He did not really make a case for inclusion over any of the other 7 that were chosen. I would have gone with my gut and taken him over Jordan Morris, but I can't argue that with his body of work.
He scored two USMNT goals in 2021 and ZERO in 2022. He had no club goals in 2021-2022 in the Bundesliga for FC Augsburg. You see the problem? He did nothing of note in the year preceding World Cup 2022. I am a Pepi fan, but it is near impossible to make a case for his inclusion. He's playing great now, but now is not November 2022. Gregg had little choice.
Berhalter did reintroduce two forwards to the team in the run-up to the World Cup. Josh Sargent and Haji Wright were brought back in. He just picked those two over Pepi. Ferreira, who was our joint-leading scorer in 2022 (with Pulisic) was going to make the squad. Even if it was as the third forward. Jesus Ferreira in 2022. 18 goals and 6 assists. That was one hell of a season that demanded attention. No USMNT-eligible player is going to have that many goals or goal contributions this year in MLS. [then, of course, Ferreira was also our leading goal-scorer in 2023 too. That was all with the "B" team, though. Goals are goals. Go back and watch the goal he scored against Panama's A team in the 2023 Gold Cup. Meanwhile I have to watch Sargent struggle against the same Panama.]
Pepi's only 21 and scored a dozen goals in limited minutes last season and already has 3 this season playing behind one of his team's top players. He's still learning his trade and finishing is the thing he does best. He is calm in the box and gets his chances on goal. I don't think it's crazy to think he may become the player we all want in a few more years. He won't hit his peak years until after 2026 and will probably be a better player in 2030 than in 26. I'd also say that we've been terrible at getting our strikers chances to score and no one has looked good up top for this team in difficult games. Right now, Balogun is the only player we have who is a better overall striker and even he's not a consistent finisher so I expect Pepi will keep getting minutes for the US and if he improves significantly in the next 3-4 years, we could end up with a very good striker. If we just get him more chances, he'll finish a good number of them. As he is, he's still a guy who will at least get minutes off the bench because even if he's not ideal, he's near the top of what we have in the spot.
The data is a bit thin at the moment, but it is quite possible we are heading into the year(s) of the Pepi. Unfortunately for Ricardo, LdJ is still getting most of the starts for PSV, but it seems like Bosz is more willing to rest him this season, and with PSV heading into an packed little stretch: 10/22 PSG, 10/26 Zwolle, 11/2 Ajax, 11/5 Girona, 11/9 NAC, then there is a small break and hit an even more packed stretch from Thanksgiving to Xmas - 7 games from 11/23 to 12/22. Assuming whatever sent him home doesn't keep him out too long, he should see decent minutes. Meanwhile, in his last 3 games (club and country) he's played 135 minutes and scored 3 goals. Which is... impressive, esp given that this kind of score rate extends across longer time. His 2 goals in his ered start were against Willhem II, who, while not a power house, are 8th in the Ered, and tied for 7th for GA. And, you can only score against teams you play. So, hopefully Pepi's facial features heal quickly, LdJ forgets to take his geritol and PSV get their act together a bit in the CL and Pepi continues to contribute like he did v. Sevilla and Ars last year. Be really awesome of he matures into the player he's shown he can be at times.
Some interesting quotes during the most recent USMNT press conferences from and about Pepi: https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/opportunity-knocks-usmnts-ricardo-pepi-im-feeling-ready-man Pepi: "To be honest, it's been a long year-and-a-half of being patient on the bench, waiting to play 10-15 minutes every weekend. It got a little frustrating....I'm at a point in my career right now where I'm ready to either start or get more playing time." Pochettino: "Pepi is a fantastic player but it's more about potential....He's not playing too much in PSV but we understand it's because there's another experienced striker there. It's not easy for him to get his space. But for us now, it's a great opportunity for him....I think he needs to improve....We're going to be very, very tough with him to try to make him learn quick, to improve in all areas. And we trust in his talent." Turner: "He does work on his craft every single day — there's not a day that goes by that I've seen where he's not out there after the rest of the team working on different areas, those last finishing touches....What makes him, in my opinion, really stand out, is that he tries things....All the best strikers are very inventive. He always wants to score, so he's always trying different things, trying new things."
