won't help.

He did well when he came on, Biss and Madders looked absolutely gassed when they were taken off and probably should have been off a bit sooner imo. Hoj moved the ball across bigger distances, faster than we had been and created more variation and disruption by doing so.

But he only passes backwards / sideways and never shows for the ball.

 

[Silky Skills]

If you watch the Matip own goal from when Mickey wins the ball (huge respect for not booting it off the pitch) then in fairness to PEH he is instrumental in getting the ball up the pitch. For me he has always worn his heart on his sleeve and for several seasons was one of our better players given the way we were set up, you can't knock his goals and assists last season for example. It is a shame he does not fit Ange's system and is now competing with Skipp to be fifth in line for one of the three midfield spots

 

[Nebby]

i would deffo prefer peh over skipp though, skipp did nothing when coming on yesterday

Nothing? It was Skipp's run - that Matip was tracking - that won us the game.

 

[isaac94]

Nothing? It was Skipp's run - that Matip was tracking - that won us the game.

damn thats a stretch

 

[Nebby]

damn thats a stretch

Like Matip’s?

 

[zicomerc]

La Juve attende Pogba: giovedì le controanalisi, il piano B porta a Hojbjerg a gennaio

In caso di conferma della positività i bianconeri sono a caccia di un sostituto del Polpo alla riapertura del mercato: il centrocampista del Tottenham è chiuso da Sarr e Bissouma. Ma occhi anche sui fantasisti, da Berardi a Sudakov

www.gazzetta.it

Translated below

Juve awaits Pogba: counter-analysis on Thursday, plan B leads to Hojbjerg in January

If the positive test is confirmed, the Bianconeri are on the hunt for a replacement for Polpo when the transfer market reopens: the Tottenham midfielder is closed by Sarr and Bissouma. But also keep an eye on the playmakers, from Berardi to Sudakov

January is still three months away. Yet on Thursday Juventus will already be able to begin to understand what type of winter they will experience on the transfer market. More than a crystal ball, it will be the B sample of Paul Pogba's urine from 20 August (Udinese-Juventus) that will direct the moves and negotiations of the Juventus managers. "We await the outcome, then we will decide how to act together with Paul's management", explained Cristiano Giuntoli, the managing director, in recent days. of the Lady. The time for counter-analysis has arrived. On Thursday the Frenchman, who has been suspended as a precautionary measure by the Anti-Doping Tribunal since 11 September due to the positivity to testosterone found in the Udine test, will know whether the second test will confirm or reverse the situation. The future of the number 10 and also that of Juventus depends on the verdict. Yes, because the possible confirmation of the positivity would start two parallel games.

The investigation by the anti-doping prosecutor's office for Pogba and the search for a plan B in the middle of the pitch for the Bianconeri. At the end of the proceedings, the anti-doping prosecutor can request dismissal to the Tna (National Anti-Doping Tribunal) or referral. Or he can propose a sanction to the player, obviously less than 4 years (maximum disqualification). In any case, it would be an early divorce for Pogba and Juventus, who, not surprisingly, have been preparing for any scenario for a while now. Including the possibility of having to say goodbye to Paul, saving around thirty million by terminating the contract, and then signing a new midfielder as early as January. At the moment the ideas of the Giuntoli-Manna transfer duo are different, but one continues to convince more than the others: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, 28 year old from Tottenham.

Contacts and advantages—

The Danish midfielder, a former student of Antonio Conte at Spurs, is convincing from all points of view. The technical-physical aspects are intertwined with the personal and above all character ones. Hojbjerg is not only an excellent example of a "box to box" midfielder, but he is also in the prime of his career and has always been a driving force for his teams. At least until a few months ago and the arrival on the bench of the whites from north London of Ange Postecoglou, the revelation coach of the Premier League. The Australian in the middle of the field is focusing on the Sarr-Bissouma pair. Tottenham are second in the table and Hojbjerg has to settle for crumbs: against Liverpool he came on in the 90th minute. And it wasn't the first time: in seven league games he totaled 78 minutes. Very little for anyone. Even more so for someone like the Dane, who has a contract expiring in 2025 and has Euro 2024 in his sights. For all these reasons, Juventus has explored the former Bayern player as a precaution. There has already been some contact and Hojbjerg is described as anything but indifferent to the Lady's charm (but he is also there at Atletico). If Pogba's positivity is confirmed, the track is destined to heat up.

