Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

[UncleBuck]

I actually agree. But we would have held out for a lot more in recent years.

And then lost him on a free.
BBC reporting £17m as well, nice to see us being proactive in our outgoings, getting a fee similar or above what we paid for him four seasons ago in the current climate is decent business and I hope he smashes it over there, top pro.

 

[Yiddo100]

Marseille fans seem keen

 

[robotsonic]

Happy for him, and seems a fair deal for all concerned so have to feel good about it from all sides. He goes to play football in a nice part of the world and at a level that keeps him in the national team, we get a fair fee and can pull the trigger on someone else now. Best of luck Pierre!

 

[McFlash]

Marseille fans seem keen

They should be, to be honest.
They've got themselves a very decent player there.

 

[idontgetit]

Everyone complains about players not caring or phoning it in. That was a player that celebrated a random tackle on the halfway line line he's scored a World Cup winner. Followed managers instructions perfectly whether it's Jose or Ange. Great lad.

 

[0-Tibsy-0]

 

[0-Tibsy-0]

A player that I found hugely frustrating at times and he probably, and unfortunately, evoked a level of ire from me that wasn't always justified.

But the most important thing was that he played like he cared and with a passion and didn't phone it in. For that I will always wish a player well and I hope that this move works out well for him.

 

[StanSpur]

the players De Zerbi is bringing in, they are going to be a tough bunch. Looks like he wants grit in that team

 

[dontcallme]

Mentioned before that a good mate of mine is a Saints fan and is a reasonable judge of a player and always tries to call it fairly.

He doesn't think he's top quality or the main man for a team with top 4 aspirations.

Which to me kind of sounds like the type of player we need. We really need to start winning that midfield battle again and protecting the defence. An unflashy player who just goes about his job and allows others to play is what we've been crying out for since Dembele's decline and Wanyama's injury.

Here’s my post when we first were linked him. I feel my mate’s analysis of him was pretty accurate.

A good guy who did the job but wasn’t of the higher quality for a top side.

 

[StanSpur]

I always appreciated PEH, when we signed him we had zero players who would put their body on the line and lead. From day 1 he was vocal and passionate and we needed that. Unfortunately the switch to Ange meant his talents on the field were not up to the task at hand and it is right for him to move on but i think he was an important part of the dire days post Poch and it would have been a lot worse without him

 

[Krafty]

I think we’ve done good business here. He was not accepting just any old offer, which limits the buyers somewhat, he only had a year left, he was useful but clearly not part of the mid let alone long term plans, and everyone knew it.

Also don’t begrudge a good professional getting treated fairly

 

[Yid121]

With Gray, Bissouma, Skipp, Bentancur, Sarr, Devine, Bergvall we really had to sell. Good deal all round, I'd take a lower fee to avoid him getting in the way of the promising youngsters and leave on a free

 

[Rout-Ledge]

Comfortably our most successful singing under Jose.

 

[Dazzazzad]

Comfortably our most successful singing under Jose.

I agree with this but only because the Gedson Fernandes signing wasn't concluded.

 

[SUIYHA]

I'd have kept him if he wanted to stay but at 29 years old and with players ahead of him in the starting lineup then this is the best move for all parties. A decent player who had decent games for us but was unfortunately asked to play a role that he was never good enough to play under Mourinho and Conte - if he'd played more regularly as a pure DM alongside a Van Der Vaart/Eriksen/Maddison then I have no doubt he'd have been looked at more favourably, but for years he was looked at as our main man in midfield, often with only one other CM alongside him, when he clearly didn't have the technical or creative ability to play a role like that.

When we signed him a Saints supporting mate told me he was "better than David Prutton but not as good as Victor Wanyama" and after four years I think I agree with that statement. Good luck to him, and thanks for that last minute winner against Marseille to win our CL group.

 

[SUIYHA]

Comfortably our most successful singing under Jose.

Remember how people were calling the summer 2020 window a "10 out of 10 window" at the time?

Bale had a few moments after he came back and I thought we could have got more out of Bergwijn, but my god that was a dreadful period of recruitment for the club

 

[Styopa]

Comfortably our most successful singing under Jose.

I agree. He was likely our best signing from Poch's last full season (18/19) until the Nuno/Conte season (21/22), spanning six transfer windows. During that period, we signed arguably more talented players like Lo Celso, Bergwijn, and Reguilon, but none of them made as much of an impact as Hojbjerg.

I like Hojberg but that puts into perspective what a mess we were for many years.

 

[purplemonkey]

He has featured in 143 out of 152 PL fixtures since joining us. He obviously fell down the pecking order under Ange yet he still made more appearances than any other outfield player last season. No argument that in terms of his contribution and service he has been an outstanding signing for the club.

 

[mil1lion]

Always felt he would suit the box to box role better but he would play as the 6 in this team. Alongside Bentancur we saw the best of him. Bentancur had the composure under pressure and it allowed Hojbjerg to put out fires. A better version of Winks and Sissoko for sure but always appreciated what Sissoko did too.

 

[GMI]

Comfortably our most successful singing under Jose.

What was his song?