Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

[yido_number1]

Watch the Aston villa game back and tell me that is a decent player. He's woeful. The revisionism is so bad. Watch him Vs bentancur and then also him Vs dembele, modric, Carrick, David's, wanyama even Jermain Jenas was better than him.

 

[kd2000]

Watch the Aston villa game back and tell me that is a decent player. He's woeful. The revisionism is so bad. Watch him Vs bentancur and then also him Vs dembele, modric, Carrick, David's, wanyama even Jermain Jenas was better than him.

I guess your definition of decent, and my definition vary. Decent is average.
PEH is and has been very much an average player in terms of ability for us.
However, he has been ran into the ground and has always been reliable for that he has some my respect and won't dig him out.
Is it time to move on, absolutely.
Can we do better, absolutely
But that doesn't mean he's not decent

 

[worcestersauce]

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.

I guess I'm shaky on the fantastic description but I agree with your post. His brief for a huge part of last season was to control central midfield cover defensive midfield and be the creative midfielder all in the same game at the same time and pretty much singlehandedly and he bloody well tried and nearly managed it with a defence that couldn't defend cricket stumps and an attack that bar Kane couldn't hit a horse's arse with a banjo.
He's going and I don't doubt it's his choice as much as the club's, good luck to him and I'm sure he'll do well elsewhere.
Aaaand breeeeath.

 

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

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.

That’s because mainly he’s not taking the ball in midfield, only truly happy taking it near the cbs. For me the mark of a good midfielder is making space for yourself in tight areas in midfield to find the angle for passes. If you can’t manipulate the ball there’s not going to be many forward passing options.

Imo he absolutely does hide in a footballing sense and he absolutely does let players run off the back of him. I wouldn’t normally say this but as people who seem to rate him say it all the time, anyone that knows football knows he’s a massive problem in the team.

 

[pedrodelawasp]

The level of hyperbole in this thread is quite incredible.

Criticism bordering on, then bowling over into vindictiveness against a player who was far, far away from being among the worst performers in a side that almost universally underperformed last season.

Accusations against posters who point out positive qualities in PEH, looking back to periods where he was performing very well as being revisionist. Can this charge not also be levelled against the untenable argument that he can be defined as a ‘woeful’ player or instances where it is implied he hasn’t been good for the team at any point?

If a poster on here doesn’t fancy a player then fair enough, that’s your prerogative. If you think a better quality player could be acquired for the same or similar position in the squad/team then make that point, give examples of who you’d love to see, etc. To take that and veer in to argumentative, vociferous posting and huge exaggeration towards the negative, though, seems dreadfully unfair to me.

I can’t imagine how adopting such a position can be anything other than soul sapping too.

 

[Whazam]

In addition to some people's weird need to constantly mention their dislike for Højbjerg throughout the season, so much of the criticism is a complete lack of tactical awareness of how our midfield has been set up to play for the last couple of years.

On some of you, it sounds like you expect him to play like Iniesta in a tiki-taka team.

 

[yido_number1]

That’s because mainly he’s not taking the ball in midfield, only truly happy taking it near the cbs. For me the mark of a good midfielder is making space for yourself in tight areas in midfield to find the angle for passes. If you can’t manipulate the ball there’s not going to be many forward passing options.

Imo he absolutely does hide in a footballing sense and he absolutely does let players run off the back of him. I wouldn’t normally say this but as people who seem to rate him say it all the time, anyone that knows football knows he’s a massive problem in the team.

This is exactly how I see it. Even Skipp will always take the ball under pressure in between players. Hojbjerg will almost never take it in between players and always looks to play the way he's facing. Incredibly limited player and always allows a player to run past him.

 

[McFlash]

Watch the Aston villa game back and tell me that is a decent player. He's woeful. The revisionism is so bad. Watch him Vs bentancur and then also him Vs dembele, modric, Carrick, David's, wanyama even Jermain Jenas was better than him.

It's not revisionism, just that your current vitriol towards him is unfair.
You pick out one game but there are also plenty that can be highlighted where he's been superb.

He's not the best midfielder we've ever had but he's far from the worst.
You then go on to compare him to some of the best midfielders we've had in recent times?
Why not compare him to Paulinho, Holtby, Capoue or the many other inferior players we've had over recent history?

He's a steady and decent Prem level player, capable of good performances and to be honest, his bad performances can often be blamed in things like formation, support and being generally knackered.

If we're selling anyone outside our defenders, he's the first name for me (Ndombele aside) but that's not because he's bad, or that I don't like him, it's just because he's a saleable asset that we can cope with losing.

 

[TheVoiceofReason]

I just don’t understand how the same people complaining about our turgid football over the last few years, saying we need to rebuild and be ruthless, want Hojbjerg to stick around.

Honestly, get rid, let’s move.

 

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

This is exactly how I see it. Even Skipp will always take the ball under pressure in between players. Hojbjerg will almost never take it in between players and always looks to play the way he's facing. Incredibly limited player and always allows a player to run past him.

