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Alert Team
I've been one of his most vocal critics for his negativity under Conte, but against Fulham, he showed he may yet prove pivotal in our campaign this season; come January we have to face at least a moth without Sarr or Bissouma - whilst not on the same level of Bissouma in terms of his game impact, he did show v Fulham that he can be called in from the cold and play front foot football..
So, he is the man who must not be sold come the January window; if we did, we could well be shooting ourselves in both feet, he now knows Ange system and his place in it.
Hoj made some important contributions against Fulham — winning possession in their half in the lead-up to Spurs’ second and playing some very useful passes — including an excellent switch of play to Richarlison in the second half. On the debit side was a booking for a late tackle on Willian — though Bissouma is hardly immune to those either — and some hurried passes when more composure was needed.
read more here: https://theathletic.com/4991522/2023/10/24/tottenham-fulham-hojbjerg-bissouma/
The chart uses data from smarterscout, which rates an individual’s ability in specific metrics out of 99, relative to other players in their position.
It shows Bissouma is excelling both in the defensive and offensive sides of the game. xG from shot creation shows how much a player’s actions contribute to creating scoring chances for their team; an individual gets credited for their contributions in relation to taking shots, creating chances, making the pass before the chance, and so on.
For carry and dribble volume, the higher their score, the more carries of 10 or more metres or one-on-one dribbles a player attempts per attacking touch. Defending intensity shows how often the player is the most relevant defender when their side are out of possession. The higher the number here, the more it shows that player to be actively applying pressure and making defensive actions.
It’s early days and Bissouma may not be able to sustain his early season form. He is also likely to pick up more suspensions.
But assuming he remains Ange’s first-choice No 6, where does that leave Hojbjerg? How happy will a player so used to being an automatic starter for his first three years at Spurs — and in the two before that with previous club Southampton — be with his new role of useful squad player?
The consensus from those in his native Denmark is this situation will not suit Hojbjerg for long.
While Hoj may not be happy, he has been nothing but professional over the past few months, applying himself with complete commitment in training and in games when he’s come on, making useful contributions — he helped shore up the side in the August victories over Manchester United and Bournemouth and played a big part in Kulu's late winner against Sheffield United in September.
It would have been easy for Hoj to sulk after losing his place and missing out on a move in the summer — and in general, his colleagues have been pleasantly surprised by his reaction to his reduced status.
The challenge, which Ange has managed well so far, will be keeping the squad’s fringe players hungry and motivated.
So, he is the man who must not be sold come the January window; if we did, we could well be shooting ourselves in both feet, he now knows Ange system and his place in it.
Hoj made some important contributions against Fulham — winning possession in their half in the lead-up to Spurs’ second and playing some very useful passes — including an excellent switch of play to Richarlison in the second half. On the debit side was a booking for a late tackle on Willian — though Bissouma is hardly immune to those either — and some hurried passes when more composure was needed.
read more here: https://theathletic.com/4991522/2023/10/24/tottenham-fulham-hojbjerg-bissouma/
The chart uses data from smarterscout, which rates an individual’s ability in specific metrics out of 99, relative to other players in their position.
It shows Bissouma is excelling both in the defensive and offensive sides of the game. xG from shot creation shows how much a player’s actions contribute to creating scoring chances for their team; an individual gets credited for their contributions in relation to taking shots, creating chances, making the pass before the chance, and so on.
For carry and dribble volume, the higher their score, the more carries of 10 or more metres or one-on-one dribbles a player attempts per attacking touch. Defending intensity shows how often the player is the most relevant defender when their side are out of possession. The higher the number here, the more it shows that player to be actively applying pressure and making defensive actions.
It’s early days and Bissouma may not be able to sustain his early season form. He is also likely to pick up more suspensions.
But assuming he remains Ange’s first-choice No 6, where does that leave Hojbjerg? How happy will a player so used to being an automatic starter for his first three years at Spurs — and in the two before that with previous club Southampton — be with his new role of useful squad player?
The consensus from those in his native Denmark is this situation will not suit Hojbjerg for long.
While Hoj may not be happy, he has been nothing but professional over the past few months, applying himself with complete commitment in training and in games when he’s come on, making useful contributions — he helped shore up the side in the August victories over Manchester United and Bournemouth and played a big part in Kulu's late winner against Sheffield United in September.
It would have been easy for Hoj to sulk after losing his place and missing out on a move in the summer — and in general, his colleagues have been pleasantly surprised by his reaction to his reduced status.
The challenge, which Ange has managed well so far, will be keeping the squad’s fringe players hungry and motivated.
