Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

[emiley heskey]

"The Spurs manager is also targeting a new right-back but is thought to favour a more physical player to Walker-Peters, who has yet to make a decision on his future."

Is aarons physical player?

 

[wrd]

"The Spurs manager is also targeting a new right-back but is thought to favour a more physical player to Walker-Peters, who has yet to make a decision on his future."

Is aarons physical player?

Think we target two.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I really want him. He’s not Dembele, but he’s got the ability to hold the ball and resist the press, while he’s aggressive and proactive off the ball, and he’s a good passer to boot. Also knows the league, is a leader and is only 24. He’d improve us whether we played a 3 or a 2 in midfield.

 

[JME-9]

I really want him. He’s not Dembele, but he’s got the ability to hold the ball and resist the press, while he’s aggressive and proactive off the ball, and he’s a good passer to boot. Also knows the league, is a leader and is only 24. He’d improve us whether we played a 3 or a 2 in midfield.

Honestly think him and gio would make a great pairing if we go 4222/442

 

[daryl hannah]

@THFCSPURS19 Can we have a thread for Eze, pls?

Tottenham favourites to complete £20million transfer for QPR star Eberechi Eze

TOTTENHAM have their eye on Queens Park Rangers star Eberechi Eze. Top scout Brian Carey saw the midfielder, 21, in dazzling form in their 3-1 win at Preston last Saturday. And now Spurs are emergi…

www.thesun.co.uk

 

[THFC_SWE]

He's better defensively than our current midfielders. No, he's not a classic DM, but he's better in that department compared to Winks, Ndombele, Lo Celso and Sissoko (yes even Sissoko).

After Wanyamas injury problems and Dembele leaving, things have never been the same. Look at the statistics this season:

"So far in the 19/20 season, Tottenham have face the 5th most shots against, 395. On average, the teams in the Top 4 have faced ~240."

"Additionally, Spurs have 6th highest expected goals against (xGA) at 47.42. The only teams that are expected to be scored against more than Spurs are in 13th place or lower in the Premier League table."

Our midfield is probably the main reason to why it looks like this. They can't control the game enough and are not good enough defensively.

 

[Cochise]

@THFCSPURS19 Can we have a thread for Eze, pls?

Tottenham favourites to complete £20million transfer for QPR star Eberechi Eze

TOTTENHAM have their eye on Queens Park Rangers star Eberechi Eze. Top scout Brian Carey saw the midfielder, 21, in dazzling form in their 3-1 win at Preston last Saturday. And now Spurs are emergi…

www.thesun.co.uk

There hasn't been any news on Eze has there? Linking a 3-4 month old article isn't really valid, especially since COVID.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

I really want him. He’s not Dembele, but he’s got the ability to hold the ball and resist the press, while he’s aggressive and proactive off the ball, and he’s a good passer to boot. Also knows the league, is a leader and is only 24. He’d improve us whether we played a 3 or a 2 in midfield.

I'm really unconvinced by Hojbjerg and I have to disagree on his passing. It's something Saints fans say is his biggest weakness, how badly and easily he gives the ball away with poor passing.

He doesn't seem particularly progressive and yet his passing accuracy is pretty poor for a CM. He averages 77.7% accuracy.

For comparisons, here are some other PL DMs and CMs:

Ndidi 84.8%
Fabinho 87.2%
Matic 86.3%
Rodri 92.8% / Fernandinho 89.7%
Sissoko 87.4% / Winks 90.2%
Xhaka 88% / Torreira 87.4%
Rice 86%
Millivojevic 81.7%

The players we should be going for instead comparison:
Zakaria 86.7%
Luis 90%


I do like his work ethic and he seems to have some leadership skills but he is not a natural DM at all, he has hardly ever played as a proper DM and he lacks positional sense and defensive awareness for me. He is good at pressing to win the ball back though.

 

[Cochise]

I'm really unconvinced by Hojbjerg and I have to disagree on his passing. It's something Saints fans say is his biggest weakness, how badly and easily he gives the ball away with poor passing.

