Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

[mumfordspur]

he's no Harry Winks for sure
that's good enough for me

 

[Typical Spurs]

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.

Well, everyone has an opinion. You're well entitled to yours mate.

My opinion us that he's been an absolute beast for us in every game after the Everton game. He's ultra composed on the ball and always tries to play forward. But his positioning off the ball is top quality. Being in the right place at the right time isn't coincidence and its something lots of players don't have and lots of people don't see because its seen as the ugly side of the game. It allows him to win a lot of second balls. Coupled with his battling nature and aggression, he's made our midfield so much more difficult to play against.

I proper love him!

 

[lennon180]

Sounds dumb considering the record breaking two we have up front but I think he’s been our best player this season. I don’t really understand tactics like you lot, all I see Is a player bossing it every game and giving our better players a platform to be, well, better. Love him. I mean really love him. Did I say I love him yet?

 

[GutBucket]

It still baffles me when one of the main weaknesses many fans said is Hojberg had before joining us was his passing. Absolutely mental analysis.

Leads the league in number of passes too. Not the most useful stat and one where context matters but definitely shows that he doesn't hide away and likes that part of the game.

 

[nicdic]

Leads the league in number of passes too. Not the most useful stat and one where context matters but definitely shows that he doesn't hide away and likes that part of the game.

I think what makes that particularly interesting is the next few closest to him are centre backs, then Robertson, and the closest midfielder is over 100 passes behind him.

 

[Kingellesar]

He is always looking for the ball and not afraid to take it in difficult situations. That's one thing we have lacked for a long time, someone who wants the ball. Too often in recent years we have had midfielders who seem to put themselves into a position not to be passed to.

Really good signing it looks so far, long may he continue to impress.

 

[Deleted member 29446]

It still baffles me when one of the main weaknesses many fans said is Hojberg had before joining us was his passing. Absolutely mental analysis.

Told you all not to worry about that at all. It was bollocks as you can clearly see, stats isn't everything.

Loved against Burnley he was passing into the space betweeen their CM2 and CB's often. Not something you will ever see Winks or Sissoko do with succes. Splitted the defense completely with that and basically gave Son and 1v1 vs. their keeper after a Ndombele-pass which came from PEH.

 

[SpartanSpur]

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.

Right now I'd argue he's 3rd in line when it comes to players we can't afford to get injured (after Kane and Son), he's absolutely key. Other players have alternatives of similar quality and function. I'd probably round off the top 5 with Hugo and Reguilon (his pace brings another dimension even though Davies is decent).

 

[offside_ruel_fox]

For me he seems comfortable taking the ball off the back four. Which is great as it means we are not always lumping balls up top or turning the ball over in midfield. Both him and Ndombele (plus Le Celso) seem comfortable to take the ball off the defenders and do something positive with it. We have lacked this of late.

For me this is something Dembele was class at. Getting the ball off the back four and making a positive pass or being strong enough to glide past players with the ball. I was shocked when we sold him and put this down as the start of everything we had built up so well under Poch. I hoped Ndombele would be able to offer this and so far this season it seems like he, plus the other two, are capable of doing this.

 

[Deleted member 29446]

Right now I'd argue he's 3rd in line when it comes to players we can't afford to get injured (after Kane and Son), he's absolutely key. Other players have alternatives of similar quality and function. I'd probably round off the top 5 with Hugo and Reguilon (his pace brings another dimension even though Davies is decent).

Ndombele and Dier for me with the 3 others.

 

[Deleted member 29446]

Told you all not to worry about that at all. It was bollocks as you can clearly see, stats isn't everything.

Loved against Burnley he was passing into the space betweeen their CM2 and CB's often. Not something you will ever see Winks or Sissoko do with succes. Splitted the defense completely with that and basically gave Son and 1v1 vs. their keeper after a Ndombele-pass which came from PEH.

Just to add to this.

PEH doesn’t have many weaknesses. The few I see in the role he is playing is he could do with a bit more pace and some jumping as he heading is limited.

Hope you all get to see him shoot as well, he has a hell of a shot on him.

 

[ajspurs]

Has been brilliant so far, has already become so important to us.

 

[hughy]

Have we had a Pierre -> Ndombele -> Kane -> Son goal this season? If not it has to happen at some point...

 

[ernie78]

It still baffles me when one of the main weaknesses many fans said is Hojberg had before joining us was his passing. Absolutely mental analysis.

Just proves many fans know sweet fa about players they don’t watch regularly

 

[carmeldevil]

Currently leads PL in passes. 533

 

[The Scarecrow]

This reminds me of the signing of Scott Parker back in 2011. He came in, gave us the balance and leadership in midfield that we needed, and before half a year had gone, we were fighting for the title.

 

[chrissivad]

Its nice to have a solid cm player again. He isn't shying away from anything!

 

[punkisback]

This reminds me of the signing of Scott Parker back in 2011. He came in, gave us the balance and leadership in midfield that we needed, and before half a year had gone, we were fighting for the title.

I rate him better than Parker. Parker was energetic and fought, but he lacked a lot of positional sense and did attack and go further forward when it wasn't his remit. PEH plays a much more simple game and allows the more talented players to thrive, this is why he is so effective!

 

[The Scarecrow]

I rate him better than Parker. Parker was energetic and fought, but he lacked a lot of positional sense and did attack and go further forward when it wasn't his remit. PEH plays a much more simple game and allows the more talented players to thrive, this is why he is so effective!

Yeah, me too. And unlike Parker he's entering his peak years.

 

[tiger666]

Its nice to have a solid cm player again. He isn't shying away from anything!

This is something i've noticed with him. Often you'll see the ball with one of our centre backs, if you then look at our midfielders you'll see someone like Sissoko just standing or moving behind an opposition player. If you then look at PEH he's doing everything he can to get away in to a free space to receive the pass. He really wants the ball and it's such an important thing, he's key to linking the defence to the attack just by making himself available as much as possible. It's no accident he's top of the league for passes, it's all on him making space for himself all the time. He was dead right when interviewed on joining when he said he makes everyone else play better. He's become the vital cog in our machine in a short amount of time. I love him.