https://www.psvinside.nl/psv-denkt-aan-contractverlenging-boegbeeld-en-clubicoon/ PSV is thinking of extending the figurehead's contract The best header in Europe, that qualification is in no way exaggerated, is in the autumn of his career but the end is certainly not in sight yet. PSV and Luuk de Jong are far from tired of each other. An adventure in the Middle East does not seem to be in the cards for the Achterhoeker and so an extra season of PSV beckons. The home game against Shakhtar Donetsk showed, albeit born out of necessity, that Luuk de Jong and Ricardo Pepi can also play together. Luuk de Jong as the playable number ten with scoring qualities behind Pepi, is not so bad after all. If it is up to technical director Earnest Stewart, the striker will remain connected to PSV as a footballer and in a different role for years to come. "We want to keep Luuk at PSV for as long as possible," begins Stewart at Good Morning Eredivisie. "Hopefully also after his career. No firm agreements have been made yet, but we have had a number of conversations with each other. Luuk is of incredible value to PSV. Now still as a player, but I can also imagine that he will be important for PSV after his career," Stewart believes. With six goals and six assists in twelve Eredivisie games, the now 34-year-old Luuk de Jong is also on a roll this season. "Is it an option for him to play less?", was the question at Good Morning Eredivisie. "Luuk makes a decision about his career and his life," said Stewart. "We all want to continue playing football until we are sixty, but that is not possible. Eventually, a different distribution will take place. Ricardo is our striker for the future. But Luuk is far too fit, far too important and far too good to fulfill another position," Stewart is clear about PSV's figurehead.
Stewart confirms: 'Ricardo Pepi's patience is running out' December 8, 2024 The good performances of Ricardo Pepi have been a topic of discussion for several weeks now. The American striker scores a lot. As a starting player, but also just as a substitute. A changing of the guard seems to be imminent, but when and how exactly? Luuk de Jong is still worth his weight in gold for PSV. Pepi has shown in recent weeks that he even scores with space in front of him, sent into the depths. The American goalgetter did not show that before. These are qualities that Luuk de Jong, in turn, does not have. That PSV still does not want to say goodbye to the best header in Europe is a given. However, Earnest Stewart acknowledges that Ricardo Pepi's patience is running out. The technical director of PSV tells this Sunday morning at Good Morning Eredivisie. Ricardo Pepi will probably get it all, all the attention around his person. It may be the prelude to a period when the American striker will be the regular and first striker at PSV. After all, that is also the biggest wish of the still only 21-year-old goalgetter. Recently, Pepi was asked by American media about his situation at PSV. Pepi said he had trouble staying patient as a second striker behind Luuk de Jong. 'I talk to all my players, including Pepi, I don't have to sit down with him after the interlands', said Bosz on Friday in response to Pepi's earlier statements. 'What he has said about the striker position at PSV is not news to me. Pepi is a top striker and he is right when he says that he is ready to be the striker of PSV. However, I have two top strikers and at the moment Luuk de Jong is my number 1. Pepi has definitely played more than last season, that also applies to other players. I also said before the season that I would rotate a bit more. Nothing has changed about him and his behavior. Pepi is still very young, it's up to us to develop him and he has definitely become a better player. But there is still plenty to improve.' ESPN analyst Hans Kraay Jr. asked Stewart on Sunday morning if Pepi's patience has turned into impatience. "He is going there more and more, because he is doing very well. If you don't score as a substitute, your patience remains the same. But if you do it right, players can become more impatient. So far it is all going well. Peter is very clear in what he wants and is always in conversation with the players," Stewart continues. Pepi has scored ten goals so far this season. Luuk de Jong scored six goals. Stewart fully understands Pepi's impatience. "That's human. Maybe something has changed in that, but the way Ricardo and Luuk deal with it is very good," said an understanding technical director. The 21-year-old Pepi came over from FC Augsburg in the summer of 2023 for eleven million euros. This season, he scored six times in eleven Eredivisie appearances.
My guess is the transition slowly continues this season with Pepi continuing to get some starts, then he becomes the first choice next season. Of course if a 30M+ offer comes in next summer all bets are off.
