Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

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.

no bother man, people look at things differently I don’t agree but that’s football. We’ll just have to wait and see.

 

[SheffieldAndy]

no bother man, people look at things differently I don’t agree but that’s football. We’ll just have to wait and see.

As you say, it’s all opinions at the end of the day. mate.
If we do get him, hopefully we’ll all be very happy with what he brings to our team and helps the rest of the lads take us forward into being a better team next year.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

To those who think PEH is too limited:

Mourinho has made it clear that the squad needs more balance, so he will have a vision of how PEH will be used and who would play alongside him, in order to to achieve this.

Just because one of our existing players doesn't currently look well-suited to playing alongside PEH doesn't mean Mourinho can't coach them to play differently. Winks, Skipp, Ndombele, Lo Celso, Alli & Gedson are aged 19-24, so are all young enough to develop significantly (but only one of them needs to for PEH to be a success). Look at how Scholes developed throughout his career (I think he was about 23 when he first started playing CM and he played deeper and deeper as he aged) - when he was a 21 year old striker, most people would have laughed if you'd told them he'd go on to be widely considered the best CM of his generation. That's an extreme case involving a particularly talented player, but it gives hope that a far lesser player could make much less significant changes to their game.

Makélélé certainly had limitations, but was integral to Mourinho's Chelsea team. I recall that pundits had very split opinion on him during that time, with criticism for only playing safe passes / praise for enabling the rest of the midfield to focus on attacking and creating. I think 5 trophies in 3 seasons tells us which opinion was correct! Perhaps Ndombele or Sissoko could fulfil the Essien role alongside him next season (even if not to the same standard).

Scott Parker was limited and not loved by everyone, but improved our team and was even our player of the year in his first season. Sandro, Wanyama and Dier were not great passers from that position, but were very functional as part of a balanced midfield.

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

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

 

[sausage]

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

Schneiderlin wasn't much of a missed opportunity either, in the end, tbh!

 

[mark87]

Schneiderlin wasn't much of a missed opportunity either, in the end, tbh!

I don't think he'd have seen the player dembele became if Schneiderlin had joined.

 

[dk-yid]

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

Again?

 

[sausage]

I don't think he'd have seen the player dembele became if Schneiderlin had joined.

Same as I severely doubt we'd have Kane if Soldado wasn't cack and Adebayor wasn't a PITA etc.

Sometimes the timeline works out better.

 

[C0YS]

Same as I severely doubt we'd have Kane if Soldado wasn't cack and Adebayor wasn't a PITA etc.

Sometimes the timeline works out better.

Soldado is an interesting one. He sort of changed as a player here a lot, stopped being an out and out striker but rather someone who leads from the front. I think he said it himself, that because he wasn't scoring he would work hard to compensate, which ironically probably meant he wasn't in the right positions to get the goals he was missing. But, this hard working, linking forward player is now his USP, and it's why he is still leading the front line of a Europa League qualifying team at 35. If he never flopped at Spurs, he'd probably have retired or something or be playing in a joke league. He doesn't score many goals anymore, but he is appreciated for what he offers outside of that.

In any case. To get back on point. Sliding doors and all that. No one really knows what might have happened.

PEH fits the bill, and his limitations don't worry me, it's his ability that I have doubts about, but I still think he can contribute something, just won't be the player that some people seem to be making him out to be. Watching brozovic today really made me think how much he would add to the team and if we could get him instead, that would really be much more of a statement signing.

 

[St José Dominguez]

Considering the impact Parker, Palacios, Sandro, Wanyama and Dier had in modern times here it’s quite surprising people still don’t see what a player like Hojbjerg can do to a team. Players who look great on YouTube aren’t always what a team needs.
We desperately need a disciplined shield for our defence who works really hard and wins the ball back.

Hes actually a pretty good passer of the ball but even if all he did was quickly pass it a few yards to Lo Celso it would be an improvement considering his strengths.

 

[VoteMe4Prez]

He is a very accomplished passer of the ball and he knows how to make a great tackle. Think he will be a perfect midfield signing. Win the ball, feed to Tanguy and Gio and then boom the attack begins. Teams will have alot of trouble stopping that.

 

[elfy]

Considering the impact Parker, Palacios, Sandro, Wanyama and Dier had in modern times here it’s quite surprising people still don’t see what a player like Hojbjerg can do to a team. Players who look great on YouTube aren’t always what a team needs.
We desperately need a disciplined shield for our defence who works really hard and wins the ball back.

Hes actually a pretty good passer of the ball but even if all he did was quickly pass it a few yards to Lo Celso it would be an improvement considering his strengths.

Scott Parker is who I think about with this transfer - I was dead against him coming to us, I said at the time he couldnt pass, couldnt score etc etc (all the same things people are saying about hojbjerg)

I have never been more wrong about a player, once I saw what he did for 90 mins, and not just the pretty stuff you see on MOTD I changed my mind.

Parker turned out to be one of the best transfers we have made, not for what he could do but for what he allowed the rest of the team to do. He was solid and his positioning was so effortless that when he made an interception or tackle to break an attack it would have been easy to ignore his contribution.

All the stats in the world won't show that. If hojbjerg can do a similar role to Parker we will be a much stronger team for it

 

[spursfan77]

Scott Parker is who I think about with this transfer - I was dead against him coming to us, I said at the time he couldnt pass, couldnt score etc etc (all the same things people are saying about hojbjerg)

I have never been more wrong about a player, once I saw what he did for 90 mins, and not just the pretty stuff you see on MOTD I changed my mind.

