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Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

yankspurs

Enic Out
Aug 22, 2013
41,883
71,188
Absolutely crucial to us. Need him to remain fit. Just so disappointing we loaned out Skipp. He’d be the perfect backup. Should have sold Winks and kept Skipp.
 

yojambo

Well-Known Member
Jun 13, 2012
3,199
9,324
I wasn't convinced that he was the right player for us. But he has been fantastic, made a big difference in the team.
 

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
19,337
329,028
Forget stats. If Mourinho has picked out a gettable player who wants to come in a desperately needed position, we should 100% do everything we can to bring him in.

JM has worked with quite a few of the very best DM's the world has seen. I think that is enough reason to trust his judgement if this is who he wants. Especially when it's not going to be breaking the bank to do so.
Will happily admit to looking like a clown for thinking he'd be nothing more than a decent squad player for us. He's been just what we needed.
Hi.
 

SlotBadger

({})?
Jul 24, 2013
13,751
43,099
Since his debut, when he and pretty much the entire team were crap, he's been absolutely brilliant.

Will be pivotal to what we achieve this season and an injury could be catastrophic.

He will never get the tabloid headlines but anyone with an ounce of knowledge of the game will know just how important he is.
 

Larkinho

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2019
1,261
3,040
After the Everton game I was wondering why we'd bought him as we've got enough squad players in midfield and he didn't seem to offer anything. Coupled with the Southampton fans saying he was crap, I pretty much wrote him off. I'm delighted that since then, he's probably been my favourite player for us. Makes such a difference having a vocal, passionate leader in the middle of the park. The clip of him celebrating Serge's tackle against Utd just shows how much winning every battle means to him.

As other posters have said, he's not one we can afford to lose to injury, and if we keep playing the way we have been, we're in for a hell of a season.
 

Larkinho

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2019
1,261
3,040
That's just sour grapes.

Akin to Spurs fans saying Berbatov, Carrick, Modric or Bale were crap when they left us.

I guess the difference is I'd never really noticed how well he played for Southampton so couldn't really say whether it was sour grapes or not. I was devastated when we lost those spurs players but I'd never have called them crap when they left. Who could say Bale was crap having sold him for over £90m?
 

ILS

Well-Known Member
Jun 21, 2008
3,803
6,913
That's just sour grapes.

Akin to Spurs fans saying Berbatov, Carrick, Modric or Bale were crap when they left us.
Never heard a spurs fan slag any of those players off about their ability. Mentality possibly especially Berba due to the stories doing the round about his reluctance to play.
 

BringBack_leGin

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2004
27,719
54,929
I think he’s performing absolutely fine and nothing more. I’m glad we’ve got him, I just don’t think he’s been anything more than solid.
In fairness, being solid is pretty much his MO (though I think you underestimate quite how dominant he’s been, finishing most matches as the most involved player from either side by some distance). By being solid, he’s enabled our attack to be far more effective, and he’s been excellent at being solid.
 

wirE

I'm a well-known member
Sep 27, 2005
4,676
5,582
Talked to Soton mate of mine who said that Hojbjerg was average when he moved to us. Talked to him yesterday and he said that he’s been holding off when playing for Soton ?
 

BringBack_leGin

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2004
27,719
54,929
Talked to Soton mate of mine who said that Hojbjerg was average when he moved to us. Talked to him yesterday and he said that he’s been holding off when playing for Soton ?
Has it not occurred to him that Ndombele next to him, Kane and Son in front of him, and Alderweireid behind him >>> Ward-Prowse. Ings, Redmond and Bednarek (who are all actually good players in their own right, but would be playing Thursday with us).
 

The Opinionated Lurker

Well-Known Member
Jun 9, 2019
720
2,554
Has it not occurred to him that Ndombele next to him, Kane and Son in front of him, and Alderweireid behind him >>> Ward-Prowse. Ings, Redmond and Bednarek (who are all actually good players in their own right, but would be playing Thursday with us).
It’s funny how so few seem to have considered that it’s easier to show how good you are when surrounded by better players.
 

GutBucket

Well-Known Member
May 26, 2013
6,808
11,492
Not bad
7b215da.jpg
 

PrettyColors

Rosie47 Fan
Aug 13, 2011
3,866
10,074
As good as I think PEH is, that lion's share of statistics has to be down to Sissoko's paltry passing. Seriously, he completed maybe 2 passes to Tanguy and a couple to Hojbjerg, the rest of them went to Alderweireld. It really is like playing with 10 men while attacking with him.

In fairness, thought Moussa was really good yesterday defensively. And he clearly knows his role.
 

Mr Pink

SC Supporter
Aug 25, 2010
54,776
99,340
In fairness, being solid is pretty much his MO (though I think you underestimate quite how dominant he’s been, finishing most matches as the most involved player from either side by some distance). By being solid, he’s enabled our attack to be far more effective, and he’s been excellent at being solid.

Bar Everton game he's been excellent. Even last night it was his little interception that saw us break forward and win the corner that led to the goal.

The performance at United was exceptional.

Honestly baffles me how some fail to recognise just how influential he is.

Harry Kane was talking about his partnership with Son last night but PEH is a big factor in those two excelling as well.
 

Cult of Ange High Priest

Well-Known Member
Sep 16, 2020
47
361
Has it not occurred to him that Ndombele next to him, Kane and Son in front of him, and Alderweireid behind him >>> Ward-Prowse. Ings, Redmond and Bednarek (who are all actually good players in their own right, but would be playing Thursday with us).

We're also playing him in a role that accentuates the positives in his game. At Southampton he typically played in a high pressing, midfield two with Ward-Prowse or Romeu. Their midfielders were asked to press high up the pitch, quickly transition to attack once they recovered the ball, and get involved in attacks. This required him to play a lot closer to the opponent's box and quickly make high risk passes. He did well at pressing and recovering the ball, but high risk passing is not something he's incredible at and his shooting is not a strength. The result is that he'd win the ball but would too often turn it over with an imperfect pass or bad shot.

Under Jose he's sitting deeper so he's able to read the game and break up attacks. The deeper position means he can recycle possession with quick, measured passing but also allows him the time and space to pick out a more incisive pass when the opportunity arises.

He can be a pretty good deep lying ball winner and playmaker, which is where he's looked good for us, but he's not an incredible box to box or more attacking midfielder, which is what he was being asked to do at Southampton.
 
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