I hope Pepi sticks it out. He is improving as he’s finally getting more minutes, but really needs to do so over an entire season. If he tries to leave early in hopes of a starting role somewhere else, then he risks winding up in an Augsburg type of situation again.
Indeed. You only come in in a players group with status as a starter, not as a sub in. A selection doesnot care about how many goals you scored as a sub, as they will immediately think about you hitting defenders with tired legs. They also know the difference between having to deliver as a a starter all the time versus a sub getting a chance to show himself. Thinking you get a starting spot from coming from a sub position is only a reality in a club in a dire strait.
Now just four matches remain before the three-week winter break. Tue Dec 10 PSV at Brest (11th in Ligue 1) - CL Matchday 6 - LdJ Sat Dec 14 PSV at Heerenveen (10th, playing so-so) - LdJ (if sufficiently rested) Tue Dec 17 PSV v Koninklijke HFC (10th in Tweede*) - KNVB Cup - Pepi Sun Dec 22 PSV v Feyenoord (4th, playing well) - LdJ +++ Winter Break +++ I think LdJ starts the crucial CL match tomorrow. Simple alternation won't work, so I think LdJ also gets the league games @ Heerenveen and v Feyenoord (more difficult than most opponents), with Pepi likely only starting the Cup match. On the plus side, I think Bosz may look for additional opportunities to get both players on the field at the same time, that is subbing Pepi in without subbing LdJ off, depending on the match circumstances. ++++++++++++ * You can't make this stuff up!
If Pepi only starts one game in that stretch after completely outplaying ldj all year and in less minutes, he should leave in January
Not sure if you're being serious or just trading in an odd sort of pedantry. I assume you follow soccer?
Leads the league in goals from the run of play. Can't imagine any teammate I had or player I coached minimizing someone who led the league in limited minutes, and not appreciating him fully.
I could see LdJ start v. Brest, Pepi 2nd half sub. Pepi starts v. 'veen. Can't imagine Bosz bothering to risk LdJ v Konink - there's no upside there. Given Pepi's public ask for more time, him being 21 and that they are heading into winter break, would not be surprised for Pepi to start 'veen and Koninklijke, even on the short turnaround. LdJ starts v. Feyenie is my guess. And the most Pepi moves in the winter break is from the couch to the New Year's tamale platter - or Oliebollen dish if he's stuck in Eindhoven.
Yeah, PB needs his tactical sidekick on the pitch vs Brest and Feyenoord. Against H'veen he can use Perisic and Pepi to undercut the tactical drop without LdJ. Why not both? It's called fusion
He's probably going for menudo, elotes, barbacoa and being so close to N Mexico maybe some of those green and red hatch on enchiladas. FYI for the Dutch who read on here I thought I would add that the El Paso / Juarez metro area is twice the size of Amsterdam and eight times bigger than Eindhoven.
Many of the Mexmericans I know in Texas do New Years tamales but I will admit I don't know if it's a Pepi family tradition. And for the Dutch who read on here, New Year's tamales are tastier than oliebollen (which are also pretty tasty, tbf) but good tamales are a lot harder to make. And yeah, both works for sure.
My wife made tamales this year! I also bought some smoked brisket tamales from one of the best BBQ places in N Texas. Everyone knows tamales but like oliebollen (which I know nothing about -thanks I will look it up) I added a few other specialties in my earlier post as maybe a lot of folks aren't up on more uncommon Mexican food.
Tamales are great, but they have nothing on oliebollen. This is blasphemous, you better hope your Dutch family don’t read this.
Why not both? *don't worry, despite the Dallas branding, this pork tamale donut was created in San Antonio, so it will actually taste good.
OK, so I just read that oliebollen are a dutch pastries similar to donuts. So hard to compare a desert with a main meal. I will also add that if you've only ever had commercial tamales you've not had anywhere near the best ones. They are so time consuming to make that only at home (usually families will do it together) is there enough time to do it right. A hint is if the tamal dough is white it's not the good ones.
I tell it to their faces! Truthfully, tamale meal with olie desert works great... although you also have to have greens and black-eyed peas for good luck as well....