For public consumption: http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/23/real-madrid-bayern-munich-live-mbm
I think he's a really good defender; I also think he's a clown who will pull this kind of histrionic crap, and our players need to be fully ready for it.
Yep. Just to add to the thread, Coentrao has also been very good, providing a literally inch-perfect (seriously, go watch) pass for Real's goal and defending 1v1 against Robben about as well as he could have.
Ronaldo and Nani both not a 100% after hamstring injuries...the only 2 great attacking players Portugal have. I'm not too worried about Nani, he'll be well rested and training and playing up until the world cup will help him regain form. Yet Ronaldo already has a lot of minutes on his legs and while he will slowly get better the amount of games playing through it now means it will never fully begin to heal until pre-world cup. Hopefully the 3 weeks after the season and before the tournament are enough to rest up and let it heal completely and not niggle him.
Sometimes I joke that we should call up a goon-type of player to piss off Pepe to the point there he gets so made he commits an offense that would obviously lead to a straight red. Where's Lenhart when you need him?
Pepe, Ronaldo and Fabio Coentrao were outstanding against the acknowledged best team in the world. If they were the only good pieces Portugal could put on the pitch, it'd be formidable.
Yeah, that was scary. Fortunately they won't have Benzema streaking down to get on the end of those passes. Still, no doubt we will have our hands full.
Pepe and Marcelo are two of the biggestt a$$hats playing the game right now. Brilliantly talented individuals, but a$$hats nonetheless. I know the latter isn't Portugese other than his heritage but they are a pair of complete a$$hats. I'm shocked Pepe hasn't been fined for carrying around a fake blood packet in his jersey yet. I was about to lose it when both center backs were on the ground in the late second half rolling about like they had caught javelins in the groins. Ultimately it's better for the US if Madrid was to go on to the CL final to exhaust CRon, Coentrao and Pepe, but I still can't stand watching Pepe any more than I have to. Douche. Plus, the guy kills me when I play against RM in FIFA.
I don't want Jermaine, Jr. anywhere near Pepe when we play them. His antics might work against a feeble minded ref and get Jermaine a red. Most refs are going to be vigilant in regards to Jermaine's history and will likely be quick to produce a card.
On the contrary. I think JJ would be one of the best on our team at treading that line opposite someone like Pepe. You think he hasn't already seen that sort of thing in his career? In fact - Anyone know if they have faced off before? *That* would be a fascinating question for the soccer data geeks here
I'm not particularly strong at soccer data, but my Google-fu suggests that Pepe and Jermaine Jones keep barely missing each other. Pepe left Porto months before they faced Eintracht Frankfurt in Europa League. Jones left Schalke 04 months before they faced Real Madrid in Champions League.
Interesting comments here vis a vis what Pepé's temperament might suggest for USMNT tactics. When I see him lose his cool in Real matches, I keep thinking that's what gets EJ a ticket on the 23 ahead of Wondo (as a second striker or depth, I mean, not ahead of Altidore).
Ronaldo is going to be playing as a central striker. Basically he is going to try to run behind our CB's all game long. Sweden was mercilessly punished that way. Their defense is rock solid for the most part. In midfield we have a little more box to box driving ability but they definitely beat us in possession play. We are going to have to count on Bradley's runs out of midfield to drive our attack and create for our forwards and wide midfielders. I hope our defense has a great day or Ronaldo an off day. We are going to need someone like Edu to shield the backline and our fullbacks are going to need to stay back mostly to track the off the ball runs of Ronaldo and company. Sounds daunting, but not terrible.
Putting his "antics" aside, Pepe has everything you'd want in a CB. He is tall and strong with good pace and quickness. He has relatively good ball handling and distribution skills. He is aggressive without being a foul machine. Always seems to come up with the key tackle when necessary. Tough. Poised. The total package.
As for Portugal, remember that it took a heroic performance from Ronaldo for them to get past Sweden. I like to think we're better than Sweden, though that might not actually be the case. Should be a tight game if we don't flub it.
One more crack on Pepe from the Matchcast "73 min: Raphael Varane does replace Pepe, whose removal makes the game 427% more tolerable." ""Pepe clutching his buttock before going off," says Craig Trainor. "I wanted to see him go off because he's a pain in the arse not because of one but I'm grateful for it nonetheless.""
Meh. The English press always says crap about any player who's not born in England. Those of us who followed Dempsey there, and are following Altidore now, and even Guzan and Howard, realize they rarely praise foreign players. They still talk of Rooney as if he were the best in the world, though.