Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

[rajmak]

Not wishing to be argumentative but I don't think those cases happened quite that way. Grealish and Schneiderlin we agreed a fee on but Villa changed owners and put up the price and Saints changed their minds and wouldn't sell. Barkley got injured and we lost interest and Fernandes was always a back up option in case Lo Celso fell through. Berahino you may be right although I think it was the terms and their chairman cock waving, I think this was the one that started all the reputation thing.

I agree as we don't know the real facts. My take on Grealish was newspaper reports were suggesting Villa wanted £40m for him but due to their financial situation would have accepted £20m to £25m. Apparently we were offering £5m - £10m and when it became obvious they were being taken over we offered £25m but that was then rejected with them saying he was not for sale. With Schneiderlin I recall Southampton had a fire sale of players which was our time to try and get him but we didn't and then Southampton said no more players were for sale.

Anyways this thread is about PEH and if we are going for him as he has been a top target or its due to our financial position and we feel we can get him cheaper due to his contractual situation I just hope it doesn't drag on and I think he will be an important part of the jigsaw and needs to get up to speed with his new surroundings before the season starts.

 

[wrd]

I think we'll get him but I'm completely with Levy not smashing down 20-25 million on him. I mean we signed Wanyama who was a significantly better player at the time of purchase from the very same club for 11 million. Obviously it's a key position and if Jose wants him in early to make sure he adjusts to the tactics as soon as possible then some compromise might need to be met.

 

[Cornpattbuck]

I think we'll get him but I'm completely with Levy not smashing down 20-25 million on him. I mean we signed Wanyama who was a significantly better player at the time of purchase from the very same club for 11 million. Obviously it's a key position and if Jose wants him in early to make sure he adjusts to the tactics as soon as possible then some compromise might need to be met.

And Eriksen went for less than £20m in not too dissimilar circumstances.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I wouldn’t be that bothered personally. You pick and chose your battles. There are plenty of times when Levy needs to get things done quicker. For me this is not one of them. Whenever I’ve watched him I just get massive Michael Brown vibes. He’s ok for the energy and aggression he brings but haven’t seen anything beyond that.

Hojbjerg is such a composed and aware player, absolutely nothing like Brown who was just a terrier chasing for crumbs fallen off the dinner table.

 

[wrd]

And Eriksen went for less than £20m in not too dissimilar circumstances.

Yeah this is certainly not a "ffs pay the fee" scenario. They're being totally unrealistic especially against the precedents we've both named. I just hope it doesn't drag given the position that he plays.

 

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

Hojbjerg is such a composed and aware player, absolutely nothing like Brown who was just a terrier chasing for crumbs fallen off the dinner table.

he’s really not

 

[SheffieldAndy]

I think he’s really going to surprise a few people as to how good he is, especially based on some of the comparisons in here so far.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

he’s really not

But he is.

Being energetic and aggressive isn’t necessarily detrimental to a players awareness and picture of the game. Hojbjerg wasn’t my first choice as I love an old fashioned destroyer, but the khedira comparisons I’ve seen are pretty close. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

This guy doesn’t need to be Pirlo or Carrick, nor does he need to be Gattuso or David’s, he just needs to complement the the all rounded 8s we have a surplus of. I believe he will.

 

[leelee]

Not wishing to be argumentative but I don't think those cases happened quite that way. Grealish and Schneiderlin we agreed a fee on but Villa changed owners and put up the price and Saints changed their minds and wouldn't sell. Barkley got injured and we lost interest and Fernandes was always a back up option in case Lo Celso fell through. Berahino you may be right although I think it was the terms and their chairman cock waving, I think this was the one that started all the reputation thing.

And many would say we dodged a bullet with Berahino. So well done Levy lol

 

[Vincent30]

But he is.

Being energetic and aggressive isn’t necessarily detrimental to a players awareness and picture of the game. Hojbjerg wasn’t my first choice as I love an old fashioned destroyer, but the khedira comparisons I’ve seen are pretty close. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

This guy doesn’t need to be Pirlo or Carrick, nor does he need to be Gattuso or David’s, he just needs to complement the the all rounded 8s we have a surplus of. I believe he will.

Exactly. We are crying out for strength, toughness and someone that can read danger, which is such an important skill which he has. I hope we get this over the line. I think with Jose coaching him, he can really push him to meet his full potential, a player Jose will love in the team.

 

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

I’m not saying he’d be a bad signing and he has qualities that will be good. I like his aggression and energy but don’t know how anyone could watch him play and think he was composed, not sure what you mean by aware? (on or off the ball?)

he would be fine with lo Celso and Ndombele or players that can receive the ball on the half turn and under pressure so he could drop it off to them but he’s nowhere near comfortable doing that himself. Just because we are signing him I’m not going to try to convince myself hes something he’s not. Happens with every player we sign. If his responsibility is to sit the deepest in midfield and receive the ball off the CB’s I’ll be worried.

 

[-Afri-Coy-]

Whether he’s good or not is irrelevant to how much Levy should pay given the fact that he is entering his final 12 months. See Eriksen for an example.

