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Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

TEESSIDE1

Married, new job and Spurs on the up!
Jul 3, 2006
15,089
18,780
I’m on the fence re Hojbjerg. I agree with many posters that’s he’s an excellent player to bring on to see out a game but he’s a round peg in a square hole when he starts games.

Part of me would keep him as squad player but when I think about it that would leave us with:

Bissouma, Sarr, Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Skipp and soon to be Bergvall. Plus Lo Celso if he ever stays fit.

Lo Celso may or may not leave in the summer and Hojbjerg is better than Skipp. However, we’re still a quality player light in central midfield and if we manage to sign one that would put Hojbjerg as 5th or 6th choice. If he’s happy being that player then great but under no circumstances should we be keeping him if it thwarts our need to bring in another quality addition to compliment Bissouma, Sarr and Bentancur.
 

GutBucket

Well-Known Member
May 26, 2013
6,808
11,492
Would be great as squad player but he's too good for that, he will want to leave somewhere where he will start most games. We will probably sign someone similar to Ederson or Gallagher, we need midfielders with pace/agility considering our high line. I think that he is similar to Dier, great professional and useful player in the right tactical setup, but not for Ange.
 

easley91

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2011
18,721
53,768
I respect him, but this summer is the time to part ways. We have to be ruthless in this regard to fringe players. We may appreciate the job they do in the immediate term, but long term we have to start looking at moving them on. No more contract extensions just because.
 

Styopa

Well-Known Member
Jan 19, 2014
5,136
14,177
I respect him, but this summer is the time to part ways. We have to be ruthless in this regard to fringe players. We may appreciate the job they do in the immediate term, but long term we have to start looking at moving them on. No more contract extensions just because.

I agree, but in this case wasn’t it that Hojbjerg didn’t want to go, at least not to the clubs who approached him?

You can put pressure on players to leave but it’s difficult to force them.

I know we can take lower fees sometimes which will help. But I think it’s also the salaries some of these guys are on, which they won’t get elsewhere.
 

easley91

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2011
18,721
53,768
I agree, but in this case wasn’t it that Hojbjerg didn’t want to go, at least not to the clubs who approached him?

You can put pressure on players to leave but it’s difficult to force them.

I know we can take lower fees sometimes which will help. But I think it’s also the salaries some of these guys are on, which they won’t get elsewhere.
I have always said there are multiple parties in doing deals, the player is a major part obviously. But we can't keep giving contract extensions to players we actively want to sell (even if they don't want to go). Otherwise we will be in an endless cycle like we have been for umpteen years trying to move players off the books where we end up loaning for a season and move the problem to the following summer.
 

NEVILLEB

Well-Known Member
Nov 6, 2006
6,733
6,335
Hojbjerg's real problems are all off the ball.

He drifts out of position and chases the ball instead of picking up his man.

On the ball he has very good long range passing ability and can be a real asset.
 

bubble07

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2004
22,959
29,896
Definitely been a better than decent signing for us. Basically I feel we have got our moneys worth and some with him

But he needs to go along with skipp and GLC for a player who can genuinely compete with Bissouma/Sarr for a starting spot then wr are sorted in that area
 
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