Nicolas Pépé

[Newcomer]

In 2011, when he was 15 years old. Let's not be this petty.



Every supporter wants something different. Some still want Cavani to hold for example. But I can't really think of a better fit at RW outside of Dembélé, who isn't available and would be even more expensive if he were.

He was still cursing PSG in 2015...

And did you see the video of TF1 ? He clearly said he would chose OM over PSG. It is right and choice but from now on, he can't be considered as a potential buy. The guy is not stupid and pretyy straightforward about what club he likes or not and he knows where he wants/prefers to go.

Why would you waste your time ?

 

[Jair Ventura]

He was still cursing PSG in 2015...

And did you see the video of TF1 ? He clearly said he would chose OM over PSG. It is right and choice but from now on, he can't be considered as a potential buy. The guy is not stupid and pretyy straightforward about what club he likes or not and he knows where he wants/prefers to go.

Why would you waste your time ?

- I wouldn’t know. I haven’t stalked his social media and don’t really care besides.

- You linked the wrong video, but I’ve seen the one you’re referring to. It’s over three years old, never mind the fact that the club has signed players in recent years that played for OM, so I’m unsure why that video would keep him from moving to Paris.

- You’re taking that fluff too seriously. The entire point of spending €400m on Neymar and Kylian was to attract top players, investors, sponsors, etc. Mission accomplished. May their impact continue long into the future.

 

[Newcomer]

- I wouldn’t know. I haven’t stalked his social media and don’t really care besides.

- You linked the wrong video, but I’ve seen the one you’re referring to. It’s over three years old, never mind the fact that the club has signed players in recent years that played for OM, so I’m unsure why that video would keep him from moving to Paris.

- You’re taking that fluff too seriously. The entire point of spending €400m on Neymar and Kylian was to attract top players, investors, sponsors, etc. Mission accomplished. May their impact continue long into the future.

We didn't know till today when someone stalked and copy pasted what he wrote about the club. I know it has maybe not much importance for you and in general for fans abroad but it since the 90's that rivalry is something important.

Look at previous PSG captain crying while being booed when PSG won the Coupe de France because he was leaving for OM : http://www.parisfans.fr/anciens-du-...ouve-que-cetait-un-choix-coherent-357638.html

At 3 min 30, you can hear the boo and see him distressed. At 5 min 50, he barely lifts the trophy and run away to cry.

Another example, Fiorèse. He left PSG for OM and he regretted it a lot. He said it himself, he was hated by both PSG (former team) and OM (his new team) fans and he couldn't cope with it.
https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Act...-j-ai-ete-deteste-a-paris-et-marseille/548358
http://www.footmercato.net/ligue-1/om-psg-fabrice-fiorese-revient-sur-son-transfert-cauchemar_106777
When he came back in Parc des Princes, he got his leg almost broken : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrQxOuZXwdY
And you bet it, Armand was a pretty average player but he was liked (not for much long though) from PSG fans for that alone.

Point being, PSG fans don't like players that go around claiming their love for OM and "fucking PSG".

 

[Jair Ventura]

I understand where you’re coming from but I’m not concerned with it. I can’t take the random ramblings of teenage banter seriously. As for the PSG/OM rivalry? Isco was a Barca fan growing up but ended up helping Madrid win three straight UCL’s. And their rivalry wasn’t manufactured by Canal+ in the 90’s for corporate interests... It’s football, shit happens. Do what’s best for the club regardless. Using nonsense like that to argue against a move that could help the club is silly and juvenile.

edit: He's a fan of Drogba. That should explain everything.

 

[Jair Ventura]

He's brilliant. Unique style too.

 

[Newcomer]

I understand where you’re coming from but I’m not concerned with it. I can’t take the random ramblings of teenage banter seriously. As for the PSG/OM rivalry? Isco was a Barca fan growing up but ended up helping Madrid win three straight UCL’s. And their rivalry wasn’t manufactured by Canal+ in the 90’s for corporate interests... It’s football, shit happens. Do what’s best for the club regardless. Using nonsense like that to argue against a move that could help the club is silly and juvenile.

edit: He's a fan of Drogba. That should explain everything.