He doesn't seem particularly progressive and yet his passing accuracy is pretty poor for a CM. He averages 77.7% accuracy.

For comparisons, here are some other PL DMs and CMs:

Ndidi 84.8%
Fabinho 87.2%
Matic 86.3%
Rodri 92.8% / Fernandinho 89.7%
Sissoko 87.4% / Winks 90.2%
Xhaka 88% / Torreira 87.4%
Rice 86%
Millivojevic 81.7%

The players we should be going for instead comparison:
Zakaria 86.7%
Luis 90%


I do like his work ethic and he seems to have some leadership skills but he is not a natural DM at all, he has hardly ever played as a proper DM and he lacks positional sense and defensive awareness for me. He is good at pressing to win the ball back though.

You have to take into account how Southampton play though. Their central two chase, harry and then aim to release the ball for their pacy forwards. Nearly all those above play in possession based teams. FFS Winks at 90% illustrates what I mean, a player that makes a lot of safe passes but is defensively unsound.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

You have to take into account how Southampton play though. Their central two chase, harry and then aim to release the ball for their pacy forwards. Nearly all those above play in possession based teams. FFS Winks at 90% illustrates what I mean, a player that makes a lot of safe passes but is defensively unsound.

The stats back up what Saints fans all say though, that his passing is really poor and he gives it away cheaply a lot.

I've even listed players like Rice and Millivojevic who play in poorer or similar level teams and even they both have superior passing stats.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

West Ham and Palace both average less possession than Southampton btw.

Lundstram 83.2%
Douglas Luiz 83%
Capoue 81.3%

Some more examples from teams who average less possession than Saints.

 

[Cochise]

The stats back up what Saints fans all say though, that his passing is really poor and he gives it away cheaply a lot.

I've even listed players like Rice and Millivojevic who play in poorer or similar level teams and even they both have superior passing stats.

I'm not a big fan of Hojberg and am not bothered if he goes elsewhere, but again the whole stat debate comes down to the difficulty level of the pass. If he's been instructed to fire it forwards ASAP and attempt the eye of the needle passes no matter what then he will gift possession away an awful lot.

Rice for my money is a player I'd like to see us go for, but he's too expensive. His passing abilities have come on, although I'm less certain of his defensive abilities, might have more to do with who he is partnered with.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

I'm not a big fan of Hojberg and am not bothered if he goes elsewhere, but again the whole stat debate comes down to the difficulty level of the pass. If he's been instructed to fire it forwards ASAP and attempt the eye of the needle passes no matter what then he will gift possession away an awful lot.

Rice for my money is a player I'd like to see us go for, but he's too expensive. His passing abilities have come on, although I'm less certain of his defensive abilities, might have more to do with who he is partnered with.

I totally get what you're saying about the types of pass etc but Saints fans all talk about how sloppy he is in possession.

For example, against Scum recently, he played a really sloppy pass which put Stephens in trouble and ended up with him getting a red card.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

There hasn't been any news on Eze has there? Linking a 3-4 month old article isn't really valid, especially since COVID.

@daryl hannah what he said.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I'm really unconvinced by Hojbjerg and I have to disagree on his passing. It's something Saints fans say is his biggest weakness, how badly and easily he gives the ball away with poor passing.

He doesn't seem particularly progressive and yet his passing accuracy is pretty poor for a CM. He averages 77.7% accuracy.

For comparisons, here are some other PL DMs and CMs:

Ndidi 84.8%
Fabinho 87.2%
Matic 86.3%
Rodri 92.8% / Fernandinho 89.7%
Sissoko 87.4% / Winks 90.2%
Xhaka 88% / Torreira 87.4%
Rice 86%
Millivojevic 81.7%

The players we should be going for instead comparison:
Zakaria 86.7%
Luis 90%


I do like his work ethic and he seems to have some leadership skills but he is not a natural DM at all, he has hardly ever played as a proper DM and he lacks positional sense and defensive awareness for me. He is good at pressing to win the ball back though.