Variable African Cup—

If Hojbjerg's salary for Juventus does not seem like an insurmountable obstacle, especially thanks to the tax relief provided by the growth decree, the agreement with Tottenham is not as obvious as it might seem given the player's limited playing time. Spurs are not open to loans, at least for now, and value the Dane at around thirty million. It's not just a question of principle: in January both Sarr and Bissouma will be involved in the Africa Cup of Nations for at least a month. In the event of Hojbjerg's departure, Tottenham should purchase a suitable replacement.

 

[PhC]

Skipp coming on before him was a signal that he’s got no future under Ange

Well, after spending the last few years slagging him off it’s no surprise to hear this from you.

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

Well, after spending the last few years slagging him off it’s no surprise to hear this from you.

You'll have to disband your PEH fan club in January, however I suspect that you were it's only member.

 

[Col_M]

I'm a member, although I never pay my subs.

He's a true professional, always gives 100% and rarely makes mistakes. True, he and the team have grown apart, or style has changed and he doesn't suit it. He was what we needed at the time, but without the playmaker that we've only just now got, he had little support unless it was Bentancour

 

[SpursSince1980]

I get a feeling he will play on Saturday.

 

[SpainSpur85]

I thought he did well today, he helped us manage the second half. I was wary when he first came on though ☺

 

[Cochise]

I don't worry, he settles things down usually.

 

[Joely]

Hojbjerg from a technical perspective has his limitations, especially in the system we now play, but he is an experienced head to bring on during games. I think overall he has done a decent job whenever he has come on this season. If in January he pushes for a move, only way way we can let him go is if we bring in an adequate replacement.

 

[Archibald-CPH]

Hojbjerg from a technical perspective has his limitations, especially in the system we now play, but he is an experienced head to bring on during games. I think overall he has done a decent job whenever he has come on this season. If in January he pushes for a move, only way way we can let him go is if we bring in an adequate replacement.

May start for Biss. Rather Højbjerg than Skipp

 

[Rosco1984]

I have real worries about any game where he plays as the 6 he is too slow to cover the ground when isolated and we have already seen that even the far more athletic bissouma gets caught needing to bring someone down as he cant get there early enough in this system. Add to that his total inability to play out of being pressed and I think we will have real problems.

 

[ofosh]

Fair play to the lad, I've been more critical than most about him but he done well second half.
Gave us some control. As I said during the game, more running, less pointing!

 

[Nebby]

I have real worries about any game where he plays as the 6 he is too slow to cover the ground when isolated and we have already seen that even the far more athletic bissouma gets caught needing to bring someone down as he cant get there early enough in this system. Add to that his total inability to play out of being pressed and I think we will have real problems.

Put your big boy pants on and stop fretting. Ange knows what he’s doing.

 

[C1w8]

I have real worries about any game where he plays as the 6 he is too slow to cover the ground when isolated and we have already seen that even the far more athletic bissouma gets caught needing to bring someone down as he cant get there early enough in this system. Add to that his total inability to play out of being pressed and I think we will have real problems.

I think the point is more who else do we have to cover for bissouma in two weeks time?

I dont personally have as much concern as you do though of course it's a big step down from bissouma. i also dont believe skipp is a better choice so PEH should get the start.

And if there was a game he was going to step into, something like Fulham at home would be pretty high up on the list as they shouldnt come at us with significant high press for much of the game if at all.