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Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

glacierSpurs

Well-Known Member
Sep 28, 2013
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Agree.

Not a straight comparison by any means but I remember people praising Sissoko's work rate. But if you watched there were loads of times he didn't chase back or put his body on the line to make a block.

Hojbjerg also ball watches and his defensive game isn't as good as many think.

I really hoped we'd find a buyer in the summer as his contract length means time to cash in is running out. I really hope someone puts in a suitable bid in January.
He will have plenty of suitors no worry. Just a matter of if he wants to go.

The issue with him is his positioning and play. He passes sideways and back and when he does pass forward the angles are weird angles, the forward players gained no positional advantage from those. If 10 games of Biss is not enough to show the difference, 30 minutes of Bentancur should.
 

bubble07

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2004
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I don't think he is terrible for the occasional start/sub appearance. Skipp on the other head is just inept
 

Wick3d

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
5,505
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He is limited but far from the worst player on the pitch. On another day, he scores that worldy.
 

Nocando

Well-Known Member
Mar 11, 2012
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4,385
He will have plenty of suitors no worry. Just a matter of if he wants to go.

The issue with him is his positioning and play. He passes sideways and back and when he does pass forward the angles are weird angles, the forward players gained no positional advantage from those. If 10 games of Biss is not enough to show the difference, 30 minutes of Bentancur should.
That's just not true. I don't want to overly defend him because i think we need better but offensively he can find a good pass. I think you need to go through the match and see. I can remember a few, for example the first time ball down the left channel, to Brennan Johnson. I know Lo Celso did one too but he definitely does pass okay generally.
 

NEVILLEB

Well-Known Member
Nov 6, 2006
6,769
6,397
He gets maligned on what he offers offensively, but it's his defensive game that is more of an problem
Yes, he actually has good attacking vision and his long passing is very good.

His problems are mainly is his lack of defensive instincts and his lack of speed/effort. He is a classic ball watcher not aware of what is going on around him.

Occasionally he intercepts a pass which makes him look effective but more often he’s the wrong side of the ball or not picking up anyone.

Sadly not at the level we need at all. The sort of player we had in the Alan Sugar era.
 

Nocando

Well-Known Member
Mar 11, 2012
2,945
4,385
Yes, he actually has good attacking vision and his long passing is very good.

His problems are mainly is his lack of defensive instincts and his lack of speed/effort. He is a classic ball watcher not aware of what is going on around him.

Occasionally he intercepts a pass which makes him look effective but more often he’s the wrong side of the ball or not picking up anyone.

Sadly not at the level we need at all. The sort of player we had in the Alan Sugar era.
I agree all up to the last line. I think he's at a level below the Poch and Ange type teams. He's an okay back up. Because let's face it when down to the bare bones he's still ok. As i said earlier I'd much rather him in the team than Skipp. Who is massively overated.
 

glacierSpurs

Well-Known Member
Sep 28, 2013
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That's just not true. I don't want to overly defend him because i think we need better but offensively he can find a good pass. I think you need to go through the match and see. I can remember a few, for example the first time ball down the left channel, to Brennan Johnson. I know Lo Celso did one too but he definitely does pass okay generally.
I understand where you are coming from. But the passes Ange required from this position should be more from a quick turn and change in direction and breaking the lines between opponents midfielders. Biss doesn't do long passes. But his short passes are incisive and direct, some are even key passes leading to attack. That's what we are sorely lacking and the key to our downfall of not scoring and hence losing..
 

funkycoldmedina

Well-Known Member
Jun 20, 2004
1,897
6,250
Games like today are his nemesis, everything just goes on too quickly for him, he spends his time chasing shadows.
For those saying he was far from our biggest problem I would disagree, that role is so pivotal in every team and when you can't close off attacks effectively you're screwed.
 

Rob

The Boss
Admin
Jun 8, 2003
28,021
65,121
Was there. He had an awful game. No awareness of those around him and got in the way more often than not.
 

NEVILLEB

Well-Known Member
Nov 6, 2006
6,769
6,397
His mobility is the centre of the problems literally. Just stands in space when they have the ball and watches. When we have the ball he hides behind there players. Watch their second goal back and ask what he's doing.
Exactly.

He’s been doing this for years but looks like he’s finally been found out.
 

14/04/91

Well-Known Member
Jan 13, 2006
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5,757
The drop off in quality, in terms of the role Ange requires, from Bissouma or Bentancur to him is absolutely massive.
 

FinnYid

Well-Known Member
Jul 18, 2006
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4,144
The drop off in quality, in terms of the role Ange requires, from Bissouma or Bentancur to him is absolutely massive.

Reckon Sarr would also play ahead. I can see why Ange picks PEH ahead of Skipp, due ability on the ball. However PEH on defensive 3rd is so much weaker that I would pick Skipp there despite being worse on the ball. PEH is decent at Sarr role, but shouldn't play as the deepest midfielder.
 
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