Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

[Albertbarich]

I thought he did ok today but much like say James Maddison wasn't suited to Conte I don't think Holjberg is suited to Ange.

Hopefully Athletico cough up enough so he can flourish and we can build and move on.

 

[SaiboT]

If we sell him we’d need to replace him

Tbh i dont think we need to replace him. Defenitely not a priority for me. Biss, sarr, maddison,Bentancur,skipp, locelso is enough for me and then maybe keep Devine as a backup.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

Tbh i dont think we need to replace him. Defenitely not a priority for me. Biss, sarr, maddison,Bentancur,skipp, locelso is enough for me and then maybe keep Devine as a backup.

As others have pointed out, we'll lose Biss and Sarr for AFCON in January, and Bents might not be back by then, so that list is a lot shorter for a few games.

 

[Klinsmannesque]

As others have pointed out, we'll lose Biss and Sarr for AFCON in January, and Bents might not be back by then, so that list is a lot shorter for a few games.

 

[Danny1]

PEH is a great pro. Always works hard for the team, however he just lacks that explosiveness required for an Ange team. We saw today that Sarr had the ability to get beyond Utds midfield with his athleticism.

PEH has neither the technical or physical abilities to do that. Which means, unfortunately for him, he is then up against Bissouma in that number 4 position and there is simply only 1 winner when it comes to that.

 

[SaiboT]

As others have pointed out, we'll lose Biss and Sarr for AFCON in January, and Bents might not be back by then, so that list is a lot shorter for a few games.

Winter transfer window says hi

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Tbh i dont think we need to replace him. Defenitely not a priority for me. Biss, sarr, maddison,Bentancur,skipp, locelso is enough for me and then maybe keep Devine as a backup.

Well with Bentancur currently injured if Biss gets injured I’m not sure anyone else capeable of playing the 6 role, possibly Sarr but he’s playing so well as an 8.

Really depends if Bentancur comes back ok I suppose.

Also we will lose Biss and Sarr to AFCON.

 

[mil1lion]

I always find it strange Skipp doesn't play that deeper role. He doesn't have enough further up the pitch but he's good at winning the ball and comfortable in possession. A better version of Winks really. Even under other managers when we've played a holding player it's usually been Hojbjerg. Yet I think Hojbjerg is best suited to the box to box role and pressing higher up the pitch. He scored a few good goals as well last season. That's something I would fancy Sarr and Bentancur (who I think can cover the 6 role too) will cover us for now though. My main concern has been number of non homegrown players and Hojbjerg being one I think we can realistically sell. If he stays I would use him in the Sarr role pressing high up.

 

[THOWIG]

Tbh i dont think we need to replace him. Defenitely not a priority for me. Biss, sarr, maddison,Bentancur,skipp, locelso is enough for me and then maybe keep Devine as a backup.

We need to replace him. It does really depend on how Bentancur returns from injury, but Bissouma is so important to us now that if we lose him I fear we don’t have someone with the same ability and energy as him.

 

[spursfan77]

He’s surplus to requirements. Hopefully Atleti can stump up the cash.

Obviously PEH is a great pro and would be an asset to have around the squad, but given Sarr’s ascendancy and the fact that he’s got two years left on his contract, now is the time to sell.

He has 2 years on his contract and is paid about £5 million a year. Next summer we'll be lucky to get £10/15 million for him so maybe now it has got later in the window we will have to take the offer they give us if it is anything around the £20 million mark.

 

[Nanky_1988]

I always find it strange Skipp doesn't play that deeper role. He doesn't have enough further up the pitch but he's good at winning the ball and comfortable in possession. A better version of Winks really. Even under other managers when we've played a holding player it's usually been Hojbjerg. Yet I think Hojbjerg is best suited to the box to box role and pressing higher up the pitch. He scored a few good goals as well last season. That's something I would fancy Sarr and Bentancur (who I think can cover the 6 role too) will cover us for now though. My main concern has been number of non homegrown players and Hojbjerg being one I think we can realistically sell. If he stays I would use him in the Sarr role pressing high up.

