Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

[sundanceyid10]

Our best breakaways in the second half came from his forward passes and running with the ball. Yes, he could’ve released Perisic on the edge of the 18, that’s a negative, but he was also clearly fouled. Far better than Bentancur in this game, who weirdly is not getting anywhere near the criticism (not that he should).

Sorry don’t agree with that Bentancur was much better than him today.

 

[littlewilly]

He was really really poor today, people are annoyed that the football is dull but it’s not going to be pretty with him in the team. One of the wolves players went past him like he didn’t exist. That said he does work hard and so has a role but I don’t want him starting, he slows play down and is not very adventurous.

Say about 5/10. What words would you use if he had a worse game than yesterday? Or would you just add on a few more really, reallys.

 

[JacoZA]

This is a non starter unless a stupid bid is made but no player leaves this club without an adequate replacement

A position now confirmed by Antonio in yesterday’s post-match.

 

[worcestersauce]

I sometimes wonder what games people are watching. There are actually people who don't rate Hojberg, I don't know anything about his stats yesterday but I know what I saw and he was involved the whole time all across the park. Late on yesterday he broke out on his own carried the ball almost the length of the pitch and was eventually surrounded by defenders who put it off for our throw in by which time none of our forwards had even got up the pitch.

 

[chas vs dave]

Was poor on the ball today but worked hard and was the most effective presser. Its kind of funny at times because he can be wasteful or not see a pass but he also wins the ball when most wouldn't. You can criticise his final ball but praise him winning it in the first place.

He had a 96% pass completion today. Which is extremely high

 

[ajspurs]

He had a 96% pass completion today. Which is extremely high

Do you reckon this was strangely part of the problem that we were having as well though? In the first half at least. And what I mean by that is that we probably saw too much side to side and back in the first half, possibly from both him and Bentancur, can't remember well enough. Straight away in the second half I think it was Bentancur who played a ball from midfield through to Kulusevski and I was thinking where was that pass all first half.

I do think we suffer the most when the central midfields and CB's aren't daring enough with the ball. But there needs to be quality as well. Dier for instance yesterday on numerous occasions was daring but careless.

 

[Mr Pink]

Interesting that Danny Murphy thought Bentancur was our best player yesterday.

Opinions isn't it.

 

[chas vs dave]

Do you reckon this was strangely part of the problem that we were having as well though? In the first half at least. And what I mean by that is that we probably saw too much side to side and back in the first half, possibly from both him and Bentancur, can't remember well enough. Straight away in the second half I think it was Bentancur who played a ball from midfield through to Kulusevski and I was thinking where was that pass all first half.

I do think we suffer the most when the central midfields and CB's aren't daring enough with the ball. But there needs to be quality as well. Dier for instance yesterday on numerous occasions was daring but careless.

In the first half, I thought our biggest problem was that our front 3 were static. Not enough options.

 

[ajspurs]

In the first half, I thought our biggest problem was that our front 3 were static. Not enough options.

Could very well have been, it's hard to know whether it was the front 3 or middle two that were the biggest culprits without watching it back. In saying that I did remember Bentancur a few times gesturing for someone in the front three to come shorter and be an option. The synergy between the front three and the midfield was definitely off and it's far from the first time it's happened. The moment that changes we look a completely different side.

 

[Yid121]

If we get a big bid for him I'd be very tempted to sell, we've got two quality DMs in Skipp and Bissouma and we can use the money to buy more of a playmaker. If Bentancur gets injured, we'll be missing a progressive midfielder

 

[shoggy33]

I think he's decent, an important squad member. What I don't like is the fact he seems to be one of the first names on the teamsheet. He barely misses a minute. I just don't think he offers enough to be our midfield linchpin. Not seen enough of Bissouma in a spurs shirt yet but from what I saw at Brighton he offers everything PEH offers but with far more pace and energy.

 

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

In the first half, I thought our biggest problem was that our front 3 were static. Not enough options.

This seems to always get said but you need to break the lines in midfield first to draw players out to then create the space for movement to be effective in the final third. Not just midfield problem our defence and WBs don’t to enough to disrupt the lines of the oppo.

To me if you don’t do that your front three have to be pretty static to be a focal point to actually build an attack from.

