What a player. I’d go as far as saying that if someone were to fail to understand the importance of this particular Dane, then anything else that person might also say about football is probably also flawed. I say this from the perspective of someone who understood how important Michael Carrick was, and how important Luka Modrić was.
It’s not Pierre’s job to play as well for Tottenham as he does for his country, it is Tottenham Hotspur’s job to provide the means, the tangible platform for him to do so.
Here’s the assist.
And here’s the SIXTEEN interceptions Hojbjerg made against France.
A 62% duel win rate isn’t so shabby, either…
Yes, a complete turncoat in the end. Pleased we had him but he didn’t give a flying about Spurs…
Indeed. How old is Modders now 38? And he’s still the man at Madrid…. Fair play to the treacherous little leprechaun who refused to play for us so he could join Chavski.. Lol.
Don’t put yourself down Paul. You have the same credibility as anyone posting here. H is the closest person to an expert here, the Boy is usually correct on most matters.. The rest of us are semi pro, amateur players, and armchair fans..
Contes favourite and most successful is 352. He hasn’t really had the personnel so he’s been playing 343.
He will always stick with three at the back plus two wing backs. The midfield and forwards roles and positions will change according to the opposition.
I’m sure he will want another decent striker to partner Kane. Also a centre mid to help unlock defences. More quality and options are needed so he can start playing 352 properly.
The 343 and 352 will never change because he’s already won so much with them. His system is proven.
I absolutely adore the man and hope he takes Spurs in to his heart, the longer he stays with us the better.
Never has there been such an important time to ‘back the damn manager’.
A present day version of Steffen Freund, or maybe even Timmy Sherwood… 🤔
PEH’s attitude is never something one is forced to question…
I will always put footballing prowess above defensive capabilities when judging the quality of a player. Therefore PEH rates way below those two in terms of quality, and that’s by no means dismissing the good things PEH brings. All three are outstanding team players, none of them go (or went) missing, yet Carrick and Modric nearly always influenced proceedings going forward. I’m not sure that can always be said for PEH. Horses for courses, in some games he will be key and in others largely unneeded. Modric is one of the era’s great players and a head and shoulders above the other two. I like PEH but I have an issue with even mentioning him in the same sentence as Modric in terms of comparison.
You do if he’s not the type of player that you want in your team for 96 minutes every week…
Yep. Not going to have 26 worldies, and if your next level can be boys such as those two you are doing well.
Lots of games next in a long 22/23 season, plus the Qatar debacle. Injuries, suspensions, and the ability to mix and match is essential
Rodri is probably the best.
They all played deep and holding in centre midfield… Hojberg is probably the best defender out of the three, but arguably the worst player… Carrick was a good defender and outrageous passer of the ball. Not particularly quick but his passing and vision took his game to a whole new level… Modders was easily the best player and best all rounder. A competent defender, probably the worst defender of the three. But on the ball though he excels. He was a bit like Messi the way he moved in his prime. Untouchable with the ball. His ability to morph in to a box to box midfielder was always impressive too. His engine and work rate was top. For me it’s 1 Modders.. 2 Carrick.. 3 Hojberg..
Brilliant off the ball. Competent on the ball… A level below Modders who is world class… Hobbie is like a well built Scotty Parker. At his best defending, intercepting, tackling, generally sweeping the pitch reading where he’s needed to drop in. He’s great at breaking up opponents rhythm and play. Has the right winning mentality which is essential.
The formation is the key. It is ok for Conte to start 3 at the back, but when teams go 442 and stack the middle, we can easily come out of the shape especially with Davies as left wingback by trade. Sessengnon into the left side mid,Poch use to do that with Rose and now we would have numbers. We don’t even need to change personnel in that tactical move which too often never occur for us to break down teams sitting. I just hope he gets what he want to play his style.
You dont rotate a player that turns up every week and plays for 96 mins. Fancy dans always injured are scourge of professional football.
Is this the same player Spurs fans want dropped from the team for being useless.
No Bentancur today sadly. I was looking forward to seeing him.
I guess we both know nothing about football Paul because I agree. How many points did we drop due to very little attacking? That still remains to me our biggest issue. Not that I really have any credibility…
Yep, players like PEH and Davies should be important cogs in an effective squad but not king-pins.
Skipp looks a better all round player for me than Winks was but people do tend to forget how promising Winks was looking as a ball playing midfielder at say 21/22. That injury really knocked the stuffing out of him, I heard somewhere that he may have to tolerate pain in his knee for the rest of his career since then.