Parker turned out to be one of the best transfers we have made, not for what he could do but for what he allowed the rest of the team to do. He was solid and his positioning was so effortless that when he made an interception or tackle to break an attack it would have been easy to ignore his contribution.

All the stats in the world won't show that. If hojbjerg can do a similar role to Parker we will be a much stronger team for it

Holjberg is miles off Scott Parker quality though. That’s the problem. We chased Parker summer after Summer before getting him so knew he was a good player and would suit us.

 

[emiley heskey]

Soldado is an interesting one. He sort of changed as a player here a lot, stopped being an out and out striker but rather someone who leads from the front. I think he said it himself, that because he wasn't scoring he would work hard to compensate, which ironically probably meant he wasn't in the right positions to get the goals he was missing. But, this hard working, linking forward player is now his USP, and it's why he is still leading the front line of a Europa League qualifying team at 35. If he never flopped at Spurs, he'd probably have retired or something or be playing in a joke league. He doesn't score many goals anymore, but he is appreciated for what he offers outside of that.

In any case. To get back on point. Sliding doors and all that. No one really knows what might have happened.

PEH fits the bill, and his limitations don't worry me, it's his ability that I have doubts about, but I still think he can contribute something, just won't be the player that some people seem to be making him out to be. Watching brozovic today really made me think how much he would add to the team and if we could get him instead, that would really be much more of a statement signing.

Hojberg and Brozovic midfield duo would be top class under Mourinho's system

 

[Timberwolf]

Don't mean to be a downer (I'm pro Hojbjerg) but I wouldn't get your hopes up on his passing based on YouTube comps. Southampton fans think his passing is by far the weakest part of his game and he gives the ball away a fair amount.

As someone else said, though, if he just keeps things simple and passes to Lo Celso it won't really matter. And there's no way in hell he's a worse passer than Sissoko.

 

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

Holjberg is miles off Scott Parker quality though. That’s the problem. We chased Parker summer after Summer before getting him so knew he was a good player and would suit us.

Its strange how all DM get lumped in together as though they all have the same effectiveness/quality. It’s about balance more than anything. Stick Parker in midfield with Winks and Sissoko it will be a disaster. With Modric and VDV dropping in around him he didn’t need to take much responsibility on the ball. Without Dembele to receive the ball and break the first press in crowded areas Dier falls away.

Hojbjerg will only be as good as the midfielders around him. If we surround him with players that actually want and can handle the ball under pressure he will be ok if he has to take some of that responsibility himself he’ll get found out imo. That’s what will decide if Hojberg will be an effective signing. It’s wishful thinking to believe getting Hojbjerg will allow Mourinho to turn Winks/Sissoko and some others into completely different players. Soon as we look like signing a player imaginations run away compared with the qualities they have, look at the Deeney thread.

 

[Japhet]

Don't mean to be a downer (I'm pro Hojbjerg) but I wouldn't get your hopes up on his passing based on YouTube comps. Southampton fans think his passing is by far the weakest part of his game and he gives the ball away a fair amount.

As someone else said, though, if he just keeps things simple and passes to Lo Celso it won't really matter. And there's no way in hell he's a worse passer than Sissoko.

If he does that he'll be sharing the tar brush with Harry Winks.

 

[GetSpurredOn]

I see Hojbjerg not as a designated destroyer DM, but just the type of hybrid we need now. He isn’t small, and will being increased physical presence, he is a proven leader which I feel is critical in the middle of the park for us, plus as a Bayern developed player, he is technically very sound, not La Masia grad levels, but very proficient all round.
Having him sit in the middle for us, hopefully in the centre of a 433, should allow the players either side of him to be more progressive. Equally, stepping away from a No10 in 4231, should allow more space for the wider players like Son, Moura, Bergwijn etc to exploit.
Is he a world class DM, probably not, but is he what we need right now to improve the balance and functionality of our midfield, yes I’d say so. And he’s available for a modest fee it appears due to his contract running down, plus seems to actually specifically want to join us.

 

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

Don't mean to be a downer (I'm pro Hojbjerg) but I wouldn't get your hopes up on his passing based on YouTube comps. Southampton fans think his passing is by far the weakest part of his game and he gives the ball away a fair amount.

As someone else said, though, if he just keeps things simple and passes to Lo Celso it won't really matter. And there's no way in hell he's a worse passer than Sissoko.

I’m not that worried about his passing in itself it’s more his ability to get out of being pressed. Kante, Bissouma, N’Didi are not particularly imaginative passers but they can get themselves out of trouble, manipulate the ball then there is generally a simple but progressive option for them. I think the reason his passing is often over hit or misplaced is because he can be pressured into a pass that’s not on or he will just go back.

 

[SheffieldAndy]

Don't mean to be a downer (I'm pro Hojbjerg) but I wouldn't get your hopes up on his passing based on YouTube comps. Southampton fans think his passing is by far the weakest part of his game and he gives the ball away a fair amount.

As someone else said, though, if he just keeps things simple and passes to Lo Celso it won't really matter. And there's no way in hell he's a worse passer than Sissoko.

Reading the comments on him on saintsweb seems that there are a lot of posters saying he’s absolute crap and would want to replace him with a youth player, and a lot saying he’s rubbish but they wouldn’t be able to replace him.
While I do value the opinions of people who watch players week in/week out, there seems to be a whole lot of hate for a leaving player on their forum (as is the case with a lot of forums). Mixed in with the usual dislike Spurs generally.