Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

[Guntz]

He’d be someone I’d expect Dyce / Everton to be all over.

No chance he would want to go to Everton.

He already rejected them to come to us.

 

[IamSpurtacus]

He does struggle pretty badly with his passing though when under pressure.

He’s actually one of the best in the league at retaining the ball, with one of the lowest turnover rates

there’s a reason two of the best coaches in the biz used him so much

he’s just been overplayed

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

He’s actually one of the best in the league at retaining the ball, with one of the lowest turnover rates

there’s a reason two of the best coaches in the biz used him so much

he’s just been overplayed

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This doesn’t take into account him playing the ball accurately but putting his own teammates under pressure. It’s one of his favourite passes. I like Hojbjerg, he brings a lot to the team but he definitely isn’t good under pressure.

 

[St José Dominguez]

I’d probably sell him if we got offered a decent price but find it a little ludicrous people are judging him firstly on his pressing ability, something we’ve not done for 4 or 5 years. He’s secondly never been part of a team here playing with any sort of attacking intent so how on earth anyone can know how he’d perform in that philosophy is beyond me. He’s never been asked to move the ball quickly. He’s never been asked to do anything other than pass it sideways or backwards or make the odd tackle really. This goes with other players too but judging them on the past 4 or 5 years is pretty redundant considering we’re moving to a completely different style of play, training and fitness regime and overall tactic.

 

[cliff jones]

He’s actually one of the best in the league at retaining the ball, with one of the lowest turnover rates

there’s a reason two of the best coaches in the biz used him so much

he’s just been overplayed

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Does this take account of the numerous simple back and sideways passes he plays…

 

[Pistols At Dawn]

So sick of the Hojbjerg hate. I would offer the dude another 5 year contract, if I ran the zoo.

A stellar servant of the club, absolute warrior in the middle of the pitch, leader in the clubhouse, totally underrated passer.

 

[Finchyid]

So sick of the Hojbjerg hate. I would offer the dude another 5 year contract, if I ran the zoo.

A stellar servant of the club, absolute warrior in the middle of the pitch, leader in the clubhouse, totally underrated passer.

I don’t hate him I actually like the guy but he just isn’t good enough. Keep him as a squad player but if we can get decent money I would sell him

 

[cliff jones]

So sick of the Hojbjerg hate. I would offer the dude another 5 year contract, if I ran the zoo.

A stellar servant of the club, absolute warrior in the middle of the pitch, leader in the clubhouse, totally underrated passer.

why use the word hate? No need at all.

 

[worcestersauce]

He's not an attacking midfielder yet he's been expected to play in the creative roll because Skipp can't do it, he's not been at his best and in my opinion has been judged badly,
Maybe people just expected more from him. To be honest I wouldn't be surprised if he's happy to get out of the club anyway.

 

[EastUpperDK82]

If we hadn't had Højbjerg last season we would be in an even worse situation in the table IMO... he's essentially had to play for two CM's in many games... a lot of games without Bentancur... games where our formation should have been 3 CMs... games where he has been in a role that's not really been his strength... been asked to support Skipp or a few times Sarr... never really had a break with Bissouma out as well, not settling in or Conte not using him... our defence was crap all season. Who was asked to protect them as well... Højbjerg ?

I'm asking... what do people expect from him really at the moment with the state of our team / midfield / defence...

I hope Ange can use him in a better and more consistent midfield where Højbjerg doesn't have to do everything. And where he can have a break once in a while.

I do agree that we need a more creative midfielder on top of what we already have.

Højbjerg is not world class... no... but what he has done for our team in terms of work rate, dedication, leadership and loyalty is. And he has chipped in with goals, assists and a lot of defensive work as well... of course he has bad games like everyone else... but he's certainly been one of the best for us.

Name other players in our team apart from Kane who has delivered on a regular basis for us lately. And Kane is world class.

I guess Højbjerg is not appriciated enough because people want us to have a world class CM like we've had with Modric or Eriksen... or a high quality creative CM... I get that and would like that as well.... but that's not Højbjerg's fault.

