Well, last season Pepi scored a goal in the league every 65' played, while de Jong scored only one every 96'. So if he takes the starting spot, we're looking at a 40 goal season, right?
Well, so far this season he scored his PK after 1 minute of play, so I'm looking for a 90g/game pace... This season 1/1! Last season he had 9 in 764 mins in all comps = 1/84 7 in 458 league = 1/65 12 in 2458 for the "pride" of the North... east... 1/204 13 in 2746 for all comps 1/211... Throw out the first and last... I'll accept 1/118 on the year. So I predict a 26 goal season if LdJ hangs up his boots - which is still good enough to win the WillyvdK most years. Dust off that mantle Ricky! I'm gonna make that my prediction: Pepi will score at a g/118 min pace in league this year!
And with the new CL format there'll be a few more games to play, with travel time thrown in. Another, albeit minor, factors in why LDJ won't manage to start at the same rate as last season
Season opens today vs. RKC Waalwjik. Most likely Pepi on the bench to start. Tillman has a good chance of being in the first elf. on ESPN+ for those that worship, tho I hear rumors there's a basketball game on around then too.
Excited to see if he can maybe get 7 minutes of action against barely MLS level defending once his team is up by 3 goals. On the plus side he gets to learn from a striker who wasn't good enough to make it in Germany, England or Spain.
Pepi on with 20 minutes to go. Now 4-0 as Chunky Loseano scores from 30 yards with a shot literally right at the goalie.
Nice to see him come on in the 70th minute instead of the 85th. Had a powerful header from 16 yards out that forced a good save. Also had good 35 yard run to the top of the box. He laid it off to a teammate who couldn't find the critical pass or shot from a good position. Game ended 5-1 and was already over when he came on. Lozano did manage to score 2 off the bench today.
I would like to shake the hand of the fan who had Ledezma with more Ered minutes than Pepi at any point in the 2024-25 season!
Yet the Dutch get mad at you when you remark how garbage defending is in their league and that's why the Portuguese one is a bit better.
I think it comes down to style more than poor defenders. Most of the teams play more offensively than other leagues and throw more plays up. That means there is less team defending so players learn to be better one on one defenders. Kind of works out since a lot of these players will move on. The defenders will go to better leagues where they will have more team help but that 1 V 1 knowledge will stay with them. On the other hand it's an ideal place for young attackers to go get confidence before moving to tougher places.
I've made that point several times: that Eredivisie clubs defend like garbage doesn't mean the defenders suck. Every time I mention it the straw man is that Netherlands has produced many top defenders. Which has nothing to do with what I'm saying.
Pepi looking at the table wishing he'd stayed up north as Groningen tied with PSV on points for 1st! Go tractor boys! lol.
Bosz called out Pepi nicely at the post-game, apparently. The coach also praised the substitutes. "They were top. Pepi didn't score, but filled in wonderfully. Lozano did the same and even scored twice. That was nice to see." PSV is thundering on after the championship, and that should come as no surprise, according to Malik Tillman. "It's a new season, everyone is hungry. Maybe more than last season. It has to be, because I think it will be harder. Everyone wants to win against the champion. We have to show on the field that we can do it again," said Malik Tillman, who according to a journalist did not seem very happy with his goal, but he refuted that. "To be honest, I was very happy because it's my first goal from outside the sixteen." https://www.psv.nl/en/media/artikel...zeer-lovend-over-voetballend-duo-en-invallers