Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg
- Thread starter THFCSPURS19
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Totally agree with everything you have said - he is average, along with Davies, Lenglet, Forster and Dier
mil1lion
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Not sure about selling him as Bissouma would need to prove himself first. I think if we did go for a top central midfielder at this moment Bissouma would be the one to make way. However with all the other issues we have I'm not sure we'll spend our limited budget on an upgrade in CM.
joey55
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- May 20, 2005
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Put an in form (or sadly probably an U30) Son and a 23 year old Erkisen in our front 3 and we are in at least 3rd place. I don't think PEH is amazing or anything, but our midfield is being let down be defensive errors and Kane aside, toothless attacking.
If we were in 3rd and killing off games, we'd be focusing on the strong aspects of Holjberg's game. The reason why aren't in 3rd, has way more to do with our forwards and defenders imo.
If we were in 3rd and killing off games, we'd be focusing on the strong aspects of Holjberg's game. The reason why aren't in 3rd, has way more to do with our forwards and defenders imo.
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Flobadob
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Yeah the only one we have that doesn’t have glaring weaknesses that get shown up in a 2 is Bentancur. Skipp and Sarr have the potential to develop and change that but for now I agree that a 3 man midfield is best for any one of the CM’s in our squad. I think it would especially get the best out of Bissouma in particular
He has good games and think is a great option to have in the squad but is he someone we can rely on to consistently putting in performances every week so we can push on? Not for me and never been convinced he is a long term solution in midfield.
Unfortunately, it's a common theme that runs through the squad where I have no faith in a lot of the players being able to perform every week in order to help us get us to where we want to be. Maybe we were somewhat spoilt and got lucky with having the likes of Vertonghen, Alderweirald and Dembele making up a large part of our spine but when those 3 were starting, I was always sure of what we were going to get from them. None of this good game here, then a bad one followed by another good one then another ineffective/anonymous performance.
Likes of Hojbjerg, Dier, Davies, Lenglet, Sanchez, Sessegnon etc are just way off that level and although Royal is having a purple patch but lets see if he can carry it on. Results like today really don't surprise. With this set of players, never confident we will go out and do a job when needed.
Unfortunately, it's a common theme that runs through the squad where I have no faith in a lot of the players being able to perform every week in order to help us get us to where we want to be. Maybe we were somewhat spoilt and got lucky with having the likes of Vertonghen, Alderweirald and Dembele making up a large part of our spine but when those 3 were starting, I was always sure of what we were going to get from them. None of this good game here, then a bad one followed by another good one then another ineffective/anonymous performance.
Likes of Hojbjerg, Dier, Davies, Lenglet, Sanchez, Sessegnon etc are just way off that level and although Royal is having a purple patch but lets see if he can carry it on. Results like today really don't surprise. With this set of players, never confident we will go out and do a job when needed.
stevensthfc
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- Nov 20, 2007
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It's hard to believe he was top of our list for starting CM's when we signed him, but he was cheap due to only having 1 year left on his contract - Levy's dream.
Now we'll be stuck with him for at least another 3/4 seasons.
Now we'll be stuck with him for at least another 3/4 seasons.
Uhm, no… Mourinho wanted him too.
As others have pointed out we have problems all over the pitch. But for some reason ppl make PEH scapegoat. It’s reasonable to discuss whether we should look for an upgrade, but not to attribute every freaking mistake, bad game or weakness in the team to him.
Well then - talking about upgrades, who do you see out there? Realistically, not Modric or Rodri
That’s beside the point, try to read the post I replied to. How many to times do I have to remind ppl?
Flobadob
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You keep reminding people of a point others don’t think is of much significance, that’s the problem you’re having. Hojbjerg has been a starter in his Tottenham career over the likes of Winks, Sissoko, Lo Celso, Ndombele etc for the managers you mention. He has started over Bissouma but he’s been poorly managed and injury prone this season, so it’s hard to really place much significance on that either and the system we play doesn’t suit him either. Other than Bissouma these are not good players he has been picked over. People aren’t scapegoating him either btw, everyone knows he’s not the reason we are losing matches we shouldn’t, but people also look at him as a senior player who is in his prime and has clearly peaked as a player and think “This is what we are expecting to lead us to trophies? This is our leader in midfield?…”.
Having a strong CM partnership is every bit as important as a strong CB partnership and people have rightly come to the conclusion that this guy is not ever going to be of the standard required for us to achieve anything and want that issue fixed as it would make a huge difference to the team. This situation isn’t much different to the way people would love to have a top class CB brought in, as Dier has proven for years he’s not good enough and never will be.
I can be super harsh on Hojbjerg at times, mainly because I have strong opinions on what a CM needs to be and he ticks so few of those boxes and it frustrates me, but when I’m in a balanced state of mind, he’s decent, he does a job, he’s reliable, he isn’t a leader though, not even close and he’s also not even close to being of the required standard for us to ever achieve anything
dtxspurs
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The fact that Bissouma has looked relatively poor all season is a really damning indictment on Conte, IMO.
I thought he would be a game changing signing in midfield.
Agreed. I thought he would be the key signing, viewed him as our Kante. Similar profile, with Biss being slightly more offensive.
Unfortunately not, so far, the comparison stops at position on the field.
dtxspurs
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I still think under our next manager in a another formation he'll be great.
Flobadob
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Yeah i must admit I’ve been really frustrated by how he’s been managed. He was legitimately top 5 CM’s in the PL last season, he was phenomenal. Every bit as good as someone like Rice was for West Ham but he’s been a shadow of the player he was last season, playing with so little confidence or instinct to his game. It seems much like Pep some players take a long time to adapt to Conte’s tactics. That’s fine if you’re City and a Bissouma is just one of 25 top quality players you can use but we really need our signings to hit the ground running. The evidence that Conte is mismanaging far too many players is starting to really mount up unfortunately
I had high hopes for Bissouma too but The tactics and instructions are the same for everyone, it doesn’t seem to be effecting Sarr (who’s much less experienced) or the other midfielders. If he needs time to adapt then he will take time to adapt.
ILS
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- Jun 21, 2008
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For me most his best games are when we don't have the ball for large periods, sounds strange even typing that when describing a centre midfielder.
He has it in him to play a nice through ball as proven a couple of weeks ago but too many times will take the easy option
He has it in him to play a nice through ball as proven a couple of weeks ago but too many times will take the easy option
No, I’m reminding ppl to read before they post - in this case I was simply answering a claim that PEH only came here because he was cheap and therefore liked by Levy. Now I’ve once again explained to you and others what you really should’ve been able to see yourself though it requires that u read and try to understand what ppl are writing instead of what you think they mean.
Regarding PEH, as I said, it’s fine some think he isn’t what we need to improve. But try to browse through this thread again and tell me ppl aren’t ott in their criticism basically scapegoating him.
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