Steve Grant of the Total Saints Podcast (March 1st, 14:15) has slammed the performance of Southampton midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg against West Ham United.
What’s he said?
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men lost 3-1 to the Hammers on Saturday.
Hojbjerg played the entire 90 minutes as goals from Jarrod Bowen, Sebastien Haller, and Michail Antonio gave David Moyes’ men all three points.
His central midfield partner, Will Smallbone, was substituted in the 78th minute but Grant believes he was the better of the two central players.
He said: “Smallbone I actually thought was, to be honest, the better of the two central midfielders.
“Hojbjerg had an absolute shocker.
“His pass completion rate must have been way below 50% for yesterday. He was just absolutely dreadful.”
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Just wrong
Grant has got this completely wrong.
Per WhoScored, Hojbjerg had a match rating of 7.3, the third-highest of any player to start for the visitors at the London Stadium.
He had 77 touches of the ball, a pass completion rate of 79%, while registering one key pass. Smallbone did have a higher pass accuracy, with 88%, but he didn’t manage a key pass.
The 24-year-old, who has been linked with a summer move to Tottenham Hotspur and was interesting Everton in January according to Sky Sports, also completed four dribbles, the joint-highest of any player on the pitch, made two tackles, and won two aerial duels.
This was actually an impressive performance from the Saints skipper; the podcast contributor simply saw something different on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Southampton fans have slammed another man!