I guess you guys on this post must have more credibility than I do. Said this many times and promptly told I know nothing about football and must be a Hojberg hater which is far from the truth. The point is not if Betancur can cover the grass in attack, it is whether he is an attacking mid being able to boss the final third ala Erikssen. It so happen that PEH lack certain nous but brilliant in his role as a cover man. If we do not have a holding mid the caliber of Betancur who is really good then PEH is immortal; but he is in the wrong tactical System that is playing 2 holding mids out of necessity. What happens when we acquire a creative mid. Who sits? We have basically 3 attackers and 7 defenders and don’t tell me it is modern day foot ball and the fullbacks should get forward. They are defenders. So if that is the case with the fullback then it is OK to not have a creative mid and the domino effect is having the best striker in the world too often mascarading as the creative force from deep. So you see why Kane never gets subbed.
I agree, he’s bit limited in that regard and in this day and age and at this level you need to have a wider skill set, regardless of how hard you work or snuff out things defensively.
I really like Skipp. He may have been our best player before he got hurt. Every manager seems to love him too.
I think Bentancur is the deep lying playmaker anyway. I feel Conte would prefer more of ball carrier or box to box player than PEH alongside him, He introduced Bakayoko to play alongside Cante in his Chavski midfield because of his all round midfield game.
This by no means the end of the line under Conte for PEH but if Conte brings in another midfielder this summer we can expect PEH to be rotated and mix and matched with others to get the right blend. Not sure PEH would be in Conte’s starting 11 if he had another viable option. Valuable but not indispensable, if we spend in that area of the team…
Spot on. He’s very underrated.
Agree, all he needs is the occasional rest.
The main problem I have with him in possession is his first touch. He lacks that ability to take the touch and open his body up, and give himself options. It is a bit clunky, and when we are facing low blocks you want to move the ball slickly and crisply.
Without the ball I find he is not positionally great. Give him a ball/man to chase and he is in his element, but his anticipation of what may happen leaves a lot to be desired.
If we have designs on moving up and away from the 4th place scrap he should not be the first choice starter.
I don’t think so. Winks never really possessed the right instincts. Skipp does. He has more understanding of his role.
Generally it is not 2 cdm. PEH plays more defensively, while Bentancur plays more consistently from box to box.
However, a formation that would allow a 3rd playmaker of some type could be more effective against the clubs that tend to get numbers behind the ball. Whether creating with diagonal crosses from the edges, or with sliding passes from just behind the forwards.
Curious to see which type Conte chooses.
I wanted PEH at the time and would not actively look to sell. However, where we are now is about his level as a starter. Similarly Ben Davies, who has had a great season.
We are looking to kick on, and the biggest positions for me for potential starters were a left centre back, two wingbacks, and a centre mid.
He’s more similar to Parker, and essential to the squad. We need a new playmaker like Modric or Carrick and axe Winks for good. I’d like Neves or Milinkovic-Savic, but we’ll see. Lots of games next season and we need 4 solid CM’s. Hopefully Skipp will progress further, there’s potential there
We may have seen the best of Skipp, as we did with Winks before his big injury…
I’d go along with that, definitely.
Modric and Carrick aren’t the comparisons I would make with PEH. Both of those two were playmakers who played deep and therefore far more influential on the creative aspects of the team. He’s more of a ball winner than a ball passer, the ‘water carrier’ as it’s known. All teams or squads need this kind of player, however under appreciated they can be at times. Yet not the complete holding player like Cante for example…
And now Ben Davies for Wales is shining. I’m not one who enjoys skating on the thin ice of ‘player improvement’, but I sure am enjoying seeing what Conte has done with these lads. Mouth watering at the prospect of what he can do with grade A players.
Ben Davies having a very good game for Wales.
I’ve always rated PEH and think he, Skippy and Benty are all quality CDMs. The issue I have is not with the performances but with the formation. Playing 3 CBs and 2 CDMs seems too defensive against the bus parkers and cup minnoes. But what do I know?
I like him you need a warrior in your midfield.
Those pinning their hopes in Skipp may be disappointed.
At the moment there are no guarantees
Screams out is a tad harsh, I think. To my mind, the positions that scream out for upgrades/depth are especially the wing backs and centre backs, as well as a competent second striker. If we get an extra couple goals and assists from the WBs, it will make a lot of difference.
PEH and Bentancur are a solid duo, and with Skipp waiting in the wings, the CM/DM position is actually not bad. Maybe one more guy to come in, but it’s not a crisis.
PEH never stops working hard, is always available, and there’s also some creativity in there. He also seems to care about Spurs and doesn’t let his head drop.
It’s become somewhat fashionable to criticise him last season, which baffles me entirely. Who would you want as a DM instead? Skipp? In the PL, I would suggest only Kanté is above PEH, maybe Fabinho.
He does exactly what he’s supposed to do in his position and does it very well and consistently. Let’s be happy about having a quality player and give credit where credit’s due.
As someone who also saw what Carrick brought to Spurs (and what England always lack), it is the polar opposite of what Hojbjerg brings.
Don’t get me wrong, i’m not advocating we sell him, I am more than happy to have him in the squad and for him to see plenty of minutes, but lets not pretend he is something he isn’t.
If we want to kick on, and are not happy to flutter around 4th/5th, then his position is one that screams out to be upgraded.