 

[DannyNZ]

He’s actually one of the best in the league at retaining the ball, with one of the lowest turnover rates

there’s a reason two of the best coaches in the biz used him so much

he’s just been overplayed

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Against an aggressive press he is poor in retaining possession and will tend to hide.

 

[GutBucket]

Love Hojbjerg when he is rotated, he is just terrible when overplayed. Next season we don't have European competitions or World Cup to worry about, plus we will do some pressing where he is useful. Wouldn't be upset if we sold him and then bought Maddison and Hatate or another creative midfielder though.

 

[EastUpperDK82]

Love Hojbjerg when he is rotated, he is just terrible when overplayed. Next season we don't have European competitions or World Cup to worry about, plus we will do some pressing where he is useful. Wouldn't be upset if we sold him and then bought Maddison and Hatate or another creative midfielder though.

We can do that and keep Højbjerg and be more flexible in midfield ? We don't have to play the same players everytime.

When he plays for Denmark he's in a modern attacking system under Hjulmand and he's doing very well actually ... maybe... just maybe... Ange should have the chance to look at him first.

 

[smithym]

One the players I’d put on the don’t lose list. We need people with passion and there’s no one who shows more.
Try him out with another two in midfield and see how it goes, in his defence last season we were often overran in midfield time after time with the low block. We couldn’t handle a hard press and I think it highlighted a weakness in him.

For me it’s a definitely keep, be crazy to let him go.

 

[djhotspur]

He’s actually one of the best in the league at retaining the ball, with one of the lowest turnover rates

there’s a reason two of the best coaches in the biz used him so much

he’s just been overplayed

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Yeah because he either hides under pressure or plays a negative pass to put someone else under pressure

 

[St José Dominguez]

Yeah because he either hides under pressure or plays a negative pass to put someone else under pressure

Is that actually true? I feel like he’s one of the CMs here I’ve seen complete intricate passes. I can’t remember games where I’ve thought he’s hiding either, if anything something that annoys me a bit about him is he’s demanding the ball constantly even when in a really unsuitable spot to receive a pass. He’ll then get the ball and be forced to pass it backwards because it’s his only option with him not being Dembele.
Fans actually think in his head he’s right, I’m going to pass this ball backwards to Dier and put him under a shit ton of pressure? He’s passing it backwards either because it’s tactical, he’s in a space where unless he suddenly gains the ability of Modric he’s going to be tackled, lack of confidence because of the manager not doing his job or simply it’s an error (something I’ve seen Bentancur do plenty and he’s never called up on). He’s been coached absolutely awfully in my opinion the last 3 years, I hate the way he flaps his arms, I’m not convinced he has the touch and turn required for this new style, but I think he’s a lot better than he’s shown last season.

 

[yido_number1]

He’s actually one of the best in the league at retaining the ball, with one of the lowest turnover rates

there’s a reason two of the best coaches in the biz used him so much

he’s just been overplayed

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It's easy to retain the ball when all you do is pass sideways and backwards.

 

[ShayLaB]

It's easy to retain the ball when all you do is pass sideways and backwards.

Alternatively maybe "we never stop" refers to off the ball movement allowing more passing options.

 

[spursfan77]

It's easy to retain the ball when all you do is pass sideways and backwards.

Yep. That graph of stats doesn’t tell the whole story. I just think he’s probably quite easy to upgrade on and we would get a decent fee for him to invest elsewhere. Getting £30 million from him to put towards a new centre back like Guehi makes a lot of sense, for example.

 

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

Just like the Madrid rumours I’d be surprised if these BM links were true. For all these top managers that supposedly love him you would think they’d be a bit more noise about some of them being interested. Coming to the end of his contract and the start of covid he was seen as a value signing by the club.

Think people will only realise how much of a problem it’s been having him in there when we hopefully get a midfield who can handle the ball and have a bit of athleticism. We wouldn’t be able to play good football consistently with him in the side imo and I wouldn’t want him as a squad player either as it will dilute the message of how the manager wants to play. You can’t have some players not being able and or willing to take the ball under pressure and turn and play/drive forward. It’s got to be a complete buy in.