I actually think Pepi's path is a little rough with having to play behind a top player in his position. But, I also think he's been very effective in his limited minutes and this whole experience can really turn out to be a fantastic learning experience where he comes out in a great spot. He's getting more minutes this year than last and if he can keep up that progress and take over the top spot as LDJ fades, it will all be worth it. I hope he hangs on and sticks to the plan. If he leaves before he overcomes, the lesson is never learned. He has a very good chance to be the top striker on a Champions League regular by the time he is 22-23. That's fantastic. I think it would really be a shame if he were to transfer out to a lesser team or a struggling team in a stronger league where he rarely touches the ball. He's in a great position as long as he's willing to pay his dues and keep working hard. Now, if they instead bring in someone else and sure at some point patience can go on too long. But, right now I think he's in a strong position and should just keep his head down and push on.
He may be frustrated, but if he took this time to learn from LDJ, and from the general PSV staff, it's going to be more than worth it. For one, we've seen enough of our strikers on shitty teams to understand how impossible it can be to score, to prove yourself, and I suspect, even improve as a player. Getting only one good chance a game can just as easily create bad habits. Right now, he's played ~450 minutes across all comps, and while that's roughly half of LDJ's, if the pace keeps up, that's not going to be a small amount of minutes. He's also performing, and while he's playing more often against tired and often beat defenses, his goal scoring rate is better than LDJs and his his g+a about even. If he takes LDJ's role, fantastic. The numbers he will rack up will probably get him a move to a place that actually can produce some chances. If he doesn't, he'll still get a good move because of the numbers he already has. He's very impatient, and that's not a completely terrible thing. But he's in a far better situation than Augsburg, really, and he should be careful not to repeat that kind of move.
It was interesting listening to scuffed and how they were worried a bit about his tidiness on the ball with PSV etc, sounds like Poch agrees and that's something he's talked about. My own perception and lazy analysis not watching too much has been that if the goals are going in, that's getting the job done. I get that they want more than just goals, but that's really, more than anything, where the trajectory comes from: finding ways to create opportunities to score and finishing them, which he's doing. In terms of PSV, this is what I wanted this season: sub minutes and a spot start every month or so, 1100-15000 minutes. Instead, last year was a cruel joke in terms of playing time, and I was 1000% ready for him to bail, period, regardless of how helpful Bosz, and LDJ might be to his development because minutes eventually trump sitting and learning, but this season has been acceptable, I can deal with this. 5 starts, on a trajectory for 1200+ mins? I can deal with that, for one more season anyway. Very hopeful and excited to see him excel with this opportunity.
I don't think he's better than LDJ overall, yet, and that includes some of that intangible stuff. You're also risking a lot of locker room issues picking the young American over the Dutch Captain (and club legend?) when most would say LDJ is better and even if you don't, there's not a compelling argument Pepi is better. So he's going to sit, sans injury or LDJ falling off a cliff. I don't mind him moving, but I would caution him to find the right spot. Not playing a ton at PSV -- but still on pace to do 1,000-1,500 minutes -- is preferable to an Augsburg situation or what Sargent went through at Norwich in the EPL, I think. I don't know how you improve when there's no real offensive threat.
He's always done this. I remember reading stories about him when he was just breaking out at FCD that he would spend much time working with his dad near their El Paso home doing all kinds of shooting drills. I think he has the most accurate shot on the team (if he's not rusty) and has a quick release. The other stuff is what will decide how good he is.
I'm fine with Pepi staying at PSV. Last year was frustrating, but the trend is going in the right direction. He's getting more minutes this year, and de Jong keeps getting older. He's in line to the starting 9 at PSV probably by fall '26, if not fall '25. And as others have said, that's a better place to be than the starter for a crappy team in a big 4 league. If he produces big numbers as a starter at PSV, then he might get a shot with a better team in his mid-20s. With regard to his actual play, I think he's pretty good as a pure finisher in terms of finding space in the box and converting the chances that come his way. I do worry that his game is lacking outside the box in terms of holdup play and contributing to the buildup. And by worry I mean that I wonder if he can make it as a starter on a decent team in a top 4 league or as the starter for the USMNT, if we want to make a serious WC run.
It's worth noting that Pepi has more non-PK Eredivisie goals this season than de Jong (or any other PSV player) in a fraction of the minutes played. So I'm not surprised there's a debate about this right now.
Mmm, not really. For sure not with PSV fans. It's just pundits making up things and then talk about it.
Ricardo Pepi is the fourth player to score 12 goals for the USMNT before turning 22 years old, joining Landon Donovan, Jozy Altidore and Christian Pulisic. 1857230038409609309 is not a valid tweet id
So what is the consensus (if there is one) with PSV fans? does it lean more towards a) it is fine as it is or b) de Jong is still the number one but Pepi deserves more time than he is getting? Thanks