Not sure he suits the deeper role either as he will be put under immense pressure by the teams that press. How good is he on the half turn or wriggling away from challenges? He’s an option but he wouldn’t be displacing Bissouma anytime soon obviously!

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Winter transfer window says hi

Can’t tell if this is sarcasm, or not…

 

[Neon_Knight_]

PEH is a great pro. Always works hard for the team, however he just lacks that explosiveness required for an Ange team. We saw today that Sarr had the ability to get beyond Utds midfield with his athleticism.

PEH has neither the technical or physical abilities to do that. Which means, unfortunately for him, he is then up against Bissouma in that number 4 position and there is simply only 1 winner when it comes to that.

He's not suited to starting in Ange's system, but he showed yesterday that he's suited to coming off the bench to help us see out a game. I would have been slightly nervous about Skipp coming on for Sarr in that situation.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I always find it strange Skipp doesn't play that deeper role. He doesn't have enough further up the pitch but he's good at winning the ball and comfortable in possession. A better version of Winks really. Even under other managers when we've played a holding player it's usually been Hojbjerg. Yet I think Hojbjerg is best suited to the box to box role and pressing higher up the pitch. He scored a few good goals as well last season. That's something I would fancy Sarr and Bentancur (who I think can cover the 6 role too) will cover us for now though. My main concern has been number of non homegrown players and Hojbjerg being one I think we can realistically sell. If he stays I would use him in the Sarr role pressing high up.

I don’t think Skipp has the footwork to play as a 6, especially not in this system mate, 8 or nothing.

I think PEH much better suited as an 8 also like he plays for Denmark.

Sarr and Bentancur can both play as a 6 if needed.

 

[fridgemagnet]

He's not suited to starting in Ange's system, but he showed yesterday that he's suited to coming off the bench to help us see out a game. I would have been slightly nervous about Skipp coming on for Sarr in that situation.

Respectfully I disagree, his passes were far too sloppy for me when he came on, giving the ball away cheaply in dangerous areas isn't great trait for a player you're bringing on to see out a game. (I've only just recovered from Winks doing the same thing for years leading to losses/draws)

Also PEH was either really slow or not match fit as he was blowing out his arse a few times very shortly after coming on.

I'm fine with selling him but we need one more to replace him to cover injuries/suspension/AFCON unless we fail to loan out White.

Just my opinion, PEH doesn't fit this play style so rather get a fee for him and put it towards a CB/winger/striker. Otherwise he'll be another we'll be struggling to shift next season.

 

[Annekcma]

As others have pointed out, we'll lose Biss and Sarr for AFCON in January, and Bents might not be back by then, so that list is a lot shorter for a few games.

AFCON runs from 13 January to 11 February and thanks to the winter break it won't be as big of an impact as it was in the past. But there are some big fixtures here. Perhaps we could get lucky with AFCON fixtures and ask them to travel after the United game.

Jan 13th away to Man United
Jan 30th home to Brentford
Feb 3rd away to Everton
Feb 10th home to Brighton

From the sounds of Bentancur's recovery he seems to be going well and we will likely see him well before Christmas. And if things don't go well it's a good thing we can use the Jan window to get a signing in early (we are well renowned for this...)

 

[dovahkiin]

i guess this could speed things up

 

[Hotspur88]

i guess this could speed things up

100%, they are extremely keen on Hojbjerg, they just don't have the funds currently.

 

[spursyido1]

Transfermarkt value De Paul at €40m and he has 3 years left on his contract so you’d think they’d get some kind of decent fee for him

 

[Flobadob]

I can’t even lie, I would be happy to see the back of this guy. When he came on against United the drop in quality on the ball from Sarr and Bissouma to him was so striking. His touch is almost never positive, it’s always a wooden touch that means he can shield the ball if he’s pressed because that’s the only way he can defend against that, hardly ever on the half turn, hardly ever out of his feet to get us quickly on the front foot. His contribution to the game was a good turn out wide, inviting pressure because of how poor he is on the ball compared to Sarr and Bissouma, then a near back pass assist to United because once again he panicked on the ball. Give Don Paratici the 30-40m we get for him and tell him two more Pape Sarr’s please!