Now I know he wasn’t on fire before he left us, but Eriksen was one of the best we’ve ever seen put the shirt on right up until the final 6-12 months of his stay here. He went for less than £20 million.

Saints should be grateful we are offering a dime over £10 million given the current global financial circumstances and the fact that they can’t afford to turn their noses up and dig in their heels.

The media wants you to believe it’s business as usual during the transfer window but it’s really not anymore. Covid changes everything lads. 'We have tv money and are being stubborn so he can rot during his final 12 months with us” won’t work anymore.

Levy should play hardball in this given circumstance, he would actually be using his trait to our advantage in this situation.

We can afford to wait a couple weeks anyway, preseason hasn’t even started yet.

 

[joey55]

I think he’s really going to surprise a few people as to how good he is, especially based on some of the comparisons in here so far.

I agree with this. He's far from my first choice, but he's a very solid option and I can understand why Jose wants him. I really can't believe some of the crap I've read about him on the Saints forums. Even before he stated his desire to leave, they were so critical of him and it just didn't match what I was seeing, when I caught their games. Even a couple of weeks ago, when he started at RB and then moved into CM, I watched him and thought he'd really add something to our midfield, but then went on Saintsweb and they were talking as if he put in a horrific performance.

 

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

I agree with this. He's far from my first choice, but he's a very solid option and I can understand why Jose wants him. I really can't believe some of the crap I've read about him on the Saints forums. Even before he stated his desire to leave, they were so critical of him and it just didn't match what I was seeing, when I caught their games. Even a couple of weeks ago, when he started at RB and then moved into CM, I watched him and thought he'd really add something to our midfield, but then went on Saintsweb and they were talking as if he put in a horrific performance.

I think he is what he is, aggression and energy and he will add something in that regard which is great but we will need footballing midfielders around him. That game where he started RB he played well but most of the times I’ve watched Southampton(granted probably no more than a dozen games) he rarely takes the ball on the back foot even when he’s got time and space to, that’s why I dont really agree with the aware comments and when he’s got players in and around him he will more often than not go back to where it came from. As I say that’s ok if we have other players around him who can break the lines but if he’s in there with Winks and Sissoko for example it could be ugly. He’s nothing like Khedira, whoever said that.

 

[rajmak]

I think he is what he is, aggression and energy and he will add something in that regard which is great but we will need footballing midfielders around him. That game where he started RB he played well but most of the times I’ve watched Southampton(granted probably no more than a dozen games) he rarely takes the ball on the back foot even when he’s got time and space to, that’s why I dont really agree with the aware comments and when he’s got players in and around him he will more often than not go back to where it came from. As I say that’s ok if we have other players around him who can break the lines but if he’s in there with Winks and Sissoko for example it could be ugly. He’s nothing like Khedira, whoever said that.

Which other player(s) do you think Spurs can realistically sign for the position given the supposed limited budget?

 

[thebenjamin]

PEH liking a tweet saying he wants to join Tottenham. I think he likes us

 

[SheffieldAndy]

I think he is what he is, aggression and energy and he will add something in that regard which is great but we will need footballing midfielders around him. That game where he started RB he played well but most of the times I’ve watched Southampton(granted probably no more than a dozen games) he rarely takes the ball on the back foot even when he’s got time and space to, that’s why I dont really agree with the aware comments and when he’s got players in and around him he will more often than not go back to where it came from. As I say that’s ok if we have other players around him who can break the lines but if he’s in there with Winks and Sissoko for example it could be ugly. He’s nothing like Khedira, whoever said that.

Without being critical as we all have differing opinions, even if you only watched our game against them this year for example, he does all of the things you say he doesn’t/rarely/can’t do in just that game. As much or moreso than the things you’ve said he often does.

 

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

Which other player(s) do you think Spurs can realistically sign for the position given the supposed limited budget?

That was my original point. That I don’t think we should go to £25m for him if we do have a limited budget. If we can sign him for half that then it’s different. Saying that, I don’t know what our budget is and I don’t know what we’re looking to do in terms of midfield. If were planning to keep and play Ndombele alongside Lo Celso I think Hojbjerg would be decent signing to compliment them If we’re looking to partner him with Winks/Sissoko and Lo Celso the balance doesn’t look right to me. I just don’t think he’s worth £25m with one year left on his contract. If you do fair enough.

 

[EZSpur]

I think he’s really going to surprise a few people as to how good he is, especially based on some of the comparisons in here so far.

Definitely this!
There might be better (more expensive) players out there ie Partey.
But what we also have to realise is that PEH already knows exactly how to play the defensive midfielder role - he doesn't have to be taught, which immediately makes him more effective than what we currently have.
For me Winks seems like a player that needs to play further forward and Sissoko is clearly more comfortable with a solid CM partner - and Skipp just needs more experience.
I honestly think Jose can turn PEH into an awesome player - and further strengthen our defensive foundations.

 

[Japhet]

And many would say we dodged a bullet with Berahino. So well done Levy lol

I tend to think of Berahino as Levy's 'broken clock' moment.