Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

[rabbikeane]

West Ham should actually be in for him

 

[djhotspur]

West Ham should actually be in for him

He’s not a 6 though

 

[DiamondLites]

People who think Højberg is a Simeone player have been fooled by his shouting, pointing and having a beard. Simeone will drag him off the pitch by his ear the first time he lets his man run by him

 

[yido_number1]

People who think Højberg is a Simeone player have been fooled by his shouting, pointing and having a beard. Simeone will drag him off the pitch by his ear the first time he lets his man run by him

Exactly this

 

[Cochraam]

This is the macro point. It's not so much about fit and talent level. I am not going to debate anyone on PEH's merits. As I believe he is a very good all-round CM. Period. But, he is approaching 28. He has 2 years on his contract. He is at his ceiling now. This is as good as he will ever be. So, if we are able to sell him, in his prime for 30m. As opposed to waiting until next year, when he has 1 yr left. Or lose him for nothing. Then, that's kinda dumb. He isn't as good as Benta. Bissouma's ceiling is a lot higher. And can we get someone of his caliber, who is younger, at the same or less of the price he is sold for, but with higher potential? Yes. The whole thing is just plain common sense.

If Athletico or Bayern or anyone else offers 30M. It's a no-brainer. BUT NOT, because I de-value his talent. That's has nothing to do with it.

Really agree with this. At 28 years old and with 2 years left on his contract, it's an important decision point for him and the club. In squad management terms, this summer is either the year either to sign him to an extension (because we feel he is a key cog in the team, etc.) or to move him on before his value takes a hit next summer and he leaves for free the summer after. He's our oldest midfielder and with enough questions around fit and talent, I think it makes sense to try to sell him while his value is the highest and start fresh with a younger crop of midfielders next year, even though I like PEH as a player.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

There’s no statistic table on the planet that could ever make me believe Hojbjerg is on Rice’s level. They do similar jobs but at the highest level there are certain things that make a lot of difference. Rice has pace, agility, is very press resistant, can carry the ball at pace further than 5 yards without losing control of it and never gets absolutely breazed past far too easily like PEH does too often leaving our midfield wide open. These things make a huge huge difference at the top level and that’s why Rice is going to Arsenal who play a high tempo high class style of football and PEH is being disregarded by a coach who wants to implement a similar style. Nothing against PEH but it’s always been very very clear that he isn’t quite good enough. I wouldn’t be against keeping him around as a squad player because he is super reliable but if we could sell and get a more dynamic CM to play next to Bissouma for 40-50m I’d do it in a heartbeat

I don't think Hojbjerg is as good as Rice, or a really good fit for how Ange is likely to want us to play, but I do think a lot of fans (at least on SC) have underappreciated him ever since he arrived. He's not good enough to be our star CM, but he is better than the players he came in to replace (after we'd already made a mess of replacing Dembele, Wanyama & Eriksen), and hasn't been the weak link in our team that some people make him out to be.
Some of the attacking players who SC members have been keen for us to sign in the last 24 months (e.g. Anthony Gordon) have had worse goal/assist stats than Hojbjerg....despite him getting regular criticism for not creating / scoring enough while playing in a much deeper role with frustratingly limited freedom to attack (due to our overrun / bypassed two-man midfield).
Hojbjerg has his limitations, but he's still an above average PL midfielder. Bissouma looked very mediocre last season, yet we pretty unanimously accept that there's a very good player in there (I accept that he's far more likely to excel in our new system though).
If he stays, I'm content that he's at least a decent squad player and a good professional who isn't going to creative negativity (unlike Rose & Winks apparently did when they fell out of form/favour). If he leaves, I hope he joins a decent club abroad, where the system is better suited to his attributes.

 

[yido_number1]

I don't think Hojbjerg is as good as Rice, or a really good fit for how Ange is likely to want us to play, but I do think a lot of fans (at least on SC) have underappreciated him ever since he arrived. He's not good enough to be our star CM, but he is better than the players he came in to replace (after we'd already made a mess of replacing Dembele, Wanyama & Eriksen), and hasn't been the weak link in our team that some people make him out to be.
Some of the attacking players who SC members have been keen for us to sign in the last 24 months (e.g. Anthony Gordon) have had worse goal/assist stats than Hojbjerg....despite him getting regular criticism for not creating / scoring enough while playing in a much deeper role with frustratingly limited freedom to attack (due to our overrun / bypassed two-man midfield).
Hojbjerg has his limitations, but he's still an above average PL midfielder. Bissouma looked very mediocre last season, yet we pretty unanimously accept that there's a very good player in there (I accept that he's far more likely to excel in our new system though).
If he stays, I'm content that he's at least a decent squad player and a good professional who isn't going to creative negativity (unlike Rose & Winks apparently did when they fell out of form/favour). If he leaves, I hope he joins a decent club abroad, where the system is better suited to his attributes.

