Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

[djhotspur]

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!

I agree. He just doesn’t suit our system.

If we can get the right money for him I just hope it’s invested properly. In theory if he does go and 2-3 more go we should have huge money to spend on a quality forward and a quality winger.

 

[Flobadob]

I agree. He just doesn’t suit our system.

If we can get the right money for him I just hope it’s invested properly. In theory if he does go and 2-3 more go we should have huge money to spend on a quality forward and a quality winger.

Yeah I’d make those our priority too. We do need another solid CB but I don’t think it’s as much of a problem as the lack of class we have up front

 

[Rosco1984]

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!

even the good turn, he opened up the whole field to play forward out of the pressure but for some reason then played the ball back past the player he just beat to the centre back inviting more pressure.

 

[hughy]

My only concern if we sell him is what happens during the AFCON when both Bissouma and Sarr are away. They will potentially miss 4 games, which naturally will leave us incredibly light especially if Bentancur is still not match sharp.

Then again I don't want us to just sign someone for the sake of it. If we replace him it has to be with someone who will buy in to Ange's style, not just someone to fill a hole.

 

[kmk]

My only concern if we sell him is what happens during the AFCON when both Bissouma and Sarr are away. They will potentially miss 4 games, which naturally will leave us incredibly light especially if Bentancur is still not match sharp.

Then again I don't want us to just sign someone for the sake of it. If we replace him it has to be with someone who will buy in to Ange's style, not just someone to fill a hole.

Isn't there a mid-winter break this season?

 

[fecka]

My only concern if we sell him is what happens during the AFCON when both Bissouma and Sarr are away. They will potentially miss 4 games, which naturally will leave us incredibly light especially if Bentancur is still not match sharp.

Then again I don't want us to just sign someone for the sake of it. If we replace him it has to be with someone who will buy in to Ange's style, not just someone to fill a hole.

Doesn't the new winter break coincide with the AFCON? They'd have to get to the quarter or semi-finals something to miss more than 1 game IIRC and would at most miss 4 PL games if they reach the finals.
There's only 1 PL round between Jan 1-30, and the AFCON goes on between Jan 13 and the final on Feb 11.

 

[hughy]

Doesn't the new winter break coincide with the AFCON? They'd have to get to the quarter or semi-finals something to miss more than 1 game IIRC and would at most miss 4 PL games if they reach the finals.
The winter break is between Jan 14-30, and the AFCON goes on between Jan 13 and the final on Feb 11.

Yeah that's still 4 games they'd potentially miss (if they get to the final, which admittedly is unlikely for Bissouma).

United A 13th Jan
Brentford H 30th Jan
Everton A 3rd Feb
Brighton H 10th Feb

Hopefully they only miss 1 or 2 games.

 

[fecka]

Yeah that's still 4 games they'd potentially miss (if they get to the final, which admittedly is unlikely for Bissouma).

United A 13th Jan
Brentford H 30th Jan
Everton A 3rd Feb
Brighton H 10th Feb

Hopefully they only miss 1 or 2 games.

Fair enough. Just don't see it as particularly likely for Bissouma. Senegal on the other hand won last time around so I wouldn't be surprised to see them go far again and missing both of them for more than 1 or 2 games is highly unlikely. Not ideal for us of course, but signing a player (who's on the same level or better than Pierre) because we'd at worst miss both Sarr & Biss for at most 4 games in Jan/Feb would be very silly IMO.

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

My only concern if we sell him is what happens during the AFCON when both Bissouma and Sarr are away. They will potentially miss 4 games, which naturally will leave us incredibly light especially if Bentancur is still not match sharp.

Then again I don't want us to just sign someone for the sake of it. If we replace him it has to be with someone who will buy in to Ange's style, not just someone to fill a hole.

Maybe this is the time we take a gamble with Devine.

 

[mattspur1986]

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

Well, hopefully news starts to pick up this week in relation to both outgoings and incomings - we’re almost on the home stretch now. I REALLY REALLY hope the club don’t leave ange short, genuinely think he could have a bigger impact than poch had on the club when he arrived …. But needs to be backed fully!

unfortunately we’ve been here too many times before to feel we’re not gonna get burnt and have Groundhog Day put upon us though.