Well, we all know that rivalry was manufactured by Canal and Tapie to help create a new "classique" in France and help them branding/selling their product.
And to be honest, i don't wish him anything bad. I just don't want him at my club. And for the record, we are just fans here. I doubt our sentiments will have any effect on the choice of the direction. If they want Pépé and he wants the move, it will prolly happen. If you take out that feeling of rivalry, those PSG-OM matches wouldn't have that special taste due to the respective level at the moment.

 

[Havesaks]

Well, we all know that rivalry was manufactured by Canal and Tapie to help create a new "classique" in France and help them branding/selling their product.
And to be honest, i don't wish him anything bad. I just don't want him at my club. And for the record, we are just fans here. I doubt our sentiments will have any effect on the choice of the direction. If they want Pépé and he wants the move, it will prolly happen. If you take out that feeling of rivalry, those PSG-OM matches wouldn't have that special taste due to the respective level at the moment.

Sport saying we are interested. Can he play as a ST?

 

[Newcomer]

Sport saying we are interested. Can he play as a ST?

He did play as ST but not his best position.

He is technically gifted and quick, which would be required qualities for Barça. However, he thrives in the counter attacking set up of Lille. They have much more difficulty playing against buses and Pépé is no exception.

This is the only doubt i have over him.

 

[Havesaks]

Thanks!

Hmm well with dembele and semedo and Alba and even de jong we have pacy players to re-develop or counter-game like the Lucho team. A 4-3-1-2 formation, messi playing the OM (not false 9. I could see that happen. GIVEN The highlights, i think pepe could be Good in that role. Do you agree?

 

[Newcomer]

Thanks!

Hmm well with dembele and semedo and Alba and even de jong we have pacy players to re-develop or counter-game like the Lucho team. A 4-3-1-2 formation, messi playing the OM (not false 9. I could see that happen. GIVEN The highlights, i think pepe could be Good in that role. Do you agree?

I honestly can't answer that question. On top of talent, you need to embrace that particular set up at Barca. Top players like Coutinho and Ibrahimovic have been (so far) flops at Barcelona despite their obvious talent and pedigree. Alcacer has been proving he is a good forward at Dortmund and couldn't make it. Suarez was the perfect player for that role and he was easily top 3/5 in his best years.

 

[Messi983]

I like what I've seen from Pepe and if we wouldn't have Dembele (who is still a level above him imo) I wouldn't mind us spending 70-80M on him as a right winger. But investing that much money without having a clear position for him in minds I just don't see much sense in that. It's true Dembele can play on the left but I think he's a bit wasted there. If we would go back to a traditional 4-3-3 then I would sell Coutinho and Malcom and bring a more natural LW but as long as Messi and Suarez are here and Alba is playing on a high level I think we'll continue to play asymetric formation with just one true winger (Dembele most of the times as long as he's healthy).

Thanks!

Hmm well with dembele and semedo and Alba and even de jong we have pacy players to re-develop or counter-game like the Lucho team. A 4-3-1-2 formation, messi playing the OM (not false 9. I could see that happen. GIVEN The highlights, i think pepe could be Good in that role. Do you agree?

Just to make sure, you would play something like this?

defense
---Busi----
FDJ--Arthur
---Messi---
Dembele-Pepe


Besides Messi I don't see a goalscorer in this lineup. I know Pepe has scored 16 goals in Ligue 1 but I think half of those were from penalties so I would say around 20-25 goals would be his limit. And while Dembele is improving I also don't think he can score 30-40 goals regularly.

Our defenders and midfielders are rarely scoring (that's why I wouldn't mind getting someone like Aouar or Lo Celso in the midfield rotation) so everything would be up to forwards and I don't see Dembele and Pepe replicating Suarez's and Neymar's success. And Messi is also older and not as clinical as well.

 

[Havesaks]

I honestly can't answer that question. On top of talent, you need to embrace that particular set up at Barca. Top players like Coutinho and Ibrahimovic have been (so far) flops at Barcelona despite their obvious talent and pedigree. Alcacer has been proving he is a good forward at Dortmund and couldn't make it. Suarez was the perfect player for that role and he was easily top 3/5 in his best years.

Thats fair. Zlatan did good here and was a good fit tbf tho. Paco is a sub-player for Dortmund. But i do get what you mean.

