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Understanding and Appreciating Simplicity.
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg
A thread:
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg
A thread:
I'm doing this thread as I'm sick of all those who still can't understand Højbjerg's role.
People seem to expect things that he isn't supposed to even be trying. I've seen so many say that he is a "mediocre signing." When he's not.
So, here we are.
I hope this thread helps.
People seem to expect things that he isn't supposed to even be trying. I've seen so many say that he is a "mediocre signing." When he's not.
So, here we are.
I hope this thread helps.
Football is not just about aesthetics. I know, people love players who do flicks, step-overs, roulettes, etc
But, what pains me is that the same people can't appreciate the simple things too. Slide tackling, aggressive pressing, ball recoveries, interceptions, blocks, shielding.
But, what pains me is that the same people can't appreciate the simple things too. Slide tackling, aggressive pressing, ball recoveries, interceptions, blocks, shielding.
Let me take a detour, and talk about our defensive midfield options.
1: Winks isn't a DM
2: Sissoko isn't even a Midfielder
3: Dier moved back to CB
That's right, we've NOBODY.
Just because Jose plays Winks behind, doesn't mean that he sees him as a DM.
1: Winks isn't a DM
2: Sissoko isn't even a Midfielder
3: Dier moved back to CB
That's right, we've NOBODY.
Just because Jose plays Winks behind, doesn't mean that he sees him as a DM.
I cannot stress how big of a blunder not replacing Dembele was.
1: We let him go in January
2: The facts are there, we never won an away game (in the league) or kept a single cleansheet on the road since his departure under Poch
What's worse is most of the CL money was MISUSED.
1: We let him go in January
2: The facts are there, we never won an away game (in the league) or kept a single cleansheet on the road since his departure under Poch
What's worse is most of the CL money was MISUSED.
I'm a huge fan of Tanguy and Gio. But NEITHER of them are replacements for Dembele.
Tanguy has the dribbling and forward drive that Mousa had. But he was never going to sit back as a DM. Ndombele is someone who needs freedom to thrive, DMs don't get that, at all.
Gio is an AM.
Tanguy has the dribbling and forward drive that Mousa had. But he was never going to sit back as a DM. Ndombele is someone who needs freedom to thrive, DMs don't get that, at all.
Gio is an AM.
And so, we went ONE FULL SEASON without a Defensive Midfielder.
DMs of the Big Six:
1: Liverpool - Fabinho
2: City - Rodri, Fernandinho
3: Chelsea- Kante, Jorginho
4: United - Matic
5: Arsenal - Xhaka
6: Spurs -
This is arguably the most important position in football.
DMs of the Big Six:
1: Liverpool - Fabinho
2: City - Rodri, Fernandinho
3: Chelsea- Kante, Jorginho
4: United - Matic
5: Arsenal - Xhaka
6: Spurs -
This is arguably the most important position in football.
A Defensive Midfielder is responsible for shielding the backline, winning the ball back, and then distributing the ball to carriers like Ndombele and creators like Lo Celso.
There was NO WAY we could survive without a DM. We kept being overrun as Winks really can't do that job.
There was NO WAY we could survive without a DM. We kept being overrun as Winks really can't do that job.
For what it's worth. We had SO MANY technically gifted players. Eriksen till January, Gio, Tanguy. These players are capable of giving our forward line so many chances in a plate.
BUT, we had ZERO players who knew how to do the SIMPLEST Tasks in football.
BUT, we had ZERO players who knew how to do the SIMPLEST Tasks in football.
And so, our hunt for a DM began, and we identified PEH as the target for both financial and footballing reasons.
It's not about Jose or what kind of football he wants to play.
Not having a DM is the biggest mistake any administration + coaching staff can ever make.
It's not about Jose or what kind of football he wants to play.
Not having a DM is the biggest mistake any administration + coaching staff can ever make.
Getting in PEH was necessary for two reasons.
A: Someone really needed to win the second balls.
Second balls: Once the ball is hoisted up, someone will head it. The ball is now loose, ready to be won, and ideally, a DM pounces to recover it.
B: To free the creative midfielders
A: Someone really needed to win the second balls.
Second balls: Once the ball is hoisted up, someone will head it. The ball is now loose, ready to be won, and ideally, a DM pounces to recover it.
B: To free the creative midfielders
Do you know who was the player who suffered the most because we had no DM?
GIO LO CELSO.
Today, so many people mock him for not having enough goals + assists.
It wasn't his fault.
Gio is such an aggressive and mobile footballer that Jose had no choice but to put him as a DLP.
GIO LO CELSO.
Today, so many people mock him for not having enough goals + assists.
It wasn't his fault.
Gio is such an aggressive and mobile footballer that Jose had no choice but to put him as a DLP.
A deep-lying playmaker (DLP) is responsible for aggressive tracking to win the ball back, and then feed passes to the attackers
Gio had to drop back so many times
Fun fact: Gio was MUCH BETTER defensively than Winks.