Ndidi, Fabinho, Matic, Rodri/ Fernandinho, and Xhaka/ Torreira all play in sides who dominate the ball. Winks and Sissoko never try to play adventurous passes, nor do Rice and Miliojevic.

As for what constitutes a proper DM, there’s no one rule fits all. Makalele and Fernandinho are totally different to Kante and Ndidi are totally different to Carrick and Alonso are totally different to Keane and Vieira are totally different to Wanyama and Palacios.

A good DM is one who complements his midfield partner(s). I believe this guy would, you don’t, that’s fine, it’s subjective until we actually see it happen (if we do).

 

[daryl hannah]

There hasn't been any news on Eze has there? Linking a 3-4 month old article isn't really valid, especially since COVID.

I mean there's this from Hercules, but if you're going to ignore ITK, then frankly what's the point in having it?

The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 28th June 2020

Wotsits - official snack partner

www.spurscommunity.co.uk

 

[Japhet]

I'm really unconvinced by Hojbjerg and I have to disagree on his passing. It's something Saints fans say is his biggest weakness, how badly and easily he gives the ball away with poor passing.

He doesn't seem particularly progressive and yet his passing accuracy is pretty poor for a CM. He averages 77.7% accuracy.

For comparisons, here are some other PL DMs and CMs:

Ndidi 84.8%
Fabinho 87.2%
Matic 86.3%
Rodri 92.8% / Fernandinho 89.7%
Sissoko 87.4% / Winks 90.2%
Xhaka 88% / Torreira 87.4%
Rice 86%
Millivojevic 81.7%

The players we should be going for instead comparison:
Zakaria 86.7%
Luis 90%


I do like his work ethic and he seems to have some leadership skills but he is not a natural DM at all, he has hardly ever played as a proper DM and he lacks positional sense and defensive awareness for me. He is good at pressing to win the ball back though.

Zakaria and Luis are absolutely the players we should be going for if we want to stay at the top table. I'd rather we spent big money there than shop for bargains in several areas. Hojbjerg is a decent player but not a 'next level' player, and CDM is an area where we need a huge upgrade to stay in the running for regular CL qualification. I doubt very much though that we'd tempt Zakaria or Luis at present. All I hope is that we don't clog up the squad with average players for the next 4 years.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

Yeah I think we're better off with someone who truly shields the back 4 and provides a platform for Lo Celso and Ndombele to play as numbers 8s in a 4-3-3.

That said, if we sign Hojbjerg hopefully he can improve his passing a lot and his defensive awareness/positioning. He definitely has good aggression and ball winning ability.

 

[DiVaio]

I'm really unconvinced by Hojbjerg and I have to disagree on his passing. It's something Saints fans say is his biggest weakness, how badly and easily he gives the ball away with poor passing.

He doesn't seem particularly progressive and yet his passing accuracy is pretty poor for a CM. He averages 77.7% accuracy.

For comparisons, here are some other PL DMs and CMs:

Ndidi 84.8%
Fabinho 87.2%
Matic 86.3%
Rodri 92.8% / Fernandinho 89.7%
Sissoko 87.4% / Winks 90.2%
Xhaka 88% / Torreira 87.4%
Rice 86%
Millivojevic 81.7%

The players we should be going for instead comparison:
Zakaria 86.7%
Luis 90%


I do like his work ethic and he seems to have some leadership skills but he is not a natural DM at all, he has hardly ever played as a proper DM and he lacks positional sense and defensive awareness for me. He is good at pressing to win the ball back though.

That's just Soton playstyle. In 17/18 and 18/19 he had ~83% and was 3rd in Soton.
Walker-Peters in the league for us had 85%, for them 75%
Van Dijk for them had 85% and now in Liverpool he's averaging more than 90%

 

[Cochise]

I mean there's this from Hercules, but if you're going to ignore ITK, then frankly what's the point in having it?

The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 28th June 2020

Wotsits - official snack partner

www.spurscommunity.co.uk

Fair enough, though he does say punt which is far off Herc "putting his balls on the line"

QPR have been shit of late though right? Has Eze stood out? Someone said not so long ago that he's not the hardest working.