Bissouma showed more at the end of the season than hojbjerg did all year

 

[alexis]

Rice is massively over rated. Difference is we've suffered watching Hojbjerg every week and the guy is the most frustrating midfielder I've seen at spurs since Freund.

Rice is a very decent player

 

[TommyGee]

Rice is massively over rated. Difference is we've suffered watching Hojbjerg every week and the guy is the most frustrating midfielder I've seen at spurs since Freund.

He's absolutely overpriced, but he's still a very good player. Wouldn't have him any where near the top of the "overrated" list though.

 

[Japhet]

Might be an idea to keep him til Bentancur is back and then see where we are and what we really need in January (unless a really great bid comes in). It's an option for now.

 

[McFlash]

Blimey, there are some massive over-reactions on both side of this debate over the past few pages.
Hojbjerg is a decent player but Rice is better, that doesn't make PEH "shit".
Rice is over priced at 105m but that doesn't make him overrated.

It's like some people have to lurch from one extreme to the other, without being able to see any middle ground.

 

[McFlash]

the most frustrating midfielder I've seen at spurs since Freund.

That's just not true at all.

 

[yido_number1]

That's just not true at all.

I can't think of a player that has played backwards and hidden from the ball as much as him.

 

[Real_madyidd]

Rice has pace, agility, is very press resistant, can carry the ball at pace further than 5 yards without losing control of it and never gets absolutely breazed past far too easily like PEH does too often leaving our midfield...

I cannot wait for this myth to be exposed.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I can't think of a player that has played backwards and hidden from the ball as much as him.

That’s harsh and not true.

PEH would look up and in contes stupid formation he’d have no one near him to pass to.

He’s never hidden for us.

Id like him to move on but let’s not make stuff up.

 

[dontcallme]

Just to pick up on this point...
IMHO, PEH is the biggest fraud we've had in midfield since Steffen Freund. I've seen more resistance from wet toilet paper. Plays the hardman viking but fails miserably.

I dont think I've ever seen him win a genuine 50/50. He gets caught wrong side and out of position time and time again. I just dont see how he is getting linked to Atletico at all with them qualities.

Yeah, he's scored a few important goals over the last couple of seasons but the prerequisite for any midfielder in any team as any level is to be able to pass the football to a team mate, not the opposition. Sadly, he's not up to the job.

He wont be missed as far as I'm concerned.

Some people just have to go way over the top.

 

[KirstyG]

It's like some people have to lurch from one extreme to the other, without being able to see any middle ground.

In all things

 

[DiVaio]

I can't think of a player that has played backwards and hidden from the ball as much as him.

Well, last year it was Winks who was supposed to never pass forward, no?

 

[Chimbo!]

Bissouma showed more at the end of the season than hojbjerg did all year

Bissouma is a very different type of player. Hojbjerg is unspectacular by design. He works hard, is a team player, is good at positioning, presses well, and passes accurately.

The one thing he lacks is an ability to go past people or take the ball on in tight positions and progress it. That’s a rare and more flashy ability and we have two other central midfielders who were bought to do that. It was a shame they both had serious injuries at the same time and so Hojbjerg became part of a one dimensional midfield with Skipp.

This affected his reputation - I remember during the first half of the season people were signing his praises. After Kane and alongside Bentancur, he was our most in form player before the World Cup. It’s easy to forget that after things went sour for the whole team from January/ February.

 

[bigfrooj]

I can’t believe the hate for PEH. Anyone that knows football can see he’s a fantastic footballer and team player, and as brave as they come. The style of football and tactics under Conte and Stellini really f**ked him up and I could see his decision making deteriorate as he had such a lack of options. I’d go as far to say he’d be brilliant in the spine of an Ange team.