Kasper Høgh.
I’m going to write my own scout reports on players who aren’t particularly mainstream but have a shout of moving to another club in the January window. Kasper Høgh is one of these after having two good seasons at FK Bodø/Glimt in Norway. With 41 goals in 80 games there’ll be interest from abroad no doubt. Some people have a different way of looking at players; I personally like to do it on a game by game basis against opposition that are considered a test to try and evaluate their true level.
vs Sturm Graz:
Høgh‘s run selection when in crossing situations was very noticeable in what he was trying to do. Whilst some coaches tell you to have variety of runs and to make the movement before the ball is crossed and out of sight of the defender, Høgh was keeping his distance from the defenders and looking to go into the vacated space. He didn’t engage physically in the box once. If the centre back went right, he went left, if the centre back went left, he went right. If the centre back was retreating, he’d delay and keep the separation. A classic you move they move.
His linkup was pretty minimal but he did showcase some nice one touch passing when played into him. He’d play it wide and then spin off and accelerate into space. Whilst he’s not rapid, he’s not slow either. He’s sharp over short distances which creates separation to start off with, but can’t keep that up over longer distances and the defenders are able to get back and cover.
Physically he rarely got involved but when he did he was able to use his strength fairly well by holding off with his left arm, but at the same time he was moved a bit too easily albeit he kept his balance and recycled possession.
The Dane had two shots in this game, one from a crossing situation above which he mistimed and then being played through but was too slow to get his shot off. Head down, needing four small strides to set himself. Against higher level opposition you need to cut these strides to shot ratio to around two. The quicker you get shots off, the better chance you have of scoring at a higher level.
vs Juventus:
Similar to the Sturm Graz game. Høgh does not want to engage physically when he’s running or in the box from crossing situations. An example here where he’s trying to get into space (back peddling looking for it) and in his comfort zone but he’s being grappled and can’t find his rhythm and is thrown off by the defender which leads to him half jumping for a header.
Must admit I’m not liking what I’m seeing so far. Physically he’s very easy to move off the ball and distract him. He knows this though, which is a good thing, he’s not playing the centre backs game and instead is running towards the ball in goal kick situations and using his good one touch ink play to recycle possession.
Second half Bremmer wised up to his ideas of dropping deeper on his side and got aggressive which stopped it from happening from the rest of the game.
However as soon as he enters the box, his runs and movement are easy to handle as all the Juventus CBs are doing are putting a hand on him and that’s him a non factor. There was a chance for Bodo where if he was stronger, he’d of had a tap in back post. Any time someone got physical with him, that was him out of the game.
You can play a ball into him and he’ll mostly stop it dead and keep things going.
His movement again is looking for that space and not wanting any physical battles. Which is fine in some instances like set pieces as it gives you a clear advantage for flick ons and attempts at goal but when it’s all you do, your chances of scoring against better opposition is lower because you’re reactive rather than predictive in your movements for where the ball will likely go. He’s also slow to get shots off again, he needs three more touches and steps to set himself and the backlift in his leg movement to strike the ball isn’t quick enough either. Being in a Knutsen team mean he will get chances regardless of the opposition, especially at home, but against the better opposition he leaves a lot to be desired unless there’s a clear opportunity in space for him to finish.
Conclusion:
I watched his full 90 vs Galatasaray and Spurs as well and it’s more of the same, but think he’s a beneficiary of being in such a good system in the league for Bodo in a league that’s not particularly strong. His record in Europe being 1 in 10 in the Champions League and 7 in 14 being against Twente, Olympiacos and Maccabi Tel-Aviv, with only one coming from away from home says a lot to me. He has to be comfortable to perform. Nice one touch link player, weak aerially and physically, and awkward finisher. Not a clean tenchnique, a lot of his efforts are ‘scuffed’ and he takes an extra few touches to get shots off under pressure which end up being blocked or put off by a defender who’s recovered, which happens consistently. Also his movement is heavily space related and he doesn’t change that approach ever. It’s so predictable. No variation. I also think there is such thing as “Knutsen tax” when it comes to this. Bodo have one of the biggest advantages due to the nature of their pitch so, in home games, against possession dominant sides, they’ll have the advantage on a quicker playing field for them. If you look at Hogh’s record away from home in Europe, he’s only scored in two games out of a possible twenty eight. Not just this, players that leave often find themselves back within three seasons. Patrick Berg is by far the best player, left, wasn’t good enough in France and went back. Jens Petter Haug another top player for them, left, bounced around Milan, Frankfurt and Gent not really doing anything before ending up back in Norway at Bodo. Philip Zinckernagel another, did ok for Watford and Forest, went to Belgium where he was fairly good but found himself back at Bodo four years later. It’s a problem and a testament to how good Knutsen is with these players and how he platforms talent. You can take the wider view of players who have left Norwegian football and not been the same even in the last five seasons. Faris Moubagna, another Bodo attacker scored 15 in 28 in 2023, left the club and has scored 3 league goals since and can’t get a game for Cremonese in Italy. Svere Nypan is struggling for minutes at Middlesbrough and his performance levels are meh, albeit I can let him off for being just 18. Albert Gronbaek was unreal for Bodo, can’t get in any of the teams he’s played in since leaving. Henrik Meister was great at Sarpsborg and has barely played or scored since. Casper Tengstedt scored 15 in 14 for Rosenborg four seasons ago and has scored 13 goals since then. Erik Botheim, another Knutsen discovery. Didn’t score a single goal for his previous club, went into that Bodo system, scored 15 in 30, got a move to Salernitana and proceeded to score 4 in 39 and now finds himself at Malmo in Sweden where he’s doing pretty well. There are some exceptions of course; mainly being one of the best 9s ever in Haaland, but also Victor Boniface, Akor Adams and Aune Heggebo. But what do they all have in common? Physicality and speed. It’s not a surprise none of the others who don’t have these traits are the ones struggling in demanding leagues, which is why I don’t think Hogh would be a success outside of a technical first league. He should avoid English football or a top five league in general. Would do well in a tier 2/3 league which for the money Bodo would want, doesn’t make it viable.