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Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

PrettyColors

Rosie47 Fan
Aug 13, 2011
3,866
10,074
It’s very clear PEH has some limitations. He’s slow, a little ponderous on the ball, and I think the snarling ball winner stereotype is overblown on him. He really seems to excel with the game in front of him sitting as the deepest man in a midfield 3, though I do worry about his pace when tracking runners. I think the issue is him with Winks moreso than PEH himself.
Encouraging second half, he needs Lo Celso on the pitch (as does the entire team) but that midfield 3 looked so much better together than a Winks-Hojbjerg double pivot.
 

gavspur

Well-Known Member
Jun 24, 2004
5,255
8,686
Yeah, he seems much more comfortable as the holding player rather than in a two. For that reason I’d love to see him with Gio and Tanguy just slightly ahead of him. I really like Winks, but he just doesn’t seem to be progressing and he always wants to be the deepest midfielder, which really doesn’t suit his attributes.
 

Vincent30

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
900
3,694
Yeah, he seems much more comfortable as the holding player rather than in a two. For that reason I’d love to see him with Gio and Tanguy just slightly ahead of him. I really like Winks, but he just doesn’t seem to be progressing and he always wants to be the deepest midfielder, which really doesn’t suit his attributes.

We have to building to this, i think Jose is slowly getting Lo Celso NDombele up to speed fitness wise. Think Winks has the legs currently to be playing, but hopeful he makes this change soon.

You can see PEH attributes, read danger well and predicts it, like to press aggressively, like a direct forward pass and is strong and can tackle. All strong attributes to be the one that sits in the middle and destroys teams. Winks doesn't have the defensive awareness or strength to be our main man in front of the back four.
 

H-SF

Well-Known Member
Jan 2, 2020
2,198
10,484
I really like him. He clearly has an innate ball-winning and intercepting tendency and proper defensive instincts unlike Winksy. He also tries to be progressive which granted doesn't always come off but it shows he appreciates what is needed at least.
 

markt

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
1,688
2,647
Actually nice to see most people realise he probably hasn't had the right players around him to excel just yet.

I don't think he has been great the first 2 games, but once gio is back to fitness, I think he will play an important part going forward. Just don't we him suiting a midfield with Winks and or Sissoko as a 2. It needs the right balance.
 

DaleMurphy

Well-Known Member
Sep 4, 2014
807
1,710
I think there’s a player there but agree he hasn’t really found his role yet and playing him next to Winks isn’t doing him any favors. He isn’t a Wanyama or Dier style holding mid who’s gonna drop deep. He likes to get after it and really has no choice but to do so cuz Winks isn’t going to. Pair him with Lo Celso (once fit) who will put in a tackle and allow him to play more disciplined and a lil deeper and I think he will benefit.
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
39,885
62,562
There was a brief spell in the second half, and I couldn't tell if it was by design or just a coincidence, where we were suddenly playing with Lo Celso and Winks deep and Højbjerg in an advanced role chasing after Southampton's deep midfielders and centre backs.

He reminds me a lot of Palacios right now. Not a true sitter and shielder but more of an all-action will chase you anywhere across the pitch type of player.
 

ReadieSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 24, 2011
823
2,594
I think the issue is more with Winks. If you put Gio and Ndombele alongside PEH you'll see a different player.
 

Havre

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2019
829
1,065
I think the issue is more with Winks. If you put Gio and Ndombele alongside PEH you'll see a different player.

Based on what?

I'm sure Højbjerg will get better, but as stated before he became extremely hyped on here before he joined.

I like him as a squad player and I think he will serve a purpose. But he is not a special player and will never be. Good opportunistic buy given the circumstances.

I am not convinced that he will be in our starting line-up come spring and we are playing a "big" game. I would say that is pretty 50/50 at the moment between him and Winks. I'm pretty sure Winks would also do better alongside Lo Celso and Ndombele than Sissoko.
 

Gassin's finest

C'est diabolique
May 12, 2010
37,355
87,827
Hojberg isn't really a holding pivot, he's more of an 8 tbh.
Winks isn't really a holding pivot, he's more of an 8 tbh.

So a double 8, playing as double 6's, just getting in each other's way. It can't be both. Personally I'd prefer Hojberg as the 6, with Winks as one of the 8's either side of him in a midfield 3.

Funnily enough I thought they both did better when they didn't have Tanguy getting in the way of both of them.
 

kaz Hirai

Well-Known Member
Nov 5, 2008
17,692
25,340
Looked alright in that second half just sitting. Makes you doubly realize we never had it so good with Wanyama though.

What a monster
 

chas vs dave

Well-Known Member
Jul 17, 2008
5,304
21,672
I actually think he is one of those players that does his best work without the ball. Covering space and dropping into positions.
 

yido_number1

He'll always be magic
Jun 8, 2004
8,646
16,809
Looked alright in that second half just sitting. Makes you doubly realize we never had it so good with Wanyama though.

What a monster
Wanyama was better on the ball than he was ever given credit for. Such a shame he got injured. Similarly that year with Dier holding was also very good. We had such a team in those days hopefully we can work our way back to those levels.
 

idontgetit

Well-Known Member
Aug 21, 2011
14,404
30,804
Forgot about this happening right at the start of the game, can't of helped much. Fucking horrible tackle:

1600778395438.png
 

The Opinionated Lurker

Well-Known Member
Jun 9, 2019
720
2,554
Based on what?

I'm sure Højbjerg will get better, but as stated before he became extremely hyped on here before he joined.

I like him as a squad player and I think he will serve a purpose. But he is not a special player and will never be. Good opportunistic buy given the circumstances.

I am not convinced that he will be in our starting line-up come spring and we are playing a "big" game. I would say that is pretty 50/50 at the moment between him and Winks. I'm pretty sure Winks would also do better alongside Lo Celso and Ndombele than Sissoko.
PEH isn’t really supposed to be all that special, more just unlock the talents of those around him and give them insurance that there’s at least something back there when (hopefully) Gio and Tanguy get forward. No one would call Henderson special and yet he plays every game for those lot. Winks is far easier to get the ball off than PEH imo
 
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