Thankfully now we've PEH, so Gio can be relieved of this job
Gio had to drop back so many times
Fun fact: Gio was MUCH BETTER defensively than Winks.
Thankfully now we've PEH, so Gio can be relieved of this job
Now, coming to the main part of the thread. Why PEH?
1: Thrives in ball recoveries (best ITL)
2: He's a leader, was the captain of Southampton.
3: If you saw his interview when he joined, you'd know that he's amongst the most matured players in our team.
4: Winner with Bayern.
1: Thrives in ball recoveries (best ITL)
2: He's a leader, was the captain of Southampton.
3: If you saw his interview when he joined, you'd know that he's amongst the most matured players in our team.
4: Winner with Bayern.
I saw a lot of people slandering PEH for being "clumsy and chaotic."
Well, let me tell you this, "That's why we bought him."
PEH excels in breaking opposition attacks, either by abruptly fouling, or by fairly recovering the ball. After that, he's technical enough to distribute.
Well, let me tell you this, "That's why we bought him."
PEH excels in breaking opposition attacks, either by abruptly fouling, or by fairly recovering the ball. After that, he's technical enough to distribute.
Sissoko: Is physical enough to bully, push, and shrug his way to win the ball. BUT, he has no control, can't play a good pass, can't deal with aerial recoveries without miscontrolling.
Winks: Can recover the ball, but doesn't have that intuition and decision making. Also, slow.
Winks: Can recover the ball, but doesn't have that intuition and decision making. Also, slow.
It's something like this.
"Don't watch Højbjerg to please your mind, watch him with an aggressive mentality that the opposition SHOULD NOT have the ball beyond 30 seconds."
Observe him. ALWAYS talking, ALWAYS running, ALWAYS organising, ALWAYS trying to halt opposing attacks.
"Don't watch Højbjerg to please your mind, watch him with an aggressive mentality that the opposition SHOULD NOT have the ball beyond 30 seconds."
Observe him. ALWAYS talking, ALWAYS running, ALWAYS organising, ALWAYS trying to halt opposing attacks.
His performance against Southampton was exactly what we needed.
But, the problem is that, you see him beside Winks and brand them "both" as unproductive.
Some day, PEH will be a single-pivot with Ndombele and Gio ahead of him, and you'll appreciate him a lot more.
But, the problem is that, you see him beside Winks and brand them "both" as unproductive.
Some day, PEH will be a single-pivot with Ndombele and Gio ahead of him, and you'll appreciate him a lot more.
Tanguy is on his way to full fitness, Gio is still in that preseason phase, but is going to reach the complete condition
Jose is aware that Winks is a good squad player but not someone who can start every week. Stop judging PEH for the shortcomings of another player. It's unfair
Jose is aware that Winks is a good squad player but not someone who can start every week. Stop judging PEH for the shortcomings of another player. It's unfair
Football is a fine mix between aesthetics and tactical discipline
You can have all those flicks, tricks, and sauce, but if it's not balanced with players who are there to "get the job done," there's no point.
In PEH's own words, his role is to, "Improve the players around him."
You can have all those flicks, tricks, and sauce, but if it's not balanced with players who are there to "get the job done," there's no point.
In PEH's own words, his role is to, "Improve the players around him."
By "improving the players around him." He means to say that he takes care of the basic tasks that none of our players know to do, and allows them to focus on what they're good at.
Gio is better when he's free upfield.
Tanguy is better when he doesn't have to recover loose balls.
Gio is better when he's free upfield.
Tanguy is better when he doesn't have to recover loose balls.
I don't know how informative this thread is, it feels more like a rant
But, to conclude, I must say that despite all the signings we've made, I stick by my point that Højbjerg is the most important one.
The first signing we made this window, is the one that'll drive us forward.
But, to conclude, I must say that despite all the signings we've made, I stick by my point that Højbjerg is the most important one.
The first signing we made this window, is the one that'll drive us forward.
Note: Some of you say that PEH isn't a DM. That's right, he isn't and out-and-out DM that would just sit back. And that's more of an advantage for us.
If I must draw a comparison: Take the good attributes of Dembele and Wanyama and add a leader into it: You'll get Højbjerg.
If I must draw a comparison: Take the good attributes of Dembele and Wanyama and add a leader into it: You'll get Højbjerg.
End of thread.
Likes and Retweets are much appreciated.
I don't expect this thread to "OPEN EYES." But, after this thread, I want you to WATCH him, understand WHY he's on the pitch, and appreciate the fact that he's the best in what he does.
Watch him, carefully.
Likes and Retweets are much appreciated.
I don't expect this thread to "OPEN EYES." But, after this thread, I want you to WATCH him, understand WHY he's on the pitch, and appreciate the fact that he's the best in what he does.
Watch him, carefully.
