I imagine any squad that backed up a Brinks truck to get an 18 year old will have a long leash with him. I can't imagine, after a season where the entire team was crap and they were lucky to survive relegation, that anyone from the board to the fans has given up on him. Using the Dutch goal bonanza league as a way to grow and develop his confidence was a great move and perhaps Augsburg can utilize him better starting next season. We shall see.
I'd say by experience we should take big numbers in the Ered with a grain of salt, but we'll know in a month anyway.
yes, we're all aware that the dutch league numbers are inflated. If you're a striker, you're still going to feel confident regardless. As a parent club, if you send a striker to the Eredivisie and they aren't scoring, then you may give up on the project. Pepi is scoring... so there's no need to give up on him and probably be excited for his return. That's all. Enjoy the salt.
Unfortunately I think he’ll wear that $20 million transfer fee like a cinderblock around the ankle. I imagine he’ll have to spend another season at Augsburg, and it will look similar to his first season there.
This, I would guess, is the most likely trajectory, but it would also not be unheard of, if he did he continue at a good pace, for a team to cut their loses if they had decided Pepi was not for them (and I truly have so little insight as to how Augsburg is run that this is nothing but an "in general" statement.) You need to be a top 4 or 5 striker transfer - in the Haller, Dolberg, Larsen, Boadu range - but you can get close to that money+ even from France, and certainly from England, Spain or Italy for the right player. But he'd need to keep this year going apace and Augsburg would need to have written him off, fwiw. Of course, if he puts in a great year under Wormuth, Augsburg more likely to have their faith restored a bit.
I thought Fabrizio Romano or one of the reputable journos relayed Pepi's time at Augsburg was over and they'd look to sell him at the end of this loan or others. He absolutely shouldn't go back to the same bad situation to try again. That would be sunk-cost fallacy on their parts. But it's the clamor from Augsburg fans now that they want him to do it. Sell higher, don't tank a guy's value in a bad situation. Send him to a better one, in which he could do well, even in a top 4 league. Anyone who thinks he's doomed or even probable to fail because of what he didn't do as a 19 yr old striker on a bad team in a top 4 league is a fool. Incidentally, Groningen fans are also pretty enthused about him, but realize this year is the end of the road, because he's "too good for them". Keep that in mind when you contextualize who he is as a player now. Player at Groningen or Eredivisie is incredibly unnuanced.
I stopped watching after the 1st half. Pepi was getting 0 service and Emmen looked like the more dangerous team.
Moving on? Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano Ricardo Pepi will leave Augsburg in the summer. He’s performing well in Eredivisie — and many clubs are now watching him, he will change again in June. #transfers Pepi’s expected to be one of the youngest talents to be in the World Cup.
Ricardo Pepi to leave Augsburg next summer. Makes sense given how tough the first few months were and how well he's doing on loan (albeit at a lower level).Curious to see what transfer fee Augsburg will let him leave for. Paid around $20m to get him. Won't be cheap. https://t.co/nLTB9H1QbS— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) November 3, 2022 The Eredivisie is where strikers go to grow in confidence. I'm in favor of it.
assuming he does go to Qatar (I have no doubt), I’m sure his performance there, combined with his club performance will be huge for the direction of his career
If you are prescribing, do you have anything for our resident Eeyore? I doubt Augsburg has made up their mind about him one way or the other, but it does seem like they may be focused on the return on their investment rather than having him be part of their team. Which might be best for all parties.
Starts. Booth is starting for Utrecht. Onze elf in Utrecht. ⚔️#utrgro pic.twitter.com/YwpSxgGoFJ— FC Groningen (@fcgroningen) November 6, 2022