 

[Havesaks]

I like what I've seen from Pepe and if we wouldn't have Dembele (who is still a level above him imo) I wouldn't mind us spending 70-80M on him as a right winger. But investing that much money without having a clear position for him in minds I just don't see much sense in that. It's true Dembele can play on the left but I think he's a bit wasted there. If we would go back to a traditional 4-3-3 then I would sell Coutinho and Malcom and bring a more natural LW but as long as Messi and Suarez are here and Alba is playing on a high level I think we'll continue to play asymetric formation with just one true winger (Dembele most of the times as long as he's healthy).




Just to make sure, you would play something like this?

defense
---Busi----
FDJ--Arthur
---Messi---
Dembele-Pepe


Besides Messi I don't see a goalscorer in this lineup. I know Pepe has scored 16 goals in Ligue 1 but I think half of those were from penalties so I would say around 20-25 goals would be his limit. And while Dembele is improving I also don't think he can score 30-40 goals regularly.

Our defenders and midfielders are rarely scoring (that's why I wouldn't mind getting someone like Aouar or Lo Celso in the midfield rotation) so everything would be up to forwards and I don't see Dembele and Pepe replicating Suarez's and Neymar's success. And Messi is also older and not as clinical as well.

I like what I've seen from Pepe and if we wouldn't have Dembele (who is still a level above him imo) I wouldn't mind us spending 70-80M on him as a right winger. But investing that much money without having a clear position for him in minds I just don't see much sense in that. It's true Dembele can play on the left but I think he's a bit wasted there. If we would go back to a traditional 4-3-3 then I would sell Coutinho and Malcom and bring a more natural LW but as long as Messi and Suarez are here and Alba is playing on a high level I think we'll continue to play asymetric formation with just one true winger (Dembele most of the times as long as he's healthy).




Just to make sure, you would play something like this?

defense
---Busi----
FDJ--Arthur
---Messi---
Dembele-Pepe


Besides Messi I don't see a goalscorer in this lineup. I know Pepe has scored 16 goals in Ligue 1 but I think half of those were from penalties so I would say around 20-25 goals would be his limit. And while Dembele is improving I also don't think he can score 30-40 goals regularly.

Our defenders and midfielders are rarely scoring (that's why I wouldn't mind getting someone like Aouar or Lo Celso in the midfield rotation) so everything would be up to forwards and I don't see Dembele and Pepe replicating Suarez's and Neymar's success. And Messi is also older and not as clinical as well.

Yes, that was the idea with Semedo and Alba bringing the width. But not nessecarily as a our undisputed first 11 formation. I think the goal output would be good enough, and dembele and Pepe would probably both profit in such a formation/line up. Well tbf our midfielder never really did score goals since pep-time. Pepe scoring 20-25 goals and Dembele the same would be good enough with Messi goals, some midfield goals and some defence goals, but yes, we also need to develop a better set-piece record. Also Suarez would still play 50% at the time with fresher legs.

 

[Arizona Scott]

yes, we also need to develop a better set-piece record.

This is one of my biggest peeves with EV. Right now teams are happy to give us corners and set pieces. This is bad for multiple reasons, but mainly it incentivizes teams to slow the match down through fouls and kicking the ball OB and then they bunker in and wait for a counter opp. Want it poisonous to give us set pieces nearly as much as it is poisonous to get them in free flowing open play.

I will bring it back though cannot Pepe also play some CF? or hybrid RW/CF with Demeble opposite and both in front of Messi?

Right now Pepe and Jovic seem to be the best options to give Suarez some immediate help with also being an even higher long term prospect to maybe be the #9 when Suarez is no longer to be a part time player at the highest level (after say 2 more full years).

 

[Nothanks]

This is one of my biggest peeves with EV. Right now teams are happy to give us corners and set pieces. This is bad for multiple reasons, but mainly it incentivizes teams to slow the match down through fouls and kicking the ball OB and then they bunker in and wait for a counter opp. Want it poisonous to give us set pieces nearly as much as it is poisonous to get them in free flowing open play.

to be fair though, we've had this issue for the past decade, in the pep days our best at set pieces was puyol, which says alot about the rest of the team.
pique will never be good at them, offensively that is and his partners have been lacking
busquets, suarez, and other CB's aren't the greatest either because we've built most of our game to be played on the floor

that's one of the main reasons why i was so excited to see mina play for us, and kinda hoped instead of boetang we went for llorente as plan b.