I'm not the one who's going to claim Pepi is already a well rounded attacker. Pepi however shows traits in his game at this stage in his development I consider promising. How it pans out into the full product=mature Pepi is the big question, but the groundworks are there.
I've always found that logic to be utterly bizzarre. The logic of that amounts to "you learn from paying against mugs, not quality players". If that's true, it's the only league, hell the only workplace in the world, where that applies. If Eredivise defending is always so crap, it's amazing how many ex-Eredivise defenders turn out to be so damn good within a few seasons of moving abroad - to CL teams in the Top 5 no less. The truth is more prosaic. Top-notch attackers sell for a lot more money than top-notch defenders and if you have two 21 year-olds who are going to be CL quality and need to sell to balance the books, you'll sell the CB/RB/LB now and reinvest some of the money in upgrading the forward's/midfielder's contract on the understanding that you're going to sell him in 2 years for about 10-20 million more than the defender will bring you in two years. The already-good defenders are sold abroad moved on and the already-good attackers are kept for a few more seasons of finishing school.
It's bizarre to think top league clubs buy Dutch unproven defenders, while "everybody" claims the Eredivisie sucks in defending and all of a sudden those defenders turn out to be great defenders. Yeah, makes sense. It's not the developing by the Eredivisie clubs, but that of the top league clubs. If they're so good at it turning non-proven Dutchies into top defenders, why don't they do that trick with their own youth, instead of taking the risk buying for alot of money players from a league that doesnot know how to defend? So how come it doesnot work out that way with attackers they buy from us?
I think he has a ton of promise too. I was sorry to see Wormuth go. He might not have been good for Groningen, but he was the kind of coach you want a young player to have. Oh well. be interesting to see where he ends up next.
Starts. Game is on ESPN+ 𝑭𝑪𝑮 𝑿𝑰 ⚔️Elvis Manu maakt zijn debuut in de basis. 💚#GROTWE pic.twitter.com/2t7DwXEXLv— FC Groningen (@fcgroningen) February 5, 2023
Remarkable. Pepi got in his back a Swedish U21 player now with Iranian roots with the name Daleho Irandust. I would think someone was kidding me. FC Twente has one of the least penetrated defenses of the Eredivisie with only 12 goals given up in 12 matches. So a worthy wall for Pepi to test his capabilities.
During a WC press conference for the USMNT: “First of all, you say you support the Iranian people but you are pronouncing our country's name wrong. Our country is named Iran, not Iran. Please, once and for all, let's get this clear,” said the journalist from the Iranian state-owned Press TV.
Mmmm, still only 0-1 for Twente, despite having one of the most leaky defenses in front of their attack. Curious what will happen after minute 70 of the match.
Well, for once they managed to equalize just before the 70 minutes mark and pull it over the end line.
Scored the equalizer on his Eredivisie debut and has a new movie coming out in a couple weeks - big month for Antman!
I've always had high hopes for the little guy. And with that unexpected point Groningen floats one of the bottom...
Groningen travel to Eindhoven for PSV today. Haven't seen line-ups yet. Believe it's on espn+ for the masochists and optimists amongst us.
Onze elf in de Lichtstad 💡#PSVGRO pic.twitter.com/oj4lF6IU1D— FC Groningen (@fcgroningen) February 11, 2023
I actually watched the last 30 or so of this since I was stuck on a call on hold... ouch. It could easily have been double digits.
Starts! Groningen (18th = last) hosting Emmen (16th, the team Groningen must pass to avoid relegation)