I’ll be honest I’m not a big fan of Skipp either, but like PEH it’s not hate, just wanting to see the team improve and what areas and personal we can do that in. People getting very emotional about legitimate criticism of a player on a forum when you don’t see them upholding that on criticism for every player. If you like him fine I don’t agree but accept that people will hold a different view

Let’s see what Ange does but the initial signs are he doesn’t see a space for him and he’ll make him available

 

[coy-spurs1882]

I just don’t understand how the same people complaining about our turgid football over the last few years, saying we need to rebuild and be ruthless, want Hojbjerg to stick around.

Honestly, get rid, let’s move.

who are these people? or the people you made up to justify your agenda? what I saw here are
1. people think Hojbjerg may do a job in Ange's team
2. people think Hojbjeg is upgradable and we should cash in this summer
3. people think Hojbjeg is shit (some even called him a fraud)

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

who are these people? or the people you made up to justify your agenda? what I saw here are
1. people think Hojbjerg may do a job in Ange's team
2. people think Hojbjeg is upgradable and we should cash in this summer
3. people think Hojbjeg is shit (some even called him a fraud)

4. People who rate Hojbjerg but think we should cash in, if there is a good offer.

 

[bigfrooj]

I guess I'm shaky on the fantastic description but I agree with your post. His brief for a huge part of last season was to control central midfield cover defensive midfield and be the creative midfielder all in the same game at the same time and pretty much singlehandedly and he bloody well tried and nearly managed it with a defence that couldn't defend cricket stumps and an attack that bar Kane couldn't hit a horse's arse with a banjo.
He's going and I don't doubt it's his choice as much as the club's, good luck to him and I'm sure he'll do well elsewhere.
Aaaand breeeeath.

No he is fantastic. Imagine him in a three man front-foot midfield at Spurs We will miss him when he’s gone!

 

[KingNick]

In addition to some people's weird need to constantly mention their dislike for Højbjerg throughout the season, so much of the criticism is a complete lack of tactical awareness of how our midfield has been set up to play for the last couple of years.

On some of you, it sounds like you expect him to play like Iniesta in a tiki-taka team.

Always love a post like this. If someone doesn't rate Hojbjerg it must be because they lack "tactical awareness". Luckily we have people like Whazam who understand football so much better than us.

But funnily enough, those people never mention PEH's poor body shape when receiving the ball, which limits what he can then do with it as he has cut down his own options. Or his inability to move the ball quicker then move and receive it back and transition up the pitch, preferring instead to do everything at pedestrian pace with passes to CBs and FBs. He is a poor man's Scott Parker in my opinion. And I think he caused us more problems than he brought benefits as he caused us to play too deep and when he lost it, the other team were immediately in a dangerous position.

 

[Joely]

Think any hate is harsh but believe a lot of people maybe just get frustrated with him. For me it's been obvious for a very long time that he has a major weakness when it comes to operating in tight/pressurised situations and that is a real problem in midfield in this league. His lack of mobility/dynamism isn't really his fault, just something he hasn't been blessed with and he knows it and so imo he avoids situations which could potentially expose that for example playing the safe ball back or not showing for the ball in dangerous areas but that ultimately hinders the team.

Think Postecoglou is going to gravitate towards players who have the have physical attributes that allow the team to play more attacking and sometimes riskier football. Players like Bentancur (hopefully injury doesn't impact him), Bissouma you can see getting themselves out of trouble in risky situations either by carrying the ball forward or playing a quick first time ball but I don't just see Hojbjerg fitting into that mould.

Think I read a comment here that he is someone a team like Liverpool would be interested in him. Don't see that at all to be honest as they rely on their midfield to be fleet footed, dynamic and have the ability to close down space/oppo quickly, something Hojbjerg does not particularly excel at imo.

.

 

[TheVoiceofReason]

who are these people? or the people you made up to justify your agenda? what I saw here are
1. people think Hojbjerg may do a job in Ange's team
2. people think Hojbjeg is upgradable and we should cash in this summer
3. people think Hojbjeg is shit (some even called him a fraud)

In which case I'm number 2.

I disagree with people in number 1. We hoped he could do a job in Nuno, Conte and Mourinho's team. I admire the optimism, but he's a common denominator- Its been 4 years with him in the side, in which time I've never seen us play worse football.

 

[Real_madyidd]

I just don’t understand how the same people complaining about our turgid football over the last few years, saying we need to rebuild and be ruthless, want Hojbjerg to stick around.

Honestly, get rid, let’s move.

Could you share your spreadsheet?

 

[TheVoiceofReason]

Could you share your spreadsheet?

Sure, only compatible with MS Paint, hope thats alright?

 

[septicsac]

Let's agree he is marmite, some like him some don't, either way looks like he is off so let's move on.

 

[TheWook]

In which case I'm number 2.

I disagree with people in number 1. We hoped he could do a job in Nuno, Conte and Mourinho's team. I admire the optimism, but he's a common denominator- Its been 4 years with him in the side, in which time I've never seen us play worse football.

So none of the other players who have played here for 3+ years have any faults it’s all on PEH?