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Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

Timberwolf

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2008
10,328
50,217
By all accounts, this bloke is a natural leader both on and off the pitch. That, and the fact that we've been crying out for a DM for ages, makes me quite excited about this signing.
Not to mention the fact that Jose wants him!
Over the past 2 seasons our defensive midfield has either consisted of:

- A slow, injury ravaged Dier.
- A broken Wanyama.
- The defensive powerhouses that are Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko.
- A teenage Oliver Skipp.

When I watch Youtube videos of Hojbjerg I can see why So'ton fans aren't exactly distraught to lose him. He looks like a fairly solid, if unspectacular midfielder, who is good at breaking up the play and does the simple things quite well. However, because of what I'm used to watching as a Spurs fan, I'm really quite impressed.

Honestly, even if he's just a 6 or 7 out of 10 in that position most weeks, he's already a big step up from what we're used to. Just having a base level of defensive nous in the middle of the park will be a big improvement. Add in his age, leadership, attitude and I think he'll be a really solid acquisition.

We just need to temper our expectations: Hojbjerg isn't some huge talent - rather he's a vital piece of the puzzle.
 
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DJS

A hoonter must hoont
Dec 9, 2006
31,261
21,760
Very true. Wouldn't be surprised if there are a few unexpected deals that emerge outta the blue. As it's going to be a highly unusual window. As I've noted before, I think there will be an emphasis on loans, swap deals, and paying in installments. Gonna be really interesting.

As for Cirkin... guess he'll be given time during the pre-season to see if he has what it takes. Guess the saving grace, is that LB isn't an emergency issue. So, Jose can be patient. And if by the start of the season he feels only Davies is up for it, then at least they will have 3 to 4 weeks to nail down a deal for a new LB.

I‘d love it if Cirkin was given more opportunities at left back, always feels so so good putting a hole grown player in there when possible.

Feel we wasted Caulker as well as reckon he’d have been better for us then elsewhere as was where he was settled.

And KWP as well now he’s getting game time and vital experience.

Getting back to Hobjberg I do remember when Southampton got him what an interesting player he sounded and wish we’d have invested so glad to see we are now interested.

Will be interesting to see how our transfer window differs under Jose as did seem both Poch and Levy contributed to our weird recruitment.
 

McFlash

In the corner, eating crayons.
Oct 19, 2005
12,740
45,362
Over the past 2 seasons our defensive midfield has either consisted of:

- A slow, injury ravaged Dier.
- A broken Wanyama.
- The defensive powerhouses that are Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko.
- A teenage Oliver Skipp.

When I watch Youtube videos of Hojbjerg I can see why So'ton fans aren't exactly distraught to lose him. He looks like a fairly solid, if unspectacular midfielder, who is good at breaking up the play and does the simple things quite well. However, because of what I'm used to watching as a Spurs fan, I'm really quite impressed.

Honestly, even if he's just a 6 or 7 out of 10 in that position most weeks, he's already a big step up from what we're used to. Just having a base level of defensive nous in the middle of the park will be a big improvement. Add in his age, leadership, attitude and I think he'll be a really solid acquisition.

We just need to temper our expectations: Hojbjerg isn't some huge talent - rather he's a vital piece of the puzzle.
Exactly, he's not going to be some destroyer, rampaging around midfield tearing things up but he might just be the glue we need to stick things together.
More a Carrick style DM than a Wanyama - and what Carrick did for us was so often overlooked by fans, until he left.
 

mill

Well-Known Member
May 21, 2007
10,385
37,100
Exactly, he's not going to be some destroyer, rampaging around midfield tearing things up but he might just be the glue we need to stick things together.
More a Carrick style DM than a Wanyama - and what Carrick did for us was so often overlooked by fans, until he left.

I get what you’re saying but from what I’ve seen of this fella, which isn’t a great deal, he hasn’t got the passing range of carrick
 

McFlash

In the corner, eating crayons.
Oct 19, 2005
12,740
45,362
I get what you’re saying but from what I’ve seen of this fella, which isn’t a great deal, he hasn’t got the passing range of carrick
Not many players have the passing range of Carrick but I was more thinking about the defensive movement, blocking the passing lines and cutting the options.
I don't think this guys passing is a weak point though and certainly better that the likes of Wanyama.
 

spids

Well-Known Member
Jul 19, 2015
6,647
27,841
He could not be more different to a Carrick / Matic type. He is similar to Steffen Freund (not meant as an insult but his playing style is more similar). He is an action player who gets stuck in. He wins the ball mainly through physicality rather than positioning, but does read the game well.
 

McFlash

In the corner, eating crayons.
Oct 19, 2005
12,740
45,362
He could not be more different to a Carrick / Matic type. He is similar to Steffen Freund (not meant as an insult but his playing style is more similar). He is an action player who gets stuck in. He wins the ball mainly through physicality rather than positioning, but does read the game well.
I'll admit to not having seen much of him but was under the impression that he's a bit more cultured, than an all out destroyer? Maybe a combination?
I'm happy to be told otherwise by those who've seen more of him though.

As an aside, I loved Freund so would be more than happy for someone like him. ?
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,388
Exactly, he's not going to be some destroyer, rampaging around midfield tearing things up but he might just be the glue we need to stick things together.
More a Carrick style DM than a Wanyama - and what Carrick did for us was so often overlooked by fans, until he left.

I think he's more of an 'all rounder' than a DM. He certainly didn't have the DM role when Lemina was there and in their current setup the duties are shared out quite equally between him, Romeu and Ward-Prowse.
 

spids

Well-Known Member
Jul 19, 2015
6,647
27,841
I'll admit to not having seen much of him but was under the impression that he's a bit more cultured, than an all out destroyer? Maybe a combination?
I'm happy to be told otherwise by those who've seen more of him though.

As an aside, I loved Freund so would be more than happy for someone like him. ?

I probably could have used perpetual motion rather than physicality, as he is not a Wanyama or Sandro in that sense (i.e. not a big brute). He reads the game well and appears alongside opponents to disrupt / harrying them - either getting in between them and the ball or putting a foot in. I think his style is more Steffen Freund in that sense. He is better on the ball than Steffen though, and always looks forwards.
 

McFlash

In the corner, eating crayons.
Oct 19, 2005
12,740
45,362
I probably could have used perpetual motion rather than physicality, as he is not a Wanyama or Sandro in that sense (i.e. not a big brute). He reads the game well and appears alongside opponents to disrupt / harrying them - either getting in between them and the ball or putting a foot in. I think his style is more Steffen Freund in that sense. He is better on the ball than Steffen though, and always looks forwards.
He does sound ideal, in my opinion, for the system that we are trying to play.
 

wrd

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2014
13,603
58,005
He does sound ideal, in my opinion, for the system that we are trying to play.

He allows us a lot of flexibility. It should in theory really benefit either Ndombele going into a 4-3-3 or Dele into a 4-2-3-1. Should also benefit Winks if wants to up his game and stay in the first 11 by allowing him to play the 8 role with Lo Celso pushing up instead of alongside in the aforementioned formations. He really is the one thing we need which allows us so many tactical variations.
 
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