 

[s_purs]

I definitely think he's under rated, and as many have said, he rarely misses a minute and is always putting the effort in.

I think it would have to take an unrealistic bid of £55m+ to consider selling, unless we had a great option lined up who was cheap, which is also unrealistic.

If we were confident in Skipp being fit for 70% of the season, which the jury is out on, then I would happily sell PEH and use the money +£10m for Maddison in our squad as I feel we would have many more options to mix things up.
Unfortunately I can't see that scenario coming up with two sales for the right price this late in the window though

 

[PhC]

He was good, but I don't like it when people on here get on at anyone who says a bad thing about our players. The opportunity today where he was fouled was still a mistake from him as he never seemed to get his head up to see the two players he had on his left. He should've released the ball before the foul.

I haven’t seen anyone saying he’s beyond criticism. But as you can see if you read this thread some ppl only notice when he make mistakes. Yesterday he could have done better on some occasions, but he also made some really good passes up through their lines when pressed. Yet some think he’s bad technically and should be dropped. I think his less than elegant way of running simply blinded some ppl from the start and now they’re stuck in that delusion

 

[septicsac]

Too important to be sold at this stage of a window, just had a full AC preseason, no way we should consider putting all that effort in and then having to try integrate someone new, way too late in the window.

 

[JacoZA]

If we get a big bid for him I'd be very tempted to sell, we've got two quality DMs in Skipp and Bissouma and we can use the money to buy more of a playmaker. If Bentancur gets injured, we'll be missing a progressive midfielder

He's a pretty solid progressive passer tbh.

 

[Aphex]

I know we all have mixed opinions on PEH but one thing which is undeniable is he’s always fit and that’s worth it’s weight in gold as a squad player. He’s extremely reliable.

I want to see a Bissouma + 1 partnership.

 

[Ben1]

If we get a big bid for him I'd be very tempted to sell, we've got two quality DMs in Skipp and Bissouma and we can use the money to buy more of a playmaker. If Bentancur gets injured, we'll be missing a progressive midfielder

Personally don't think selling a regular starter and, in doing so, probably alienating a manager who has a history of walking away is the best thing to do myself. Could not be less tempted and it ain't like we need the money

 

[crokey]

The stats say he's one of the best midfielders in the world. Above average on almost every single metric and elite in plenty.

His leadership qualities are also great, and I find it crazy that some almost use them as a negative against him.

There's a reason he's played almost every minute he's available under 2 of the greatest managers of the last 20 years.

He has the toughest job on the pitch for us. Given our system he plays 2v3 or even 2v4 every game, and still manages to fight and claw his way to a good performance most weeks.

Some players are underrated on SC, but with PEH it's worse than that. He's way beyond underrated that I almost can't fathom it. What aren't you seeing?

 

[arthurgrimsdell]

I am far from Hojbjerg's greatest fan, but I thought he played well against Wolves. In the first half I thought he was the "least bad" in the team with very few even achieving the mediocre, apart from Lloris who had little or nothing to do. In the second half he was good and worked hard, amidst a dramatic improvement from the rest of the team. Man of the match? I don't think so, but he played well enough.
Generally I think he lacks a reliable good touch.
He works hard and there are times when he puts through some excellent perceptive through balls. He even scores goals once in a blue moon, though I can't think anyone could regard his record to date as that of a goal scorer.
I think he regularly gives "hospital passes" which don't show up in statistics because they reach a colleague, though they put the recipient in trouble, and give some a hate complex about some of the recipients. I think his confidence and performances have improved dramatically since he teamed up with Bentancur, because Bentancur has a less spectacular, but more smooth version of N'Dombele's ability to get out of tight spots, and Bentancur more regularly then gets a team move going, and is far more of a hard worker. There were two or three games on the trot after Bentancur arrived however, which we lost or drew, and, to my eye, Hojberg was a major factor in slowing down our play, by passing just behind the recipient, near enough to retrieve, but slowing us down, and running across the back three to block forward passes from the back to start moves, and therefore make himself the only outlet, then passing the ball to another of the back three and repeating the process, wasting precious time and space.
I think we should look to improve on him to become a top team, but I don't think it's urgent.
Others may disagree.