 

[rabbikeane]

Doesn't the new winter break coincide with the AFCON? They'd have to get to the quarter or semi-finals something to miss more than 1 game IIRC and would at most miss 4 PL games if they reach the finals.
There's only 1 PL round between Jan 1-30, and the AFCON goes on between Jan 13 and the final on Feb 11.

Both cups have rounds at the time as well though.
And Asian version is at same time, Son ..
Son and Sarr very likely to go far in the tournaments.

 

[fecka]

Both cups have rounds at the time as well though.
And Asian version is at same time, Son ..
Son and Sarr very likely to go far in the tournaments.

Son going to the Asian Cup shouldn't impact whether we replace PEH or not though, unless it's someone who's able to play both in the middle and the wings.

 

[Japhet]

My only concern if we sell him is what happens during the AFCON when both Bissouma and Sarr are away. They will potentially miss 4 games, which naturally will leave us incredibly light especially if Bentancur is still not match sharp.

Then again I don't want us to just sign someone for the sake of it. If we replace him it has to be with someone who will buy in to Ange's style, not just someone to fill a hole.

Skipp, LoCelso, Maddison isn't at all bad. Maybe Bentancur's back by then too.

 

[TheAmerican]

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

Conflicted on this one

It’s obvious now is the time to sell him given his age, contract and style of play compared to what Ange wants. BUT, he’s a solid player and we seem to be in no rush to spend our transfer earnings. What’s the point in selling a good squad player if we don’t use that money to reinforce elsewhere?

 

[PT]

Skipp, LoCelso, Maddison isn't at all bad. Maybe Bentancur's back by then too.

Plus Acdemy lads such as Nile John, Alfie Devine, Craig.

 

[Cinemattis]

We paid £15m and KWP from what I can remember, so likely a £30m deal. Granted it would have been amortised by now.

IIRC they bought KWP for something around £12m and we paid them £15m for PEH? It was almost a clean swap of players with just a small outlay on our side.

Edit: sorry, saw that others have made the same point.

 

[Annekcma]

Bissouma, Sarr, Skipp, Bentancur, Maddison, Lo Celso. That is solid depth. Yes we could miss 2 of them in Jan/Feb for a few games but that's where we need to be more trusting in bringing youth in and playing minutes. They have to get a chance at some point and if it isn't going to be when we are down to 7th choice midfielder then when is it going to be?

I was a fan of Hojbjerg and have defended him a lot but his time is up. Our club hasn't been good enough at recognising these moments in the past

 

[yido_number1]

even the good turn, he opened up the whole field to play forward out of the pressure but for some reason then played the ball back past the player he just beat to the centre back inviting more pressure.

Obviously Ange is telling him to play negative passing football, surely he's not just a really negative passer of the ball who doesn't like to receive it under pressure like we've thought for the last 24 months.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

I don't think we should sell him this late in the window.

Ange clearly sees Skipp and Sarr as 8's and Hojbjerg as mainly a 6.

If Hojbjerg leaves then we will have no proper rotation/injury cover for Bissouma which could really cost us. I highly doubt we get a suitable replacement in this late in the day given all the things we need to do in this window still.

I'd only sell him now if we can secure a top young talent like Federico Redondo.

 

[Timberwolf]

I don't think we should sell him this late in the window.

Ange clearly sees Skipp and Sarr as 8's and Hojbjerg as mainly a 6.

If Hojbjerg leaves then we will have no proper rotation/injury cover for Bissouma which could really cost us. I highly doubt we get a suitable replacement in this late in the day given all the things we need to do in this window still.

I'd only sell him now if we can secure a top young talent like Federico Redondo.

Think it comes down to Bentancur. If we think he's making a good recovery and could be back within a couple of months it could be worth gambling on Bissouma staying fit for 6-8 games if a good offer comes in for PEH. And in a pitch I think Skipp or Sarr could cover the 6 role for a game or two, even if it's not ideal.

Turning down a good offer for PEH or signing a player we might only need as a backup for 2 months also could hurt us long term given how hard we've found it to move on players.